Children can make carnival beads from salt clay or self-drying pottery clay. Provide children with a small amount of clay. Invite all of the children to roll small pieces of clay into different shapes. Then provide children with straws, toothpicks, and pencils to use for making the holes in their beads. Place the finished beads on a tray to dry.
Children can use tempera paint to decorate their beads.
Give children yarn to string their beads. Cook this traditional Cajun dish to celebrate Mardi Gras. New Orleans has a rich musical history. Collect recorded music that features the different styles of music made famous in Louisiana like zydeco, jazz, and blues. You may want to include music by Louis Armstrong, Clifton Cheneir, the Neville Brothers, and Dr. John.