How to Make a Bumble Bee From a Clothes Hanger, Part 1

Great fun and lots of learning can come from an art project. When you work with the children to make a bumble bee from a clothes hanger, you will be developing specific skills. Part 1 develops fine motor skills and the recognition of shapes. This is a two-part project that teaches and also creates a whimsical decoration for the children to take home.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Clothes hanger
• Yellow tissue paper
• White craft glue

Cutting Out the Body Parts

1. Start by cutting legs for your bee that are about 2 inches long. Draw them like an upside down "V" with feet on the end of them pointing forward. Make the left side slightly narrower to indicate distance.

2. Cut a large circle from the construction paper for the head. Then, cut a small triangle as the stinger and three 2-inch-wide strips for the stripes on the bee. Finally, cut two small circles to make the pupils.

3. Fold a sheet white paper in half. From this sheet, cut out larger circles for the wings. Cut out small circles for the whites of the eyes. Since the paper is folded, you have two of each. Cut a mouth from the paper, shaping it like a "U" with an "M" on the end or like a bone that's been bent.

4. Create a small circle on red paper for the bee's nose. You now have all the parts cut for the bee from a hanger and are ready to begin the shape of the body to complete part one.

5. Use a plastic bag to store the cut parts until you're ready to use them.

Creating the Body

6. Hold the hanger with the bottom to the outside and the hook facing toward the ground. Push the bottom outward until the shape is elongated.

7. Pull the hanger out just above the original bend and below it until the hanger closely resembles a circle. Bend the original angles outward and work with it until it looks like a circle with a hook.

8. Open a sheet of yellow tissue paper. Lay the circular hanger onto the paper and fold the other half over. Make the folded side snug against the wire and line the sides of the paper up. Make sure the hook part of the hanger is on the outside of the paper.

9. Fold the paper back and squiggle white craft glue all the way around the wire hanger. Don't put too much on the wire and paper but make certain that it's evenly coated or the tissue won't stick.

10. Pat the tissue down all the way around the wire. Turn the hanger over and do the same on the other side.

11. Lay the body aside and allow the glue to dry. Once it's dry, cut off the excess paper on the outside of the circle. Don't cut too close to the clothes hanger or you'll weakens the glue seams.

12. Continue to the next article, "How to Make a Bumble Bee From a Clothes Hanger, Part 2" to assemble your bee.

Tips & Warnings

• Use lighter weight hangers, such as those from a cleaners, so that it's easier to bend them to a circle.
• Pay careful attention when the children pull the hanger into a circle to prevent injury.