Origami Spinning Top

This is the toy that we use in our Kindergarten class to emphasize the Alphabet Safari lesson "E is for Enthusiasm."  Many 5 years olds are not able to make these, but they certainly get excited when they see the teacher do it! We like to bring one in for each of the children to take home... after we have our spin-off contest, of course.

Below is a wonderful YouTube video that takes you through every step in making this easy spinning top. Have fun!

Krishna Paper Bag Puppet

Click on image to view enlarged.

Let the children create their own puppet of Lord Krishna using just a few materials.

Materials

Blue lunch bag

Blue construction paper

Black construction paper

Scraps of decorative paper (in different colors)

Sequins, lace, etc.

Feathers

2 Wiggly eyes

Glue stick

Markers

Scissors

Directions

Each child gets a blue paper bag -- and the rest is left up to them. Put different materials on the table and let them choose how they want to create their own Lord Krishna (or Lord Rama.)

Spinning Top

Make your very own spinning top which spins like a dream! This project was created for the kindergarten's Alphabet Safari. Our subject was "E is for Enthusiasm."

Materials

• White poster board
• Green poster board

• Crayons or markers

• Drinking Straw

• 1 bead (that fits snuggly into the straw)

• Tape

• Pencil
• Glue Stick

• Scissors

• Awl or sharp pencil

Directions

1. Print out diagram below. Cut out the circle and the rim. (These will be your templates.)

2. Trace templates onto poster board.

3. Cut out the circle and the rim which you traced onto poster board.

4. Decorate and color the circle with crayons or markers.

5. Glue the rim onto the base circle.

6. Cut the straw to about 3 1/2 – 4 inches in length.

7. Put the bead into one end of the straw. It should fit snuggly and have about 1/2 of it showing outside the straw. (This is the part that makes it spin nicely.)

8. With an awl or a pencil, pierce a hole into the center of the disc. Make the opening no larger than the diameter of the straw.

9. Put the straw through the hole.

10. It's a good idea to tape the straw on the backside of the disc to hold it in place. (This helps to give the top more balance and momentum.)

11. Spin!!!

Click on the image below to view template full-screen. Print.

Hanumaan Puppet

© 2008 This project is dedicated to Gurudev.
For use in Balavihar classrooms (or personal use) only.

Click on image to view enlarged.

Materials

Brown paper bag

1 Sheet light colored cardstock (for printing templates)

Brown construction paper (for head)

Light brown construction paper (for mouth)

Dark Brown construction paper (for hair and tail)

Small piece of black construction paper (for end of tail)

Gold Foil*(for गदा, gadaa)

Black Marker

2 Googly eyes

Gold sequins

*If using gold foil for the gadaa, glue the foil onto a piece of sturdy cardstock first. This will provide nice stability. After gluing it onto cardstock, trace the template and cut out.

Directions for assembly

Click on image for full-page view.

Print the template below onto light colored cardstock.

1. Cut out template pieces and trace them onto corresponding colored construction paper. Cut out.

2. Glue mouth onto head. Draw mouth and nose.

3. Glue head onto bag.

4. Glue hair onto head. Decorate with sequins

5. Glue eyes. Draw eyebrows.

6. Glue tail onto bag.

7. Glue the gadaa.

Cow Puppet

© 2009 This project is dedicated to Gurudev.
For use in Balavihar classrooms (or personal use) only.
Click on picture to view enlarged.

This a fun project for the young kids to do with the all-time favorite tale, "Punyakoti." After cutting all the pieces out, assembling the puppet is very easy – just refer to the picture above.

Materials

• Brown paper bag (lunch size is good)

• Tan cardstock

• Small piece of black cardstock

• Brown cardstock

• Small piece of pink cardstock

• Glue stick

• 2 Wiggly eyes

• Scissors

• Black marker

Directions

1. Print image below. (Click on image for enlarged view.) Cut out pieces to use for template.

2. Trace the shapes onto corresponding cardstock color.

3. Cut all the pieces out.

4. Glue onto paper bag. (Refer to picture above for placement.)

5. Draw the nostrils on with black marker.

6. Glue the wiggly eyes.

7. Glue the tail on the back side of bag.

Have fun retelling the story with your puppet!!

Monkey Puppet

© 2008 This project is dedicated to Gurudev.
For use in Balavihar classrooms (or personal use) only.

Click on image to view enlarged.

This is fun to make with "The Monkey and the Crocodile."

Materials

Small brown paper bag

1 Piece of light colored cardstock (for printing template below)

1 Piece of light brown or tan cardstock paper (for face and inner ears)

1 Piece of darker brown cardstock paper (for head, ears and tail)

1 Small piece of red cardstock paper (for heart)

Black marker

2 Googly eyes

Scissors

Glue stick

1. Print image onto light colored cardstock for template. Cut out.

2. Trace templates onto brown cardstocks. Cut out.

3. Glue pieces onto paper bag

4. Add googly eyes.

5. Draw nose and mouth.

Click on drawing to get a full page view. Print.

Thirsty Black Crow

© 2008 This project is dedicated to Gurudev.
For use in Balavihar classrooms (or personal use) only.

This is an art project to go along with "The Thirsty Crow" Panchatantra.

Materials

Light colored piece of cardstock

Black Poster Board

Small piece of orange construction paper (or gold foil)

2 paper fasteners (brads)

straw

2 googly eyes

stapler

scissors

Directions

1. Print the image onto a light colored piece of cardstock. Cut all the pieces out. These are to be used as your templates.

2. Fold a piece of black poster board in half. Place the body template on the paper (with the top of the head at the fold). Trace and cut out. You should have two complete bodies joined at the top of the head.

