Recycle your paper bags into placemats perfect for any outdoor picnic or meal! Your child will learn more about the concept of weaving and conservation. And, what’s great is that when they get dirty, they can be tossed in the bonfire – or the recycling bin!
What You Need:
- 1 brown paper bag
- Scissors
- Glue
What You Do:
- Start by offering your child a scissors and inviting her to cut the sides from the paper bag. She will be left with two rectangles, perfect for creating her paper bag placemat.
- Now she can cut one of the rectangles into 1-inch strips working with the rectangle vertically, creating short lengths instead of long ones.
- Invite your child to fold the other paper bag rectangle in half vertically, and then cut slits from the folded edge of the rectangle toward the upper edge, but stopping an inch short. This is her loom for weaving!
- Now invite your child to open up the folded rectangle. Start weaving the cut paper bag strips over and under the slatted paper bag unit there is no more room.
- Offer your child the glue and encourage her to secure the paper bag placemat together by putting a small amount of glue under each end of the paper bag strips.
Invite your child to make enough recycled paper bag placemats so each member of the family can use one for the next family meal!
By Sarah Lipoff
Sarah Lipoff has a K-12 Art Education degree and enjoys working with kids of all ages.
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