Before we could buy back-to-school clothes in a store, kids had to help their parents make the fabric that made their clothes! Learn about how weaving worked by watching this video.

Then you can try out some weaving for yourselves, using paper.

Grown-ups, you can print the files for the warp (below), then cut construction paper strips that are the same width for the weft. Contrasting colors makes it easier for kids to see what they’re doing. The smaller width is more challenging for elementary-aged kids, and larger width is just right for preschoolers and kindergarteners.

This activity promotes fine motor skills, both with scissor skills and manipulating the paper. It also reinforces the math and critical thinking concept of patterns.