Step-by-step tutorial
Step 1
Before you begin to assemble your grasshopper, cut a piece from an egg carton that would hold 3 eggs. Find a small bouncy ball and 2 small pins. Cut the shapes (pictured) out of construction paper, craft foam, or sticky back craft foam. If your child is older, they can cut them out on their own. For smaller children, it may help to already have these pieces cut out.
Step 2
Paint the egg carton green. He only painted the top and sides, but afterwards when the grasshopper was jumping around he wished he'd painted the bottom, too.
Step 3
After the paint dries, put a small bouncy ball in the center section and secure it with the pins. Stick the pin through the outside of the carton into the bouncy ball on both sides. This holds the ball really well and it was easier than I thought it would be to stick the pins in.
Step 4
Attach the antennae and wings. We used craft foam that had a sticky back, but gluing on construction paper or regular craft foam will also work.
Step 5
Draw on the eyes and attach the 3 sets of legs.
Step 6
Your grasshopper is ready for action!
Step 7
Hold him up in the air.
Final result!
Let him go. Watch your grasshopper hop around. How high will your grasshopper jump? How far will your grasshopper jump? Experiment to see what happens when you hold your grasshopper higher or lower. Make 2 grasshoppers to have a jumping contest.
