Homemade Snow Goggles

To keep warm in the Arctic climate, the Inuit dress in watertight boots and squirrel- or caribou-skin parkas (sometimes worn fur-side in). To help dim the sun's reflection off the snow and ice, as well as to give protection from wind, they traditionally wore goggles carved from wood or whalebone. The shape varied depending on the craftsman.

Although your child shouldn't rely on this old-style gear to shield her eyes from the sun's rays, she can test their effectiveness for fun in a brightly lit room.

To make a pair of goggles, draw an hourglass shape or broad rectangle on a piece of cardboard. Using a utility knife (a parent's job), cut along the outline and make narrow eye slits. Punch holes in the upper corners of the goggles. Cut two 18-inch-long pieces of string. Feed one through each of the holes and tie in place. As is the custom, add a decorative border along the edges with fine-tipped markers or crayons. To learn more about traditional Inuit dress, customs and handiwork, pick up a copy of HANDS ON ALASKA