Mailbox Thursday

Have fun with these great projects. Help your little ones get into school.

Fall Craft: corn

There's nothing corny about this decorative corn-on-the-cob craft!

Supplies:

• 2 brown paper lunch bags
• newspaper
• string
• 1/2" squares of colored construction paper
• glue
• ribbon

Steps:

1. Crumple the newspaper and stuff it into each bag until the bag is about two-thirds full.
2. Squeeze each bag to mold it into a corncob shape.
3. Tie each bag securely with string about one-third of the way from the opening.
4. Gently tear the unstuffed end of the bag into strips.
5. Glue the squares in rows on the smoothest side of each corncob.
6. Tie the corncobs together with the ribbon.

Paper Craft: tearing

The tearing process in this project results in a grand view of mountains and valleys!

Supplies:

• 12" x 18" blue construction paper
• 10" x 18" white construction paper
• 8" x 18" green construction paper
• cotton balls
• glue

Steps:

1. Tear a long side of the white paper.
2. Place the white paper atop the blue paper and align the straight edges. Glue the paper in place.
3. Tear a long side of the green paper.
4. Place the green paper atop the white paper and align the straight edges. Glue the paper in place.
5. Pull apart the cotton balls and glue them to the blue paper to resemble clouds.

Weaving Craft: basket

This basketmaking craft is a bushel of fun!

Supplies:

• large paper plate
• brown construction paper strips
• 2" x 18" brown construction paper handle
• shallow pan of brown tempera paint
• small sponge
• craft knife (for teacher use)
• glue
• scissors
• stapler

Setup:

Use the craft knife to cut parallel slits in the middle of the paper plate.

Steps:

1. Sponge-paint the paper plate. Let the paint dry.
2. Weave strips through the slits.
3. Trim any excess paper and glue the ends of each strip in place. (Staple the handle to the plate to make a basket.)