Caterpillar Project

Materials:

• construction paper in different colors(such as green, blue, yellow, orange, pink, beige, purple etc.): this will be the body for the caterpillar.
• pipe cleaner: this will be the antenna; I used red pipe cleaner, but could be in other colors
• white glue
• markers or crayons for drawing the face

Preparation
      1. Cut out the construction paper into circles(about 3 inches in diameter)
      2. Making the face of the caterpillar.
          (a) Cut the pipe cleaner into 3 inches long. 
          (b) Make two holes on a circle, and put the pipe cleaner through the holes.
          (c) Curl the tip of each end of the pipe cleaner so children will not get hurt.

      In-class:

1.  Tell the children that they are going to make a caterpillar.
2. Pass the face piece to each children and tell the children to draw a face with markers or crayons.
3. Children will connect other circles with glue to make the body of the catepillar.

  Option:
Use cereal box instead of construction paper, and ask the children to cut out the circles themselves, and color the circles with paints.(suitable for children older than 4 years old.)

Tree Collage

       Materials:

• printing paper for collage base(or use light colored construction paper, or light colored, not too busy wrapping paper)
• brown paper for tree trunk
• paper in different shades of green for leaves( or use patterned paper as on the photo below)
• white glue

Preparation:
1.  Cut out the tree trunk shapes(see template)
2. Cut out the leaves(about 12 leaves per student): about 2 inches long, 1 inch wide.


Instruction:
1. Discuss about the appearance of a tree.
1. Pass the tree truck to the children, and tell them to glue the tree trunk on the white paper.
2. The children will be gluing the leaves to complete the tree collage project.

For children older than 4 years old, they could cut out the leaves themselves.
Add fruits(apple, lemon, orange, etc) or flowers on the tree.

My Fish Tank

Materials:

• white printing paper-for the fish tank (one sheet makes 2)
• construction paper in different colors: 

              brown, beige, black for the aquarium rocks
              green for the aquarium plants
              orange, blue, yellow, purple(or color of your choice) for the fish

• glue

Preparation:

1. Cut out the fish tank shapes.Fold printing paper in half, then fold in half again.Trace the fish tank shape and cut it out.This way you can make 2 fish tank shapes
2. Prepare 3 boxes, one for the fish, one for the aquarium plants, and one for the rocks. Cut out the rocks, plants and fish shapes and put them into the boxes by items.  For aquarium plants, fold the green paper in half, trace the shape and cut it out. Template shapes are just for reference only. If you are comfortable cutting out the shapes without template, you may also cut them out freehand.

In-Class:

1. Tell the children they are going to do a fish tank project. Discuss with the children what are in the fish tank. Encourage them to think about other things in the fish tank beside fish.
2. Pass the fish tank to each child. Children will go to the 3 boxes and find the items they want in their fish tanks.
 

Giraffe Spot Project

In this project, children will be tearing the brown paper to create the giraffe spots themselves. Easy and open-ended project.

Materials:

• Yellow paper(8.5" x 11") - for giraffe body
• Brown paper - for the giraffe body pattern
• Glue
• A giraffe photo

Preparation:

• Use the template and cut out the giraffe body. You may cut out 2 giraffe bodies per one sheet of paper.
• Prepare about 5" x 8.5" brown paper per student.

In-Class:

1. Show a giraffe photo to the children and discuss about the distinctive features such as body shape, colors, spots, etc.
2.  Show the children to tear the brown paper into small pieces, and glue on the giraffe body.
3. Pass the giraffe body and brown paper to children.  

Snail--Paper Craft Project

 A fun and easy paper craft project.
 

Materials:

• lightweight paper in several different colors for snail
• green paper for leaves(could be lightweight or heavyweight paper)
• pencils
• white glue

Preparation:
1. Use the template A to cut out the snail bodies.
2. Use the template B to cut out the leaves
3. Prepare a photo of a snail.


In-class:
1. Show a photo of the snail and talk about how snails look like.
2. Tell the children that they are going to make a snail with paper
3. Demonstrate how to roll the snail body strip with a pencil.
    Tips: Roll the paper from the side marked with a star.
4. Pass the snail body strip and pencil to children.
    Could be hard for children 2 to 3 years old, so assist children to roll the paper if necessary.
5. When snail body is rolled, glue it on a leaf to complete the project.

Other ideas:
* Use patterned paper for snail body or leaf for fun visual effect.
* Tell children to draw the details to the leaf with marker, crayons, etc before gluing the snail.

Zebra Stripe Drawing Project

You will only need white construction paper, scissors, black markers, and a photo of the zebra.

Instruction:
A. Preparation:
1. Use the template above, and trace the image on a white construction paper.
2. Cut the construction paper into zebra shapes. Fold a large piece of paper until you get the size that is close to the image size, but not to thick. This way you will not need to cut the zebra shapes one by one.
3. Prepare a photo of the zebra and black markers.
B. In-class:
1. Show a photo of the zebra and talk about the stripes on its body.
2. Tell the children that they are going to draw the stripes on the paper cutouts with the markers.
3. Pass the zebra cutouts and the markers to the children.

Children from 2 to 4 years old in my class all enjoyed this project.

Dried Flower Arranging

Easy, simple and open-ended project for Mother's Day or any occasion.

Materials: play dough, used caps, dried flowers, pipe cleaners
Age: 2.5 years old and older

Instruction:
1. Place the play dough in the cap.
2. Use play dough as the base, and arrange the flowers on it.
3. Decorate more with pipe cleaners.
4. Let the play dough dry.

Variations:
*Use clay or flour dough instead of play dough. I used flour dough in the photo.
*Prepare pipe cleaners in different colors for a more colorful finish.
*Cut the pipe cleaners if necessary.