Deepavali or Diwali is also known as the festival of lights and one of the major festivals celebrated by Hindus, Jain, Sikhs and some Buddhists. In Singapore it is one of the nationally celebrated festivals and therefore at Astor International School we take time to learn about the festival and the culture. The children can create many things to help celebrate and understand this festival, here are some ideas below:
1. Peacock Pop Up
Required materials:
Blue, green and white card
Scissors
Glue
Marker
Pencil
Step 1: Make the peacock tail by taking the green card and folding it back and forth like a fan then fold it in half.
Step 2: Draw and outline your peacock on the blue paper and cut it out.
Step 3: Glue the body into the middle of the fan.
Step 4: Cut out a yellow beak and glue on to the head.
Step 5: Draw an eye on the head.
Step 6: Fold the yellow paper in half, draw the feet and cut them out.
Step 7: Get a white piece of paper and fold it in half, then glue the fan tail down on to the white card and glue the feet on.
2. Paper Plate Mandela
Required materials:
Paper plate
Marker
Pom poms
Glue gun
Coloured paper
Q tips
Pasta
Rice
Craft glue
Step 1: Get a paper plate of any size Step 2: Choose the items you want to use to create your Mandela, place the items on the paper plate to make your design.
Step 3: Use craft glue to glue your design down.
3. Henna Hands
Required materials:
Scratch paper*
Toothpick
Scissors
*You can buy scratch paper from Daiso or any other similar store.
Step 1: Trace around your hand with a pencil.
Step 2: Cut your hand out.
Step 3: Use a toothpick to scratch out a henna design*.
*You may want to have examples of designs for the children to look at.
4. Paper lanterns:
Required materials:
Two different colours of the paper
Coloured masking tape
Scissors
Glue stick
Ruler and pencil
Step 1: Fold a piece of coloured paper in half
Step 2: Cut the folded edge about 2cm from the outer edge
Step 3: Add a strip of paper as a handle
5. Paper elephant
Required materials:
Colour paper or paper plate
Scissor
Glue stick
Pencil
Colour sequins
Pencil
Give the child a cut out of an elephant and a range of items to decorate the elephant with.