DLTK's Crafts for Kids
Stuffed Paper
Bag Whale
This is a classic craft that we've likely all made when we were young. It continues to be loads of fun for the kids!
Materials:
- paint - blue or grey (tempra, poster or acrylic paints all work well)
- paper lunch bag
- newspaper
- blue construction paper
- elastic band or masking tape
- scotch tape
- glue,
- black marker
- Optional: wiggly eyes
Instructions:
- stuff paper bag with shredded newspaper, leaving about 3 inches unstuffed
- Scrunch the top together and wrap an elastic band or masking tape
around to seal.
- The stuffed part is the body of the whale.
- The end (top of the bag) is the tail.
- paint the paper bag, including the tail, a whale color (blue or grey) or even black and white for an orca whale. I never paint the bottom of the whale (the tummy).
- While your bag is drying...
- Cut out flipper shapes from the blue construction paper
- Cut a rectangle from the blue construction paper and cut slits in it (see the dotted lines below)
- Roll the piece around a pencil and tape it to make a tube (the spout of the whale)
Once the bag is dry:
- Scotch tape or glue the flippers to the paper bag (I usually glue them to the tummy).
- You can poke a hole in the top of the bag with a pencil and squish the bottom of the spout in there and then apply scotch tape as needed.
- Use a black marker to draw on eyes and a nose (or use wiggly eyes
or round stickers).
Whale Pinata:
You can add wrapped candy to the stuffing and then allow the kids to break open their whales with a stick (like a pinata). Having said that, I find the kids grow so attached to their creations that they don't really have the heart to break them.
Jonah and the Whale:
Draw a "paper person" and cut him out OR twist a pipecleaner into a person shape like shown to the right. This is Jonah.
Stuff the whale a little ways, then insert your Jonah into the whale. Finish stuffing and continue on with the craft instructions as normal.
The children will know Jonah is "trapped" inside their whale.