School Projects: Paper Feather
Students of all ages enjoy small projects that let them show their creativity. Paper feathers are inexpensive to make, as you can use ordinary construction paper in this project. Making paper feathers is so simple that even very young children can make this craft, who appreciate the bright colors in the project. Paper feathers complement a Thanksgiving theme,and the project is suitable for all ages, but is best for elementary or preschool students.
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Making a Paper Feather
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Making paper feathers is a simple project. Have your students fold a piece of construction paper in half, and cut an elongated-drop shape along the fold. When the student unfolds it, she has made a feather shape. Cutting little slits along the edge gives a feather-like appearance and texture. Alternatively, print out a feather that has the texture printed on it from an online website (see Reference 1). Have your students simply color the feather and cut it out of the paper.
Paper Turkey
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Students can use their paper feathers to decorate a turkey. To create the body of the turkey, the students can cover a paper plate with brown paper, attach a paper head and glue feathers around the edge of the plate for the tail. Alternatively, your student can make a traditional "hand turkey," in which he traces around his own hand and cuts out the pattern. The thumb is the "head" of the bird, and she can glue a feather onto each finger to make a tail. Or, find printouts of turkey bodies online or in coloring books. While this is a Thanksgiving-themed project, you can have your students decorate another type of bird, such as a chicken or duck, to make this a spring-themed project instead.
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Thankful Turkey
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Create a paper turkey and pin it to the bulletin board in your classroom. Ask each student to create a paper feather. Then, have the students write something that they are thankful for on their feather. After all your students finish, pin the feathers around the turkey to make the tail.
Paper Headband
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Make a paper headband and adorn it with paper feathers to use as a component in a Pocahontas or other Native American costume. Cut thick strips of construction paper, about 2 to 3 inches by 24 inches. Wrap the strip around a student's head to see how large to make the band, then staple the ends of the strips together to make a circle. The student decorates the band by gluing paper feathers to the back, over the staple. Place the headband on a level surface so the feathers are flat and allow the glue to dry, or the feathers may dry in a crooked, haphazard manner.
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References
- Photo Credit Hemera Technologies/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images
