What are some good arts and crafts ideas for older boys AND younger girls?
Hi! I am holding a summer class for girls and boys ages 6-12. I have a few 6,7 year old girls, a few 8,9,10 year old boys and some kids in the middle. I really need some fun craft ideas to keep these kids occupied, but am having some difficulties finding crafts for both of these age groups. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!
Also, any fun games, stories, other ideas that anyone has to pass time would be great! The classes are an hour long.
the previous poster has some good suggestions.
i would go a little further & add that, to make it interesting, you can announce a sort of competition – either between mixed groups or between diff age/gender groups. and there will be some reward – either they accumulate points & will be rewarded later, or daily – as you wish.
eg. have them make origami planes, boats, balls, hats, etc. & then hold a contest to see who’s plane flies farthest, who’s boat floats longest, & so on.
they can make origami flowers or crepe-paper flowers [i think that's the word my previous poster wanted] or tissue paper carnations. tell them that they’re going to make a bouquet for their Mom…
make papier mache articles. there’s tons of fun stuff you can make.
make masks – construction paper, papier mache, or innovate. the most ingenious one gets prize.
make puppets – marionettes, sock, finger, string, whatever… then hold a play/skit.
collect twigs, dried flowers, leaves, etc. & make greeting card for an upcoming occassion. the best one gets a prize.
[remember, you can put these to vote too, so that everybody feels involved & doesn't feel there's any bias...]
make paper beads & string into jewelery, purses, curtains, mobiles, etc.
braid ribbons or fabric strips into mats, rugs, coasters.
get each kid to tell a story/joke/anecdote while they are working.
maybe build a story — you start with a sentence, the next kid adds another sentence to it, then the next & so on till you get a great/weird story!
singing & dancing –
if it is a multicultural group, each can try to bring in their traditional or folk song/dance too.
play "telephone", "tailing the donkey", 20 Questions, dumb charades, or any such party game.
doodling, finger-painting, etc. Or, again ‘build’ a drawing. pin up a large sheet of paper or board. let each kid come up & draw something. it should be connected/joined to what the previous kid drew [so that you get some sort of continuing picture & not isolated images] & see what image emerges. you can start off with any simple geometrical shape.
paint t-shirts
stamp or print on bedsheet, etc. You can use cut vegetables, leaves, etc.
hope these inspire
just use search engines to get tons of sites for these activities. if you choose any, you can also email me [or go thru' my answers] for specific sites. the list is too long otherwise.
all the very best & have fun 
)
Suz on July 31st 2009 in arts and craft ideas
unreal_sleep responded on 31 Jul 2009 at 5:44 am #
Make flowers from a paper, but there is a lighter and colorful material, but i do not know the name of the material. Its like for a birthday party, its soft, paperish like tissue.
Make buildings or house.
Vehicles, convertible car, a sedan or a truck.
Origami
make a comic book.
References :
meenakshi responded on 31 Jul 2009 at 6:00 am #
the previous poster has some good suggestions.
i would go a little further & add that, to make it interesting, you can announce a sort of competition – either between mixed groups or between diff age/gender groups. and there will be some reward – either they accumulate points & will be rewarded later, or daily – as you wish.
eg. have them make origami planes, boats, balls, hats, etc. & then hold a contest to see who’s plane flies farthest, who’s boat floats longest, & so on.
they can make origami flowers or crepe-paper flowers [i think that's the word my previous poster wanted] or tissue paper carnations. tell them that they’re going to make a bouquet for their Mom…
make papier mache articles. there’s tons of fun stuff you can make.
make masks – construction paper, papier mache, or innovate. the most ingenious one gets prize.
make puppets – marionettes, sock, finger, string, whatever… then hold a play/skit.
collect twigs, dried flowers, leaves, etc. & make greeting card for an upcoming occassion. the best one gets a prize.
[remember, you can put these to vote too, so that everybody feels involved & doesn't feel there's any bias...]
make paper beads & string into jewelery, purses, curtains, mobiles, etc.
braid ribbons or fabric strips into mats, rugs, coasters.
get each kid to tell a story/joke/anecdote while they are working.
maybe build a story — you start with a sentence, the next kid adds another sentence to it, then the next & so on till you get a great/weird story!
singing & dancing –
if it is a multicultural group, each can try to bring in their traditional or folk song/dance too.
play "telephone", "tailing the donkey", 20 Questions, dumb charades, or any such party game.
doodling, finger-painting, etc. Or, again ‘build’ a drawing. pin up a large sheet of paper or board. let each kid come up & draw something. it should be connected/joined to what the previous kid drew [so that you get some sort of continuing picture & not isolated images] & see what image emerges. you can start off with any simple geometrical shape.
paint t-shirts
stamp or print on bedsheet, etc. You can use cut vegetables, leaves, etc.
hope these inspire
)
just use search engines to get tons of sites for these activities. if you choose any, you can also email me [or go thru' my answers] for specific sites. the list is too long otherwise.
all the very best & have fun
References :