Materials
Paper plates: Two standard-sized plates per UFO.
Aluminum foil or Silver paint: To give the craft a metallic space look.
Googly eyes: For the alien pilot sitting inside.
Pipe cleaners: To create antennas or landing gear.
Pom-poms and Beads: To represent colorful lights or control buttons.
Glue sticks and liquid glue: For securing different textures.
Markers: For adding fine details and patterns.
Directions
Prepare the Base: Cover the back of two paper plates with aluminum foil or paint them silver to create the metallic hull.
Form the Saucer: Place the two plates together so the "eating sides" face each other, creating a hollow dome shape, then glue or staple the edges.
Add the Pilot: Create a small alien character using paper or a pom-pom and glue it to the center of the top plate.
Install Lights: Glue colorful pom-poms or beads around the rim of the saucer to act as flashing space lights.
Final Touches: Attach pipe cleaner antennas to the top so your alien can communicate with its home planet.
Instruction for Kids
Be a Space Engineer: Decorate your UFO with as many "buttons" (beads) as you want to make it go super fast!
Shiny Surfaces: Try to smooth the foil out with your hands to make your spaceship extra shiny.
Alien Friends: Give your alien pilot lots of eyes so they can see all the stars while they fly.
Instruction for Parents
Foil Management: Aluminum foil can be tricky for little hands; help them wrap the plate edges to avoid tears.
Glue Support: Use liquid glue for the heavier beads and pom-poms to ensure they don't fall off during "flight".
Safety First: Supervise the use of small beads and ensure any staples used to join the plates are covered with tape for safety.
The 'Why' Behind the Craft: From Kids Perspective
"I love making UFOs because they look so shiny and cool! It’s fun to imagine I’m building a real spaceship that can zoom across the room. Picking out the colors for the lights and giving my alien funny eyes makes me feel like I'm in a space movie."
The 'Why' Behind the Craft: From Parents Perspective
"This project is fantastic for developing 3D spatial awareness as children learn how to combine two flat plates into a dimensional object. It also encourages fine motor precision through the placement of small decorations. Most importantly, it’s a wonderful way to spark a conversation about science and the universe while spending creative time together."
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