Submitted by Deaetta A. Szulis, Camillus, New York

Idea posted May 13, 2003

Question: I'm doing an old version of "Elephant's Child" with 1st and 2nd grades at the end of April and am trying to find an easy elephant mask, headband, or hat idea. I don't want to cover the face, but need something for 88 1st graders that will stay on well through one practice and performance. (It also needs to be easy to make!)

Answer: I just finished making masks for "It's A Jungle Out There," and I had to make three elephants. For all the masks, I used Chinette paper plates. I painted them, attached ears, then cut the center out and attached elastic to the back. Their faces will be seen. For the elephants, I left a strip down the middle and attached a trunk. These seem to be durable, but I think it may take more time, unless you have an assembly line production thing going for you, as I did. Maybe you could you get some parents to help.