A firefly made out of a clear soda bottle, black construction paper and gold pipe cleaners.

Soda Bottle Fireflies

Let nature inspire art when you upcycle plastic soda bottles to create fun and festive fireflies for display or pretend play.

Materials

  • Green soda bottles
  • Glow sticks
  • Googly eyes
  • Sparkly pipe cleaners
  • Black construction paper
  • Glue or glue gun and glue sticks
  • Tape
  • Red permanent marker or paint pen
  • Scissors
  • Firefly wings printable (PDF)

Directions

  1. Wrap three pipe cleaners around the base of the soda bottle, about two inches apart. Cut and bend them into the shape of firefly legs.
    A clear soda bottle wrapped with pipe cleaners. The pipe cleaners are bent to resemble legs.
  2. Wrap a piece of black construction paper around the soda bottle. Make sure it’s large enough to go all the way around the bottle.
    A clear soda bottle wrapped in black construction paper.
  3. Wrap a pipe cleaner around the neck of the soda bottle, twisting to secure it and trimming and curling the ends to form the antennae.
    A clear soda bottle with a pipe cleaner wrapped around the neck of the bottle. The pipe cleaner is bent to resemble antennae.
  4. Glue two googly eyes to the cap of the soda bottle and draw a mouth with your red paint pen or marker.
    A cap of a clear soda bottle with a face made with googly eyes and a red line for a smile.
  5. Bend the glow stick to activate it and insert inside the bottle.
  6. Print and cut the firefly wings. Fold the wings in half and tape to the top of the soda bottle firefly.
    A piece of paper or cardboard cut out to resemble wings.

This craft comes to you from the creators of Wild Kratts.

Iowa PBS STEAM Activities and Crafts provided by PBS KIDS Parents.