Tapestry of Faith: Love Surrounds Us: A Program on the UU Principles and Beloved Community for Grades K-1

Alternate Activity 2: Fish Kite

Activity time: 20 minutes

Materials for Activity

  • Two sheets of large, light-colored construction paper per participant
  • Bright-colored crayons and/or markers
  • Pipe cleaners - one for each participant
  • Craft glue
  • Masking tape
  • Three pieces of 12-inch string per participant
  • Yardstick

Description of Activity

Participants make fish kites to symbolize our care for the all living creatures.

Ask participants to place one sheet of paper on top of the other and draw one long fish shape on the top sheet. Then have each child cut out their fish from both sheets of paper at the same time to make two, identical fish. Then invite them to color the fish in bright colors in any way they like. Remind them to give the fish an eye and scales.

Help them each glue their two fish together along one long edge of the fish. Fold in about one inch of the paper along the mouth part of the fish so that the fold faces into the fish. Glue or tape the piper cleaner inside the fold, leaving the ends sticking out each side. Fold the pipe cleaner and glue the bottom long side of the fish closed until you hit the tail. The tail should be left open.

After the glue has dried, shape the pipe cleaner into a circle to make the mouth of the fish. Attach the strings to the mouth with tape and attach the other end of the strings to the yardstick. (Knot the string to the yardstick yourself to make sure it is secure.)

If feasible, bring children outdoors and have them hold up their fish and walk quickly to see them "fly."

Remind participants that every living thing deserves a space on earth and this fish can remind them of the color and beauty of all animals.

Including All Participants

Help children who need assistance drawing, gluing, and inserting the pipe cleaner. If a participant is unable to walk quickly to watch their fish fly, ask another participant to do it for them so they can see their fish in the air.