DIY Paper Plate Weaving
Appropriate for grades:
Subject areas: Visual and Performing Arts
Weaving is one of the oldest surviving crafts in the world. People learned to use plant and animal fibers to create useful and decorative objects such as clothing, carpets and baskets. Today, even telephone wire is used to weave colorful baskets in South Africa.
You can make a paper plate weaving out of plastic bags you can find in your house.
You'll need:
-
9" white paper plate
- Scissors
- Plastic bags (cut into thin 1" inch strips)
Procedures 
- Collect plastic bags from around your house. Make sure they are clean.
- Cut 1" plastic strips out of the bags.
- Next, take your paper plate and cut approximately 1.75" inches deep into the paper plate lip down to the circular base, spacing each cut at least an 1" inch or more. Cut an odd number of sections around the entire plate. Bend the cut sections slightly forward to separate them for easier weaving.
- Take your pre-cut plastic strips and interlace/weave the plastic in front of and in back (over and under) of each of the cut sections going around the entire plate; tucking in any plastic tails and continuing with more strips until you have completely woven the plate with plastic.
- Push down any plastic strips on top of each other to reinforce and tighten the weaving, then bend over the top tips of the cut sections for a special touch.
- Use your completed paper plate weaving to hold your favorite items.