Paper Pig Puppet - Little Kid Project

 

Paper Pig Puppet

 
Age: 18 Months - 5 Years (younger ones need more supervision)

Time: 10 min (+ Prep)

Theme: Pigs

Books: Pigs to the Rescue by John Himmelman, Happy Pig Day by Mo Willems

 
Materials:
Pink Construction Paper
Extra Small Paper Bag (beverage size)
Crayons
Glue Sticks
Adults get to use Scissors

Prep: From the pink paper cut 2 triangle ears and an oval for a snout. For the hooves cut 4 rectangles about 1” x 2” then add a small notch at the end of each. For the tail use a circle about 1-1/2” cut into a spiral.

Activity: Each child gets a small bag, 2 ears, 4 hooves, a snout and a tail and a glue stick for putting it all together. Once assembled, trade the glue stick for crayons. Add eyes, nostrils, spots, clothes, mud, anything you like. Then it is time for a pig party!

Notes/Tips: Older kids can practice their scissor skills by cutting the pig pieces out themselves. Beverage size paper bags are just the right size for little hands, but you can use lunch size bags too, just make the pig pieces bigger.

 

The Pigeon Wants to be a Puppet - Toddler Art Project

The Pigeon Wants to be a Puppet

Age: 18 Months - 5 Years (younger ones need more supervision)

Time: 10 min (+ Prep)

Theme: Mo Willem’s Character Pigeon

Books: Don’t Let the Pigeon Driver the Bus, Pigeon Wants a Puppy, or any Mo Willem’s book starring Pigeon

Materials:

Construction Paper (Light blue, Orange, Black & White)
Craft (popsicle) sticks
Glue Sticks
Adults get to use Scissors

 Prep: Cut out Pigeon heads from the light blue paper, a nickel sized white circle and a dime sized black circle for the eye, a ‘W’ shape for the beak and a small rectangle for the collar (see picture). By folding a full sheet in quarters like an M you should be able to make 8 heads per sheet. Cut with the fold at the top.

Activity: Each child gets a craft stick, a head, eye pieces, beak, collar and a glue stick. To assemble, put glue all over the ‘inside’ of his head then fold over the stick. Glue on the big circle then the little one for the eye, then add the beak and the collar. Hide the hot dogs and the keys – you have your own pigeon!

Notes/Tips: Ask older kids what they think the pigeon should or should not be able to do and why. Encourage them to act it out with their Pigeon.

Having the pieces twofold so they wrap around the stick isn’t essential, but it makes them more durable for play.

A Joke Quackin' Duck - Toddler Art Project

A Joke Quackin' Duck

Age: 2 - 5 Years (younger ones need more supervision)

Time: 10 min (+ Prep)

Theme: Ducks!

Books: Duck Sock Hop by Jane Kohuth, The Duckling Gets a Cookie?! By Mo Willems

Materials:

Dark Yellow or Orange Construction Paper
Yellow copy paper
Feathers
Star or Dot Or Heart or Other Shaped Stickers for Eyes
Glue sticks
Adult get to use Scissors

Prep: To make the duck bills, trace and cut a 6” circle from the construction paper then fold and cut into quarters. To prepare the puppets, fold a sheet of copy paper in apx. thirds long way (2-3/4 x 11). If the kids are very young you will also want to do the next steps: glue the edge closed, then fold the strip into quarters like an ‘M’ by folding in half, then folding the edges even with that fold.

Activity: Each child gets plain sheet of paper already folded into an ‘M’, a duck bill, a feather, a glue stick and some stickers. Glue the feather, then the bill onto the puppet (allowing the bill to overlap the feather will keep it from falling off easily in play). Add stickers for eyes, nostrils, beauty marks, etc. Test out your puppet then quack a joke!

Notes/Tips: The folded paper creates a pocket for fingers to go inside. Using the basic M fold, you can create other creatures by using different colored paper and features. This can become a big kid project by demonstrating the technique, then letting them design their own creatures.

 

PS. My top model decided she wanted to be on the other side of the camera for this project. The results were blurry but she got me!

