Make Your Own Aquarium Pop-up Puppets!
You will need:
- A translucent blue or green cup (you can substitute a Styrofoam cup)
- A long lollipop stick (available in most craft stores)
- A large pom pom (about one inch)
- 2 pipe cleaners
- 2 googly eyes
- A glue gun
- White glue
- Fish stickers (optional)
- An Awl (not needed if using a Styrofoam cup)
Preparation:
If you are using a plastic cup, an adult needs to put a hole in the center of the bottom of the cup. An awl is the safest way. If you are doing this project for many kids you may prefer to use an old soldering iron. Heat the iron up and hold the tip to the plastic where you want the hole to be, until the iron melts clear through. DO NOT LET CHILDREN TOUCH THE SOLDERING IRON. MAKE SURE THE AREA IS VERY WELL VENTILATED. DO NOT DO THIS WHEN CHILDREN WILL BE EXPOSED TO THE FUMES. ALWAYS WEAR CLEAN UNDERWEAR. You know... just in case.
If you are using a Styrofoam or paper cup, an adult needs to put a hole in the center of the bottom of the cup. A sharpened pencil works well.
1.
Choose
a.) a large pom-pom for your octopus's body
b.) 2 pipe cleaners for legs.
2.
Cut pipe cleaners in half.
3.
Bend the 4 pipe cleaners in half again and wrap together as shown.
4.
Shape legs so that they will fit into the cup.
5.
Take pom-pom, legs, long lollypop stick, and the eyes you want to an adult with a glue gun. They will attach them for you.
6.
Decorate your cup with fish stickers. You can draw and color your own fish to decorate your cup. Use double stick tape or white glue to attach your drawings.
7.
(optional) Put some green tissue paper "seaweed" in the bottom of the cup.
8.
Put your octopus in the cup. (The stick goes through the hole.)
9. Push the stick up to make your octopus swim.
© Carolyn Smith 2000
www.pizpuppets.com
