Activities Tuesdays: Paper Bag Scarecrows

Now is the time to mention that much of what I'll be posting here between seasons is usable (or easily converted to be used) all throughout the year!  Today's activity is an easy favorite of mine from  my time working in childcare that we would do to last the whole fall season.

What you'll need:

• 1 brown paper bag
• raffia/straw/cut yellow paper
• construction paper-full sheets and scraps
• crayons/markers
• hot glue gun
• glue stick
• ribbon/string/twine
• newspaper
• optional: buttons

What to do:

1. Place your bag in front of you, flap at the top but facing down.
2. Assemble your face.  I suggest using construction paper triangles for the nose, buttons for eyes (use hot glue gun here), and draw the mouth.  Embellish with your crayons!
3. **Wait for any glue to completely dry and set!**
4. Ball up newspaper and stuff your head (from the bottom).  Before tying off with string/ribbon/twine/etc., add your "straw" so that it's visibly hanging out of the head.  After you tie off the bottom of the bag, add a little hot glue to the space where the straw is just starting to come out to make sure that it doesn't pull out.
5. Create a cone out of your full piece of construction for the hat.  Add any embellishments to the paper before you make the cone.
6. Hot glue some straw either to the head or the hat to get that kind of blonde bangs look that scarecrows get... Then use your hot glue to attach the hat to the head, part or brim-side front, whichever you prefer.
7. TADA!  Hang your man by a string or shove a pole up his neck and display him for all to see!

In the childcare setting, we have a wall above the [cubbies] that we use for bulletin board displays.  We created a simple cornfield scene by stapling the heads just above the bottom ledge to make it seem like they were peering over the fence!

Other versions:

• Kaboose
• All Kids Network
• Busy Bee Kids Crafts
• FunRoom (with body!)
• eHow

I wish I had a picture to share with you, but I do not!  I couldn't find anything online that quite fits my version...  If you attempt this craft, send me a picture and I'll post it!  (Appropriately accredited, of course ;)