An Elephant You Can Play With - Toddler Art Project

An Elephant You Can Play With

Age: 18 Months - 5 Years (younger ones need more supervision)

Time: 10 min (+ Prep)

Theme: Elephants

Books: Seven Blind Mice by Ed Young, Listen to my Trumpet by Mo Willems (or choose your favorite Elephant & Piggie book)

Materials:

Construction Paper (heavier/higher quality works best)

Bendy Straws
Crayons
Adults get to use Scissors and Hole Punch

Prep: Choose different colors of construction paper for the head and body. For the body cut an H shape the size of ¼ of a sheet. For the head, cut a bow tie shape the size of 1/6 of a sheet. Punch two holes in the ‘bar’ of the H and one hole in the center of the head for the straw to feed through.

Activity: Each child gets a pre-cut elephant body, head and crayons. Decorate, draw, scribble! When done, have an adult help feed the long end of the straw through the holes in the head and body, leaving the ‘bendy’ as the trunk. PLAY!

Notes/Tips: Straws come in slightly different diameter, so make sure the ones you have fit snugly in the punched holes. If the straw is too narrow, cut a small ‘x’ with an exacto blade instead of punching holes. The easiest way to size the pieces is to fold the paper into quarters or sixths first. You can also cut multiples easier this way. This easily becomes a big kid project - just let them do the prep themselves.

 

Let Your Little Lion Roar - Toddler Art Project

Let Your Little Lion Roar - Paper Plate Puppets

Age: 18 Months - 5 Years (younger ones need more supervision)

Time: 10 min (+ Prep)

Theme: Lions

Books: Do Lions Live on Lily Pads by Melanie Walsh, A Beach Tail by Karen Williams, Dandelion by Don Freeman

Materials:

Orange, Yellow & Red Tissue Paper
Red & Black Construction Paper (you can use scraps)
Small (desert size) paper plates
Glue sticks
Masking tape (if you are making them into hand puppets)
Adults get to use Scissors

Prep: Cut small triangle shapes from the construction paper to be used for eyes and noses. Rip tissue paper into workable size pieces. To make the handle, cut a ½” strip at the widest point of a second paper plate (exact length is not essential, so you can get 3 handles per plate).

Activity: Each child gets a plate, assorted tissue paper, eyes, nose & glue stick. Rip, crumple and twist bits of tissue paper, then glue them to the outer part of the plate for the loin’s mane. Don’t forget to glue on the eyes and nose. With some adult help, attach the handle to the back with masking tape. Give your lion a name then let everyone hear your best lion roar!

Notes/Tips: If you fold the handles in 1/3rds then fold the two ends in half again it will create a tab on each side that can be taped down easily (see pic in this post). Crayons can be used instead of construction paper to create the face. Challenge older kids to create a pattern in their lion's mane.

Happy Bunny, Sad Bunny, Totally Rad Bunny! - Toddler Art Project

Happy Bunny, Sad Bunny, Totally Rad Bunny!

Age: 18 Months - 5 Years (younger ones need more supervision)

Time: 15 min (+ Prep)

Theme: Rabbits, Expressing Emotions

Books: Not a Box by Antoinette Portis, Let’s Make Rabbits by Leo Lionni, What’s Your Sound Hound the Hound by Mo Willems

Materials:

Small (desert) paper plates
Craft sticks
Round Head Fasteners (they look like little nails but the bottom is two tongs that are bent flat)
Crayons
Adults get to use Scissors, Exacto Knife & Hole Punch

Prep: Cut in and around the center circle of the plate, leaving about 1” of the original circumference as a neck. Trim a slight concave arch on one side to create a nose. Using the edge of the plate that was removed, cut out 2 ears, each about 1/3 of the length of the remaining plate. Punch holes near the bottom of each ear and at the top of the head. Make 3 horizontal incisions in the ‘neck’ just long enough for the craft stick to weave through.

Activity: Each child gets a bunny head, 2 ears, and a round head fastener. With a little help (as needed) put an ear, the head and then the other ear onto the fastener. Color the bunny, giving one side a happy face and the other side a sad face. When done coloring, trade the crayons for a craft stick and carefully weave it into the slots, giving the rabbit handle like a puppet. Experiment with your bunny. How does she hold his ears when she is happy? How about when she is sad? Can you make her look surprised by changing the position of his ears? What about shy?

