Paper Plate Weaving/Design, 4th Grade

I'm going to walk you through this assignment because it's totally worth it. The pictures aren't the best, but you will get the idea and be able to create one on your own. I found the idea a few weeks ago on an online art gallery, possibly Artsonia....I actually can't recall! However, I'll walk you through the way I did with my kids.

1. Start with a paper plate. It needs to be upside down (dome-like). Find the center, poke a good sized hole with your pencil.

2. Use scissors and cut even slits around the outside rim of the plate. If you're using the same type of plates I used (the cheap kind!) then you can have them count the 'bubbles' in between to keep it even.

3. Cut yarn about 6-7 inches. You will need as many pieces as the number of slits you cut. I had my students use either black or white yarn, no "colors" for this part.

4. Put one end of the yarn through the hole, and the other through the slit. Tie in a knot on the back (which is actually the front of the plate). Do this the entire way around. It does take some time!

(How it should look in the end. The back side will have a lot of ragged ends, but it's OK...
it won't be seen!)

5. Begin weaving. Start in the center with whatever color the students would like for their design. I recommend only starting with about 12 inches of yarn in that color. Pull the string through just tucking away the end, and begin to do an over/under/over/under pattern going around the paper plate. After each revolution, push yarn down towards the center (to keep it tight). When finished with that color, start another color where that one ended, and continue out to the edge.

6. Final Product: Use markers that match your design, and create any design around the edge of the paper plate. Staple to background paper for the final finished look!

Enjoy!! The kids LOVE this.