I'll admit, I made this shoebox carnival toss craft for my eight year old, but kids just a bit older can certainly make one themselves, with help from an adult in the last step — cutting out the holes.
It's apricot season which means that it's "go-go" season at school, meaning boys of all ages scramble around with huge collections of apricot pits which they use to play all kinds of games in the hope of adding more to their mounting collection. From what it sounds like, the playground at my son's school is tranformed into a mini apricot pit carnival come recess time, so I helped him out with this shoebox toss, and will hear how it went when he comes home. The idea of the shoebox toss isn't mine, just taking it one step in the cute direction (as opposed to just holes with numbers) is.
Note: I intentionally didn't make it too professional looking such that other kids wouldn't be green with envy not having a crafty mom like me at home.....I do think this version is do-able for just about anyone?
You'll Need:
- 1 shoe box
- contact paper, I used wood grain
- white paper and markers
- glue or double stick tape
- a good craft knife
How To:
Draw a series of sketches that are related to one another or not, on white paper. Where possible draw holes in different shapes and sizes. According to the size of the hole, assign a number which denotes the reward given if the player's pit lands on the hole, or goes in it. Cover your shoebox with contact paper, and affix your sketch to the top of the box and cut out the holes carefully.
Rules: From what I understand, for all the games played on the playground, there is one set distance from which the player tosses. Tossed pits that do not result in a reward go to the owner of the shoebox. Other games with pits are played similar to marbles, and there is also a simple can toss.
Gotta love basic games, they're the best! Of course you may have to buy your kids a basket full of apricots, so maybe get into the canning business! Some kids around here literally have thousands of these pits in their stash! Enjoy!
