Jellyfish Wind Chime and Sun Catcher

Watch your jellyfish wiggle in the wind! This is a fun craft you can customize for what you have. You will need something to hang the creation, such as string. If you would like to keep your jellyfish inside, you can turn this into a sun catcher instead. For the body, you will need something study enough to hold up the tentacles. For the tentacles, you will need something that will move in the wind. Below is one outdoor friendly version and one indoor friendly version. If you have materials available, you could turn this into a wind chime and sun catcher, to create a more magical experience. Listed is suggested materials, feel free to get creative and use what is available to you. Sometimes, things turn out better that way, and at least, becomes a teachable moment that fosters creativity and flexibility.

Outdoor Jellyfish Wind Chime

You will need:

Sticks

String

Beads

Paint

Directions:

Gather some sticks from outside. You will need 2-4 larger ones for the head, and a few thinner but long ones for the tentacles. Let your child paint the sticks as they please. Once dried, arrange the sticks before attaching. Using the string, secure the head. You could make rectangle, but with shorter sides angled in towards the top, which would be a shorter stick (which obviously isn't a rectangle, I know, just painting a picture over here). You can also leave the sides blank, or do an abstract jelly and only use one stick. If you used 2 or 4 sticks, and option is to have your child pre-string breads on several different strings. Tie on both ends, then wrap these from top stick to bottom stick, with several rows across. You could also do a weaving pattern. Or if you want to get really into this, you could figure out how to make two eyes and a smile out of the beads. The letter J? Regardless- secure strings and beads on. Next, using the thinner sticks, attach with sting so they are hanging from the bottom stick of the head. You may also add strings with beads, or wrap strings/strings with beads around the sticks. You can make this fairly simple with little adult help, or have it be a fun family craft with your preschooler leading the way.

Indoor Jellyfish Sun Catcher

You will need:

1 paper plate

Tissue Paper

String

Glue

Scissors

Directions:

Cut your paper plate equally in half. To do this, you can fold in half, lining up the sides. Press firmly on the crease. This will give you a line to cut on. Next, line up the two pieces so there is no overlap. Leaving about .5 to 1 in of paper plate around all edges, cut out the middle. You also cut out shapes, letters, anything, as long as you can fully seal the edges together. Next, cut strips and shapes of different colors of tissue paper. You may have them all long enough to be glued inside the edges of the paper plate. Or, you may paint glue onto the pieces so they will stick together to create a larger piece. I like to let my child us a sponge to spread glue over the pieces to help keep them down and to give the next layer something to hold on to. Squirts of glue will change the way light comes through, so painting helps keep an even look when finalized. Whatever you choose, make sure the end result is large enough to be sealed and secured between the two paper plate pieces. Once you have the tissue paper designed, before you glue it between the paper plates, cut strips of tissue paper to act as the tentacles or arms. Place one piece of paper plate face down on your work surface. Next, position all tissue paper parts, body and tentacles. Make sure the body is far enough on the paper plate to be secured, with out hanging over the outside edges. For the tentacles, make sure they are in enough to be secured as well, but that they are also hanging out long enough and spaced accordingly. Once you know their spots, glue the tissue paper down. Next, place the other paper plate piece directly on top, gluing to secure as well. Older children can do most of this by themselves (once the pieces are set up) and enjoy gluing. Younger children can use this craft as a way to help and learn about gluing and the rules! Let them squeeze but keep a watchful eye.