7 Bohemian Inspired History Crafts

Wearable art with educational lessons tied in! Visit We Are Teachers for the rest of the post!

Snail Measuring

This project is inspired by "curled paper snails" from the book Sunset Kid's Crafts - 1973.

Kids cut 1 inch width strips of construction paper. 

Then, they trim their strips different lengths:

Body - 7 inches

Shell (4 rings): 12, 10, 8, and 6 inches

Kids roll their paper strips to create a shell. They roll a head on their 7 inch strip. Then, they cut tentacles (feelers) for their snail. Staple the rings to the body, glue on the tentacles, and you have a paper snail! 

To incorporate this into an animal adaptation unit, have kids create a mucus trail out of glue! Create a trail on wax paper, let dry, and peel.

Mucus - glide, repulse predators, stick to surfaces

Foot - muscular organ to move

Shell - protection from predators and if environment is dry

Tentacles - two long (version of eyes) and two short (feel, taste, smell)

Visit FossWeb for more interesting facts!

3D Collage: Measuring

Give kids different colors of construction paper. They cut 1 inch (width) strips. Then, they use a ruler and cut their strips different lengths (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 inches) and manipulate them into different designs, creating a 3D collage. Have kids write their measurements next to each paper strip.

Candy Art

Explore multiplication and fractions by creating a candy art array! Kids create an image using colored candy. They must use their problem solving skills because their candy must line up evenly to create an array. When they're finished with their candy picture, they write down the multiplication equation that matches their array. Then, they write down the fraction for each color they used. Visit Candy Art for more intricate designs to get kids inspired!

Note: For this activity, split kids up into teams. Then, they can collaborate and create larger designs.

Artful Science

Fun art projects aren't just for preschoolers! The activities featured below all relate to the common core. Plus, kids can take their science experiment home to hang on the fridge!

1. Explore force, energy, and motion with artful physics!

Featured Above:

Inclined Plane Painting (Ramps) - BIA SFClubhouse

Marbles in Motion (Gravity, Energy, Inclined Plane) - Harris County Public Library 

Snap Art (Force, Potential vs. Kinetic Energy) - Capital B

2. Learn about solids, liquids, and gases with artful matter! 

Featured Above (From left to right):

Liquids to Solids 
1. Color Changing Glue Art - School at St. George Place
2. Plastic Milk - Science Bob
3. Colored Glue Drawings - Art with Mrs. Smith

Solids to Liquids

1. Paint with watercolor and watch a solid transform into a liquid!

2. Ice Cube Painting - CertaPro

Air, It's There!

1. Straw Blowing Art - Robert Burridge and Kaplan (pictured)

2. Bubble Prints - Family Fun

Liquids and Solids

1. Magic Salt Painting - Spoonful

Liquid Bliss

Paper Towel Fusion (not pictured) - Sprout 'n' Wings

More Artful Science
Play with precipitation: Water Cycle Rain Art - Terra Savvy
Explore Magnetism with Magnetic Art - BIA SFClubhouse

The Sticky Note Experiment

Turn sticky notes into a slinky with Eepy Bird! Two fun experiments: make a rolling pinwheel and a cascading waterfall!



For how to instructions and more experiments for "curious minds," including how to make your own 3D glasses, visit Eepy Bird's site!

How to incorporate in your lesson plan: 
Measuring - Have kids work in teams, make a pinwheel, and measure the distance it rolls. Experiment, try adding more or taking away the recommended number of sticky notes. What happened? Did it roll as far?
Geometry - Talk about symmetry and transformations.

What Can You Do With A Slinky?

photo via yoyo.com

MATH

1. Estimate - How many coils does a slinky have? How long is a slinky when stretched? How many steps will a slinky walk down before stopping?
2. Count the number of coils on a slinky. Do all slinkies have the same number of coils? Also, count how many steps your slinky walked down. 
3. Measure - Have each student hold one end of the slinky and pull it outwards, stepping away from each other. Now, find the length of your slinky. Measure the length and width of a compact slinky. Now, find the diameter. Can you figure out the circumference?
4. Geometry / Physics - Test a slinky out on different angled inclined planes and record your data! Click here for the experiment!


SCIENCE
1. Physical Science - Energy transformation - Talk about potential and kinetic energy. When a slinky is at rest, it has potential energy. Once you get a slinky moving, its potential energy transforms into kinetic energy! Gravity - Next, hold a slinky with your arm extended out (at head level) and drop it straight down. How does a slinky fall? Does it's bottom or top crash to the floor first? Do the springs spring the slinky back up into the air? Find out the answer here!
2. Earth Science - Model earthquake waves by demonstrating a Seismic Slinky
3. Universe - Check out a slinky in space!

ART
1. Brush paint on a slinky's feet (the ends), cover an inclined plane with paper, and create walking slinky art!

2. Create circular prints by stamping a slinky. Try rolling, twisting, and turning a slinky's coils on paper to get a print.

3. Create a slinky pencil holder.
4. Hang a slinky from a string and create springing ceiling art!

Kid Spirograph

Myrtle and Eunice became a human spirograph like Tony Orrico. Check out how and where they did it here!

Ready, Aim, PAINT!

Don't reload with water, fill up with paint!

Squirt Gun Shooting via Land of Nod

Water Balloon Blasting via My Oatmeal Kisses

Tall Painting: Pouring Art!