Original URL: http://fun.familyeducation.com/childrens-art-activities/crafts/37251.html

Woven Place Mat

Materials

• Construction paper in two or three colors
• Ruler
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Stapler or glue

Directions

1. Fold a sheet of construction paper in half so the long edges meet.
2. Hold the paper so the fold faces you.
3. Starting 1 inch from the left edge, mark every 1/2 inch along the fold.
4. Stop marking 1 inch from the right edge.
5. At each mark, cut a straight slit from the fold to 1 inch from the top edge.
6. Unfold the sheet of paper.
7. This is the mat that will be woven.
8. Cut 1/2-inch-wide strips of construction paper in one or two other colors.
9. The strips should be as long as the long sides of the mat.
10. Beginning at one of the short sides of the mat, help your child weave a strip down through the first slit, up through the second, down through the third, and so on through all the slits.
11. Weave another strip up through the first slit, down through the second, up through the third, and so on.
12. Continue weaving strips in this way until there's no room for any more strips.
13. Adjust each strip after weaving it so it's snug against its neighbor and/or the edge of the mat.
14. Secure the strips along the short edges of the mat with staples or glue.