Have you ever heard of String Art? I used to do it in my classroom at least once a holiday. I always felt it was a great academic activity for my 2nd graders. Doing string art taught them to focus on following directions, reading numbers carefully (12 is not 21!), and being patient while they complete the activity.
But with more stringent regulations on reading, math and testing, it was a frivolous thing I had to put aside. I still have past students who ask if I still do that, so I know that it was something they enjoyed and remembered.
This week my sister is in charge of a 4H camp and she asked me to teach her kids how to do String Art.
I was super excited because I do love this activity.
I wanted to show you some of the pictures that go
into making these pictures.
You start with these patterns. The back side is where the directions are. This is where you start with the needle and crochet thread. There is also a sheet of directions that tells you to go down a number then up a different number.
(You don't go in order like 1, 2, 3, . . . but you would go down 1, and up 15, down 2 and up 16. . . etc.)
This is my tub of crochet thread.
And here are some of the finished products.
They are very cool looking.
All this testing sure makes me miss doing the fun things that were also important for kids.
Sometimes they say the pendulum will swing back . . . maybe there is hope someday that we can go back to doing what's important for kids and good for them too.
Patty
