Dr. Cassandra George Sturges

 

Doll Making Activities for Elementary Students

 

Creating dolls can be a fun and engaging activity for elementary students aged 5 to 10 years. These activities can also foster creativity, fine motor skills, and confidence. Here are some fun and simple doll-making activities suitable for this age group:

 

1. Sock Puppets

   - Materials Needed: Old socks, buttons (for eyes), yarn (for hair), fabric scraps, markers, glue, and scissors.

   - Activity: Children can transform socks into puppets by adding eyes, hair, and other features using the materials. They can decorate their puppets with markers and create unique personalities for each puppet. After making, encourage them to put on a mini puppet show.

 

2. Paper Dolls

   - Materials Needed: Cardstock or construction paper, scissors, markers, crayons, and embellishments (stickers, sequins).

   - Activity:  Students can create flat paper dolls by drawing and coloring figures on cardstock. They can then cut out the dolls and create outfits using additional paper. Children can also design a play scene for their dolls.

 

3. Clothespin Dolls

   - Materials Needed: Wooden clothespins, felt or fabric scraps, yarn, markers, and glue.

   - Activity: Using clothespins as the base, kids can create simple dolls by wrapping fabric or felt around the top of the clothespin for clothing and using yarn for hair. They can draw faces with markers to personalize their dolls.

 

4. Duct Tape Dolls

   - Materials Needed: Duct tape (various colors/patterns), cardboard, scissors, and markers.

   - Activity: Kids can create mini dolls using layers of duct tape stuck to a cardboard base or structure. They can create clothing and accessories with different colors and patterns, making each doll unique.

 

 5. Bottle Dolls

   - Materials Needed: Empty plastic bottles (such as water or soda bottles), fabric scraps, yarn, glue, and markers.

   - Activity: Children can wrap fabric around the bottle to create the doll’s body and use yarn for hair. They can also draw or glue on facial features. This project encourages creativity in clothing design.

 

 6. Cup Dolls

   - Materials Needed: Paper or plastic cups, felt or paper, scissors, glue, and markers.

   - Activity: Kids can decorate cups to make head and body for dolls. They can create hair with yarn or tissue paper and draw or glue eyes and mouths on the cup. Creativity can be expressed in choosing colors and designs for their dolls.

 

 7. Nature Dolls

   - Materials Needed: Natural materials (twigs, leaves, stones), yarn or string, and glue.

   - Activity: Children can use twigs for the body structure of the dolls and leaves or flowers for clothing. They can tie pieces together with yarn or string, bringing a natural element into their doll-making.

 

 8. Fabric Scrap Dolls

   -Materials Needed: Various fabric scraps, scissors, needle and thread (or fabric glue), and buttons/stickers for decoration.

   - Activity: Students can create simple stuffed dolls by sewing or gluing fabric pieces together. They can stuff them with cotton or fabric scraps and decorate them with buttons and markers.

 

 9. Toilet Paper Roll Dolls

   - Materials Needed: Empty toilet paper rolls, markers, fabric scraps, yarn, scissors, and glue.

   - Activity: Children can cover the toilet paper roll with fabric or decorate with markers. They can create hair with yarn and add facial features to make their dolls come to life.

 

10. Story Dolls

   - Materials Needed: Assorted materials from previous activities, paper for sketches, and pens.

   - Activity: After creating dolls, kids can write a short story about them. They can illustrate the story with drawings or diagrams. This combines creativity with storytelling, enhancing their engagement with their creations.

 

Tips for Successful Doll-Making Activities

​

- Safety First: Ensure that all materials used are safe and appropriate for the age group. Provide supervision, especially when using scissors or hot glue (if applicable).

​

- Encourage Creativity: Allow children to express themselves freely while making their dolls. There’s no right or wrong way to create a doll.

​

- Display the Creations: Consider organizing a showcase where students can present their dolls and stories to their peers, enhancing confidence and communication skills.

 

These activities can be adapted based on available materials and time constraints, making them versatile and fun!