Woven paper basket craft

This craft could be used in all sorts of lessons. I never followed through on having my kids weave a paper basket for history lessons, but it was on my to-do list at one point, especially when we were studying Colonial America. This could also make a great craft for a Bible lesson, this is actually where the idea came from. I made this for the Feeding of the 5000 Unit, and as I’m thinking about it I might include it in the Baby Moses Unit. I’m sure the more I think about this, the more projects I could include this in.

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Woven paper basket craft supplies

You can do this many different ways, my sample was made with construction paper or maybe cardstock. I grabbed what I had on hand.

Other options: felt, cotton fabric (this will not hold its shape, though canvas or denim would slightly better)

Some form of glue or something: gluestick, tape, or stapler, if using fabric then needle and thread

In the Jesus Feeds the 5000 Unit, I have print-friendly instructions.

Basketweaving history lesson

When I started writing this post, I didn’t really intend to turn this into a history lesson, but I forgot this was also on my history posts ideas list. Ever since we last went to Colonial Williamsburg, and visited the basketweaver and had an extensive conversation with her on how baskets were made and all of the different steps to it.

This is an activity most people would know how to do, and would be a frequent job in the evenings. We don’t tend to think of all the little jobs people had to do to keep their homes running, but this was another of them.

Resources to learn more on basketweaving

Because I like to have more resources, here are a few I found in my quick internet search and at my library.

And because I’ve grown to love using videos with kids, here are the videos I found most helpful.

This next video is more of the time-lapse sort with no words, I know lots of people like these, but I don’t quite get the appeal of this style.

All right, now back to the actual basket-making process.

Prep work before letting a kid weave the basket

I suppose you could have the kids do this step, but it’s more of gruntwork, and a lot of kids will struggle with just the weaving aspect, so why not limit the steps that will annoy the kids.

Cut strips of your weaving material. I would recommend 1-2 inches wide depending on how big of a basket you are going for.

At a minimum, each kid will need 12 strips, that is assuming you have a 3×3 base.

How to weave a paper basket

Create a base for your basket, my example has a 3×3 square. Lay three strips next to each other parallel. Apply glue to the middle of the strips (purple rectangles).
Take another strip and weave it through the three horizontal strips. Press down where it goes over the piece with glue.
Repeat the weaving for two more strips. Press them all down firmly to help the glue catch. This forms the base.

paper basket bottom woven and sides folded up

4. Sigh, I need to figure out how to tinker and make it recognize I’m continuing my numbered steps from earlier. Okay, fold up the sides. I like to fold them firmly to create a nice strong crease, but you don’t really need to do that. I just find it helpful.

5. Choose another strip and put glue on the edge of it. Press it firmly to one of the previously woven strips and start leaving it in and out around the sides. As you reach the end of a side, carefully press the paper to form a corner. Upon getting back to the beginning, put glue on the end of the strip and glue it in place. (0bviously if using tape, stapler, or needle and thread, use those in that place)

6. Repeat with two more strips, or until you have reached the desired height of your basket. Make sure to leave enough paper at the top to finish the basket (about 1-2 inches).

7. Once your desired height is reached, apply glue to the ends of the paper and start to weave them back into the basket creating a finished edge.

Now if you are using this for the Feeding of the 500 craft, this would be when you put in the loaves and the fishes.

Feeding of the 5000 paper basket weaving craft gospel New Testament

Look, an adorable little lunch box.

Now, if we were learning about baby Moses, I would put a baby doll in there with some fabric as a blanket.

If we were learning about Ruth, I’d put some sheaves of grain in there.

If this was part of a history lesson, I’d use then use it to store some food or maybe some marbles for some Colonial games.

As you can see, this can be added into quite a few lessons and it’s a good way to improve dexterity and work on fine-motor skills.