What You Need: Flat (“no-roll”) style clothespin, pink acrylic paint, white felt, small white pom pom, two small googly eyes, black marker, scissors, glue.
How You Make It: Paint clothespin pink and let dry. Cut thin strips from felt for inside “ears” and glue to long ends of clothespin. Glue on eyes and pom pom nose. Draw on mouth with black marker. You could also glue another pom pom on the back for a rabbit cotton tail!
This project is quick, simple and fun, along with being a great way to use up scraps!
What You Need: zip-close plastic sandwich bag (or larger, depending on the size of your butterfly), half a pipe cleaner, scissors and (here’s the fun part) all kinds of scraps from your “craft pantry”: dyed pasta, bits of yarn, tissue paper squares and paper “confetti” kids cut by themselves, bits of craft foam, sequins, glitter and so on!
How You Make It: Set out a variety of supplies in small containers for preschoolers to choose what to add to their butterfly bag. This is so fun! Then, make sure most of the air is out of the bag, seal the bag and distribute the scraps somewhat evenly on either side of the bag as you “pinch” it together in the middle. Wrap pipe cleaner around middle of bag, twist to secure and bend ends for antennae.
What You Need: egg carton, scissors, tempera paint, paintbrush, glue, 1/8-inch hole punch, black pipe cleaner, googly eyes.
How You Make It: Cut apart egg carton into individual “cups.” Paint bugs however you’d like. Glue on googly eyes. Punch or poke three holes on each side of bug. Cut pipe cleaner into three equal sections and insert one in each set of holes.
“We tried it” tip: If you don’t have a small hole punch, a pointy object should work. Pre-punch leg holes for small children.
What You Need: wooden clothespin (either style), 2 small googly eyes, pipecleaner, paint, paintbrush, glue.
How You Make It: Paint clothespin and let dry. Wrap pipecleaner around clothespin to make “wings.” Glue on googly eyes.
What You Need: Paper plate, glue, pencil, brown and yellow tempera paints, paintbrush, scissors, sunflower seeds in shell.
How You Make It: Use pencil to draw “scallops” all around edge of paper plate and cut along the lines. Paint entire front of plate yellow. Paint brown circle around middle of plate. Once dry, use glue to adhere sunflower seeds in center.
Suggested storybook:Sunflower House by Eve Bunting
