Stained Glass - Style Ornaments
Materials: Black construction paper cut into 3" squares, pencil, white Elmer's glue, shiny wrapping paper or tissue paper cut into 1" square pieces.
Directions: Decide now whether to use shiny wrapping paper or tissue paper, then cut into 1" square pieces, place a sample of pieces in ziplock sandwich baggies for every two kids to share on Step 7.
Step 1: TRACE ~ Use pencil to trace a circle shape pattern, ie. the size of a butter container. Step 2: CUT ~ Use scissors to cut out circle. Step 3: FOLD ~ Fold circle 3 times ~ be sure to line up the edges after each folding step: Fold circle in half to a 1/2 fraction, fold shape in half again to 1/4 size of original circle, fold circle shape to a 1/8 fraction. Step 4: DRAW ~ Using a pencil, draw only on "front side" piece of a triangle on each edge and an arrow point at the tip - as shown. Step 5: CHECK POINT ~ Teacher needs to check each student's pencil lines to help prevent cutting openings too big, too small or too close to outer edge. BIG TIP ~ Remind students of two things before cutting: 1. Only open ornament after all shapes are cut out. 2. Use the deepest part of the scissors when cutting, the fulcrum, this is where the scissors are the strongest!) Step 6: CUT OUT SHAPES ~ Use scissors to carefully cut out shapes drawn with a pencil in step 4. Do not open shape. ~ BACK SIDE PIECE ~ Repeat Steps 1- 6 matching the small 1/8 piece cut out as a guide for the "back side piece." Have pieces of shiny wrapping paper or tissue paper already cut up into 1" square pieces to avoid waste.
Step 7: (Teacher will need to model how to place the paper over the thin line of glue. Caution: Use a THIN line of glue AWAY from opening.) GLUE ~ colorful 1" paper squares to black construction paper openings. Make a thin line of glue near each opening. This side will be considered the reverse side of the "front side."
Step 8: GLUE BACK SIDE ~ Glue the "front side" piece on reverse side, over the newly glued paper, going around the openings. Be sure to do a thin line of glue around entire circle. Match up front side piece with the back side piece, as in a sandwich, to imitate see-through stained glass. (If using wrapping paper, the back side black construction paper circle will be solid with no cut outs.)
Step 1: TRACE ~ Use pencil to trace a circle shape pattern, ie. the size of a butter container. Step 2: CUT ~ Use scissors to cut out circle. Step 3: FOLD ~ Fold circle 3 times ~ be sure to line up the edges after each folding step: Fold circle in half to a 1/2 fraction, fold shape in half again to 1/4 size of original circle, fold circle shape to a 1/8 fraction. Step 4: DRAW ~ Using a pencil, draw only on "front side" piece of a triangle on each edge and an arrow point at the tip - as shown. Step 5: CHECK POINT ~ Teacher needs to check each student's pencil lines to help prevent cutting openings too big, too small or too close to outer edge. BIG TIP ~ Remind students of two things before cutting: 1. Only open ornament after all shapes are cut out. 2. Use the deepest part of the scissors when cutting, the fulcrum, this is where the scissors are the strongest!) Step 6: CUT OUT SHAPES ~ Use scissors to carefully cut out shapes drawn with a pencil in step 4. Do not open shape. ~ BACK SIDE PIECE ~ Repeat Steps 1- 6 matching the small 1/8 piece cut out as a guide for the "back side piece." Have pieces of shiny wrapping paper or tissue paper already cut up into 1" square pieces to avoid waste.
Step 7: (Teacher will need to model how to place the paper over the thin line of glue. Caution: Use a THIN line of glue AWAY from opening.) GLUE ~ colorful 1" paper squares to black construction paper openings. Make a thin line of glue near each opening. This side will be considered the reverse side of the "front side."
Step 8: GLUE BACK SIDE ~ Glue the "front side" piece on reverse side, over the newly glued paper, going around the openings. Be sure to do a thin line of glue around entire circle. Match up front side piece with the back side piece, as in a sandwich, to imitate see-through stained glass. (If using wrapping paper, the back side black construction paper circle will be solid with no cut outs.)
Lesson Extension: 1. Research: look up and report on the work of stained glass artist, Louis Comfort Tiffany, from the turn of the Nineteenth Century. 2. Life observation: after one week of going here and there around the city, student reports back about any stained glass artwork they have noticed in homes, buildings, churches, stores, restaurants, etc.