Creative Kids' Crafts from Old Magazines
Cheap, Fun, Learning Projects with Magazines, Paper Plates and Glue
Oct 26, 2009
Keep kids amused with these fun projects all based on old glossy magazines that are piling up on the bookshelf or in the corner. Don't waste those wonderful resources!
Fun Projects Using Old Magazines, Paper, Paper Plates, Craft Sticks
The projects listed below will involve kids in writing, story-telling, cutting and folding, and best of all – won’t cost a penny. Most of the materials besides the magazines are probably already in the kitchen, home office or kids’ schoolbags.
Cut Out Stick Puppets:
Children cut out pictures of people or animals from the magazines. Attach each “character” to ice-cream or craft sticks. Kids have to prepare a dialog, monologue or play with the stick puppets.
Theme suggestions:
- Pictures can be cut out based on a fairy story that the children know. This makes it easier for them to create the presentation if they are not yet able to produce a story of their own.
- A real event is chosen as a basis for their character search. The story can be based on something that has happened in their lives, for example, a birthday party in the family.
Practicing the ABC, Spelling and Cutting Skills:
The children cut out large printed letters of the alphabet from the magazines. They can form words and paste them onto paper, or merely cut out the letters if they are still learning how to write the alphabet. Practicing accurate cutting develops fine motor skills.
More ideas:
- The kids can hide each of the letters in places around the room. The others have to search for the letters. If there is only one child doing the project, the parent or caregiver can hide the letters that have been cut and have the search game for the one child alone.
- The children cut out the names of rooms and items in the house. Using tape, they stick the letters on the doors. In this way, they are learning how to spell and decorate.
Writing a Short Story or Sentences About a Picture
Cut outs are completed and pasted into a notebook or onto a piece of paper. The children write a little story using the cut outs as the illustrations for their story. Early learners may just be able to write a word or two to suit each of the pictures.
More Ideas:
- Older children can create a little book. Writing a story onto paper, stapling the pages together and illustrating with pictures from the magazine, makes for a very intensive, multi-skill challenge for a creative youngster. Alternatively, have kids write into a purchased notebook but use magazine pictures for the illustrations.
- Make a poster of the characters from a known story. Find pictures of people that could be the characters
Paper-Plate Decoration Project:
Hand out white or one-color paper plates which are to be decorated by pasting on cut-outs from magazines.Completed paper plates can easily be hung on walls and make for an attractive decoration that kids can be proud of.
More Ideas:
- Themed plates: Each child can choose a theme and find pictures to suit the theme. For example, football, pop stars, animals, food, dolls. Searching for items in one category teaches young learners how to categorize and eliminate unmatched subject matter.
- Use paper plates to create an original birthday or greeting card. Kids can find cartoon pictures or interesting photos to decorate it and cut out letters to make words for the greeting.
Magazines are Useful for Pictures and for Finding Interesting Topics to Talk About
Magazines can provide many pictures from the most common of items in a home to random, new, or strange photos, cartoons or drawings. Pictures, ads and headlines can become a springboard from which discussion about many subjects can be started.
Pictures and topics from magazines can prompt the imagination of the teacher or daycare giver, and promote further ideas and suggestions for craft activities in the playroom. Children themselves are often full of ideas, so it is suggested those who work with young people brainstorm the kids for other craft ideas.
Related Articles:
Crafts For Kids in the ESL Classroom: Many of the ideas in this article may well suit young children in the playroom
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