Notes/Tips: In preparation for this project, talk about how emotions are shown with the whole body. Act some out. Point out what emotions the characters in the books are feeling. How you can tell? For a big kid version challenge them to make a whole rabbit - with jointed limbs. Leo Lionni’s illustrations are a great visual guide!

Making her "Hop Hops" Tell a Story

Peek-a-boo Crab - Toddler Art Project

Peek-a-boo Crab

Age: 18 Months - 5 Years (younger ones need more supervision)

Time: 10 min (+ Prep)

Theme: Crabs, Hermit Crabs, Sea Creatures

Books: A House for Hermit Crab by Eric Carl, Hamsters to the Rescue by Ellen Stoll Walsh (somewhat long so better for older kids)

Materials:

Red Construction Paper
Craft (popsicle) sticks
Reinforcement Labels (little donut shaped stickers used to reinforce pages in ring binders)
3oz Paper Cups (‘bathroom’ size)
Glue Sticks
Adults get to use Scissors, Pinking Sheers & Exacto Knife

Prep: Cut out crab bodies and claws from the red paper. By folding a full sheet in quarters like an M you should be able to make 4 bodies and 4 sets of claws per sheet. The claws should look a little like a lollypop when they are first cut, then the pinking sheers  are used to cut out the ‘pinchers’. All parts are cut with the fold at the top so that they ‘match’ easily. Prep the cups by cutting two small parallel slits in the bottom of each cup with an exacto knife. The resulting hole should be just large enough for the craft stick to slide through.

Activity: Each child gets a crab body, claws, a craft stick, and a glue stick. Put glue all over the ‘inside’ of the crab body. Place the arms near the bottom of the body then fold the body over the stick.  Trade in the glue stick for a paper cup and 2 labels (for eyes). Add the labels for eyes. Gently fold the crabs arms forward so that he appears to be clapping, then slide the stick into the hole in the cup. The crab should be able to ‘hide’ in the cup, then peek over the rim by pulling the stick up and down through the bottom of the cup.

 Notes/Tips: By including the step of trading the glue stick for the eyes and cup, the glue has an extra minute to dry. This will help prevent the crabs from pulling off the stick in case of an overly zealous first round of ‘peek-a-boo’.  To make this a ‘big kid’ project, add different colors of paper and only prep the cups. Demonstrate the technique of creating a ‘body’ then challenge the kids to create their own ‘peek-a-boo’ characters. (Aliens work great!)

'Big Kid' TP Roll Puppets

I did a 'Big Kid' version of the Owl Puppet  at a recent event. The kids covered the rolls with colored paper, then used items to decorate them such as feathers, googly eyes, and fake flowers. Most of the kids were 7 - 10 years old. The project was a big hit!

Duck, Duck Goose Swan Paper Plate Puppets - Toddler Art Project

Duck, Duck, Goose, Swan - Paper Plate Puppets

Age: 18 Months - 5 Years (younger ones need more supervision)

Time: 10 min (+ Prep)

Theme: Swans, Geese, Ducks

Books: Duck & Goose by Tad Hills, Petunia by Roger Duvoisin (for older kids), any variation of the Ugly Duckling or Old MacDonald

Materials:

Orange or Yellow construction paper

Paper dots (leftovers from a hole punch) or Googly Eyes

Small (desert size) paper plates

Feathers

Glue sticks

Masking tape (for attaching handles)

Adults get to use Scissors

Prep: Cut a triangle notch out the side of each plate, then cut a crescent following the inner circle half way around. Cut triangles of orange and yellow construction paper for the beaks (about 1” acute). From an extra plate cut a ½” strip at the widest point for a handle (exact length is not essential, so if you are making a lot, you can get 3 handles per plate)

Activity: Each child gets a cut plate, beak, eye, feather, handle & glue stick. Fold down the center of the plate to make the wing. Glue on the beak and the feather. With some adult help, attach the handle to the back with masking tape. Waddle, Waddle, flap, flap!

Notes/Tips: If you fold the handles in 1/3rds then fold the two ends in half again it will create a tab on each side that can be taped down easily (see pic). Crayons can be introduced to this activity to make it longer. If you have bigger kids that want to join in the fun, the more the merrier - but they can do all the prep themselves!

