Craft a Goat Mask

"Old MacDonald had a farm..." and now your child can have one too! Here's a simple craft project to help your child construct a cool goat mask. Not only will it give your child a new costume for dramatic play, but it'll also let him work on his fine motor skills. And you don't have to stop there: create other farm animal masks and get the whole family together for a costumed rendition of "Old MacDonald Had a Farm".

What You Need:

• 1 large paper plate per mask
• Cotton balls
• Non-toxic black markers or black crayons
• Scissors
• Stapler
• Glue or glue stick
• String or elastic cord
• Hole punch

What to Do:

1. Have the children cut off the outer rim of the paper plate. Save this ring. It will become the goat's horns.
2. Using the inner portion of the plate, fold in the two sides to make the goat’s head so it forms a cone-shape with a flat end (not a point).
3. Turn the plate over, and on the side without the folds, draw eyes, a nose, and mouth with the crayons or markers. Older children can do this themselves, but provide a model to guide them.
4. Glue two or three cotton balls on the chin to make a little beard. Stretch and fluff them out a bit with your fingers.
5. Staple or glue the outer rim of the plate on top of the head to make the horns. The tips of the horns can be curled if you like by wrapping them around your finger before attaching.
6. Cut out the eyes using a hole punch or the sharp scissors point.
7. Attach the cross-string or elastic cord to the mask by making two holes on the far sides of the mask and tying the strings there.

Want to do more?

• Cow masks can be made by using the same technique and materials but use the whole inner circle for the cow’s head—do not fold in the sides. Attach the cut rim ”horns” at the top but do not curl them. Finish by painting them with appropriate colors.
• If you are acting out the song, the cows could wear bells around their necks.
• Note: Young children are sometimes frightened by masks so introduce them carefully.