Beaded Indian Corn
Beaded Indian Corn is a simple fall craft kids can make with pony beads and raffia. Use autumn colors like yellow, ivory, orange, brown, and black to create little ears of corn that are perfect for Thanksgiving crafts, harvest decorations, classroom activities, or homemade scatter pins.
No two pieces of corn need to look the same, so this is a great project for using up leftover beads.
Supplies
- 30 pony beads in assorted colors, such as yellow, ivory, orange, brown, and black
- 1 yard natural raffia
- Scissors
- Optional: jewelry pin back
- Optional: low temp glue gun and glue sticks
Instructions
- Cut the raffia into two 18 inch pieces.
- Slide both pieces of raffia through one pony bead. Pull the bead to the center so you have four raffia strands hanging down.
- Separate the strands. String seven pony beads onto each of the four strands, using assorted fall colors.
- Slide one final pony bead over all four strands to pull the corn shape together.
- Tie the loose raffia ends into a bow at the top.
- Trim the ends neatly.
- To make your Beaded Indian Corn into a pin, have an adult glue a jewelry pin back to the back of the corn with a low temp glue gun. Let it dry completely before wearing.
Craft Tips
Try mixing the bead colors instead of making each row the same. Real corn kernels often have many shades, so random patterns look great.
For a classroom activity, let each child make one ear of corn and display them together on a fall bulletin board.
Patterns, Templates and Printables
This craft does not require a printable pattern. Kids can follow the instructions above and choose their own bead colors to make each Beaded Indian Corn craft unique.
Teacher Friendly Educational Extension
Use this easy fall craft to talk about harvest foods and how corn has been grown and used in many different ways. Kids can compare different colors of corn, count the beads on each strand, or create simple repeating patterns.
For a writing activity, ask children to describe their corn using color words. Older students can write a short paragraph about fall harvest traditions or how corn is used for food, decoration, and animal feed.
Supplies
30 Pony Beads in Assorted Colors of Yellow, Ivory, Orange and Black
1 Yard of Natural Raffia
Scissors
Instructions
Cut raffia in two 18" pieces. Slide both pieces through one pony bead. Seperate strands. String seven pony beads on each of the four strands. Slide one pony bead through the four strands to pull them together. Tie into a bow. Trim. If you want to make it into a pin, glue a jewelry pin to the back with a glue gun and let dry.
Contributor
These projects are created by Terri, Betty, Jamie or one of the talented staff members at MakingFriends.com. They have been created exclusively for publication on FreeKidsCrafts.com with supplies you'll be able to find around your house.
