Kitah Bet's Papier-Mache Plants

They each chose styrofoam shapes to stick into small terracotta pots. Some children stuck wire in as well and twisted it around a skewer to create stems and leaves. Some children stuck toothpicks into the styrofoam to mimic spikes on a cactus.

The children also began cutting and ripping paper to make papier mache to cover these structures, next week.

The next step was wrapping the plant structures with Papier-Mache. 

The children mixed equal parts flour flour and water, plus a sprinkle of salt. They took turns adding and mixing the ingredients.

Next, the children dipped strips of newsprint into the paste, wiped off the extra liquid, Then wrapped the wet paper around their structure. They added strips until all of the wood, styrofoam, and wire was covered. This process also allows the children to build volume.

The following week, the children painted the dried papier mache sculptures. They used bright shades of blue, green, white, and teal acrylic paints. 

Once the paint layer dried, the children glued pom poms, gems, sequins, and fabric flowers and leaves to their sculptures. They also sprinkled glitter onto the wet glue.