Paper Lantern

Activity Overview

Lantern making is a beautiful way to experience light in the darkness. This activity integrates the visual sensory system, with the working of our fine motor muscles through drawing or painting and construction of the lantern. This is a wonderful introduction to the understanding of aesthetics as well as a new way of experiencing light.

What You Need

• Watercolor paper

• Tissue paper

• Watercolor paints

• Crayons

• Scissors

• String, yarn, twine, or ribbon

• Electric tea candle

• Clear tape

• Paintbrush

• Stapler

• Hole punch (if you don’t have one an adult can make holes for the handle with scissors)

Steps

Note: Guiding the children through using scissors will be the main job of the adult guiding this experience. Make sure their fingers are in the correct slots on the scissors and that they are holding them with their thumb towards the sky!

1. Follow the Step by step photo guide here!

2. If you want to build more fine motor skills, check out this step by step guide to finger knitting for young children, and make a sturdier rope for your handle! Finger knitting is an excellent exercise for fine motor growth.

3. Use sequencing language to guide the progress of the activity to help with early math concepts.

Guiding Questions

• What colors do you want to use?

• What is the first step, next step, what comes after that and what is the last step?

Extensions

• Cut shapes or designs into the lantern.

• Take an evening lantern walk and see what things you can find by lantern light.

• Make a larger lantern by putting two pieces of paper together in the portrait orientation. How does the process change?