Paper Bag Projects for Preschool
Children in preschool are full of energy, so art projects are one way to keep them entertained and help them learn at the same time. Paper bags are easy to find, inexpensive, versatile and familiar to young children, which makes them appropriate for multiple art projects. They easily transform into art objects to be admired or objects that invite play.
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Masks
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Preschoolers can create masks by decorating bags with markers, glitter, glue and felt. Cut the bag lengthwise so it's open as a flat piece of paper. Cut out holes for eyes, a mouth and a nose. Use a hole punch to create small holes in both sides of the mask so a string can be pulled through and the mask can be worn.
Puppets
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Small paper bags, such as lunch bags, easily can turn into puppets. The bottom of the bag becomes the face, and children put their arm in the bag to move the flap up and down like a mouth. Have the preschoolers use googly eyes, watercolor paint and felt to create the face and body of the puppet. Glue yarn on top of the head as hair or fur.
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Christmas Stockings
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A grocery paper bag makes an easy Christmas stocking project for preschoolers. Flatten the bag and cut a stocking shape out of it so both sides are cut and are equally shaped. Punch holes around the border of the stocking (through both sides), and weave red and green yarn to tie the two sides together so the stocking can hold items. Have preschoolers decorate the outside of the stocking with glitter, watercolor paint and markers.
Valentine's Day Mailbox
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For this project, white paper bags, instead of brown, work best. Turn the bag on its side and decorate it with red and pink paper hearts. Use red construction paper to make a mailbox flag, which can be glued onto the bag near the opening. Help them write their name or initials on the bag. Preschoolers can stick valentines into the bag as though it's an open mailbox.
Ancient Map
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The color of brown paper bags makes them easy to turn into a project that resembles old leather scrolls or maps. Cut a rectangle out of a bag. Have the preschoolers draw a treasure map or cave-man art using black crayon. Crumple up the paper into a ball and carefully unfold it and flatten it out. Repeat this multiple times until the paper is softer and feels more "leathery."
Kite
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A large grocery bag works best for this project, but any size paper bag will work. Have children decorate the bag any way they like on all sides. Use glitter, markers, crayons, watercolor paint, yarn and anything lightweight that will stick to the bag. Punch a hole at the bottom of each side of the bag. Tie a foot-long string to each hole so four strings hang down. Tie all the strings together at the bottom. Attach the kite to a kite string and let it fly.
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- Photo Credit Empty brown paperbag isolated on white image by sumos from Fotolia.com
