Did you know?
Coir mats are made from the hairy husk of coconuts.
Sitalpati mats from West Bengal feel cool to sit on. 'Sital' means cool!
Weaving means passing strips over and under each other. This makes a strong mat.
Try this: Paper Weaving Mat
Do this with an adult
With an adult, fold a sheet of paper in half. Cut slits from the fold, stopping before the edge. Open it up. Cut long strips from paper of another colour. Weave each strip over and under the slits. Push them close together. You made a mini mat!
Go further: Birds That Weave
The baya weaver bird is a real-life weaver! The male tears long strips from grass and leaves. He weaves them into a nest that hangs from a tree. The nest looks like a long bottle, with a tube that leads inside. Nests often hang from thorny trees or over water. This makes them hard for enemies to reach. Look for these nests near fields!