Children will learn about Japan and the art of fan making by creating their own fan. Share with children images of Japanese fans and bring in example fans for preschool children to play with. Create Japanese-inspired fans with toddlers by watercolor painting on white paper and then teaching children how to fan fold--forward and backward from one end of the paper to the other. Finish the Japanese fan by stapling at one end.
Australian Aboriginals created cave paintings thousands of years ago to document the world around them. Often, they would sign their artwork with a sprayed handprint. Look at images of Aboriginal art with toddlers and discuss the vibrant colors and lines used. Toddlers can create their own Aboriginal handprint by placing their hands on a sheet of construction paper and having an adult spray over it with watered-down tempera paint. After the sprayed handprints have dried, the children can paint around the hand with paintbrushes and tempera paints.
Hawaiians welcome friends and family with a flower lei. Young children can create flower leis by stringing precut paper flowers onto lengths of string. Lacing encourages toddler's fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Help children by precutting flower shapes out of various colors of construction paper and punching a hole through the center. Children can decorate the paper flowers with markers before stringing them onto a length of string.
In Africa, masks are worn for celebrations and often use animals as the basis for their design. Create African-inspired animal masks using paper plates, tempera paints, string and beads. Look at examples of African masks with toddlers and help them select animals to use for their masks. Children can cut out the eyes and mouths for the masks as well as around the paper plate to create the shape of an animal's head. The masks can be painted with tempera paints and adorned with string and beads. Help children wear the finished African masks and have a celebration.