March 2008-Craft of the Month-Lions and Lambs


As we move into SPRING, why not make some "springy" Lions and Lambs!  Children love it when they grasp to concept of making a "spring" out of paper.  And these little animals are a real STAND UP favorite!
 

Materials Needed:

Construction Paper
Markers or crayons
Scissors
Glue stick
cotton balls (optional)

Directions:

1.  Give each child a template of the lion and lamb front and hind end to color.
2.  After coloring, cut the front and back pieces out.  (*for beginning cutters, draw a "box" around the lion or lamb and have the child cut the "box out).
3.  Taking 2 strips of paper that are 1" wide by 8-11 inches long, lay them out in an L shape.
4.  Fold the strip on the bottom over the one on the top, keeping the L shape.
5.  Repeat with the other strip (now the bottom one) until the two strips are used up and the "spring" is formed.
6.  Glue the last two folds together to seal the "spring".
7.  Glue the spring between the front and the back of the animals, making sure they will "stand up"( by placing them in the same middle area of both pieces) when the glue is dry.

This craft is a great opportunity to practice cutting skills and for teaching directional folding skills (folding down, the across, then up and then across). It also works on controlling their coloring and improving that fine motor movement needed for printing.