For Kids
Grow Your Own Triops
If your parents think it is a good idea, purchase Triops eggs online or from a educational store (from Little Science Books store or many other places) and with a simple setup (small container, warmth from a lamp, spring water) and for about two months you will have creatures to watch and enjoy.
Make a Triops Puppet
These are the things you need to make the puppet:
- A brown paper lunch bag
- A regular paper plate
- Green tempera paint
- Brown tempera paint
- A paint brush
- A piece of brown or green construction paper
- A piece of red tissue paper
- Two black or brown pom-poms
- 6 brown chenille stems
- Scissors
- Glue
- Tape
- A marker
- Newspaper
A craft store will sell these.
- A brown paper lunch bag
- A regular paper plate
- Green tempera paint
- Brown tempera paint
- A paint brush
- A piece of brown or green construction paper
- A piece of red tissue paper
- Two black or brown pom-poms
- 6 brown chenille stems
- Scissors
- Glue
- Tape
- A marker
- Newspaper
A craft store will sell these.
* * *
STEP 1
Cover where you are working with newspaper.
Paint one side of the paper plate with green and brown paint.
Let the paint dry.
Turn the plate over and paint the other side. Let the paint dry.
Cover where you are working with newspaper.
Paint one side of the paper plate with green and brown paint.
Let the paint dry.
Turn the plate over and paint the other side. Let the paint dry.
* * *
STEP 2
STEP 2
Gently fold the paper plate in half, like a taco. Cut a small curved piece from the bottom of the plate, then open out the paper plate again.
* * *
STEP 3
Cut a 3 inch wide strip from the long side of the construction paper.
Draw lines across it with the marker.
* * *
STEP 4
Cut two pieces of red tissue paper the same size as the brown paper lunch bag.
* * *
STEP 5
Glue the construction paper strip down the middle of one piece of tissue paper.
Cut the tissue paper to the strip on both sides. Then cut off the last few piecies.
* * *
STEP 6
Tape two brown chenille stems to the underside of the strip.
* * *
STEP 7
Take the other piece of red tissue paper. Cut into it about 1 inch on either side all the way down.
Check that your bag looks like this,
then glue the tissue to the bag.
* * *
STEP 8
Glue the construction paper to the top of the bag. Make sure the tails are at the open end of the bag.
Glue the construction paper to the top of the bag. Make sure the tails are at the open end of the bag.
* * *
STEP 9
Take 2 chenille stems.
Fold one in half. Twist it around the other stem to make the first appendage.
Repeat.
* * *
STEP 10
Tape the first appendages to the underside of the paper plate.
Glue the paper bag on top of the appendages.
Draw the mouth on the flat part of the paper bag.
Turn the plate over and glue on the pom-poms for eyes. Allow to dry.
* * *
LAST STEP
Put your hand in the bag to play with your puppet!
There is lots of information on the internet about Triops. For more information, check out:
The Triops Information Page
MyTriops.com