My business, TLB Music, is hosting a mini-camp summer series for NYC kids 18 months – 5 years and this patriotic windsock project is one of our campers’ activities of the week!  This craft is perfect for young children and the end result looks great as a decoration for the Fourth of July.  Follow these easy instructions to create your own and scroll to the bottom of this post to see the craft supplies I used!

Student Materials:
blue paper, white paper stars, red and white crepe paper streamer strips, glue stick, string

Teacher Materials: star hole punch, small circle hole punch, scissors

Teacher Prep: cut 8 1/2 x 11 blue paper into 7 x 11 pieces (2 per child)
punch white stars (12 per student)
cut strips of crepe paper streamer into strips  (8 per student, 4 red, 4 white)

*If students are older, they can help with the “teacher prep” section!

 

To begin the project, make sure to look at the American flag and identify colors and shapes! 

Pass out 2 piece of blue paper and a glue stick to each child.

Step 1: On one piece of blue paper, cover one short edge with glue.

Step 2: Attach the other piece of paper on the short end, pressing down firmly.

Pass out 12 white stars (count together!) and discuss how our real flag actually has 50 stars!

Step 3: Glue white stars to one side of your big piece of blue paper. Spread out evenly and make sure to leave the area near the short edges bare. (We’ll be glueing those edges together.)

Pass out 8 strips of crepe paper streamer to each child: 4 red, 4 white. Count together!

Step 4: Turn blue paper over (stars facing down) and attach strips of crepe paper at the bottom (long edge) with glue. Follow the pattern: red, white, red, white, etc.

Step 5: Turn blue paper over (stars facing up) and coat one bare short edge with glue.

Step 6: Attach the side with glue to the other bare short edge, creating a cylinder!

Step 7 (teacher!): Hole punch a hole on each side of the top of the blue cylinder, about 1 inch down from the top.

Pass out 1 piece of string per student.

Step 8: Thread a piece of string across the two holes and tie the string into a knot at the top.

Step 9: Hang your patriotic windsock near a window or fan!

These are the craft supplies I purchased through Amazon: