Finished birdbath

Kind of going backwards, but these are pictures of the cement birdbath I made with my 8th grade at the end of the year.  We made faux bois stands with hypertufa.  I recommend this project, it is cheap and turns out beautifully!  It was the perfect project for this class as it was not too difficult, because I had a very hard time keeping them focused at the end of the year!

Just checking in over summertime...

OH MY, this Summer of doing absolutely nothing and everything has been glorious!

Sacramento Waldorf Handwork display

I visited our local private Waldorf school's open house and checked out the Handwork display...lovely work!  The weaving is a high school project, but the rest are typical lower grades stuff.  I do like the flute cases, and was inspired by the simple quilts made by 8th grade as giving projects.  The animals, usually a 6th grade project, were enormous and adorable!  I could never let my students all do different animals!  I will admit, I was very jealous in speaking with their handwork teacher to find out the class size is a quarter of mine....literally less than 10 students in a class while I have 30 plus!  Even so, I am very proud of my public waldorf charter and the work we do!  They also have a much bigger budget...thank goodness I am such a penny pincher!

Paper maiche marionettes

 

I am just loving how these are turning out!  We mixed up a paper mache "clay" that uses toilet paper, joint compound, linseed oil, and flour, and it is very moldable and durable, can be sanded or drilled like wood...so we are using it to form the feet for our marionettes.  I'll include the recipe later, I left it at school and can't remember it by heart, but it is very easy!

6th grade medieval games tunics

Here are some 6th grade tunics in the process...we use freezer paper to put on the shield, then paint in gold acrylic.  Each student creates his/her coat of arms.

8th grade birdbath

The 8th grade has decided to make "gifts for the garden" as their parting gift to the school.  We are experimenting with cement to make a leaf print birdbath...the first one cracked, the next one looks great!  We are learning from mistakes...they will each make a leaf print stepping stone.  We used an artichoke leaf for the first and second one...we learned to make cement patties, like hamburger patties, then piece them together on top of the leaf...the first one we just globbed on and it was all uneven and cracked...I'll take a picture of the second one tomorrow when we turn it over.

The bowl is made by heaping play sand under the leaf, covered by plastic, of course...then the leaf face down, then the cement, then covered in plastic and DON'T TOUCH IT for at least 3 days, then turn over and let cure more, spritzing with water, or I just hold it under the faucet, then put back...we possibly will make a mosaic stand if time permits, but we are really getting down to the wire!!!

4th Grade Cross Stitch in progress...

I love fourth grade crosstitch!  I love how the kids know exactly what they want to do and the colors they will use...their designs are just stunning!  This project ends up as a pin cushion that they will need for 6th 7th and 8th grade sewing!  The measurement are 5 X 5 ", and they lay out the design on graph paper first.  I think we will have some finished very soon!  If they finish, then they can make a needle book...this may be the first year I have had so many done this early!