When I was a little kid trying to learn how to read time on an analog clock, my aunt used to make a clock-like device out of a paper plate. This will serve as the body of the clock, while she uses a special kind of pin (I'm not really sure what it's called) to attach the two arms of the clock. She would mark the edges of the paper plate from 1 to 12, and she'll manually operate the paper clock to teach me how to read the time.
It was effective, no doubt. In one night, I was able to learn how to read the time, and a few days after, I already had my own analog watch. It was the kind of experience that I would like to share to my future children and the children who will turn out under my guidance, assuming there will be any. I would like to make them their very own paper plate clocks as well.
But then again, clocks are not the only ones that you can make out of your paper plates. Given their rounded figures, paper plates can be used as the primary material for several other children's artworks. Take, for example, the ones shown here at DaniellesPlace.com. The motif was to create animal models using paper plates of different sizes and folds.
A lot of people say that this might be a waste of resources. Paper plates are used for eating, after all. That's a good point. We certainly can do something to make this more environment-friendly. How about using these paper plates after use? Instead of using newly bought paper plates from the supermarket, you can used the ones that were used in children's parties. What you can do is to put some plastic cover directly on top of the plates, on which the food will be put. After eating, you can throw away the plastic covers (or send them to the recycling store) and use the paper plates for your art projects!
