Estimated time: 30+ minutes

In Chapter 4, Pinocchio picks up a mallet and throws it at the cricket, which kills the cricket.

Today, we're going to learn how to use a mallet to make beautiful art instead of causing trouble. We will use a mallet to pound out colors and patterns from nature onto paper or fabric.

When we hit leaves, grass, berries, and flowers with a mallet on paper or fabric, the colors inside them come out and leave pretty prints behind. This is because the force of the mallet helps release the natural dyes from these plants, just like magic ink!

For this project, you will need:

• A mallet (a small, light one that's easy to handle)
• White or light-colored paper or fabric
• Leaves, grass, flowers, and berries you find outside
• An outdoor space with a hard surface like concrete or a wooden board. If you can't use it outside, be sure to use a disposable plastic tablecloth to help with the cleanup.

Instructions:

1. First, ask an adult to help you find a nice place outside where you can gather leaves, flowers, grass, and berries. Make sure these are safe to touch and pick.
2. Put your tablecloth or newspapers on a table to keep it clean.
3. Take your fabric or paper and spread it out on the table.
4. Arrange your collected leaves, flowers, grass, and berries on top of the paper or fabric. You can create any design you like!
5. Once you're happy with your design, cover it with another piece of paper or fabric.
6. Carefully use your mallet to pound all over the paper or plastic. You'll need to tap each area a few times to make sure all the colors come out.
7. When you're done tapping, check to see the beautiful prints you've made!
8. Let your paper or fabric dry. Once it's dry, you can use it to make stationery, a flag, or even a special decoration for your room!
   

Share your art with us in the comments.