“THE DANCERS” an ANIMATED KIDS’ CRAFT PROJECT

How do we, (parents) keep our kids busy and happy at the same time?
It’s the middle of school winter break. There’s a snow storm and the kids are restless indoors. What do we (parents) do?
Let’s find a project that we and the kids can do together.
Let’s get some cardboard, crayons, tape, markers, paint, scissors etc. and create.
How about a dancing/rotating figure?

SEE STEP #1.

MATERIALS, SUPPLIES and TOOLS:
1. Project Drawings and Sketches.
2. Cardboard Box - Approx 7” x 4” x 4”.
Any similar size will work.
3. Cardboard pieces to make wheels
and stage parts. (As per drawings)
4. Crayons, paint and brushes, markers.
5. Set of Chop Sticks 8-1/2” long (2pcs)

CARE SHOULD BE TAKEN TO FOLLOW ALL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS FOR TOOLS USED. THIS PROJECT IS FOR ALL AGES.
The amount of adult assistance is dependent on age of kids.

6. Scissors
7. X-Acto knife
8. Square
9. WeldBond Adhesive
10. Pen/Pencil
11. Circle Center Locator jig
12. Awl and 1/8” and 5/16” drill bits
13. Straws
14. Styrofoam balls 1” (can vary)
15. Toothpicks
16. Googlee eyes
17. Any and all miscellaneous materials
for finishing craft project.
18. Circle template

1. Prepare box according to drawing.
2. Use a box approximately 7”x4”x4”.
3. You can also fabricate a box from flat
cardboard. (see drawings)
4. Cut off 2 end flaps. (short)
5. Cut off 1 long flap.
6. Find and mark the center of the ends
and of the top of the box. Do this by
Drawing a line from corner to
opposing corner. Draw a line from
perpendicular corners. Where the
lines intersect is the center.
7. Repeat for the three sides.
8. Use an awl or 1/8” drill bit to punch a
hole for later use.
The Box is now ready. Set aside.

1. Review: At the point of intersection
(CENTER) on the top and two (2) ends
of the box, punch a hole big enough
so that the chopstick rotates freely but
not sloppily.
2. Glue one (1) rectangle 4”x2” stack to
the top of the box and the second
(2nd) rectangle stack to the inside of
the top of the box.
MAKE SURE THAT THE CENTER
HOLES ARE LINED UP. RUN A
CHOPSTICK THROUGH THE
CENTER OF THE TOP OF THE BOX
AND 2 RECTANGULAR STACKS.
DO NOT GLUE THE CHOPSTICK.

1. For this step I used cardboard cut
from a random box.
2. Using the drawings and photos,
draw then using scissors cut:
- 6 pieces of 2” diameter discs
- 8 pieces of 1-1/2” diameter discs
- 6 pieces of 4” x 2” pieces
3. START ASSEMBLING COMPONENTS
4. Take 3 - 2” discs and glue together
5. Take 6 - 1-1/2” discs and glue 3 discs
together and then again. (2 pcs of 3
discs thick)
6. Take 6 - 2”x4” rectangles and glue
three pieces and again three pieces.
(2 pieces of 3 rectangles thick)
7. In order to accurately locate the
center of the disks, use the “CIRCLE
CENTER LOCATOR JIG”. Once the
lines are drawn, where they intersect
is the center of the disk.
8. Use the awl to start the hole.

