Materials:

• roll of clear contact paper
• magazines and catalogs
• tissue paper
• newspaper
• construction paper
• recycled gift wrap and wallpaper samples
• empty cookie or cracker boxes

Objective: This activity will develop children's fine-motor skills, encourage creative thinking, and engage children in cooperative learning as they work together to create a group collage.

In Advance: Collect the suggested paper materials. Tear pages from catalogs and magazines. Place a variety of paper types in a few piles for the children to use as they work in small groups.

ACTIVITY

1 Secure a large sheet of clear contact paper to a wall or table with the "sticky" side out. Invite the children to touch the paper, and ask them to describe how it feels.

2 Show the children the different types of paper. Ask them to find papers that are the same. You can also introduce them to new vocabulary as you engage them in describing the types of paper they chose. What color is this tissue paper? What other paper has the same color? What do you see on this magazine paper? How does each paper feel?

3 Demonstrate how they can tear the different types of paper and boxes and attach the pieces to the "sticky" contact paper. Arrange the children into small groups and provide each with a variety of papers. (You may need to use more than one sheet of contact paper to accommodate all of your children.)

4 Children can recite this poem as they create their torn-paper mural:

Tearing paper ... one, two, three Lots of colors to touch and see Sticky paper ... one, two, three Making a collage for you and me.

5 Exhibit the children's collage for all to enjoy. Include a description of how the children made the collage and write the words to the poem beside their collage.

Curriculum Connection

Family Involvement: Give each child a sheet of contact paper to take home. Include a note requesting that each family create a Family Collage depicting activities that they enjoy doing together. The collage can include photographs, drawings, found objects, or pictures from magazines or catalogs. Remind families that it is very important to do this project with their child! Invite family members to the class to share their collages following morning drop-off or before dismissal time.