Weaving Paper

Weaving Paper
Art - Weaving
Level	Primary
Age	3
Prerequisites	Cutting Paper (none if the paper is pre-cut)
Materials	paper with lines going almost across the page paper with lines that cross the page scissors glue stick

In this activity the child weaves strips of paper under and over other fixed paper strips.
Paper weaving is good preparation for other weaving and sewing activities.

Presentation

1. Pick out one sheet of paper that leaves the strips connected at the top, and one or two sheets of paper that have the line to cut going all the way across.
2. Take the material to a table.
3. Cut along the lines on the paper. Be sure to leave one paper connected at the top.

   

4. Weave a strip of paper by going over and under the stationary paper strips.

   

5. Scoot the strip to the top.

   

6. "Our last strip started off by going over. That means this strip will need to start by going under."

   

7. Continue weaving the strip as with the first one. Then scoot it to the top.

   

8. Continue weaving paper strips until the space is full.

   

9. Lift the tabs on the ends and put a dab of glue on the stationary strip underneath.
   Press the tab in place.
   Flip the whole paper over to glue the tabs that start on the other side.

   

10. All done! Hang up the work to display or take it home.

    

11. Put away the scissors and glue stick.
    Extra paper strips could be put back on the shelf for another student to use.

Points of Interest

• The patterns made by going under and over the paper

Control of Error

• The pattern will look wrong if a mistake was made

Variations and Extensions

• Children could cut the paper into strips themselves
• Narrower strips can make the work more challenging
• A mix of strip widths can be used
• Different weaving patterns cloud be done (e.g. under 2, over 1)

Material

Make Your Own

Here is the pdf of the material seen above. It also includes pages with narrower strips for older children:

• 

  Paper Weaving Printables

Further Reading

• The Montessori Method by Maria Montessori, pages 260-261
• The Kindergarten Guide, Volume 2: The Occupations by Maria Kraus-Boelté & John Kraus, pages 203-240