Construction paper
is useful in Styrofoam crafts.
Styrofoam is available in many shapes and sizes. The foam is inexpensive and sold at discount or hobby and craft stores. Styrofoam is lightweight and perfect for elementary-age children to use in crafts and art projects. The crafts only require basic art supplies and little time to assemble. Using Styrofoam as a base allows children to create items they will be proud to give as gifts or to display in their homes.
Peppermint-Striped Christmas Tree Decor
Have the elementary-age children decorate a peppermint-striped Christmas tree to present to their family or friends for holiday decor. Show them smear glue on a 12 inch by 4 inch Styrofoam cone shape. Instruct them to wrap thick, variegated red and white yarn around the cone until it reaches the top. Give them scissors to cut the yarn at the top. Instruct the students to glue the cone onto a Styrofoam disc that is 6 inches by 1 inch. Have them decorate the discs with green holly leaves and red berries that they cut out of felt and glue into place. Allow the pieces to dry before letting the children take them home.
Robot Heads
Give each of the children a 3-inch Styrofoam cube. Draw two 3-inch squares on felt for the top and bottom of each cube. Trace a 3 inch by 13 inch strip onto the felt. Have the children cut out the felt designs. Tell them to glue the felt squares on the top and bottom of the cubes. Show them spread glue onto the sides of the cube and then wrap the felt around the sides. They should allow the robot heads to dry before finishing the project. Have the elementary children decorate the robot heads with googly eyes, pushpins, stickers or permanent markers. Show them wrap florist wire around a pencil to make squiggly antenna's to stick into the robot heads.
Styrofoam Boat
Children can create their own Styrofoam boats and race them in pools, mud puddles or the bathtub. Teachers should wash Styrofoam meat trays carefully with hot, soapy water. Rinse them well and dry with a towel. Instruct the children to glue a straw standing up in the middle of the boat. Tell them to cut out a triangle shape from a piece of white construction paper to create the sail. Have them glue or tape it to the straw.
Wall Decor
Children enjoy personalizing their bedrooms with wall decor they create. Give each child a square Styrofoam sheet that is 12 inches by 12 inches and 1 inch thick. Have them use regular school glue to attach a 12 by 12 piece of construction paper to one side. Demonstrate wrap ribbon that is 1 inch wide around the edge of the Styrofoam and glue it into place. Allow the children to cut out their initials or the first letter of their name by using letter stencils and black construction paper. Instruct them to glue the letters to the front wherever they desire. Tell them to allow the artwork to dry before continuing. Have each student add a picture hanger to the back of his wall decor and allow it to dry again. Another idea is to allow the kids to draw a picture with colored markers or to use decorative stickers to decorate the wall decor.
