CRAFTS---PLASTER OF PARIS  CASTS TO PAINT

When my children where young there was a plaster of paris figurine  kit that had rubber molds you filled with the plaster. When it dried the figurine would come out of the mold and the children would paint them. The kids just loved it. A few years ago I started looking for the kit for my craft classes but all I could find was a single flat plaster cast in a bag with some paint for anywhere from $1.50 to $3.00 for a single object which would be much too expensive for a class of 20 to 30 kids.

   I started looking for something that I could use to make those fun molds. I went to toy stores, Michaels' and AC Moore. You could buy a mold strip that contained from 3 to 12 molds , depending on the size of the grouping. I have found pirates, cars, flowers, toys, animals, bugs, princess, etc. groupings.

                           

Often used mold

  In the same craft stores or in a hardware store you can buy a small container or a larger bag of plaster of paris for just a few dollars that will yield up to 50 or more plaster casts for the kids to paint.  It is easy but messy to make. I try to do it outside but have made them inside too. Make sure you use newspaper or plastic under the molds while you work to contain the spills.

  I use a small container, or a larger 10 oz disposable cup to make small batches, You have only about 3 minutes to mix the plaster before it starts to set. Put water in the cup first and then add plaster a little at a time, stirring constantly to prevent blobs of unmixed plaster. You are ready to pour when the plaster has the consistency of a milkshake or thin cake batter. It will begin to harden quickly. I usually do at least 3 or four strips at a time. Let the plaster cool, if it feels warm they are not ready to come out. Pop them out, and start again. I usually make over 50 to 100 casts at a time because the kids will want more than one or two.

 

This has been a favorite project at my craft classes or summer camps. Age does not matter as 4 year old's to 15 year old's love to paint them, but chose your subject matter carefully and adjust to the ages and genders you are working with.

SPRING CRAFTS-----EASTER BUNNY

                                                                 

                                                            

I needed a quick cute Easter bunny for my kindergarten class to make.  I used a small paper plate for the head, a larger one for the body, and a small one cut in half for the ears.  Because I was in a hurry, spring vacation was the next day, I stapled the plates together to make them stronger.

On our craft table I put puff balls, eyes, and pillow stuffing for the kids so they could pick their own supplies in whatever colors they wanted to use. Before putting the pillow stuffing I pulled the material so the kids would use less and not put too thick a fluff blob. I put white glue on the table with a paint brush for the children to brush the glue on the plate and not on the fluff.  It will stick better.

                                                                     

                 

The kids had a great time putting it all together.         

NATIVE AMERICAN CEREMONIES

Now that my class understood what Native American life was like in the past and they have made many of the tools and crafts, I wanted to prove to them that the Native Americans were still very much alive and still practiced many of the same crafts, music, and ceremonies.

I love U-tube, because you can find a visual of almost anything you are teaching. Children relate to visual images more than just reading about it in a book.  Seeing and hearing what you are teaching brings everything to life for them. They relate more when they can actually see and hear the ceremonies I have been telling them about. I had pictures I had taken in New Mexico and Arizona of the ceremonies and Indian rodeos and they thought it was interesting, but when I would find an actual rodeo or celebration on U-tube they could see and hear the action. If you have access to a computer you can just Google Native American Ceremonies in New Mexico or Arizona.  You can also type South Western Indian Ceremonies, and then click on video.

My class just got fascinated by the Ceremonial Costumes, the headdresses, the face painting, the clothing and the dancing.

To make a headdress I cut strips out of flat foam sheets (found in any craft store or catalog). I usually cut them one to two inches wide and staple two together to be long enough for a child’s’ head.  Then I put feathers and beads on the art table and let them pick the supplies they want to use.  On the tables I put white glue in a paper cup or plate and show them how to dip the bottom stick of the feather in the glue and to put that on the foam. I make sure that no one is dipping the whole feather in the glue.

It will take at least one day for the feather and the beads to dry.  When it all dries I will staple the headdress to fit the child’s head.  Make sure to put their name on the inside of the headdress.

After all is ready we paint faces, put on the headdresses, bring out our drums and dance. The dance that intrigued them the most was the hoop dance.  I brought in our hula hoops and let them go.  All the kid’s wanted to try. This became their favorite activity and even when we weren't watching the ceremonies the kid's would ask to hoop dance.

