WATER BOTTLE FIREFLIES
This podcast we will make fireflies that really glow
Supplies:
small, empty water bottles, with lids
smaller sizes of wiggley eyes
12” long by 6” wide tulle or cellophane, clear or any colors
pipe cleaners
tiny, 3mm pom poms
tacky glue
small containers for glue and q-tips
glow sticks
Book: The Very Lonely Firefly, by Eric Carle
I love to create art projects that give new life to something that is bound for the trash. Plastic beverage bottles get used once and then are discarded which is such a waste. Why not challenge your students to rescue a few tiny water bottles and transform them into adorable fire flies.
This project will create a colorful glow to an evening school event, then the kids can take them home to use as a night light.
Begin by reading the book, “The Very Lonely Firefly”, by the late, great, Eric Carle. This book has a surprise at the end. As you reach the last page of the book, walk to the light switch in your classroom and turn it off. The last page of the story is filled with firefly friends that really light up and blink in the dark.
Prepare some trays or cookie sheets with supplies, one for 3-4 kids to share. On the trays, set out q-tips or small paint brushes, pipe cleaners, small wiggley eyes, tiny pom poms, and small, empty water bottles. Also set on the trays, a few tablespoons of tacky glue in a dixie cup, condiment cup or a cough medicene measuring cup... any really small container. The kids get to practice their fine motor skills placing the glue onto the tiny eyes and pom pom noses. Set the trays with supplies aside until you demonstrate how to tie the wings. Also, get a permanent marker ready to write each child’s name on the bottom of the bottle. Tell the kids you’re writing on the firefly’s hiney. They will get a chuckle out of that.
We want to tie the antanae and wings on first so the gluing is done last and the face doesn’t get messed up before the glue can dry. There is a fun way for 4 and 5 year olds to tie the tulle around the water bottle before they even know how to tie their shoes. Demonstrate for them by laying the tulle out on the table in front of you. Fold your arms. Now it will be a little awkward but that is the fun of it... while your arms are folded, grab one end of the tulle with one hand and the other end of the tule with your other hand. Then, simply unfold your arms without letting go of the tulle. Ta-da! A magic knot. Show them not to pull it too tight because it still has to slip around the water bottle, then tighten it. Now your firefly can fly. Use scissors to trim the wings if they need it. Now do the antennae next. Show the kids how to take a pipe cleaner and wrap it around the neck of the water bottle once or twice. Hold both ends near the bottle and twist so the antanae stay on. The twisting part is tricky for most young kids. You may have to help them with this.Demonstrate how to wrap the ends of the pipe cleaner around a pencil, then slip the pencil out for spirals or just curl the ends of the antanae.
Set the trays out and begin walking around to each child with your marker to put names on the bottles while helping out. When the wings and antanae are on your fireflies tell the kids that they still need to see and smell. Show the kids how to dip their q-tips into the glue and apply it to the eyes and nose. If they dip the eyes and nose into the glue, they will sink and disappear. Have students apply their wiggley eye balls and tiny pom pom noses to the lid on the bottle. If they would like to add a mouth or eye lashes for the girl fireflies, hand them a fine point permanent marker. Done! Keep kids engaged by asking them to think of a name for their glowy friend. Send the them home with the glow stick inside the bottle and instruct them to ask their parents to activate the glow stick at bed time.
Our school has a chili cook-off every fall and all the classes compete for the coveted “Best Chili” trophy. The event is held in the evening so I place the fireflies in the hedges so the kids can see them at their eye level. They can find their’s and can take it home.