Make crafts with construction paper.
Construction paper is a staple item for any child's arts-and-crafts kit. The paper, which you can find at any store that sells paper goods or art supplies, is inexpensive, easy for little hands to work with, and it comes in a spectrum of colors. Many kid-oriented craft projects, from printmaking to collage, call for construction paper.
Sun Prints
Fast-fading construction paper makes an effective material for making sun prints. This project is easy enough for preschoolers, but the results are interesting enough to captivate older children too. All you need to make sun prints are a few sheets of dark construction paper, flat objects collected from either the outdoors or from around the house, and most importantly, a sunny day. Have kids set a piece of construction paper in a sunny spot and arrange objects on top of it. Let the paper site for an hour, then remove the objects to reveal the sun print. The parts of the paper protected from the sun will look dark against a faded background.
Paper Sculpture
Children can learn about shapes when they make three-dimensional construction paper sculptures. The activity requires little more than scissors, construction paper and a glue stick; if adults prepare the materials, even preschoolers can successfully create their own sculpture. To prep materials, cut stars, triangles and circles from sheets of construction paper, and cut several more sheets into long and short strips. Have children roll strips into hollow circles or fold them into square or triangle shapes. Glue the folded strips onto a construction paper base and add cut-out shapes to complete the sculpture.
Hearts and Flowers Paper Bouquet
This construction paper activity makes a bouquet of flowers that will last for years. Depending on the amount of time you can devote to this project, you can make a single flower or an entire bunch. Each bloom features layered heart-and-flower shapes. Older children can draw their own heart-and-flower templates and cut them from construction paper, while adults can assist smaller children. After you've cut out hearts and flowers in a variety of sizes, stack together three or four shapes, with the largest shape at the bottom and the smallest at the top. Glue each shape into place and attach the finished flower to a drinking-straw or pipe-cleaner stem.
