Grab your supplies and dive in! In this challenge you’ll learn a fun wavy paper cutting technique to transform a cardboard tube into a fish puppet. To do this you’ll need to BE DETERMINED to add as many wavy scales and fancy fins to your tube as possible.
This is no ordinary DIY project for kids: It’s a step toward becoming an innovator.
Every Galileo Design-It-Yourself Challenge teaches the same techniques and mindsets that professional designers an engineers, artists and chefs use in their work. With skills like these, we believe you can change the world.
Get Involved—For Grown Ups
Materials list:
Help your child find these materials or a close substitute:
1 cardboard tube
Paper
Scissors
Glue stick
Tape
Something to draw with (markers, crayons, etc.)
Optional: Stick
Activity GUIDE:
Refer to these steps to keep young innovators on track as they create:
Prep Support:
Cut a rectangle of paper that is just the right size to roll around the tube; 4×6.5” for a standard toilet paper tube (0:50).
Activity Details:
1. Cut wavy strips to be the scales and fins.
Support kids with folding as necessary and remind them to cut the short way (1:35).
Support being determined—If kids are getting frustrated with cutting, reassure them that it’s ok if it’s tricky and it will get easier with practice.
Ask: What other kinds of lines can you try cutting? What about zigzags? Big curves? Small curves?
2. Glue the strips onto the rectangle paper.
Support being determined—If kids are getting tired remind them that the more they cover the paper with scales the more awesome their fish will look!
3. Attach the rectangle paper to the tube.
4. Add eyes and a mouth.
5. Add a tail using more wavy strips.
6. Optional: Make more fins and/or add a stick—If kids want to add a stick help poke a hole in the bottom of their tube.
More Ideas:
Every project presents opportunities to add your own twists or extensions. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Innovate On! Make a friend for your fish that looks totally different from your first one.
Share your creation! Make up a story using your two fish and act it out for friends or family members.
Think about what else you could make using the cool wavy strip cutting technique you learned and try it. Maybe decorations for your room or other creatures like jellyfish!
Wrap Up Questions:
Lock in the learning by asking your child these questions about their project and how they practiced the featured Innovator’s Mindset element:
Tell me about your favorite part about your fish.
How were you determined when creating your fish puppet? What parts were tricky? Was there a part you worked extra hard on?
SHARE!
Great learning can come from sharing successes and failures—to solidify your own experience as an innovator and to inspire others.
Your innovation doesn’t stop with you. Inspire someone else by sharing your project challenge—maybe they’ll try it themselves or maybe your project will give them a new idea.
Who: someone in your house, a family member, a friend
How: in person, on the phone, online
When: anytime, starting now!
Thank you for submitting your info, we’ll be in touch!
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