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Paper Bag Leaf Lantern

  • Science & STEM
  • Grades 4-5
  • Grades 1-3

Create a cute fall lantern of a paper lunch bag and coffee filters! Add a subtle glow with an LED tea light!

printDownload Template

Materials



Paintbrushes
Skinny Craft Sticks

Paint Dab Markers

LED Tea Light

Ruler

Paper Bags (One for Each Lantern)

Coffee Filters

Decoupage Glue

Pen/Pencil/Marker

Scissors

Hot Glue *Adult Supervision Required

Instructions



Step  1.

Gather your supplies. 

Step  1.

Gather your supplies. 

Step  2.

Cut 4 inches off the top of the paper bag. 

Step  2.

Cut 4 inches off the top of the paper bag. 

Step  3.

Download and print the leaf template above on cardstock, then cut it out.  

Step  3.

Download and print the leaf template above on cardstock, then cut it out.  

Step  4.

Trace the template on the back and front of the paper bag. 

Step  4.

Trace the template on the back and front of the paper bag. 

Step  5.

Cut out the lead on both sides. 

Step  5.

Cut out the lead on both sides. 

Step  6.

Glue 2 skinny craft sticks into each corner to make the lantern sturdy. 

Step  6.

Glue 2 skinny craft sticks into each corner to make the lantern sturdy. 

Step  7.

Tie dye 2 coffee filters using yellow and red paint dabbers. 

Step  7.

Tie dye 2 coffee filters using yellow and red paint dabbers. 

Step  8.

Once your coffee filters are dry, use the leftover piece of the paper bag to measure the width of the coffee filters so they slide right into the bag. Draw a line on each side to mark the excess filter. 

Step  8.

Once your coffee filters are dry, use the leftover piece of the paper bag to measure the width of the coffee filters so they slide right into the bag. Draw a line on each side to mark the excess filter. 

Step  9.

Cut along the lines. Use a ruler to draw a line from corner to corner of the filter. 

Step  9.

Cut along the lines. Use a ruler to draw a line from corner to corner of the filter. 

Step  10.

Cut along the lines and you now have 2 rectangular coffee filters. 

Step  10.

Cut along the lines and you now have 2 rectangular coffee filters. 

Step  11.

Spread decoupage glue on the insides of the bag. 

Step  11.

Spread decoupage glue on the insides of the bag. 

Step  12.

Slide one of the coffee filters into the bag and decoupage glue over it to secure. Repeat for both sides of the bag. 

Step  12.

Slide one of the coffee filters into the bag and decoupage glue over it to secure. Repeat for both sides of the bag. 

Step  13.

Cut the top of the bag into a zigzag pattern to add a decorative touch. 

Step  13.

Cut the top of the bag into a zigzag pattern to add a decorative touch. 

Brighten your days with a leaf-shaped lantern full of primary and secondary colors!

  • Color Me Primary: The red and yellow paint dab markers blend to make orange! Combining two primary colors makes a secondary color — ask your students if they know what colors they need to blend to make green or purple leaves.
  • Over the Rainbow: Light and color go hand-in-hand! When light bounces off an object, the colors of the object are either absorbed or reflected, and our eyes see a reflection of the colors. Explore the science behind color with your class using this activity sheet 

When your students are done creating their leaf lanterns, they should still have their blank leaf templates. As a class, come up with ways to blend more colors into art projects — how about diving into some watercolors or oil pastels?!