1. Glue one end of the first (1st)
chopstick thru the center of a 2” disc
stack. The end should be flat.
2. Cut a 2” piece off of the second (2nd)
chopstick to use as a handle.
3. Using the drawing, locate the hole, cut
a hole, glue and insert the 2” piece.
✋ ALLOW TO DRY ✋
4. Get a 1-1/2” disc stack and put a hole
in center for chopstick to go thru.
5. Get a single 1-1/2” and put a hole
thru the center. This will be used as a
washer. The hole should be larger
then the chopstick so it rotates freely.
6. Step 3 should be dry.
7. Slide the washer (single 1-1/2” disc)
onto the first chopstick all the way
against the handle.
✋DO NOT GLUE ✋
8. Slide the chopstick handle assembly
into the side hole of the box.
9. Once through, slide a 1-1/2” 3pc disc
onto the chopstick. This acts as a
cam. The hole is drilled offset. (See
drawing and photo)
10. Push chopstick all the way thru to
the hole on the other side.
11. Line up the 3pc disc by sliding it
along the chopstick so that it lines up
with the center hole on top of the
box.
✋DO NOT GLUE ✋
12. Slide a double 1-1/2” disc over the
end of the horizontal chopstick.
(Outside the box). This will prevent
the handle assembly from excessive
side to side movement. Glue in
place. ✋ALLOW TO DRY✋
13. Cut a 5 1/2” long piece off the 2nd
chopstick.
14. Insert rod through the top of the box.
15. The rod has to rotate freely but not
sloppily in the top hole. I used a 1/4”
drill bit to ream the hole.
16. Once rotating freely, slide a double
1-1/2” disc onto the tip of the
chopstick. (Inside the box)
Glue disc in place.
✋ALLOW TO DRY ✋
17. Realign the 1-1/2” disc on the
horizontal chopstick so that when
the handle is rotated, it turns the
disc attached to the vertical
chopstick. (See photo & drawing).
Once you’re happy with alignment,
glue disc in place.
✋ALLOW TO DRY✋
OPTION 1: By changing the
location of the hole in the 1-1/2”
(disc on the horizontal chopstick
with handle) see drawing.
18. By rotating the handle the offset disc
rotates the disc connected to the
vertical chopstick. The action is
a rotation and up and down. (see
photo and sketches)

This completes the mechanism for
“THE DANCER”

The DANCER can be made in any size, shape or form. The design I used was created by my kids and can be replicated easily. Follow the template on Figure 3.
Paint and decorate the dancers.
1. Draw the dancer figure on a piece of
cardboard. I had the kids do one
each.
2. Use dotted lines to represent where to
fold the pattern and the solid lines are
cut lines.
3. Follow the template (Figure3) we used.
4. Using exact-o knife and score along
the dotted lines as indicated.
5. Fold the sections towards the back.
(See pictures)
6. Fold tab A and glue it to area under
triangle 4, under the arrows. This will
create a pyramidal shape.
(See pictures)
7. Fold tabs B, C under towards the
center.
8. Fold the large square bottom flap with
the tab into the center.
9. Place glue on all the tabs and close
bottom flap.
✋Allow the glue to dry.✋
10. Once dry, find the center on the
bottom flap. Draw a line from corner
to opposite diagonal and repeat for
opposite corner. Where the lines
intersect is the center of the flap.
11. Put a hole at the center large enough
for the straw to fit into.
12. Cut a piece of straw 4 -1/2”, insert
into the center hole of the pyramid
bottom flap and glue in place.
✋ ALLOW TO DRY ✋
13. The straw will sit onto the vertical
rotating chopstick.
14. I created 2 pyramid style figures for
the dance floor. Many designs can
be used as inserts. Cubes,
spheres, or even flat figures with a
straw glued to the back can be
used. Use your imagination.

“ ENJOY “

1. Decorate the box 📦.
2. Decorate the DANCERS 👯‍♂️.
Use your imagination.
3. Finish the “Dancer” using paint,
crayons, markers, googly eyes,
scraps of yarn, cardboard arms and
legs.
✋ALLOW TO DRY✋

Place straw onto the vertical chopstick on top of the dance floor. Rotate the handle and watch the DANCER spin and move up and down.
“ENJOY”

WOW !!!
It’s still snowing, But the kids have something to keep them busy doing.
This project is for all age groups. The children’s age determines how much of the work they can undertake.
Most of the resources are available in your home. Improvise and build.
REMEMBER: The snow will melt…soon!
“Think Summer”