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!!

Diya Cards

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

Click on image to view enlarged.

Materials

• Blank greeting card and envelope

• Variety of decorative paper scraps (wrapping paper, magazines, scrapbooking – anything with color/texture)

• Gold and red foil (wrapping paper is good)

• Scissors

• Glue Stick

• Sequins or rhinestones (for decorating diya)

1. Print diagram on good card stock paper and cut out. (These are now your template pieces.)
2. Trace the templates onto decorative papers.
3. Cut out decorative pieces.*
4. Glue pieces onto a greeting card.
5. Decorate your diya with sequins or arcylic gems.

*Gold foil works beautifully for the flame – it reflects the light.  Cut out a smaller flame in red foil to place inside the gold flame.

We like to use this project for Diwali.

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

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.

Peacock

This project is inspired from "The Kids Multicultural Art Book"
by Alexandra M. Terzian

Materials

Card Stock in blue, green and orange.

Scraps of different colored decorative papers

Scissors

Scotch Tape

Glue Stick

Stapler

Sequins (or rhinestone) for decorations, or glitter glue.

2 googly eyes

1. Print page onto cardstock. Cut out the pieces for your template.

2. Fold colored cardstock paper lengthwise. Where indicated, place the template along the fold. Trace all the pieces and cut out.

3. From the colorful scraps, cut out circles in different sizes. These will be used to glue onto the big circle. (To add a touch of glitter, incorporate some sequins or rhinestones.)

4. Cut a small slit (at a 45 degree angle) in the head of the body, on the fold. (This is where the beak will go.) Place the beak into the cut slit and secure on the back of the head with a small piece of tape.

5. Tape the orange crown on the back of the head with a small piece of tape.

6. Staple the bottom of the peacock's body to the bottom of large circle.

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.

Tortoise Collage

© 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 collage project for "Tortoise and the Hare."

Materials:

1 Sheet of cardstock (for background surface)

Decorative paper

Glue stick

Scissors

1. Print the image below onto paper. Cut out and use for templates.

2. Trace your templates onto decorative paper. Glue on paper.

Note: If you get confused about which leg goes where, follow the diagram with the letters.

Click on image for full size view. Print

Letter diagram Click on image for full size view. Print.

Ganesha Card

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

Click on image to view enlarged.

Materials

Light colored card stock (for printing image)

Decorative Paper (Scrapbooking paper works really well.)

Scissors

Glue Stick

Blank greeting card and envelope

1. Print image onto card stock to make your template. Cut out.

2. Trace Template onto decorative paper. Cut out.

3. Glue pieces onto greeting card.

Click on image to get a full page 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

Lord Hanumaan Collage

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

Click on image to view enlarged.

Materials

Light colored card stock

Decorative paper (Scrapbooking paper works really well)

Scissors

Glue Stick

1. Print image onto light colored card stock to make template. Cut out.

2. Trace template onto decorative paper. Cut out.

3. Glue pieces onto a nice card stock surface.

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

Lord Ganesha Papier Mache

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

Click on image to view enlarged.

This papier mache Lord Ganesha was made by Balavihar students and parents for our 2008 End of the Year Program.

This is definitely an art project to do outdoors -- where kids can get creative and MESSY.

Below are the material list and instructions to make a wall hanging.

Materials

2 Dinner paper plates (heavy duty)

Roll of masking tape

A couple of sheets of newspaper (or newsprint)

Strips of newspaper (or newsprint -- about 1/2 to 1 inch wide)

aluminum foil (optional)

Paste*

Tempera Paints**

Paint brush

Containers (for paints and brush water)

* To make your own paste: Mix 1 part flour to 3 parts water in a medium sized pot. Whisk well so that all lumps are gone. Cook on the stove until you get a nice, smooth consistency (like oatmeal.) Let cool, before using. (Once cooled, you can add a little elmer's glue, if you want. This is a nice way to keep little insects from eating your paper while it's drying.)

**Add some Elmer's glue to the tempera paint if you want to make it more resistant to water. Also, it will give the paint a shinier finish. (Artist's acrylic medium is also a good option, but costs more.)

Directions

To create your Lord Ganesha form: Cut one paper plate in half (each of these pieces will be used as an ear.) Tape each ear to either side of the other paper plate. (see photo A) Take a couple of sheets of newsprint and roll them together, tightly, to make his trunk. Tape his trunk into place on the paper plate. Now make his tusks. This can be done easily by using aluminum foil. (If you do use aluminum foil, make sure that you completely cover the foil with masking tape -- otherwise you are going to have a struggle making the paper stick when you begin pasting.)

Photo A

If you want Ganesha's face to have a more roundish form, add some paper to the center of the plate (until you have the shape you want) and tape it in place. (see Photo A)

Once you are satisfied with your form, then you are ready to papier mache. Take a strip of paper and tear it into pieces (a couple of inches is nice). Dip your fingers into the paste and smooth it onto the form. Add your paper strip and smooth it down. (Use more paste, if needed**). Be sure that when you paste the paper on you get all the wrinkles out. You want a nice smooth surface. Remember, when this sculpture dries, it will harden. If there are wrinkles when it is wet, then there will be hard wrinkles when it is dry. Also, be careful not to allow any open gaps between the paper plates ... everything gets covered with paper. You want to create a seamless work of art. (see Photo B)

**Be careful not to use too much paste. A few kids had some mold growing in super pasty areas. This is a very tactile art process, and sometimes kids really get into the pasting part. "Just enough paste" is a good rule of thumb.

