Make-A-Mole
Extra Credit Activity due Friday, 10/25 (10 points)
No Late Entries
No Partial Credit: All or none
Introduction
Make a Mole? What is a mole? The dictionary defines a mole as “a small,
insectivorous, burrowing mammal having a thick-set body with silky light-brown to dark-gray
fur, rudimentary eyes, tough muzzles, and strong forefeet for digging and usually living
underground.” Another definition of a mole is “a small growth on the human skin.” The term
“mole” also has great significance in chemistry. A molecular mole represents a unit of
measure that is a collection of 6.022 × 1023 particles. The dictionary defines this type of
mole as “the amount of a substance that has a weight in grams equal to the substance’s
molecular weight.”
With this activity, you’ll have some fun and use your creativity to design your own
mole. Although the result will look like a small mammal, in chemistry you’ll know it
represents the 6.022 × 1023!
Chemical Concept
Mole
Materials
Eyes, 2 Pins
Fabric or felt (for body and fee)* Pom pom (for nose)
Fiberfill stuffing Scissors
Glue (fabric glue or Elmer’s school Needle and thread (or sewing
glue) machine)
Mole pattern Yarn, ~6 inches (for tail)
*Any fabric can be used, but the best fabrics for stuffed animals are soft, stretchy fabrics such as sweatshirt fleece, velour, felt, or
cotton knits. Obtain fabric to personalize your mole, if desired.
Procedure
General Sewing Hints
1. All pattern pieces include a ¼”-seam allowance. Use a double piece of thread when
sewing the mole.
2. When you begin sewing, remember to have the fabric surfaces that you want on
the outside (referred to as the right side) facing each other since ultimately the
mole will be turned inside out.
Cutting the Fabric
1. Cut out the pattern pieces (side body, bottom belly, and feet) from the paper
mole pattern. Be sure to also cut out the black notches as a protrusion from each
piece – the notches are important for proper alignment when sewing the mole
together.
2. Obtain fabric or felt for the side body pieces of your mole. Fold the fabric into a
double layer. This will allow you to cut two identical pieces of fabric at once.
3. Lay the side body paper pattern on the double layer of fabric. Pin the pattern
in place onto the fabric.
4. Cut out the side body pieces from the fabric, creating two mirror image pieces.
Be sure to cut out the notches. Remove the pins.
5. Obtain fabric or felt for the bottom belly piece. Lay the bottom belly pattern on
a single layer of fabric. Pin the pattern in place onto the fabric.
6. Cut out the belly piece from the fabric. Be sure to cut out the notches. Remove the
pins.
Attaching the Feet
1. Place the belly piece on the table, right side (outside) up.
2. Place one drop of tacky fabric glue (or Elmer’s school glue) on the edge of the
belly pattern that is marked with a double notch.
3. Attach a claw to the foot with claws pointing toward the midline and right side up.
4. Repeat for all four feet. Allow the glue to dry.
5. Alternatively, sew the claws in place on the feet (or pin them and sew them when
sewing the mole).
Sewing the Mole
1. Place the two side body pieces together with right (outside) sides together.
Pin the two pieces together.
2. Sew the two side body pieces together from nose to tail along the spin (top edge)
of the mole.
3. Locate notches A and B on the sewn body piece. Pin the belly piece to the body
pieces with right sides together and feet inside.
4. Sew all the way around the body (the long way) from notch A to notch B as
shown on the dotted line on the pattern. Note: Leave the space between A and B
open on one side as the stuffing hole.
5. Optional: If desired, attach the tail from the inside and sew it in place.
Alternately, the tail can be attached after the mole is sewn.
6. Remove all pins and turn the mole right side (inside) out through the A to B
gap. All seams will now be on the inside of the mole and the right side of the
fabric should now be on the outside.
7. Stuff the mole with fiberfill stuffing. Be sure to pack the mole with plenty of
stuffing, and especially to pack the legs and feet firmly as that will give the mole
more stability.
8. Fold in the raw edges from A to B. Pin the edges together, and hand-stitch the
seam from A to B closed.
9. Attach the eyes and pom pom or star-shaped nose with fabric glue, or by sewing.
10. Sew a yarn tail onto the mole, if a tail wasn’t added in Step 5.
11. Tie a string with your name attached around your mole. No Name No Credit.
Suggestions for Mole Designs
Listed below are some creative ideas for mole designs. Feel free to use one of these
designs or come up with your own.
Avogadro Mole Kitty Mole
Baby Mole Madonna Mole
Beach Mole
Tiger Mole (or favorite baseball team)
Bride Mole
Cheerleader Mole
Chemist Mole
Christmas Mole
Dancer Mole
Eski Mole
Lion Mole (or favorite football team)
Holy Mole-y
Mega Mole
Michael Jordan Mole
Mickey Mole
Minnie Mole
Mole-a Lisa
Mole-y Cow
North Mole/South Mole
Pillsbury Mole Boy
Roadkill Mole
Santa Claws Mole
Snoopy Mole
Spider Mole
Super Mole
Teache
