Checkers

After you and your kids make Checkers, you'll find that a game of checkers is even more fun when you design the pieces yourself,

How to Make Checkers

What You'll Need:

  • Waxed Paper
  • White Polymer Clay
  • Rolling Pin
  • Cap from a Plastic Milk Jug or Water Bottle
  • A Quarter
  • Acrylic Paints
  • Paintbrush
  • Ruler
  • Black Felt-Tip Pen
  • A Large, Clean Pizza Box

Use a clean pizza box to make your board.
Use a clean pizza box to make your board.

Step One: Cover your work surface with a sheet of waxed paper. Roll out a sheet of white polymer clay, about 1/2 inch thick. Use the milk jug or water bottle cap to press out 24 circles. Press a design on each circle using a quarter.

Step Two: With an adult's help, bake the clay checker pieces following the package directions. After the clay pieces have cooled, paint 12 pieces one color and the other 12 pieces a different color. Let the paint dry.

Step Three: To make the checkerboard pattern, draw a 16 x 16-inch square inside the pizza box. Draw lines to make 64 squares, 2 inches each. Start by drawing a line down the center of the square and another line across the center of the square. This divides each side of the square in half. Now draw lines to divide each of those squares in half.

Step Four: Then draw more lines to divide each of those squares half. There should be 8 squares down each side. Paint every square to finish the checkerboard pattern.

Step Five: If you want, paint the outside of the box, too. Let the paint dry.

Step Six: Line up the opposing game pieces on each side of the board to play a game of checkers. Store your checker pieces inside the box when you are done.

Art Flash Cards challenge your kids to remember and create shapes. Learn how to make this educational game on the next page.

Get great ideas for activities that parents and kids can share. See: