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Clothespin Vampire Bat

Create a sparkly, spooky clothespin vampire bat that can soar through the night sky!

 

Did you know… Bats are nocturnal! That means they sleep during the day and wake up at night. 

Materials



1 Clothespin (Per Bat)
Black Glitter
Canvas
Paint
Paint Brush
Wiggly Eyes

Glue

Scissors

Construction Paper

Instructions



Step  1.

To make your vampire bat, cover a clothespin with glue and sprinkle black glitter all over it. Shake any excess glitter off and let dry.

Step  1.

To make your vampire bat, cover a clothespin with glue and sprinkle black glitter all over it. Shake any excess glitter off and let dry.

Step  2.

Cut out two bat wings from black construction paper, and two vampire teeth from white construction paper. Once your clothespin is dry, pinch it to open and glue the bat wings inside. Then glue 2 wiggly eyes to the top, and the 2 teeth right below.

Step  2.

Cut out two bat wings from black construction paper, and two vampire teeth from white construction paper. Once your clothespin is dry, pinch it to open and glue the bat wings inside. Then glue 2 wiggly eyes to the top, and the 2 teeth right below.

Step  3.

Paint a canvas with a blue base layer. This will be the night sky, so layer in different shades of dark blue together. Allow to dry completely.

Step  3.

Paint a canvas with a blue base layer. This will be the night sky, so layer in different shades of dark blue together. Allow to dry completely.

Step  4.

Once your blue canvas is dry, paint a large yellow moon in the center, then paint black mountains at the bottom. If you want to add the effect of stars, use white paint and flick the end of the paint brush to create a splatter on the sky! Add glitter go make it shiny and glistening.

Step  4.

Once your blue canvas is dry, paint a large yellow moon in the center, then paint black mountains at the bottom. If you want to add the effect of stars, use white paint and flick the end of the paint brush to create a splatter on the sky! Add glitter go make it shiny and glistening.

Step  5.

Once your canvas is dry, glue on your vampire bat to let him fly through the night sky!

Step  5.

Once your canvas is dry, glue on your vampire bat to let him fly through the night sky!

Hang out — or upside down — with the letter ‘V’ while creating a clothespin craft and learning fun facts about these flying creatures!

  • Wing It: The letter ‘V’ isn’t commonly used, especially as a first letter of a word. As a class, write out a list of as many words as you can think of that start with the letter ‘V!’ For example: Very, violet, valentine, etc.
  • Fang-tastic Fine Motor Skills: This craft project exercises hand and finger muscles by working paintbrushes, scissors, and clothespins. Strengthening fine motor skills will support other movements, like writing and typing, later on!

As your students create their vampire bat clothespins, visit National Geographic Kids to learn some cool facts about bats, like where they live, what they eat, and when they sleep!