We first saw the idea on Pinterest and liked it a lot, but the version we saw still involved cutting out lots of heads and legs, which we weren't too keen on! So we decided to modify the idea by drawing a sheep outline, head and legs legs onto a sheet of A4 paper, then photocopy it onto light green card.
The only drawback, to this idea is that it does limit the children's creativity a little bit. Some children like to apply multiple legs and eyes to their creations!
However, at our group we try to achieve a balance some crafts allow for more creativity than others. This is in the hope that mums who like their children's work to look recognizable, or who don't like too much mess, will be drawn into the craft. Once drawn in, they are more likely to participate again.
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| A photocopied sheet certainly saves on preparation time!! |
Equipment:
- Photocopied sheet with sheep outline
- Large corks (champagne bottles seem to have the best)
- White poster paint
- Googly eyes
- Paper plates (easy palettes)
- Painting overalls
- Baby wipes
Preparation:
- Collect some corks! Big corks are best. We managed to blag some big champagne corks off someone. They work great for tiny hands.
- Draw sheep outline on A4 paper and photocopy onto card - card holds poster paint better than paper. We used a pale green card to give the sheep a background.
Method:
1. Roll up sleeves and put on overalls.
2. Show children how to apply paint to corks and how to print with them.
3. Children apply googly eyes to their sheep.
4. Sheep can be left to dry on the home table.
5. Children can now be cleaned up!
Addendum:
When we have a 'messy' craft, we aim to clear some mess as we go, in order to keep the table looking inviting for those who have yet had a go.
