Making a mobile.

The key to making a mobile is balance. Think of a seesaw, which is balanced when people of similar weight sit on each end.

You will need glue, string, a sewing needle, transparent thread or fishing line, two drinking straws, and about five shapes cut from cardboard or paper.

Tie an eight-inch piece of string to the center of one straw, and secure it with a drop of glue. When it dries, you'll need the straw to hang from something. One way to do this is to place a broomstick or dowel across two chairs and tie the string to it.

With the needle, pierce each cardboard shape to make a hole for hanging. (You may need an adult's help.) To hang the first shape, thread the fishing line through the hole, and knot it. Then tie the other end of the line to the straw.

Tie a second shape to the straw. Slide the knot along the straw to balance the two shapes so that the straw remains level. When the shapes are balanced, secure the knots to the straw with a small amount of glue.

Cut the second straw a little shorter than the first, and hang it from the middle of the first straw with a short piece of string. Then add two or three shapes to the second straw, making sure to keep the entire mobile balanced.

You can use a wide variety of hanging pieces. Painted uncooked pasta, small seashells, and pinecones all work well.

Hang your mobile where it can catch a breeze.