Most of the read alouds for my class this year included a dog as an important character. I look for things that are age appropriate for the students to show kindness and compassion, so it seemed like a natural next step to make dog toys when I found myself with a huge stack of t-shirt parts left over after making a t-shirt quilt.
A quick check with Grown Up R who works at Brother Wolf Animal Rescue in NC confirmed that this was a realistic idea. She had done it. They didn't last long, but it worked. Next a search for how to. I used a variation of this DIY tutorial. Then I put out an all call to the parents to send in old tennis balls.
Since the shirts I had had already been cut, my strip width was whatever I could do with what I had. Some of the toys ended up looking like they had little bonnets and that was okay.
The first try with the students (4th graders) was a lesson in patience, but they were motivated. We had to determine who even knew how to braid - most girls and one boy who explained that he had a little sister! They had to form a pair or trio and choose colors. For the first try they did the cutting of the strips to braid, but it turned out to be way too difficult with school scissors.
Thankfully I had taken my small mat and rotary cutter, so I precut the next round. At first they couldn't figure that they were precut, but once they did it was smooth sailing.
This was one of the only projects this year in which the boys and girls worked in harmony. No fighting, not bossing, just work. It was so good to see those who could not braid be the "holder" for the "braider" with just as much confidence and ownership. Since each t-shirt strip was cut in 3 smaller strips, it didn't matter how many large strips there were, the braiding would work when they mixed colors. It made me think this would be a good project when we learn multiples. They loved making different color combinations.
Over two work sessions the last week of school we ended up with close to 30 dog toys. Each student who wanted to took one home and the rest will be donated.
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