New York State Test Prep Social Studies 5 Content

Let's make a spinning sun

Piñata!

Note: This project takes three days, and requires workspace designed for a messy activity.

Directions:

Materials:

          a large balloon (or maybe 2 if you are feeling very creative)
                    flour; about 2 cup should do (more for a big piñata)
                    water; about 1 and 1/2 cup (more with more flour)
                    (papier-mâché paste may be used in place of flour and water)
                    bowl for paste
                    newspapers torn in to strips 1-2 inches wide and 3-6 inches long
                    string or cord to hang the piñata
                    crepe paper streamers, ribbons, glitter, feathers, spangles,
                                paints, anything you wish to use to decorate your piñata
                    scissors
                    glue to affix decorations
                    masking tape
                    goodies; candies, small toys, novelties, etc.

Steps to follow:

          inflate a large balloon and tie it (if you are making an animal,
                                  you may try making a head from a smaller
                                  balloon and taping the two together)
                    hang the balloon up with a string while you are working on it, or
                                  rest it on a bowl for support
                    make a paste with the flour and water; be sure to squish out the
                                  lumps until it is the consistency of a milkshake
                    dip strips of newspaper into the paste, squeezing extra paste
                                   off between two fingers
                    cover balloon entirely with two layers of pasty strips
                    let balloon dry over night or until the paper is dry
                    wrap the balloon with string to give it extra strength
                    tie separate string around piñata and tie, leaving a long end to
                                     hang piñata for the game
                    put on two more layers of pasty paper, leaving tie-string out
                    let dry for 24 hours
                    paint and let dry
                    decorate by gluing on streamers, glitter, spangles, feathers, etc.
                    let dry
                    carefully cut 2 inch diameter hole near top of the piñata with
                                     sharp scissors, leaving flap to close (balloon should
                                     be popped at this point and pulled out through hole)
                    carefully drop goodies into hole
                    replace flap, secure with masking tape, and cover with a
                                      decoration
                    hang and get ready for the fun!

How to play the Piñata Game:

           hang the piñata from the ceiling
                      blindfold the first player and give him or her a stick (a
                                   whiffle ball bat or a broomstick works, too
                      spin the player around two or three times, and leave him or her
                                   facing the direction of the piñata
                      let the player take two or three swings trying to hit the piñata
                      (be sure all of the other players are standing back out of the
                                    way)
                      let each player take turns until the piñata breaks
                      everyone gets to gather the treats

Have spinning sun Fun!