Kitah Bet-2 Makes Papier Mache Plants

For their final big project of the year, Kitah Bet-2 created their own papier mache plants. This project blends together their interests in plants with sensory play.

During their first session in the Atelier, the children built the armature of their plants in a small pot. First, each child placed a cube of styrofoam in a small terracotta pot. Next they stuck a wooden skewer into the center of the styrofoam. The children were offered twist ties, pipecleaners and floral wire to twist onto the skewer to form branches, petals and leaves for their plants.

During the next session the children filled out the structure of their plants with papier mache. The children mixed together flower, salt, water, and school glue to create a paste. The children tore scrap paper into strips and dipped them into the paste. They wrapped the wet paper strips around the wires.

Once the papier mache dried, the children painted their plants with bright colored acrylic paints.