The White Feather Flier will take you on a journey to help the Earth.
Materials you’ll need
- One Sheet of White Foam Paper
- Scissors
- 2 Googly Eyes
- 5 White Feathers
- Felt-tip Markers
- Glue Plastic bottle cap filled to level w/Silly Putty or Play-Doh
- Plastic dome (empty toy container)
- Twine
- Small Fabric Pom-poms
- Stapler
Instructions
- Have the child press the plastic dome down in the top middle of the foam sheet and the adult cut a hole using scissors to match the indent (where the dome will emerge in the finished Flier).
- Have the child roll the paper into a cylinder and hold while the adult fastens with staples. Be sure to cut and set aside a small square that will later become the front of the Flier.
- Have the adult poke 5 small holes into the foam sheet using the tip of the scissors (two in front of the dome hole; two at the back and one in the top back).
- Have the child glue googly eyes onto front of the dome. Set aside to dry.
- When eyes are dry, the adult should gently insert the dome into the cylinder and place it above the hole. If the hole is too loose, secure with glue.
- Tuck the reserved square into the open hole ahead of dome to complete the front. It should hold without any glue.
- Have the child hold the Flier steady while the adult glues the plastic bottle cap at the edge of the front of the cylinder. Set aside to dry.
- Once dry, have the child gently place one white feather inside each small hole.
- Cut a handful of small pieces of twine, then have the child glue one fabric pom-pom onto the end of each piece of twine.
- Have the adult glue or staple the twine inside the open back end of the Flier, with the pom-pom ends dangling over the edge, as if they’re trailing behind.
- Have the child decorate the Flier using the felt-tip markers. Be sure to add a smile to the front!
Suggested discussion topics
- Recall a time when someone helped the child or they helped someone else and how good it felt.
- Why it’s important to help the earth (discuss everything that’s a part of the earth: plants, bodies of water, animals, insects, trees, rocks).
- Ways to help the earth (pick up litter, recycle, water plants).
- Explore natural creatures that fly like the White Feather Flier (birds, bats, certain breeds of squirrels, mobula ray gliding fish, insects); discuss why it’s so important to keep the air clean and reduce pollution for them.
