Mosaic Turtles

I LOVE this project. It's so simple and they turn out so very cute! See the bottom of this post for some great picture books that you could read before you get started on this project!

Supplies (per student):

• 6 inch (or larger, if you want) white paper plate (turtle's "shell")
• Varying shades of brown & green construction paper
• Glue
• Scissors
• Pencil (for free drawing turtle's body parts)
• Markers (to draw on the turtle's face)
• 2 wiggle (or "googley") eyes

Instructions:

1. Gather supplies.
2. Rip up varying shades of green and brown construction paper - no larger than the size of a dime. These paper pieces will be the turtle's mosaic shell.
3. Free draw and cut out 1 turtle head, 1 tail, and 4 feet from green construction paper. You may need to make master patterns out of cardboard if you have young students, as free drawing these parts may be hard for them)
4. Begin adding the mosaic pieces to your turtle's "shell."
5. Then, glue on the head, feet, and tail.
6. Finally, glue on two wiggle eyes and use a marker to finish the turtle's face.

The mosaic pieces ready to go:

Examples of kids' turtle projects:

This turtle project was completed using a large paper plate (9 inches, I think):

I think it always adds something to the experience for kids if there is a story or another activity that accompanies a craft project. Here are some great picture and children's books about turtles:

"Sea Turtles" by Gail Gibbons

"Into the Sea" by Brenda Z. Guiberson

"Land Turtles, Sea Turtles" by Barron's Publishing