3. Trace 2 wings onto a single piece of black poster board. Cut out.

4. Trace beak onto orange construction paper. Cut out.

5. Place the straw between the 2 pieces of body and staple onto the straw.

6. Place a wing on top of the body (at the shoulder) and using a hole puncher, punch a hole through the wing and the body. Fasten with a brad. Do the same thing with the other wing.

7. Glue the eyes and the beak on.

8. Twirl the straw between your palms.*

* If the wings don't flap up and down as you spin your crow, then you must loosen the paper fasteners.

Tiger and Mouse Mask

© 2008 This project is dedicated to Gurudev.
For use in Balavihar classrooms (or personal use) only.

Click on image to view enlarged.

This is a fun project to do with "Once A Mouse ..." by Marcia Brown.
One side is a mouse, and the other is a tiger.

Materials:
1 sheet of orange cardstock
1 sheet of gray or brown cardstock
1 sheet of black cardstock
1 small scrap of pink cardstock (for mouse ears)
1 black marker
stapler
1 jumbo popsicle stick
glue stick
scissors
1 exacto knife (for adults only)

1. Print tiger image onto orange cardstock. Cut out face. With an exacto knife, cut out the eyes. Color the stripes black with the marker.
2. Print mouse image onto gray (or brown) cardstock. Cut out face. With an exacto knife, cut out the eyes.
3. Print the ears and nose image onto regular paper. Cut out and use for templates.
4. Trace the mouse ears onto pink cardstock. Cut out.
5. Trace the tiger ears, nose, mouse nose and mouth onto black cardstock. Cut out. Glue onto the masks.
6. Glue the two animal faces together. (Make sure that the eyes line up nicely.) Staple the mask on a popsicle stick.

For personal use only

Click on the image to get a full size view. Print.

Blue Jackal Puppet

© 2008 This project is dedicated to Gurudev.
For use in Balavihar classrooms (or personal use) only.

Click on image to view enlarged.

This was created to go with the Panchatantra, "The Blue Jackal."

Materials

Blue paper bag

Blue construction paper

Black construction paper

Light colored construction paper (pink or beige)

2 googly eyes

Black marker

Glue stick

Scissors

Scotch tape

Directions

Cut out pieces from diagram. Use these for templates. Trace the templates onto appropriate colored paper. Cut out.

1. Fold the rectagular shape on the paper bag (see diagram A below). Tape (or glue) the corners down.

2. Glue the light colored ears onto the blue ears. Fold where indicated.

3. Glue bottom fold of the ears to the back of the head.

4. Glue the light colored eyes onto the head. Place the googly eyes.

5. Glue the black nose onto the blue nose. Draw spots with black marker. Glue onto the head.

6. Glue the tail on the back of the puppet.

Click on diagram for full-page image. Print

Maraca

© 2008 This project is dedicated to Gurudev.
For use in Balavihar classrooms (or personal use) only.

Click on image to view enlarged.

Materials

Paper plate (6 7/8 inch diameter)

Dried beans, seeds or pebbles

Small jingle bells (optional)

Christmas bell

Pony beads

Ribbon

Markers or crayons

Staples

Hole punch

Directions

1. Decorate the back side of the plate with markers or crayons.

2. Fold the plate in half and staple the sides, leaving an opening at the top for the beans.

3. Pour the beans and some jingle bells (optional) into the plate's opening.

4. Staple the opening.

5. Punch holes along the side of the plate.

6. Tie ribbons through the holes and add pony beads for decoration.

7. Don't forget to tie on the Christmas bell for an extra nice sound.

Bunny Puppet

© 2008 This project is dedicated to Gurudev.
For use in Balavihar classrooms (or personal use) only.

Click on image to view enlarged.

An easy and fast rabbit puppet to be used with any of the Pancatantras or fables. Our Toddler Class made this to go along with "The Foolish Lion and the Clever Rabbit."

Please note that the templates below are scaled for the #1 paper bag. If you want to use a larger bag, just enlarge the template until you are satisfied.

Materials

#1 Paper Sack (Bag) White -- 31/2 x 2 x 63/4

White Card Stock

Pink Card Stock

Pink Acrylic Pom-Pom (1")

2 Wiggly (Googly) Eyes

Scissors

Tape

Glue Stick

Directions

1. Print page below and cut out templates.

2. Trace Templates onto corresponding card stock. Cut out.

3. Fold paper bag. (See diagram on page below.)

4. Glue the inner ears onto outer ears.

5. Glue ears, eyes and nose onto the bag.

6. Glue a pom-pom onto the back for the tail.

Print page for templates. Click on image for a full-page view.

Mouse Puppet

© 2008 This project is dedicated to Gurudev.
For use in Balavihar classrooms (or personal use) only.

Click on image to view enlarged.

This is an easy project to do for Ganesha's mouse, or any of the Panchatantra tales.

Materials

1 piece of card stock (for printing template below.)

Brown Paper Lunch Bag

Brown construction paper (or card stock)

Pink construction paper (or card stock)

2 wiggly eyes

Glue stick

Scissors

Scotch tape

Black marker

Directions

1. Fold paper bag to create face shape. (See instructions on template below.)

2. Cut out shapes from template. (Trace shapes onto construction paper as indicated.)

3. Cut out 2 big circles from brown construction paper for ears.

4. Cut out 2 smaller circles from pink construction paper.

5. Glue the 2 smaller circles onto the big brown circles.

6. Glue ears onto the paper bag.

7. Glue wiggly eyes on.

8. With black marker draw a nose (and whiskers - optional.)

9. Glue (or tape) long rectangular strip on the backside for a tale. (Use pencil or scissors to roll the strip around. This will give the tale a little bit of curl.)

Click on image for full-page view. Print.