Native Americans Craft
Preschool, K, 1-2, 3-5
Amy, school-age summer camp
Instructions for making drinking cups from cantaloupes, and rattles for ceremonial music.
Rattles: Collect juice cans with lids, or even Pringles cans with lids; popcorn kernels; popsicle sticks; construction paper; markers.
Drinking cups: cantaloupes cut in half and spooned out fruit (which the kids can have for snack)
Give each student a juice can with lid. They can decorate their can using construction paper and markers. Have students fill the can with popcorn kernels. Cut a slit in the can to insert the popsicle stick. Glue or tape will hold it in place. Students can now make ceremonial music with their rattles.
After cutting the cantaloupes in half and spooning out the fruit, let kids try to drink water using the cantaloupe as the cup. Native Americans used gourds as cups. Cantaloupes make great drinking cups for this summer activity.
Since kids love anything that makes noise or gets them wet, these activities are a great hit!