Feeling Pillows

Materials

Washcloths or other fabric squares

Instructions

1. Ahead of time, sew two pieces of cloth together with their wrong sides facing each other; leave
one side open to stuff the pillow later, then turn the pillow right side out. Slip some tissue
paper or cardboard in between the two pieces of cloth so paint and glue will not transfer from
one side to the other.
2. Invite the children to make a happy, mad, frightened, or sad pillow face; if possible, let them
make more than one pillow.
3. For the happy pillow face, encourage the children to paint smiling eyes or glue googly eyes or
buttons onto the face, then glue a piece of rickrack on, turned up in a smile. Let them add eyebrows,
cheeks, a nose, and hair using the assortment of sewing supplies.
4. For the mad face, the frightened face, and the sad face, invite them to add features as above,
showing as much expression as possible.
5. When they finish, have the children stuff their pillows with filler. Help them sew the opening
closed with needle and thread.
More to do
Language: Have the children maintain a journal using pictures and words to record their feelings.
More art: Let the children sew one expression on each side of their pillow. Paint faces at the easel,
adding expression.