Time of Connection (including time zones)

Oct. 30, 9:30 CST

Classroom A: Mel Tucker (Brookhaven, Killeen, TX)

Flying Octopus Pinata

These are the directions for constructing the main body.

 Gather Materials: One punching balloon (16” Diameter), glue made from flour and water, newspaper cut into strips, and a large bowl

    Steps:     1st Blow balloon to desired firmness

            2nd Add water to flour until consistency of very thin pancake batter

            3rd cut strips (or tear paper) about 2 inches wide and 1 foot or less in length

            4th dip strips into glue and coat both sides

            5th cover entire surface area with strips and allow time to dry ( We shortened drying time with a hair dryer)

        **Repeat steps 3-5 twice more

*    The steps are repeated to make the head portion of “Our” Octopus Monster

***Use a regular large balloon for the head***

When both are dry connect the two sections by tying together with yarn and, set aside.

These are the steps in making the 8 tentacles of the monster.

        Materials: 16 sheets of construction paper( different colors ), Elmer's glue(blue)

    Step 1    Roll construction paper into long thin cylinders about 1 1/2 inches in diameter and glue along lengths.

    Step 2    Insert one tube into another and glue ends together.

    Step 3     Fold down the opening of each end of the completed tubes towards the hollow center and flatten for attachment later.

To make the ends of the tentacles:

    Step 1     Trace 4 right and 4 left hands and feet and cut out of construction paper.

    Step 2    Glue the right and left pieces of the hands and feet together for proper thickness.

For the Suckers: Cut the bottoms out of 24 translucent plastic cups(8 oz)

For the Eyes: 2 plastic translucent cups and 2 water balloons.

    Step 1     Turn cup upside down and use a tack to make a small hole.

    Step 2     Use a phillips screwdriver to widen the hole.

    Step 3     Inflate two balloons and tie off

    Step 4    Tie a piece of yarn to the end of each balloon and pull into the cups from the inside and secure with a knot at the bottom.

For the Beak:  Materials needed are a plastic dinner plate and scissors

    Step 1    Cut out 3 large triangles (3 inches long)  and fold down about a 1/4 inch from the base

    Step 2     Cut out 3 smaller triangles(1 1/2 inches long) and fold down as above.

To complete the Monster use glue to connect the tentacles to the main body and, the suckers to the tentacles. and the hands and feet alternately on the ends of each one.

Next attach the eyes to the head with the glue so that the open end shows the balloons.

Then arrange the Beaks 3 larger triangles in a circle with the 3 smaller ones in the inside of the circle with glue.

Finally cut 2 inch strips of different colored butcher paper( we had yellow, green, pink, black and orange) and cut a fringe on one end. Roll with a pencil so they are curly. Cover the entire surface and hang from the neck.

He flies by spinning.

Classroom B: Kim Laywell (Covington ISD, TX)

To create Frankenpire we took the following steps.

Head:

Put two shoe boxes together and cover it with green construction paper.  Cut 1/4 of a shoe box lid off and cover it with green construction paper, this will be his neck.  Make two small piles of orange string for the eyes and place two small pieces of red string in the center of each pile for the pupils.  Blow up a mini green balloon for the nose.  We used 4 inches of red string for the mouth adding one pointed and one square fang made of white paper.  Place a 3 inch piece of red string diagonally next to the corner of the mouth, put staples across the string to make it look like a scar.  Cut a black piece of construction paper spiky and glue it to the top of his head, this is his hair.  Place a 8 oz. clear plastic cup on each side of his head for ears.  Glue the head to the neck.

Body:

Cover a boot box with green construction paper.  Cut a triangle out of a piece of cardboard and cover it with black construction paper for a cape.  Make a large capital F out of red string and glue to the back of the cape.  Attach the head and neck to the body.

Arms:

Make two 4 x 8  boxes out of green construction paper and glue one to each side of the body.  Trace two hands onto green construction paper, cut them out, and glue them to the arms. 

Legs:

Glue two pieces of green construction paper together to make long pieces, roll it to make a tube, do this again for the other leg.  Blow up two small balloons and put one on the end of each leg for feet.  Blow up two mini balloons and attach them to a foot for toes.  Do this again for the other foot.  Make a tab on the top of each of the legs and glue them to the bottom of the body.  He will be sitting down.