Materials
Stiff paper or acetate (A good idea is to use old x-ray film from a local hospital it's free and works just as well as acetate.)
Scissors
Empty spray bottle
All the Colors of the Earth by Shelia Homanaka (or any other book that haspictures of leaves)
Paper
Easels, one for each child
Newspaper
Spray bottle
Paint
Instructions
1. Show the children real pussy willows and explain that they will be makingtheir own pussy willows.2. Give each child a straw and a piece of paper.3. Pour a small amount of brown paint at the bottom of each piece of paper.Demonstrate how to blow through the straw gently to spread the paint tolook like a stem. To help spread the paint further (if needed), hold the paperupside down and at angles to let the paint run.4. Break the packing curls in half and give a few to each child.5. Pour a small amount of hot water onto plates. Show the children how to dipone end of a packing curl into the hot water and place it along the paintstem.6. Encourage the children to place their packing curls along their paint stemsuntil they are satisfied with the pussy willows.More to doInstead of using packing curls, put a little gray paint onto the children's pointerfingers and encourage them to make pussy willow fingerprints.Related poemThe Pussy Willow PoemI know a little pussy,Its coat is silver-gray.It lives down in the meadowNot very far away.It will always be a pussy,It will never be a cat.For it's a pussy willowNow what do you think of that?Meow, meow, meow, meow, meow,Meow, meow, meow, meow,Scat!