 

7. NATIVE AMERICAN CRAFT—SAND PAINTING

Children love to sand paint. The idea that they can use real sand to make a picture just intrigues them—the thought of the messiness of the sand to make a picture just delight their imagination.  They love all the colors and the feeling of the sand, especially those children who have gone to the beach and made sand sculptures.  I explain to the children how the Navajo people believe the universe to be delicately balanced.  Only man can upset it, causing disaster and or illness. When this happens the medicine man must restore the natural balance. Balance is restored in the universe by healing the offender with chants, herbs, prayers, songs and sand painting. Most sand paintings use symbols, fetish, and kachina dolls for their works and are created using natural colored sand found in the desert

The Native Americans are not the only people who think the sand paintings are sacred. There are sand paintings in India, Australia by the aborigines, Japan, Tibetan, and other countries that are made by healers.

 I usually bring a sand painting I own to show them how it looks and feels so the kids get a better idea of what to do.  If you do not have access to a sand painting, use the computer to show the kids typical Navajo sand paintings.

After I show my painting I will also show pictures of typical kachina , fetish, and  symbols that are used by the Navajo. Each child can draw their interpretation on oak tag as plain art paper is too thin and will rip quickly.  I will also not give a regular size paper because I have the children make a frame using popsicle sticks.

It is easier for the children to use if you put the sand in small bottles with a squeeze bottle tip. If you don’t have that, put a small amount of sand in a small paper cup with a small paintbrush for the glue. Don’t forget to put plastic covering or newspaper on the tables for the dropped sand and glue.

1. Have the children draw their picture.
2. Show how the glue is put on a small area, than the sand wanted is sprinkled on. Give each child a paper plate to do the pouring over. Have them move the picture back and forth to have the glue catch the sand. Than do the same thing with another small area that is using the same color sand.

1. Put the extra sand back into whatever you are using to hold the sand.
2. Paint with only one color at a time so as not to mix the sand. The paper plate for catching the sand is very important so you will capture the extra sand for others to use. Kids have a habit of pouring too much sand at one time and the plate under the picture will capture most of it so you have enough sand for all the kids.

1. Hand out popsicle sticks for the frame and have the kids paint or use markers to color them.
2. Let it all dry overnight- Next day put it all together.
   When cleaning the tables you can make a mixed bowl of all the dropped sand and use it for something else. The kids love it all mixed.

 6. NATIVE AMERICAN—NAVAJO FRY BREAD

Every holiday and culture we study we learn about special foods that is typical to the people of the culture.  I remember how I loved the Navajo fry bread every time I visited Arizona and New Mexico, so as part of our Native American project we made Navajo fry bread.

 It is very easy to make in the classroom or for any group.  I bring my electric fry pan, and all the ingredients. All that is needed is a bowl flour, salt, baking powder, dry milk, water, and oil. The recipe I use is from the Arizona cook book. I got the book on one of my trips.  It has Native American, Mexican, and South Western recipes that are somewhat easy to make. The kid’s just love to cook and eat what they have made especially when you put cinnamon sugar or honey on top. 

First I will put the recipe on the board and appoint one child to keep track of the ingredients we add. I usually double the recipe so we have enough for seconds as the kids always ask for more.  Each child in the group gets to add ingredients and form the doughnut like fry bread.  In the West fry bread has many uses. It is used for chile, beans, eggs, sandwiches, and as a type of donut.

            Navajo Fry Bread-combine all dry ingredients—6 cups flour –1 tablespoon salt----   2 tablespoons  baking powder—1/2 cup of instant non-fat dry milk

Add enough lukewarm water to make a soft dough—knead thoroughly—pinch off a small ball of dough about the size of a large egg. I give each child a paper plate with their ball so they can form their own.  Work it back and forth from one hand to the other to make it thinner.  Put a hole in the center.

Heat the oil at least an inch deep in the fry pan.  I ask each child to bring their plate up—no more than 5 at a time so you can remember where each child’s own one is. Fry till golden brown on each side.  As it fries the bread puffs up and becomes light.  Drain it and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar or honey.  The batter as is will make between 18 to 24 pieces—but I warn you they will want  more.                 
          
