A nursery involved the children in making a cemtrepiece for their neglected creative area in the hope of reviving children's interest in it. They decided on an octopus, a character from a story that they had shared. They made the body from a large paper bag stuffed with newspaper and attached legs made from cardboard tubes with a variety of fasteners. the legs became sound-makers after one child found some beads and recalled an earlier activity constructing rain-makers. The octupus was suspended from the ceiling and became a puppet controlled by a piece of string attached to the body.
In the following weeks, the children made a house for the octopus. Later the children added windows and hinged doors. The area round the house became a reading area, so that stories could be read to the octopus. The octopus had to be fed, too, so the area became a favourite snack-time location. And letters were written to the octopus, and were answered for the following session.