Completely papier mache one side of the face. Let it dry. Turn over and paste the other side. Ideally, you would like to have 2 or three coats of paper before considering the sculpture finished and ready for decorating.

Photo B

Once Ganesha is thoroughly dry, bring out the paints and have a blast!

The above wall hangings were made by Balavihar summer campers.

Lord Shiva Stand Up Card

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

Click on image to view enlarged.

Materials

Blue poster board

Lighter blue card stock

Black card stock

Brown cardstock

Orange cardstock

Silver gel pen

Black marker

Scissors

Glue stick

Double sided tape

1 small googly eye

Blue cellophane (craft store, in the party section)

Directions for Assembly

Print out templates onto lightly colored card stock. Cut out. Trace pieces onto colored card stock (as indicated on drawing) and cut out.

1. Fold the stand on the dotted lines and place the double sided tape where indicated. Peel and stick together the posterboard so that it stands upright. This is the body for Lord Shiva.

2. Draw Lord Shiva's face with black marker. Decorate with silver gel pen.

3. Glue black hair onto head.

4. Decorate the hair with silver gel pen.

5. Glue the head to body (top of the stand).

6. Draw black lines on the orange paper. Glue to the bottom of the stand.

7. Decorate snake. Stick googly eye on.

8. Peel the double sided tape and place the snake through the body, so that the tape sticks to the inside of the stand.

9. Glue moon onto the hair.

10. Cut thin strips of blue cellophane and glue them to the back of the hair so they cascade over Lord Shiva's face.

Click on image for full view. Print.

MatsyaH (Fish) Collage - Paper Weaving

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

Click on image to view enlarged.

Materials

Decorative papers - a variety (for collage and weaving)

Surface paper (cardstock, or any kind of thick paper)

Glue stick

Exacto knife (adult supervisison required)

Decorating items -- ribbons, sequins, lace, etc.

Directions

1. Print diagrams below. Cut pieces out and use for template.

2. Trace template pieces onto decorative paper. Cut out.

3. Glue pieces onto surface paper.

4. With exacto knife cut lines into image (through surface paper) where you want to weave paper strips. Sturdy paper is good for weaving. If you use foil, be prepared for a bit of a struggle. Experiment with line cutting. Make some wavy, straight, thick and thin. This will create different effects in the weaving.

5. Glue ends of woven strips onto surface paper.

6. Decorate fish with sequins, ribbon, etc.

Here are two good sites for weaving ideas and instructions:

Different loom techniques for kids

Good diagrams on weaving process

Click on image for full-page view. Print

Ganesha Collage - Paper Weaving

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

Click on image to view enlarged.

Materials

Decorative papers - a variety (for collage and weaving)

Surface paper (cardstock, or any kind of thick paper)

Glue stick

Exacto knife (adult supervisison required)

Decorating items -- ribbons, sequins, lace, etc.

Directions

1. Print diagrams below. Cut pieces out and use for template.

2. Trace template pieces onto decorative paper. Cut out.

3. Glue pieces onto surface paper.

4. With exacto knife cut lines into image (through surface paper) where you want to weave paper strips. Sturdy paper is good for weaving. If you use foil, be prepared for a bit of a struggle. Experiment with line cutting. Make some wavy, straight, thick and thin. This will create different effects in the weaving.

5. Glue ends of woven strips onto surface paper.

6. Decorate Lord Ganesha with sequins, ribbon, etc.

Here are two good sites for weaving ideas and instructions:

Different loom techniques for kids

Good diagrams on weaving process

©jmg 2008 For personal use only

Click on image for full-page view. Print.

Mosaics with Paper

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

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

Click on image to view enlarged.

Summer Camp 2010

This is a really fun and simple project to do, with any kind of paper - wrapping, artist decorative, scrapbooking, magazine photos, or even plain construction. (Here is a good justification for saving scraps from around the house.) We like to use decorative and scrapbooking because it adds interesting texture and patterning. Before doing a Rangoli picture, we suggest that you start with a basic square grid pattern, so that the children can begin to understand how colors and patterns relate to and effect one another.

Materials

Base paper. Light colored cardstock is recommended.

Variety of paper scraps (cut into 1 or 2 inch squares)

Glue stick

Scissors

Pencil

Ruler

Directions

With a pencil and ruler, lightly draw and 1 (or 2 inch) square grid on the surface paper. Arrange your paper squares and glue.

Note: Once the child has mastered the art of arranging and gluing, have him/her experiment with rangoli designs. You can cut a square into triangles, for instance, to create a more complicated pattern. The possibilities are endless!

Paper Weaving

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

Click on image to view enlarged.

Materials

Piece of sturdy paper (cardstock is nice)

Strips of sturdy paper (at least 1/2 inch wide) The length should equal the width of your cardstock

Scissors

Glue Stick

Exacto knife (adult supervision)

Directions

With Exacto knife (or scissors) cut vertical strips into your cardstock. (Make sure that you leave at least 1/2 to 1 inch border at the top, bottom and sides.) Do not worry about exact measurements when you cut - it's nice to have irregular distances between the vertical lines.

Take your strips of paper and begin weaving. First strip travels over, under, over, under, etc. Glue the ends down to the cardstock. Second strip travels under, over, under, over, etc. Glue the ends to the cardstock. Repeat this process until you can weave no more. Experiment with patterned paper for your weaving strips and surface. The variations are endless.

Some helpful links on weaving for kids:

Different loom techniques for kids

Good diagrams on weaving process

Some paper weavings that were done by a few of our Balavihar campers.