Fourth of July Craft for Kids
Celebrate Independence Day with Stars and Stripes Mobile Decoration
Jun 15, 2009
Nothing says patriotism like stars and stripes, and this mobile decoration will be the perfect kids’ craft for the Fourth of July. With a few simple materials that can be found in the most basic craft box, children can easily put together a beautiful Independence Day decoration. Set up a craft workstation at the kitchen table and it will be ready for the kids when they need a break from their outdoor summertime activities.
Materials Needed for Stars and Stripes Mobile
The Independence Day mobile craft will require the following simple items:
- Red, white, and blue construction paper
- Single hole punch
- Metal compass (for poking small holes, advanced technique)
- Blunt ended scissors
- String or thread
- Glitter glue
- Glue stick
- Cardboard
- Tape (for attaching stars, preschool technique)
Directions for Fourth of July Decoration
This mobile craft can be made simply by preschool children, or can be adjusted to challenge older children in elementary school and beyond.
- Cut cardboard to approximately 11 inches wide by 6 inches tall.
- Using red, white, and blue construction paper, cut strips that are 11 inches long by 1 inch wide (4 of each color for a total of 12 strips).
- Using glue stick, have children paste the strips onto the back and front of the cardboard, alternating the colors until the cardboard is completely concealed.
- Punch four small holes at equal intervals in the bottom half of the cardboard in which to tie the stars.
- Draw twelve stars with four points each on red, white, and blue paper (4 of each color or any desired combination) and make the stars 2 inches in diameter from tip to tip.
- Let preschoolers decorate the stars with glitter glue and set aside briefly until dry.
- Help the children cut the stars with children’s blunt ended scissors.
- Proceed to either the preschool instructions or advanced instructions to complete mobile.
Easy Preschool Instructions to Attach Stars Using Tape
- Cut string or thread into 4 pieces at least 20 inches long each.
- Using tape, attach three stars to each piece of string at equal intervals to make 4 dangling star strings.
- Cut off excess string at the end, if any.
- Attach dangling stars to holes in striped top of mobile (swag).
Advanced Instructions Using Threading Technique
- Punch a small hole in the top tip and bottom tip (opposite points) of 8 stars with the metal compass (adult may do). In the remaining 4 stars, punch only one hole at the top tip.
- Cut string or thread into twelve small pieces. To insure that they are manageable, make the pieces at least 5 or 6 inches long.
- Make a dangling star string by threading a string into one hole in a double holed star. Then thread and tie this string to another double holed star. Finally, attach a single holed star onto the bottom of the dangling star string.
- Repeat step above until there are a total of 4 dangling strings of 3 stars each.
- Attach each dangling star string to a hole in the cardboard with the remaining four pieces of string.
Independence Day Themed Variations
To make the mobile look more like the American flag, make the stripes with just red and white paper, and make the stars in blue and white or just blue. This craft can also be made into a sturdier mobile by using wooden stars and a wooden strip for the mobile holder (swag). Paint can be used to decorate the stars and stripes.
The stars and stripes mobile can be hung on a front door instead of a wreath, or on any doorway, window, or bulletin board. It is also a great Independence Day project for summer camp, summer school, or day care. With adult supervision, the Fourth of July mobile decoration can be easily done by preschoolers or older children who want to proudly display their stars and stripes on July 4th!
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