Basic Art Projects for School and Camp
Crafts That Teachers and Counselors Can Adapt to Any Topic
Sep 22, 2009
Basic projects like masks, paper bag puppets, and play dough sculptures are a great way to add a craft to a learning unit. These craft projects are general enough that parents and teachers can adapt them to different types of animals, plants, or people, etc. With a little planning, these fundamental crafts can be reused many ways throughout the year.
Paper Bag Puppets
Lunch-size paper bags make straightforward hand puppets for young children. Color the bag with crayon or cut out construction paper eyes, ears, arms, etc. Use the flap as the creature’s mouth (color inside the mouth, draw or glue on paper teeth, or draw on glue on a paper tongue). Glue on the eyes, ears, arms, and any other details (such as a tail on the back).
Cardboard Tube Sculptures
The small tubes from the center of toilet paper rolls make great animal and person bodies. Stood on an open end, the tube creature can appear to be seated or standing on hind legs. Children can cut out a head, arms, legs, and tail from construction paper. Another option is to look for simple coloring page images and to photocopy the head so it is proportionate to the tube.
Color the tube the appropriate color(s) for the animal or person being created. Paint the tube (keep the paint thin so the paper doesn’t soften beneath the wet paint), color with marker or measure and cut construction paper so it fits around the tube and glue or tape into place. Glue the head onto the outside of the tube. Use the position of the head to place the arms and legs.
If kids stick a few fingers up into the tube, they can use this sculpture as a quick finger puppet.
Paper Plate Masks
Masks work both as wall art and as an imaginative play prop. Think about the key characteristics of the person or animal to be turned into a mask. Including every detail is unnecessary – pick the key features – dark circles around the eye of a raccoon, the pointy nose of a wolf, or the red nose of a clown.
Cut eye openings, add string to tie the mask in place, and decorate the paper plate mask as desired. Cut construction paper ears and even form an elongated nose from construction paper. Decorate the mask with construction paper details glued into place or color the paper plate with markers or paint.
Homemade Play Dough Sculptures
Play dough allows children to create any shape they can think up. Mix up the homemade play dough of one's choice. For colored play dough, blend in a small amount of food coloring to batches of dough. Otherwise, work the dough into shape and then wait for the play dough to dry and then paint. Children can form whatever shape they want.
When connecting pieces, dampen the tip of the finger with water and rub it over the two spots to be connected. Press together and then smooth the seam with damp fingertip.
Treat these basic craft projects as templates. Whatever topic is introduced in class or camp, use one of these simple crafts to jumpstart ideas for a finished project to introduce to children.
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