Materials
newspaper
liquid starch
small containers
wax paper
tissue paper (red, brown, orange, yellow, and purple)
scissors
paintbrushes
9" x 12" black construction paper
tagboard starfish patterns (about 7")
glue
jumbo paper clips
crayons
Instructions
1. Discuss starfish with the children. Show pictures, if available.
2. Spread newspaper over the tables and pour starch into small containers.
Cut wax paper into 8" squares and colored tissue paper into 1" squares.
3. Give each child an 8" wax paper square. Demonstrate how to paint starch
on half of the square and then cover the area with tissue squares.
4. Encourage the children to paint starch on their wax paper squares and
then overlap tissue squares to cover all of the painted area.
5. Have them repeat with the other half of the wax paper.
6. When all the tissue squares have been added, encourage them to paint
over the entire surface with starch to seal the tissue squares.
7. While the tissue is drying, give each child two pieces of black paper
attached together with a paper clip.
8. Show the children how to trace the starfish pattern with a yellow crayon
on the black paper.
9. With adult scissors, poke a small hole on the inside of the starfish outline
and cut out the center portion of both sheets of paper, leaving an outline
of the starfish (adult only).
10. Return the dry wax paper to the children. Show them how to slip it
between the two sheets of black paper and position it so that all the
tissue squares can be seen through the opening.
11. Help them glue or staple the three layers together, making sure the wax
paper is securely attached.
12. Display the finished starfish on a window so the sunlight will filter
through, making them glow.
Group or Circle Time: Compare the starfish with stars such as the star of
Bethlehem, the stars on the American flag, the Star of David, and so on.
Snack: Slice star fruit for a star-shaped treat.
