What’s more summery than staying up late and catching fireflies? This week we’re “catching” our own nightlights! Stop by the library to pick up your kit–please note all of our weekly kits will be on a “first come, first served” basis. However, if any are still leftover after the week is done, they will be available to take.
Click here for photo instructions.
In Your Kit:
- 1 plastic egg
- 1 LED tea light
- 3 pipe cleaners
- 1 strip of duct tape
- 2 googly eyes
- 2 glue dots
Additional items:
- Something sharp to poke holes in the egg (like a pushpin or an awl) Pushpins available upon request by a grown-up
- Scissors
- (Optional) Marker or paint for the face
- (Optional) Other glue to replace glue dots
Directions:
Note: The bottom (wide end) of the egg will be your firefly’s face; the top (narrow end) will be its back.
- (Please have a grown-up help with this step!) Poke 3 holes in a horizontal row along each side of the narrow end starting at the opening
- Poke 2 holes on the top of the wide end for the antennae
- Cut 2 pipe cleaners into 3 equal parts (legs) and 1 into 2 equal parts (antennae)
- Twist the legs clockwise into each leg hole. Bend for knees and feet.
- Take the antennae and twist them clockwise into the antennae holes. Curl them or keep them straight (up to you!)
- Place the light inside the egg with the “flame” pointing towards the back
- Close up your fly
- For the wings: fold duct tape over on itself so that there is still a strip of the sticky side uncovered. Trim the folded edge so that it is rounded and snip up the middle, but don’t cut completely in half. Attach to the back.
- Stick one glue dot (or other glue) on each googly eye and attach.
- Enjoy your new firefly nightlight!