Halloween Skeleton

What You Need:

• Black construction paper
• White construction paper
• 19 Cotton swabs (+ a few extra just in case!)
• Glue
• Black marker
• Scissors

What You Do:

1. Ask your child which way the paper should be oriented to place it vertically, or in a portrait position, on the table. Hand them the sheet and have them place it correctly on the table in front of them.
2. Encourage your child to draw the skull of a skeleton on the white paper, cut it out and glue it on the black construction paper. They can draw in the features of the skull with a black marker.
3. Have them count out three sets of 4 cotton swabs and set them aside for the ribs, arms and legs of the skeleton.
4. Ask your child to glue one cotton swab so it's centered below the skull in a vertical position. This is the spine.
5. Now, they can place four cotton swabs over the spine in a horizontal orientation to create the ribs. Glue these in place.
6. Ask them to place the arms of the skeleton down in whatever position they like. Show your child how different arm positions communicate different clues as to the skeleton's personality. There should be two swabs per side, telling you the orientation of the cotton swabs. If they are vertical, ask them if the angle of the swabs is on an incline, or a decline.
7. Glue the swabs in place.
8. Repeat this process for the legs.
9. Have your child cut down five cotton swabs into small pieces to create the skeleton fingers. As they glue them in place, have them announce what direction they are pointing.
10. Ask your child to cut the last swab in half to create the feet, which should be glued in place horizontally.