Materials
large balloons (one per child)
newspaper
plain newsprint paper
glue
string
4-5 bottles of orange paint
1-2 bottles of green paint
black tissue paper
utility knife (adult only)
strawberry baskets (one per child)
masking tape
permanent marker
Instructions
* Halloween is celebrated on October 31st.
1. Ask a parent volunteer to blow up one balloon for each child in your
class. The balloons should be approximately 4" to 6" inches in diameter.
2. Cover the tables with newspaper. This is a messy project!
3. Make papier-mache using water and glue (two parts water to one part
glue).
4. The easiest way for young children to cover their balloons is to paint a
whole sheet of newspaper with the glue/water mixture, place the
balloon in the middle (knotted end up), and wrap the paper around the
balloon.
5. Help the children pull up the ends of the newspaper to cover the knot
(stem) on their balloons (pumpkins).
6. Help them twist the ends of the newspaper to form a handle (stem) for
the "pumpkin" before putting on the second layer of newspaper.
Demonstrate how to wind string around the balloon with the ends
coming out at the top so the pinata can be hung up, then apply another
layer of newspaper.
7. Use masking tape and a marker to make a name label for each pumpkin.
Attach one label to the string hanging out and one to the strawberry
basket.
8. Place the pumpkin on top of the strawberry basket to dry. It will take
about a week to harden.
9. The next week, repeat the process, substituting blank newsprint paper
for newspaper. Have the children put two more layers of newsprint
around the pumpkin (no string this time). Allow it to dry for a week.
10. The next week, have the children paint the handles green and let dry.
11. The next day, have them paint their pumpkins orange. Let dry
overnight.
12. Ask a parent volunteer to make holes in the tops of the pumpkin
pinatas (to put goodies inside).
13. Cut out shapes from black tissue paper. Encourage the children to glue
the shapes to their pumpkin pinatas to make jack-o-lanterns.
14. At your classroom Halloween party, have the children fill their
pinatas with goodies they brought for each other from home, and take
them home.
More to do Bring in a "real" pinata for the children to explore.
