Aquarium Acrobats
What's swimming in front of your eyes? Are those swaying anemones plants or animals? Fill an imaginary aquarium with underwater acrobats!
1. Visit a large aquarium and explore the exhibits, or study smaller ones in a pet shop. Find out which underwater creatures can live together, and which must be kept separate. Find out how live plants contribute to aquarium life. How are salt-water and fresh-water creatures cared for?
2. Choose a recycled box, such as a shoe box, to make your realistic aquarium scene. Cut away any extra cardboard with Crayola®Scissors so it is easy to see inside the aquarium.
3. Cut two matching holes in the top middle sides of the box. Insert a dowel stick into the holes. You will hang your Aquarium Acrobats from this stick.
4. On the inside and back of your aquarium, use Crayola Crayons to draw ocean creatures and plant life. Press hard to make a heavy layer of wax.
5. Cover your art area with newspaper. Paint the outside of your aquarium with Crayola Washable Kid's Paint and Crayola Paint Brushes. Inside, finish painting the underwater scene with fish, coral reefs, plants, and water. When you paint over the crayon, it will resist the paint. Your fish and plants will look like they are in water. Dry.
6. Use crayons and Crayola Washable Markers to design more fish and sea creatures on white paper. Cut them out. Design the backs of the cutouts so that when they do their acrobat tricks they will be colorful. Punch a hole in the top of each one. Tie string through holes and to the dowel stick so your Aquarium Acrobats can swim.
7. Spread Crayola School Glue on the bottom of the box. Cover with aquarium gravel or sandpaper while the glue is wet. If you like, glue on real seashells or other craft items to complete your aquarium.
8. Glue blue plastic wrap across the open areas to look like glass in an aquarium. Wiggle and twist the dowel stick to see your Aquarium Acrobats in motion.
Adult supervision is required for any arts & crafts project. Observe children closely and intervene as necessary to prevent potential safety problems and ensure appropriate use of arts and crafts materials. Some craft items, particularly beads and buttons, are potential choking hazards for young children. Avoid use of such small parts with children younger than 3 years. Craft items such as scissors, push pins and chenille sticks may have sharp points or edges. Avoid use of materials with sharp points by children younger than 4 years. Read all manufacturers' safety warnings before using arts and craft supplies.
Crayola Washable Paints—Not for use as body/face paint.
Scissors—ATTENTION: The cutting edges of scissors are sharp and care should be taken whenever cutting or handling. Blunt-tip scissors should be used only by children 4 years and older. Pointed-tip scissors should be used only by children 6 years and older.
String-Like Materials—Includes string, raffia, lacing, yarn, ribbon, and other similar material. Children 3 years and younger should not be given any string-like material that is longer than 12 inches. Close adult supervision is essential whenever children use string-like material. When crafts are to be worn around the necks of children 8 years and younger, attach the ends of the “string-like material” with clear adhesive tape, which allows easy release of the bond if the craft becomes entangled or caught on equipment. For children older than 8 years, the ends of the “string-like material” may be tied and knotted.
Wood—By its nature, wood is rough and may contain splinters or sharp points
- Students research how marine life differs from and is similar to land life. What kinds of species live in each environment? How do animals adapt to different living conditions? What characteristics do marine animals have for them survive?
- Children create imaginary sea creatures. Then write about their creature-where will it live, how does it survive, what adaptations does it make for its environment?
- Select a specific ocean depth, lake, or river habitat. Find out what life is found in this watery environment. Create a room-size aquarium with replicas of creatures that hang from the ceiling and plants that grow from the walls and floor. Design all life to scale.
Dressing Pets
Above & Below the Pond
Mola Magic
