a simple diy :: talking parrot

This year’s Vacation Bible School (VBS) theme is “In the Wild” and I was asked to lead crafts.  Each year I use the Craft Leader’s Guide to help me come up with craft ideas.  Then I try to find a way to recreate those ideas using household items instead of purchasing the craft kits.  Our church doesn’t have the budget to buy 200 plus kits so this is the best option for us.  One of my favorite crafts this year was the “Talking Parrot”, and I used this craft for 1st and 2nd graders.

Supplies:

• toilet paper tubes
• construction paper
• wiggly eyes
• craft feathers
• Elmer’s glue
• Chenille stems
• Hole punch

Step 1: I precut the red head and green body pieces of construction paper out for the students and used a toilet paper roll to measure by.  Once you pass them out to your class have them glue them one at a time onto the toilet paper roll using Elmer’s Glue.  Show them how to lay their toilet paper roll down on the table to roll the construction paper onto the toilet paper roll easier.

Step 2:  Next glue the belly onto the green construction paper with the curved end at the bottom of your toilet paper roll.

Step 3:  Then have the teacher hot glue the parrot’s beak and wiggly eyes on, but if you prefer Elmer’s Glue will work if you prefer for your students to do it by themselves.

Step 4:  Once you have the beak and wiggly eyes glued on add your feathers.  Your students should add feathers on their head, wings and tail.  This is totally up to the teacher how many feathers the students can add.

Step 5:  Last hole punch the “Talking Parrot” and have your students put their chenille stem trough the holes.

Would you use this craft for your Vacation Bible School?