Bug in a bag

Another lovely event at the reserve.

Bug in a bag (there is that alliteration thing again).

The children love this one. I use my paper fold box/bag net with some printing on. These are easy; my original best idea (one of them anyway, she said modestly) for a really versatile event activity.

I’ve adapted the box net for loads of different things;

they can be decorated flat (Sooo much easier!) then assembled (OK, usually by “moi”) when done.

This time the children made a little bug (more about that in a mo) and popped it in to the bag to carry home. The bag gave them scope for naming their bug and adding some facts (or even a back-story!!) and also an opportunity to think about habitats etc.

Neat. More stealth learning.

For the bug to go in the bag we wanted a different bug instead of our normal paper and wire versions, and thought of making things using wood from the site.[ It’s great that we have different styles – together inspire each other and come up with all sorts of different things.]

My friend spent ages sawing and sanding bits of twig to use as the bug body; and we used up lots small scraps of nice card we hadn’t been able to bring ourselves to throw away.

So as a bonus it was practically free… if you don’t count labour 🙂

They turned out F.A.B !

A step up from the first idea! Add in the children’s natural creativity, and voila!
Bug in a bag, extraordinaire.

As you can see the children were very inventive, although we did have a lot of the ubiquitous butterflies they seem to love above all else!

We also had a neat life cycle disc; mounted on recycled CDs for the older guys. Plus caterpillar bookmarks…

…and one very LARGE caterpillar!

This little chap laboured on; working his way patiently through some old, almost exhausted, felt pens (we need more cash!)

to finish this Opus Magnus.

And we found these abandoned when we tidied up!

Probably someone’s idea of what we looked like by the end of the day.

Advertisement

Read Full Post »

How time flutters by…

Very busy over the Easter Holidays, including two big events: the first at the museum.

Visitor stats – 3000 on the Sunday and 5000 on the Holiday Monday!
Not all came to make butterfly chains with me and my lovely volunteers, but it was rather busy…

We made butterfly strings, to tie in with the end of an exhibition.

I would normally put this activity out for children when I am not around, but they said ‘keep it simple – it will be busy’… and it was!
It’s such a simple activity but strangely (to me anyway) lots of children like just “colouring in” butterflies.

Sticking them on a string gives an extra creative element, so they can make it into something; to wave about, decorate their room,

or as you can see on the older girls –

to wear!

I will make an “Art Pack” of these (with extra bits in), for the shops, as lots of people asked me for copies of my instruction sheet and templates to use for parties and holidays.
Not too much appeal for boys ‘though, even with bees.

So I couldn’t help myself taking extras for the second day, and we had lots of caterpillar bookmarks and bugs.

I also made this chap

The guardian of the cash tin!
I didn’t think him very worthy, (I’m always disappointed with clay!)
So, like a brave grown up, I let him return to the clay bin once he’d finished guarding for the morning!
Now I feel kind of betraying, seeing his cheerful face…
but at least a kind person took his photo for me!

I was inspired by the talented potter, Bird Wallond * after seeing these cute owls she had made.

She and her helpful sons (who helped me lots too) ran a “making clay heads” workshop with the children.

*Leave a comment if you want to contact her – I tried to persuade her to set up on Etsy or Folksy as she sells them!

Read Full Post »

De-Stashing

Well another long gap – got to get on top of this blogging stuff!

Excuse: very busy, trying very hard to de-clutter / de-stash / de-everything.
–
This plan not helped by re-homing to charity a car full of books and bits from the (sadly) closing Environment Centre I have been volunteering at. I have, however, first scanned some beautiful images from some of them to use in assemblages or artwork.

Not to mention all the boxes and boxes of activities planned for and carried out there … here are just some:-

It is hard to believe I have made so many, some have been re-used at another BBOWT site where my friend works, but the rest are here. Which wouldn’t be too bad, but they are just piled alongside all the stuff that came out of the loft!

Loft much better. Shame its contents are now all in the spare room, on the spare bed, landing, hall, office etc. Sorry NOT photographing any of that – it’s bad enough looking at it.

I intend to revamp some of them and put DIY art activity packs for children into my shop. I know they will work, as they are all tried and enjoyed, it is just the “how to” pdfs and photos that are taking (too much) time.
I have done one – Owls , but I think the picture of the mask looks a bit scary, I might have to redo it.

Ladybirds nearly ready, then Birds, Caterpillars, Bugs, Worms, hmmm must get a life..

Read Full Post »