To piggy back off of another PCV couples’ blog about creative ideas in the PC household, (www.simplyintentional.wordpress.com) I realize that I have done many activities with my students using simple, everyday ingredients.
Home Dyed Sand Art
Supplies: Sand, Medicine dropper, Sieve , Food Dye (at least the primary colors), old cups/bowls, Newspaper, cookie sheet/tray/wood board
This is super easy and the kids LOVE it. We all made sand art as kids either by gluing it to paper or stacking the colors in a clear bottle. It’s great for kids to learn colors, patterns, shapes or to just be creative.
The best thing about this activity is that you live on an ISLAND! You are literally surrounded by beautiful white sand! Next time you have a beach day, carry a scandal bag (double bagged) and fill ‘er up. That’s step one. done.
Step 2: Sift the sand to get out any organic matter, shells or stones.
Step 3: Decide what colors you want. Pour the amount of sand you want into your cup or bowl then add a few drops of the food dye. Stir the dye into the sand and add a few drops of water if the sand becomes clumpy. Don’t let the sand get too wet!
Step 4: Lay the sand out on 3 or 4 pages of folded newspaper and lay the newspaper on something solid. Leave sand in the sun until dry. If your sand is too wet the color will leach out into the newspaper which is ok but may effect the intensity of your sand color.
Step 5: Repeat steps 2-3 for all of your colors. If you mix your prime colors to make green, orange or purple start with a few drops of each and mix sand in between drops. Purple was the hardest color to get right and I’d be lying if I said I’ve ever had a successful purple.
I used my sand for a nametag activity during my summer program. The kids wrote their name, an adult came around with glue and the kids added the sand. We used the name tags every day to collect “good behavior” stickers on.
Upcycled Paper Crafts
I broke my blender trying to make paper. As such I have not made any since that fateful day so I have very few pictures, my apologies for that.
Supplies: Blender or Food Processor, Newspaper, Warm water, Pot or bucket, Flour, Glue
Step 1: Break up newspaper into strips or chunks or whatever other way you like and let it soak in a pot or a bucket overnight.
Step 2: In your blender add half water and half or 1/3 newspaper. Blend slowly at first, then enough that you get a smooth pulp. STOP if your blender gets over heated or slows down. Add more water and remove some paper if this happens. Continue until your newspaper is used up.
PAPER BEADS
Additional Supplies: something long and straight- wire clothes hanger, chopstick, toothpick or knitting needle
Step 1: Remove and strain the pulp from the water, add a bit of glue and press into shape around your long flat tool. Squeeze out the excess water while you shape your bead. Remove from tool and dry in the sun.
Note: I’ve also made some pretty flat flower beads that could serve more as a button. Do this activity outside or over a LOT of newspaper with kids.
UPCYCLED PAPER
Additional Supplies: Old picture frame, old panty hoes, pot or shallow pan bigger than frame
Step 1: Fit a pair of old panty hoes or a piece of screen around the old frame.
Step 2: Fill the pot or pan with the paper pulp and add enough water to submerge the frame. Add some glue for a better hold.
Step 3: Submerge the frame in the pulp water and sift it back and forth as you raise it out of the water (like you’re prospecting for gold in a river). The smaller the pulp particles are that settle on the panty hoes, the finer grain your paper will have. Finer grains float better than the big pieces.
note: Since my blender broke, my paper was a chunky grain, so after I shaped my paper I added decoration to make it look intentionally crafty. I’ve seen this done with leaves and flowers and a little glue/ mod podge as well. I also accidentally dripped some yellow food dye on my example… so I dripped a few more drops to make it seem intentional. I’m not a naturally crafty person, I admit.
Step 4: Set your frame and paper in the sun to dry
PAPER MACHE SHAKERS
I did this activity for a cultural music lesson and I actually ran out of paint for it but I had plenty of glue, so I cut up some soda bottles, filled them with glue and added food dye. The paint job turned out quite pretty but it’s certainly not an easy medium to work with.
Additional supplies: Seeds or John crow beads plastic bottle, torn up newspaper, paint
Step 1: Tear up newspaper and soak in warm water
Step 2: Make the mache- Mix two parts water to one part flour and add some glue if you have it
Step 3: Teach kids how to paper mache… it’s very messy so it will require a demonstration
Step 4: Cover the surface of a soda bottle (any size) with paper mache. Leave the cap alone though. Let dry in the sun.
Step 5: Put some John crow beads, sunflower seeds or pebbles (I find that seeds work best) inside the bottle until the desired shake sound is achieved.
Step 6: Paint!
Beer Bottle Cups
*This activity is a fire hazard, do NOT try it alone for the first time*
Supplies: 100% acetone, cotton string, ice, bucket/sink, lighter, coarse sand paper
Step 1: Fill your bucket or sink with cold water (if you have a water tank like me, you’ll need ice)
Step 2: Loop a long piece of string (friendship bracelet string/ cotton twine) approximately 6-12 times around the wide part of the bottle, where you want it to break. You don’t need to tie the end, just smooth it against the rest of the string
note: I find it easiest to measure my arm length, then half the string, put the loose end through the loop and encircle the bottle counter to the loop…
Step 3: Carefully remove the circle of string and submerge it in acetone briefly, so that the string is soaked through.
Step 4: Return the string to the bottle so that it fits tightly around the glass. Try not to let it drip. Hold it horizontally over your bucket or sink, light it with your lighter and immediately twist the bottle around and around until the fire goes out. Immediately drop the bottle (gently) into your cold water and voila! Your glass has broken. BE CAREFUL grabbing the bottle from the water, there will be shards and sharp edges waiting for you.
Step 5: Sand down the lip of your new cup until it is no longer a danger to yourself and others.
It didn’t break? There could be a few reasons why. I’ve learned that red stripe bottles are not universally thick, it may not break along a tidy line or at all. Don’t give up! Wrap your bottle with a bit more string, soak in the acetone and make sure that you spin that bottle nice and fast so that the heat covers the bottle evenly. Sometimes the bottle needs to bump against the bucket/sink bottom to jolt the pieces apart.
Wine, Gin and other alcohol bottles break the same way! Just use a bit of extra string and spin it quick!
Also, I turn my cut off tops into candle holders!
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