Owl Love You ('Til the End of Time) - Toddler Art Project

Owl Love You (‘Til the End of Time)

Age: 18 Months - 5 Years (younger ones need more supervision)

Time: 10 - 15 min (+ Prep)

Theme: Owls

Books: Owl Babies by Martin Waddell, The Odd Egg by Emily Gravett, Owl Moon by Jane Yolen

Materials:

Construction Paper

Toilet Paper Tube(s)

Glue Sticks

Reinforcement Labels (little donut shaped stickers used to reinforce pages in ring binders)

Adults get to use Scissors or Pinking Sheers

Prep: From assorted color construction paper cut a wing pair (fold paper then cut a 2” leaf shape leaving the fold side intact), a chest plate (1” loosely shaped triangle) and a beak (>1/2” triangle).

Activity: Each child gets pre-cut wings, chest plate, beak, (2) reinforcement labels, a glue stick and a TP tube. To make the owl’s horns (adult or big kid with guidance) gently press the top of the TP roll in and down so that the side ‘folds’, rotate and push the other side in too. Glue the wings, chest plate and beak into place. Add the labels for eyes. Take your owl out for a test flight!

Notes/Tips: If working with older kids, you can give this project a ‘big kid flair’ by covering the tubes with decorative paper cut to about 4-1/2 x 7 (different brands have slightly different sized tubes). Reinforcement Labels can be found at most office supply stores. I find them to be a great substitute for googly-eyes which can be a choking hazard with very young tots. 

My Pet Lizard - Toddler Art Project

We made this project during Story Time at the library today and it was a great success! Some of the kids even let me take a picture of their lizards 'meeting' the ones we read about!

My Pet Lizard

Age: 18 Months - 5 Years (younger ones need more supervision)

Time: 10 min (+ Prep)

Theme: Lizards

Books: The Mixed-Up Chameleon by Eric Carle, A Color of His Own by Leo Lionni   

Materials:

Heavy Paper (Something that feels about the weight of a manila office folder)

Bendy Straws

Crayons

Adults get to use Scissors and a Stapler

Prep: trace and cut out the lizards. If you are prepping for a lot of kids and cutting out a zillion lizard shapes sounds insane, then outline the lizards in marker and cut out a ‘loose’ shape around them. If cutting the lizards you can get 4/page, if a loose outline then just 3/page.

Activity: Each child gets a pre-cut lizard and crayons. Decorate, draw, scribble, make it colorful! When done, have an adult help attach the short side of the bendy straw to the lizard’s belly with the stapler (2 staples works best).

 

Notes/Tips: By using bendy straws the lizard can be manipulated like a puppet up and around landscapes (like the couch or a shoulder). It can also be held against the glass of a window and made to look like it is climbing on its own!

Lorax & Truffula Tree Puppet Set - Toddler Art Project

Tomorrow is Dr. Seuss' Birthday so we will be reading some of his books at Story Time. With the movie opening tomorrow, images of the Lorax are all over the place. I thought the kids might like to have a Lorax and a Truffula Tree of their own to play with, so I came up with this project.

Lorax and Truffula Tree Puppet Set

Age: 18 Months - 5 Years (younger ones need more supervision)

Time: 15 min (+ Prep)

Theme: Dr. Seuss

Books: The Lorax

Materials:

Construction Paper (orange or brown, yellow, and whatever color)

Feathers

Craft (popsicle) sticks

Glue Sticks

Adults get to use Scissors

Prep: Cut out Lorax bodies from the orange/brown paper, mustaches from the yellow and a truffula tops from whatever color you choose (see picture below). By folding a full sheet in quarters like an M you should be able to make 8 bodies per sheet. All are cut with the fold at the top.

Activity: Each child gets a body, a mustache, a truffula top, 2 sticks, 2-4 feathers and a glue stick.

For the Lorax: Put glue on the ‘inside’ of his body, then fold over the stick. Glue his mustache on his face. The dual fold can be set a little askew to make the mustache look bigger or the top layer can be left loose to give it a 3D effect.

For the Tree: Put glue on the inside of the tree top then fold over the stick. Glue 2-4 feathers on for truffula tufts.

Notes/Tips: Having the pieces twofold so they wrap around the stick isn’t essential, but it makes them more durable for play.