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Looking to make mom the perfect Mother's Day gift?
Of course you are! Her Mother's Day crafts aren't going to make themselves this year! Science Educator Becky Wolfe shares a project that requires just a little bit of craftiness and love, no money. Find scraps of paper from around the house and make mom something beautiful she'll cherish for life.
Materials:
- Paper—construction paper, newspaper, magazine pages, or pages from books
- Straw or pen/pencil
- Scissors
- Glue
- Toothpick (optional)
- String (optional)
Procedure:
- Cut the paper into a triangular strip. The strip should have a wide base on one end and come to a point at the other end.
- Wrap the paper strip tightly around the straw, starting at the wide end and wrapping towards the point. You should now have a paper cylinder on top of the straw.
- Use your finger or a toothpick to dab glue over the tip of the paper strip.
- Allow the glue to dry.
- Remove the paper cylinder from the straw. You now have a paper bead!
- Thread your paper beads onto a piece of string to create jewelry.
Change it up:
- Use markers, colored pencils, crayons, or paint to create your own design on a piece of paper before you roll it up.
- Wrap the paper strip around a different object. For example, to create a smaller hole inside the bead, wrap the paper around a toothpick instead of a straw.
- Change the shape of the paper strip.
- Change the width of the paper strip.
- Change the length of the paper strip.
Challenges:
- What other types of materials can you use?
- What other shapes can you make?
- What is the largest bead you can make? Measure the diameter and length.
- What is the smallest bead you can make? Measure the diameter and length.
- What is the longest string of beads you can make? Measure the length. Count the beads.
- What can you make with your beads? Suggestions include jewelry, picture frames, and ornaments.
