Before You Begin:

This project can be a bit messy, so you may want to prepare a painting station in your classroom. Simply cover a table with newspaper or a vinyl tablecloth. Pour red, green and blue paint into separate pie tins or paint trays and set them on the center of the table. Keep the mess to a minimum by inviting small groups of students to join you (and any parent volunteers) at the painting table. Have other students read quietly or work in a learning center as they wait for their turn at the table.

Directions

1. Invite students to sit at the painting station. Give each student three paper plates and a paintbrush. Help students write their names on the bottom of their plates so you can identify them later.
2. Have students choose a paint color. Show them how to paint stripes on one plate from the center to the outer edge. Prompt students to make the stripes slightly wider as they get closer to the outer edge—just like the stripes on a peppermint candy! Set the plates aside to dry.
3. Have students press their hands into the paint and make a handprint on both of their remaining plates. Set these aside to dry as well.
4. Have students wash their hands thoroughly and return to their desks or a learning center while other students work at the painting table.
5. After all the plates have dried, pass the plates back to the students they belong to.
6. Explain that students will use their two handprint plates to make the candy wrapping. Have them cut around each handprint to make a rounded triangular shape. Then help students staple the two handprints—fingers pointing outward—to opposite ends of the striped plate.
7. Pass out copies of the peppermint poem. Have students cut out the poem and glue it to the center of the striped plate.
8. Help students punch two holes on each side of the “candy” where the handprints meet the striped plate. Encourage students to tie a piece of curling ribbon through each pair of holes. They can also punch a hole in the top of the candy and use curling ribbon to make a loop for hanging.
9. Display the completed artwork by hanging the candies from the ceiling or attaching them to a bulletin board.