Art for the Young Child 3-D Crafts

This is the second chapter of my book, Art for the Young Child. I hope you will enjoy doing some of these projects with the youngsters in your life.

 

3-D Crafts

 

Paper Sack Puppet

• How to Introduce: Show children a brown paper bag and ask them what it is normally used for. then ask them if they can think of anything they could make with a paper sack. If they don't come up with the idea on their own, tell them they can use the sack to make a puppet. Watch a puppet show to give them an idea of how puppets are used.
• Instructions: Use a small paper lunch sack. Using pieces of cut up colored paper, markers, crayons or paint, design a puppet character on the side of the sack that has the flap (this will be your mouth, where the hand will go on the inside of the puppet). Be certain you do not glue the mouth closed or cover it in any way. You want to be certain it will open so your puppet can "talk". Once your puppet is dry, have a puppet show of your own!

 

Sock Puppet

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to Introduce: Have a puppet show. Read a story that shows puppets as the characters. Show the children a sock. Ask them what it is normally used for, and then as k them to use their imaginations to think of other things they could do with it.

Instructions: Choose any sock that will fit over a child's hand. Using sharp scissors (adults will probably have to do this part for safety), cut a slit where your toe would normally go. Sew cut out felt into this slit to form a mouth. You can skip the cutting and sewing parts for younger children, and instead just form a mouth once your hand is inside the puppet. Sew or glue on eyes, nose and other features.

 

Finger Puppet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to Introduce: Do some finger plays with the children and talk about all the different things we need our finger to do. Have a finger puppet show.

Instructions: You can use several different materials to make a sock puppet. Try using  a finger cut from an old glove (or use a whole glove), a thimble, the corner cut from an envelope, a piece cut from a paper tube, etc. Sew or glue desired features to your finger puppet. have a finger puppet show of your own.

 

3-D Flip-Up / Pop-Up Picture

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to Introduce: Read a book that features flip-up/pop-up pictures. Tell the children they can make their own pictures similar to those they saw in the book.

Instructions: Fold a large piece of construction paper in half. Cut about five flaps, 1" or more wide and 1" or more apart on the fold. Bend the flaps inward (see illustration). Glue cut-out magazine pictures, or your own art work to the flaps on the inside of the picture.

 

Origami

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to Introduce: Show children several Origami figures. Let them unfold the figures and try to fold them back again. Read a story about Asian countries and explain to the children this is where the art of Origami originated.

 

Instructions: There are several good books available to teach children origami. I have included photos of the steps I used to make the origami swan, but I would suggest purchasing one of the following books or checking them out at your local library. All of these are available on Amazon.

How to Make Cloth Books for Children: A Guide to Making Personalized Books by Anne Pellowski

The Art of the Handmade Book: Designing, Decorating, and Binding One-Of-A-Kind Books by Flora Fennimore

Books for You to Make by Susan Gold Purdy

Making Books for Fun! by Meachen Rau and Dana