CRAFT YOUR OWN MAYPOLE

By Erin Boehme, Dandelion teacher
 
May Day is a joyous spring festival at Wild Roots Forest School.
Children love to practice dancing around the maypole while holding onto the colorful ribbons and singing May Day songs. They will even enjoy this activity on their own, especially when accompanied by The Root Children Story, included below as an audio file.
Here are the steps to crafting a Maypole at home. 
Materials:
~ A wooden pole (straight tree branch, broom stick, rake handle, porch post or a slim live tree)
~Horseshoe nails or heavy duty staples OR a drill to make holes through wooden pole
~Colorful ribbons, strings, strips of fabric(even fabric that is dyed or painted)
~ A hole in the ground or stable base or live tree

Measure and prepare ribbons, string or fabric: Make sure the length go the ribbons reach from the top of the pole to the ground and that there's enough slack on the ribbon to hold onto when dancing. 

Secure the ribbons to the top of the wooden pole: Pound horseshoe nails or staples into the top of the pole, but make sure not to pound them in all the way. Put in one for each ribbon you will tie tot the pole. Tie a ribbon to each nail or staple around the circumference of pole.
*If you are using a drill, make 2 holes in the wooden pole big enough to put 3 ribbons through each hole and secure with a knot on the other side. ​

Live tree or porch post:
If using a skinny live tree or porch post, use a strong wire to tie ribbons on and around in a loop. Then take the wire and loop around tree or post at a good height securing tight enough to prevent slipping. 
 
Install wooden pole
in a hole in the ground secure with large rocks at the base if needed.
 
Decorate the top with flowers and greenery
Flowers are always a special addition as a crown or in the hair for May Day play!

HAPPY MAY DAY!!