Bouncing Bunnies - Full Lesson Plan Freebie!

Posted on Mar 28, 2024

This bouncing bunny craft is a fun STEAM activity with your students.

It teaches children about elasticity and force in a fun and adorable way!

It is so important for a child's development to engage and learn about concepts in various subjects. This stimulates their curiosity and encourages them to ask questions.

In this lesson, children can learn and make a fun toy.

The video instructions are presented to you by one of our adorable students, who speaks our first language, Afrikaans.

Don’t worry, we’ve included the steps in English (and in detail below as well) so that you can follow and craft along.

Watch the video and download the full lesson plan (from our Craft Lesson Club) below.

Download the full step-by-step lesson plan below:

Inside, you'll find:

A supply list (what you'll need)
Explanation of the performance super skills that will be developed
Step-by-step craft instructions with pictures

Age recommendation:

This project is recommended for kids ages 7 and up. Younger kids can do the project, too, but may need some adult assistance.

Here’s what you’ll need:

2 Paper cups
Paper
Glue, tape, or a stapler
Permanent marker or pen
2 Rubber bands
Scissors
Something to add some color: sharpies, crayons, or paint
Cotton ball or felt ball for a tail (optional)
Pipe cleaners for whiskers (optional)

Be creative and use what you have! One of our CCC members shared this pic below. Her students used toilet rolls instead of paper cups - so creative!

What super skills will your students learn?

Problem-solving: identifying a problem and then inventing or discovering an appropriate solution. The kids will have to do a lot of problem-solving in this craft while creating their jumping bunnies. They will have to figure out how to securely connect the ears, whiskers, and other attachments, as well as how to engineer the elastics to make their bunnies jump.

Fine motor skills: using the smaller muscle groups in our hands and fingers to grip by performing finger oppositions and extending and flexing our fingers during an activity. This becomes a major focus in this craft when the kids create finer details.

Click on the button below to DOWNLOAD the full lesson plan for FREE.

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INSTRUCTIONS

STEP 1: Draw and cut 2 ears per bunny. Test the size and make sure that they fit onto the sides of the paper cup. They can be a rounded triangular, sharp, floppy or even fluffy (stick cotton or felt on).

STEP 2: Draw eyes, a mouth and whiskers. Stick your ears onto your cup using tape or glue. You could also staple the ears in place.

STEP 3: Colour your bunny using colouring pencils, sharpies, crayons or paint.

STEP 4: Using the same bunny cup, cut 4 small slots into the top edge of the cup or make 4 holes as shown in the video. Cut one slot, then cut another directly across from that one. Now cut two more slots between those.

STEP 5: Cut two rubber bands. Measure the bands to be slightly longer than the diameter of the top of your cup.

STEP 6: Tie a knot on each end of both rubber bands.

STEP 7: Slide the end of one rubber band into one slot, pull it tightly across and slide the other side in as well. Repeat this for the second rubber band to create a plus sign.

Adjust the knots if necessary to allow the bands to be tight-ish. Cut off the ends of the elastic bands.

STEP 8: Stick a felt or cotton ball tail to the back.

STEP 9: Decorate your second cup with fun rainbow colours. You don't need to add bunny details or elastic bands to the second cup.

STEP 10: Add whiskers with pipe cleaners, and then make another bunny friend!

TIME TO PLAY

Place Cup 2 facing down on the table (bottom-up). Put Cup 1 on top of Cup 2 (elastic bands will be resting on the bottom of Cup 2).

Push your bunny down and release it to see it jump like POPCORN!

We'd love to see how your kids' projects turn out.

Looking for Creative Crafts That Keep Students Coming Back For More? Join our Craft Lesson Club!

P.S. If you'd like to discover an easy way to start a Kids Arts & Crafts Club, it's in just 1 hour! Our #GetStarted Workshop is back by popular demand. Sign up now to get a 40% early bird discount!