Climbing Critters

Total Time Needed:: 1 Hour

Kids can stage a rematch between the tortoise and the hare with this pair of string-climbing critters -- or they can break new ground by facing off the animals of their choice.

Materials

Crayons or markers
Paper plate
Scissors
Drinking straw

Stapler
String
Paper towel tube
2 wooden beads

Instructions

Use crayons or markers to draw an animal on the paper plate. Cut out the drawing with scissors and then color the flipside.
Cut two 1-inch pieces off the straw. Roll the end of each foreleg of the animal over one of the straw pieces and staple the edge of the paper in place.
Cut two 4-foot lengths of string and tie them around the ends of the paper towel tube.
Thread the strings through the straw pieces. Then, tie a bead to the end of each string.
To make the animal climb, first use a short piece of string to hang the tube overhead -- from a cupboard knob perhaps. Then, slide the cutout to the bottom of the strings. Using the beads as handles, pull the strings gently, alternating from side to side, and the animals will scoot to the top.