(You can substitute anything you have that is similar to these items.)
•1 clear plastic deli container with a snap-on lid, like the ones that parmesan cheese comes in. This is the turtle's shell.
•4 plastic spoons to make the flippers. Carefully break off the handles of the spoons, leaving only about one-half inch of the handle and the scoop part. An adult could also snip off the handles with wire cutters, but don't try that yourself.
•1 plastic container from individual-size pudding cups. This is the turtle's head.
•4 wine bottle corks for legs
•4 buttons–2 for eyes, 2 for anchors for your marionette strings.
•1 piece of sponge for the turtle's tail
•5 twist ties
•2 popsicle sticks for your marionette control
•4 small screw eyes to connect the legs to the shell
•Thick white glue
•Nail
•Hole punch–the kind you hold in your hand
•Heavy thread
•Acrylic paints, if you'd like to paint your turtle
What you do
1. Legs and flippers: Cut a small slit in one end of the cork. You might want an adult to help you. Push the shortened spoon handle (flipper) into the cork. On the other end, twist the screw eye into the cork. Repeat for the other three corks.
2. Head: Use the nail to punch a hole into the bottom of the pudding cup. You will later thread a control string through here. Use the hole punch to punch a hole near the rim of the cup. This is where the head will connect to the shell. Now turn the cup over so the opening is downward. This is how the head will be placed. Glue two buttons to the front for eyes (the punched hole is in the back).
3. Shell: Take the lid off of the container. Use the nail to punch a hole in the center of the bottom of the container. This is for your control string. Now use the hole punch to punch five holes around the rim, one for the head to connect and four for the legs to connect. Keep the holes closer to the front than to the back. Now punch five holes in the container lid, in the same places as those in the container.
4. Tail: Cut a small triangle from the sponge. Glue it on to the back of the container, down near the rim.
5. Control: Glue the two popsicle sticks together in a T shape and let dry.
6. Paint: Paint each piece and let dry. Make the mouth pointed. Paint the "scutes," or sections of the shell.
7. Strings: Cut 6 pieces of heavy thread, each one about 18 inches long. Head string: Tie one end of a thread onto a button. Thread the other end up through the pudding cup until it rests on the button (it will kind of look like a bell on a string). Shell string: Repeat for the other button and thread it up through the small hole in the container. Now snap the lid on the container, making sure you match up the large holes you punched for the neck and legs.
8. All together: Use a twist tie and thread it through the large hole in the pudding cup, then the holes in the front of the container and its lid. Twist to secure, but not too tight. The head needs to be able to move freely. Next attach a leg and flipper by threading a twist tie through the screw eye, and then the large leg holes in the container and lid. Be sure the spoon is turned so the rounded part is facing up. Repeat for the other three legs/flippers. All the legs will point toward the back of the turtle.
9. Strings on the control: Tie a thread around each of the flippers where the handle of the spoon meets the cork. Now attach everything to the control. It's easier if you have someone to help hold the control as you tie on the strings. Tie the shell (body) thread to the crossed part of the T. Tie the head thread to the very end of the long center stick of the control. Gather the two threads for the flippers on the right side of the turtle and tie them to the end of one of the cross pieces of the T. Repeat for the left side. Be sure your turtle's legs are even with his body as shown, so it looks like he's swimming. Put a dab of glue on all your knots, and on the control to keep the strings from slipping off. Let it dry. Cut off any excess thread and you're ready to swim the seas! Tilt the control from side to side and watch what happens. With a little practice, you can make your turtle really look like he's swimming.
No comments:
Post a Comment