Paper Plate Crab Craft

DLTK's Crafts for Kids Paper Plate Crab Craft

This is a simple paper plate craft that's suitable for young children to make.
My daughter usually loves painting paper plates, but this time she decided to use a children's marker and spray it with a spritz bottle so the color ran a little bit.

If you don't have a paper plate, trace a regular plate on a piece of cardboard (old cereal box) or use a margarine container lid.

MATERIALS:

• 
  paper plate or alternate (we used snack size in this picture, but dinner size would work too)


• 
  pipecleaners or two twist tie's twisted together - 9 of these. If using snack size, cut pipecleaners in half


• 
  1 inch(ish) pieces of drinking straw


• 
  hole punch


• 
  markers or paint
  

INSTRUCTIONS:

• punch 8 holes around the edge of the plate


• 
  thread pipecleaners/twistties through these holes and twist to secure.


• 
  Put three pieces of straw on each of the pipecleaners. (represents real leg segments)
  bend legs to shape/make look like he's walking


• 
  punch two more holes, close together in the "front" and put 1 pipecleaner through with ends sticking up. Twist to secure and add beads to the end to decorate (if desired)


• 
  color or paint

This is just one of the many creatures we are exploring in our Summer Adventure. In Kindermusik we believe that children this age learn best when playing with someone they are emotionally involved with such as a parent or caregiver. Let the child lead as you explore this activity together. Don't worry about the crab turning out just like the instructions.

Benefits of this activity:

• Positive, loving parent-child interaction


• Creativity


• Developing fine-motor skills