Hot Air Balloon Centerpiece



Materials Needed:
plastic cup, yogurt cup, or styrofoam cup
paint or paper and crayons
3 straws or straight sticks
balloon or styrofoam ball or cheap plastic ball
clear tape
plaster of paris or salt dough
stickers (optional)

Directions:

1.  Decorate the cup with paints or draw a design on paper and attach to the cup with the tape.
2. Fill the cup 1/2 full with plaster of paris or salt dough.
3.  Insert the 3 straws around the inside edges into the filler.  let dry.
4.  Attach the balloon between the three straws and secure in place with the clear tape.
5.  Decorate the balloon with stickers if desired.

*A little balloon man can be added with the straws if desired.  create a person out of paper or craft stick and insert into the filler at the same time as the straws.

This activity is good for bilateral hand coordination and fine motor control.  You can have the child work on patterns or alphabet letters when designing the cup.