The weather has noticeably been getting warmer and all my students have been pointing out the signs of summer out on the playground: the presence of bees, sprouting plants, the need for getting not just wet but drenched in the sandbox. Such are the signs of the season. So what better way to delve deeper into these interests than to scour my own backyard for materials? I … [Read more...] about Summer Craft: Au Naturel Self-Portraits
Dreamweaver: How to Make Your Own Dreamcatcher
Here is just a sampling of the things I heard which inspired this project: “Then, all of a sudden, hearts appeared on the walls of my bedroom.” “I was riding on top of a rainbow and I fell down but then I came back up directly.” “I was on my couch and lava fell from the sky.” “They glued the hotel onto a plant.” “There was some red ‘Connect Four’ pieces that hopped into a … [Read more...] about Dreamweaver: How to Make Your Own Dreamcatcher
The Space Between: Plaster of Paris Sculpture Project
After conquering a giant community sculpture by which an entire school came together to create, I decided it was time to scale things down a bit. Using our newfound knowledge and talents for material manipulation and the power to make whatever we wanted with our hands, we focused in on something of our own. Something each child could focus in on and take home to display with … [Read more...] about The Space Between: Plaster of Paris Sculpture Project
Creative Projects for Kids: Backyard Dinosaur
Open the door, get on the floor... everybody walk the dinosaur! It all started with a little wire and a big idea. With all the best intentions and holding the kids' hopes and dreams in my mind, I soon ended up on my living room floor completely wrapped in a wire burrito wondering what I'd gotten myself into. The next day, I created the deconstructed skeleton: broken down into … [Read more...] about Creative Projects for Kids: Backyard Dinosaur