Materials
balloons
newspaper
glue
paints
paintbrushes
mask decorations such as feathers, string, and fur
Instructions
* March is Endangered Animals Month.
1. Discuss what it means to be "endangered."
2. Provide a list of endangered animals and let each child choose one (for
example, elephant, panda, whale, rhino, turtle, and gorilla).
3. Blow up a small balloon for each child.
4. Demonstrate how to glue strips of newspaper (papier-mache) to half of
the balloon. Help each child build up the newspaper strips into the face
of the chosen animal.
5. Make sure to leave two holes for
the eyes before the
papier-mache dries.
6. When the masks are
dry, remove the
balloons and have
the children paint
their masks.
Encourage them
to add
decorations, if
appropriate.
7. Play music.
Encourage the
children to perform an
"endangered animal
dance" while wearing their
masks.
More to do Science: Research endangered animals and what is being done to
save them.