                    

5. NATIVE AMERICAN CRAFTS—KACHINA DOLLS

One of the favorite crafts of children of all ages is the making of Kachina Dolls. The Mysticism of the dolls and their mystical looks and design capture the imagination of children from kindergarten to sixth graders.

The most costly original and famous kachina dolls are made by the Hopi Indians of the South West. The kachina dolls are ancestral spirits in the mythology of the pueblo Indians. They represent the holy spirit of the earth, sky, water and corn. The dolls are usually made of cotton wood roots and embody the spirit of a ceremonial kachina.

The Navajo and Zuni Indians also make Kachina dolls but not the all wood ones. The main carving is out of wood but is embellished with fur, feathers, wool, clothing flaps, bows, arrows, and much more. The Navajo carvings have become more of a tourist collectors’ item as they are more affordable and more decorative.  The children prefer making the dolls in the Navajo style.  They love the furry and scary bear dolls with their furry faces, big teeth, and claws. The sun dolls, and  buffalo dancer and the chiefs with all the feathers and fur and scary poses delight the kids. The other favorite doll is the hoop dancers.  I will discuss the hoop dancers when I post about festivals and Native American music and dancing.

It is fun to see how the kids interpret the dolls when they get creative and make their own.  To start hot glue a foam ball for the head onto the center roll of a paper towel. It will hold better if you cut slots on the ends of the roll so it can spread out to fit the foam ball. The bottom I spread out on a square of cardboard so it will stand up without falling. I will put it together for the kids to save time and because I do not let younger kids use the hot glue gun.  For this  regular glue would add an extra day for drying before you could start decorating so, to be able to present the project in a timely manner, and get the kids all excited to start crafting, I will get it all ready.



 On my art table I will have a scrap box of paper, and pieces of material, real or fake fur, a tray of eyes, a tray of feathers, pipe cleaners, ribbon, yarn, assorted wood pieces (found in craft stores, catalogs ,etc.)  I will also put Popsicle sticks, and whatever else I can find.  I encourage the kids to go pick whatever supplies they want. For this part of the project I use white craft glue.  If the kids need I am always ready to hot glue for them.

I do not interfere with the interpertations  the kids create.  They have their own creations and who are we adults to tell them that they aren’t wonderful.  Some will look somewhat like a Native American doll and some become princesses and other fun things.  All dolls are fantastic!  This is a wonderfully creative craft that all kids love.

3. NATIVE AMERICAN—DREAM CATCHERS

Many children suffer with sleep problems and bad dreams.  Native Americans had the perfect solution for this problem that plagues children. It is the Dream Catcher, a round wire hanging with cords woven in a spiderlike pattern inside the circle, and leather cords hanging with beads and feathers dangling.  The tale of the dream catcher, depending which tribe wove it (most Indian tribes have a dream catcher) is that the weaving catches the bad dream and prevents it from getting to the child. The other tale is that the dream catcher web throws the bad dream out so the child only has good dreams.

Most children are familiar with dream catchers and love to make them.  Parents also love the dream catchers and always vocalize their pleasure when we make them in class.  Our dream catchers are made from sturdy cardboard. The dream catcher needs more help from the adult then most of my crafts.

1.      Make a circle from sturdy cardboard. Oak craft paper and files used to be good, but now are too thin to use unless you double them. I use either a desert plate or larger paper plate to make my circle.

2.      Cut another circle within the larger circle leaving enough room to punch holes in the remaining circle. You need space to use a paper punch’

3.      Put 14 holes evenly around the circle with a paper punch.



 

4.      Put 4 extra holes on the bottom for the fringe and one extra hole on top to make   the hanger.

5.      Number the holes each number opposite the next—ie-1 on top, 2, at bottom, 3 next to the right of one, 4 to the left of 2

6.      Have the children decorate the cardboard.

 

7.      Give each child enough string or sometimes I use colored knitting yarn, to weave, following the number pattern-ie-first in 1 then to 2 back to 3, etc.

8.      You will have to tie the end for the child. Then tie cords in the holes to hang from the bottom.

9.      Have the children put beads and feathers on the bottom of the hanging
 

10.  Put a loop on top to hang from.

As difficult this is for you to help the kids make, it is well worth the effort as both parents and children get so much pleasure from them. Years later the parents and the kids always remember their dream catcher craft, and many will still have them hanging in their room over their bed.