Craft expert Mary Lyon demonstrates how to incorporate learning with having fun. She explains how to make spelling into games and projects that children will not only enjoy, but will also help sharpen their skills.
Lettered Beads
Materials:
polymer clay in a variety of colors (two-oz. bars are available at most craft stores for approximately $1.50.)
alphabet pasta
toothpick or needle
thin cording or elastic
Steps:
- Use polymer clays to make cube-shaped beads in a variety of colors.
- Embed one type letter of alphabet pasta into each of the bead's six sides.
- Use a toothpick or needle to poke a hole through each bead before baking.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes at 250 to 275 degrees. Remove from oven and let cool.
- Have children spell words or names with lettered beads to create wearable jewelry art. String their message with thin cording or elastic.
* Note: As a variation, try embedding paper clips through each bead before baking. Leave the ends sticking out on each side to create miniature hangers. After baking, attach hangers with string to bead together.
Lettered Zipper Pulls
Create even bigger beads to string leather shoelaces or vinyl cording. Tie knots or use decorative beads as an accent between each bead. Spell a word or name and attach the chain to a zipper or key ring for easy access.
Magnetic Word Game
Make a refrigerator-magnetic word game, like the ones sold in bookstores, by printing a page full of words with a computer or by hand. Glue the page to a craft-store magnet and cut out each word individually.
Other Ideas
- Try printing different parts of speech on various colors of paper to help children construct grammatically correct sentences.
- A quick variation for children just starting to spell is to make letter magnets instead of words.
Resources The Frazzled Working Woman's Practical Guide to Motherhood
by Mary Lyon
Starburst Publishers, 1997
Order this title from Amazon.com.
Guests Mary Lyon
Author/Artist/Jewelry Designer/Craft Expert, Lori De Waal & Associates
Website:
www.frazz.com
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