Week SIx: Make a 20 minute kite

Welcome to Week Six.

This week you will make a fast and easy kite out of a regular sheet of paper. (Taken from Spoonful.com).

20-Minute Kite

                                         

This stunningly simple kite design comes from Jonathan Socher of Molokai, Hawaii, who regularly builds these diminutive flyers with local school groups. Jonathan prides himself on being able to get 20 kids to make 20 kites in 20 minutes, though we're suggesting you make only enough for your household!

What you'll need

• 1 sheet of 8 1/2-by-11-inch brightly colored paper
• Ruler
• Pencil
• 3/4-inch masking or clear tape
• Thin bamboo skewer (such as used for kebabs)
• Plastic surveyor's tape in a bright color (available at hardware stores)
• Hole punch
• 10 feet of string (or more, if flying clear of hazards)
• Small piece of cardboard

How to make it

Fold the sheet of paper in half widthwise. Then use a ruler and pencil to measure and draw a diagonal line, as indicated.

Place the ruler against the line and crease the paper along it.

Fold back the top layer of paper and tape along the fold line. Trim any excess tape.

 Trim the bamboo skewer to 8 inches in length. Position the skewer as a brace across the top back of the kite and firmly tape it down.

Cut a 6-foot kite tail from the surveyor's tape. Tape it to the rear edge of the kite. Next, flip the kite over, and fold the flap (to which you'll tie the string) back and forth until it stands straight up.

Fold a small piece of tape over the edge of the flap about 3 inches from the top. Punch a hole through the tape 1/4 inch in from the folded edge. Tie one end of the string through the hole.

To make a string winder, tie the other end of the string around the middle of the cardboard, securing it with a strip of tape. Wind on the rest of the string, and you're ready to fly!

Since we are in the flying mode, how about learning to make a paper airplane called the  arrow?   Just watch this Youtube video: 

 

Don't forget to check out the books on kites, the wind, paper crafts and more that we have on display.  

Now go fly a kite!

See you next week.

Week Five: Make your own bottle top stamp

Welcome to Week Five. 

This week you can make your own bottle cap stamps.  It is simple, fast and fun.  You can be as creative as you like.  Just remember your image will be in reverse. 

Stamping is a form of printmaking.  Your stamps can be used to make wrapping paper, stationary, greeting cards, or decorate your notebooks. The possibilities are endless.   Why not check out some books on this type of art and start creating your own masterpieces. 


Lets get started.  Below are the instructions, from the blog:  http://vanessasvalues.blogspot.com/2011/11/create-with-kids-make-your-own-bottle.html




What you need:



Bottle tops.  The tops from the flavored water and orange juice bottles are just the right size.


Foam shape stickers.  Check your local dollar store for foam stickers. 
Or you can cut or punch out shapes of your own to make an original design. 




Stick the foam stickers to the bottle tops to create your stamps:


Ink pad or paint.  If you use paint, be sure to cover your surface with newspaper.  
That's all there is to it!

 
Now you can try making stamps out of other objects and materials, like fruit and vegetables, corks, flip flops or what ever else you can think of!

Here is a short video on making stamps out of fruits and vegetables:

Keep exploring and creating.  Make sure to show us any of your artwork you make here or at home.  Don't forget to check out some of the books we have on display to help spark your imagination.

See you next week.

Week Four: Make a Sponge Ball

Welcome to Week Four.

This week we are going to create a sponge ball, which is a reusable version of the water balloon.   It's better for the environment because you can use it again and again.  

And since we are now in the heat of the summer, what better time to get wet!  Here is a picture of the sponge balls we are going to make this week.  We have modified the directions slightly, to view the full version visit spoonful.com.



What you'll need

• FOR EACH BALL:
• kitchen sponges, six strips for each ball.
• Scissors
• Strong string

 

How to make it

1. For each ball, you'll need 6 sponge strips. Stack the strips three on bottom, three on top.  You can vary the colors if you like. 
2. Loop a piece of strong string around the center of the stack and pull tightly. Double-knot the string and trim the excess.
3. For a fast cool-off game, have two players stand a few feet apart, each beside a bucket of water. See how many times they can toss the ball back and forth, taking a step apart and dunking the ball in a bucket before each throw.
4. When you get home you can add more sponge strips and make a bigger ball.

Check out this link for more fun summer water games:

http://spoonful.com/family-fun/summer-water-games-gallery#carousel-id=photo-carousel&carousel-item=3



Stay cool and have fun.  See you next week.



Week Three: Make a Fossil

Welcome to Week Three.

This week you can make your own fossil, solve an online dinosaur puzzle or explore with our microscope. 


What is a fossil?
We found this definition from the website fossils-facts-and-finds.com:
Simply put, a fossil is the remains or evidence of any creature or plant that once lived on the Earth.

Here is a fun site you can visit to learn more about fossils and dinosaurs:
http://www.kidsdinos.com/palaeontology-what-are-fossils.php  

If you would like to make a fossil, take a piece of clay from the container and follow the instructions below.  Please remember to close the lid tightly so that the clay does not dry out.
           
 Making Impression Fossils (taken from ehow)

• Press leaves, feathers, shells and other objects into the dough gently, stamping each clay disc with the shape and pattern of an object.
• Layer objects like leaves and feathers to create more complex imprints.
• Peel the objects off the clay and let the dough dry. Drying time will vary depending on the type of modeling material used.

Or you could watch this video on making a fish fossil:
                                                      

How about doing an online jigsaw puzzle of prehistoric animals?  Just click on this link and have fun.

 http://www.neok12.com/jigsaw-puzzles/Prehistoric-Animals.htm


You can use the ziploc bags to take your fossils home, but remove them from the bag once you get home so that they can dry out.  Once they are completely dry you can color them if you like.

Don't forget to keep a look out for fossils around your home or neighborhood.  If you find any, bring them in and show us your treasures.

Hope you had fun, see you next week.

Week Two: Make a Scratch Board Illustration

Welcome to Week Two. 

This week you will make a scratch art illustration.  I have provided you with some store bought pieces of scratch art paper, but it is fun and easy to make your own, and I will provide you with that information later in the post.  So, what is scratch board?  Let's find out.

What is scratchboard?

Here is how illustrator Beth Krommes describes scratch board:

Scratchboard, also known as scraperboard, is a black-and-white drawing medium. The board itself is a cardboard or panel with a thin veneer of fine, white clay covered by a layer of india ink. The drawing surface starts completely black. The drawing is made by scratching white lines through the ink with a sharp tool, such as an etching needle or a scratchboard nib held in a pen holder. The more lines that are drawn, the brighter the picture becomes. The clay coating under the ink allows the sharp point to remove the ink easily without tearing the board support. A scratchboard drawing is often very highly detailed and can resemble a wood engraving.

If you would like to see how Beth Krommes creates her artwork click the link below:

http://www.artistsnetwork.com/articles/art-demos-techniques/krommes-demo

Now it is time for you to create your own piece of art.  I have placed some samples of other kids art work on the table for you to use as inspiration.

If you want to know how to make your own scratchboard to try here, or at home, click on the link:http://illustrationfriday.com/2012/10/if-kids-project-crayon-scratchboard/

 Here are a few samples of popular children's books illustrated by award winning artist Beth Krommes.  She uses scratchboard to create the pictures in these books. 

                                   

I encourage you to check out these books and see the amazing artwork first hand. 


See you next week.