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Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and it’s time for young kids to get involved in some fun arts and crafts projects. Here are some ideas that you may find useful.
preparation phase
For this special occasion, the central symbol that we are going to create is the heart. To do that, we’re going to need some basic materials for the teacher. Essential materials include:
1) A pair of scissors.
2) Sheets of colored paper and cardboard (if any).
3) Paper glue.
4) Any form of decorative material that is available to you.
Decorative materials do not have to be expensive. When purchased in bulk, they can be quite affordable. Some examples include ribbons, soft colored paper, wrapping paper, colored string, etc.
Of course, these are just essential materials that you will need. You are not limited to just using these materials. With a little creativity, you can turn useless materials like used magazines and newspapers into cute little items. Here are a couple of projects to get you started.
giant heart
For this project, this is what you will do.
1) Cut out a giant heart. The size depends on the size of paper that is available to you. Ideally, it should be 12″ x 18″ or larger. The font size is too small for what we are about to do. The color doesn’t really matter. The giant heart will serve as a backdrop for what is to come.
2) Now, cut out little hearts with the colored paper you have at your disposal. Cut off enough to fill the rim of the giant heart. Use paper glue to attach these little hearts, which are made from different colored paper, to the perimeter of the giant heart. You now have a giant heart that is nicely decorated with little colored hearts. The little hearts can also be cut into different sizes.
3) Leave a small space in the middle of the giant heart. Then in the middle choose your favorite Valentine poem and use a black or silver marker to write the poem in the middle. If there is not enough space, simply select a quote and write it there. Now you have a meaningful Valentine’s Day gift to give. If you are working with children, you can select a variety of quotes and poems for the children to choose from.
Decorative boxes
The boxes fulfill a more practical function. They can be used to store things or can be used as decorative ornaments. This is how you can create a nice Valentine box.
1) Use the cardboard paper you have and create the basic shape of a box. A box has six sides. If you are going to make a different cover, simply cut enough for five sides. Use paper glue to stick the sides together.
2) Now you have a basic box that you can decorate. You can choose a simple design and simply cut out hearts and flowers to stick on the box. Or you can get a little creative and put animal faces on the box. The nose and eyes can be heart-shaped, but of different colors.
Whatever design you’ve decided to put together, remember that it’s the fun you have with the kids that counts. So create a memorable experience and have fun!