Thursday, July 20, 2017

Kids Craft - Paper Plate UFO (with Alien!)



My apologies for not posting lately. Summer Reading means it's SUPER busy around here! This summer, instead of following the national theme, we are doing our own thing - games! Each week this summer has a different game as its theme, and this week we are doing Space Invaders. Everything is Outer Space! 

Aside from our Star Wars Party and showing of Star Wars: A New Hope, we had Perler Beads for the teens, and this funky UFO-and-Alien craft for the kids. Here's how to make your own!


Supplies:

  • 2 paper plates
  • 1 clear plastic cup
  • Pom-poms
  • Googly eyes, pipe cleaners, and other alien-decorating pieces
  • Crayons, markers, paints, stickers, or other decorations
  • Glue or tape (I used hot glue)
  • String or ribbon (optional)


 Directions:

  1. Decorate the bottom sides of your paper plates with markers, crayons, stickers, paints – or however you like! (If painting, let dry before continuing.) This will be the outside of your UFO.
  2.  Make your alien by decorating a pom-pom with googly eyes, pipe cleaners, feathers (they make great tentacles), etc..
  3. Tape or glue the lips of the plates together, so both decorated sides are facing out.
  4. Glue your alien to the middle of the top of your UFO.
  5. Glue the plastic cup so that the alien is inside it – he’s steering your ship!
  6. If desired, glue a loop of string or ribbon to the top of your UFO so that you can hang it up.

How It Went:

I made the decision to bring my hot glue gun for this one, because it dries in seconds instead of the hours that Elmer's takes. I had expected the kids to REALLY want to use it, but it was a non-issue. I'd make this decision again, because it meant that they were sturdy and ready to be played with immediately.

Something I hadn't counted on: they're flying saucers, and so kids were throwing them around. (In hindsight, I should have known that would happen.)

Everyone had a great time with this one! We talked about different materials you could use, like applesauce cups instead of plastic drinking cups, or bowls instead of plates. I mentioned you could glue on things like buttons and bottle caps, too, and I could see the wheels turning in one little mind. (I hope he brings me pictures!)

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