Materials
Newspaper strips
5 lb. (2 kg) bag of flour
Water
Toilet paper and paper towel tubes
Large and small oatmeal boxes
Any odd shaped small boxes
Masking tape
Tempera paint
Neat junk (feathers, googly eyes, pompoms, pipe cleaners, straws, Easter grass, lids, buttons, etc.)
Instructions
What to do
Note: This is a three or four day project.
1. Have the children tape boxes, paper tubes, and odd pieces together to form a "wild thing" structure.
You may need to reinforce legs and heads to the body with extra thick tape.
2. Make flour and water mixture in a large bowl by using several cups of flour and slowly adding
water to get a thick paste for papier-mache.
3. Dip newspaper strips in papier-mache goop. Squeeze out extra paste. Allow the children to
cover entire structure with one good layer of newspaper strips and papier-mache. Let it dry for
at least a day.
4. Cover the structure with a second layer of newspaper and papier-mache. Let this dry another
day.
5. When dry, paint the entire "wild thing" with assorted tempera paint colors. Again let the sculpture
dry for a day.
6. Encourage the children to glue, stick, or color on various features on the sculpture using any of
the listed "junk" and inviting other ideas. Creations are unlimited.
More to do
Music: Have a "wild thing" parade or dance. Play a record of eerie or interestingly moving music
(suggestion: Schumann's Finale from Piano Quartet, Opus 44). Encourage children to invent new
ways to move their bodies.
