Paper Plate Baseball Lacing Craft

Black History Month is an excellent opportunity to celebrate the achievements and contributions of African Americans to U.S. history. One notable figure who stands out, especially in the world of sports, is Jackie Robinson. He broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball in 1947 when he became the first African American to play in MLB in the modern era. Robinson’s courage and skills on the baseball field not only challenged the segregation norms of the times but also opened doors for more inclusivity in sports and other areas of American life. To honor his legacy and love for baseball, this paper plate baseball lacing craft is a perfect activity for kids. It combines fun, creativity, and a great lesson in history, all wrapped up in one crafty project.

The craft is designed to be simple yet engaging, providing a hands-on way to discuss important historical figures like Jackie Robinson with kids. It’s also a great exercise for developing fine motor skills. Using everyday materials like a paper plate, red yarn, and a marker, children can create their own baseball-themed craft while learning about a significant part of American history. Let’s get started and lace up some baseball history!

Materials for Paper Plate Baseball Lacing Craft

• Paper plate
• Pencil or sharp object to poke holes in the plate
• Cardboard box (to place under the plate while poking holes)
• Red marker
• Red yarn (about 2-3 feet)
• Embroidery needle

Step-by-Step Instructions for Paper Plate Baseball Lacing Craft

1. Draw the Seams:

• With the red marker, draw curved lines on the paper plate to resemble the seams of a baseball. You can look at a real baseball for reference or use a template.

2. Prepare the Paper Plate:

• Place your paper plate on top of the cardboard box. This box will protect your surface as you poke holes in the plate.
• Using a pencil or another sharp object, carefully poke holes on either side of the curved lines. These holes should be evenly spaced and about 1/2 inch apart.

3. Thread the Needle:

• Cut two lengths of red yarn about 1 foot long. Thread one end through the embroidery needle and tie a knot at the other end.

4. Lace the “Baseball”:

• Start by pulling the needle and yarn up through one of the holes from the back of the plate, leaving the knot at the back.
• Lace the yarn across the plate and down through the opposite hole. Pull the yarn through, but not too tight.
• Continue this process, going back and forth across the plate and creating a laced pattern similar to that on a baseball.

5. Finish the Craft:

• Once you’ve laced through all the holes, tie off the end of the yarn at the back of the plate.
• Trim any excess yarn.

This paper plate baseball lacing craft is not just a fun activity but also a homage to Jackie Robinson and his remarkable role in American history. It’s a craft that allows kids to work on their motor skills while engaging in a discussion about equality, perseverance, and the love of the game. Hang up the finished baseball plates in your classroom or at home as a reminder of the valuable lessons learned during Black History Month.

Age Suitability

This activity is good for toddlers aged children 2 years old and up with adult assistance.

Mess Level

The mess level for this activity is low.

Difficulty to Create 

Easy.

Toddler and Preschooler Curriculums, Books & TV Show!

Play2Learn Toddler & Preschool Programs for Curious Toddlers

There is no limit to your toddler’s energy and curiosity. That energy and curiosity although a joy can be challenging at times. Their interest in just about everything around them is what makes them great learners. One and two year olds can soak up so much just from their senses!

But as a teacher or parent that thirst for learning can be exhausting. That is why I created this toddler and preschooler program. To help you get the most out of this time with your curious toddler without having to come up with creative ways to play and interact with them.

Play2Learn for Toddlers includes 20 Units for toddlers. Each 2-week toddler unit has 20 super easy to set up and engaging activities for toddlers 18 months to 3 years.

Play2Learn Preschool which includes 20 Units for preschoolers. Each 2-week preschoolers unit has 20 unique and easy to set up and engaging activities for preschoolers 3 years to 5 years. That’s over 800 learning activities for your toddler and preschooler at your fingertips! So many ideas you and your child will never be bored again! 

These toddler and preschool lesson plans and activities will definitely keep you and your toddler and preschooler busy playing and learning!

Click here for more information: Play2Learn

Designed for toddlers 18 months and up.

Book: Exciting Sensory Bins for Curious Kids

Did you know I wrote a book of sensory bins? Click here for more information Exciting Sensory Bin for Curious Kids. Or grab your copy at Amazon. 

Boring afternoons are made exciting with awesome animal-based bins, like Salty Shark Bay or Yarn Farm. Pretend play bins like Birthday Cake Sensory Play or Bubble Tea Party encourage creativity and imagination. And your kids will have so much fun they won’t even know they’re getting smarter with STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) activities like Sink or Float Soup, Magnetic Letter Hunt or Ice Cream Scoop and Count.

Designed for toddlers 18 months and up.

Book: Super STEAM Activity Book for Kids

Learning all about science, technology, engineering, art, and math sets kids up for scholastic success―and it can be so much fun! Watch kids enjoy building STEAM skills as they color friendly fish, help water find its way to tree roots, solve math problems with mazes, and more. 

Find out more and grab your copy here.

Designed for preschoolers 3 years old and up.

Book: Big Book of Riddles for Kids

Riddle me this: What’s an exciting way to practice critical thinking while having a blast? The Big Riddle Book for Kids, of course! From hilarious puns to tough brain teasers, kids can build problem-solving skills with hundreds of riddles tha. t show them how to think outside the box.

• 350 riddles for kids—Have hours of fun with riddles, puns and jokes, and math and logic puzzles that’ll get their wheels turning!
• Level up their skills—Riddles get trickier as kids progress through the book, challenging them as they get better at solving puzzles!
• Double-check their work—Kids can check their answers in the back of the book with a handy answer key.

Help children expand their minds while having fun with this puzzle book for kids!

Designed for kids ages 6 years old and up.

TV Show: Curious Crafting

I’m so excited to share my crafting TV show Curious Crafting which launched in July 2022 on TVOkids and TVOkids YouTube! Season 2 aired in August 2023! My show was also nominated in 2023 for Best Live Action Preschool Series by the Youth Media Alliance Awards of Excellence.

Curious Crafting Season 1 is also now airing in Australia on ABC! Watch it here!

Set in the ultimate crafting space, Curious Crafting is a short form pre-school age series about the joy of making crafts. I lead a rotating cast of adorable little preschoolers (including my own) making magic out of common household objects.

In each episode we transform recycled items into magical crafts like a milk carton school bus, paper bag puppet or cotton pad turtle. The crafters learn and laugh their way through each activity while demonstrating what their young imaginations can create. 

Curious Crafting shares the adventure and joy of making art with takeaway lessons for creating crafts at home.

This show designed for toddlers and preschoolers 2.5 years old and up. 

The Best Sensory Play Kits for Kids

Play is at the core of learning during the early years and it can take many forms. One of the most important of these is sensory play because it engages all of a child’s senses (taste, touch, smell, sight and hearing) and has a enoumous positive impact on brain development.

Our Sensory Play Kits are some fun and easy ways to keep your child engaged while at the same time using sensory play to nurture their mind!

Shop our ready made play kits here.

Designed for preschoolers 3 years old and up.