Arts and Crafts Unit Activities
These are some really cool ideas for building a unit study around the theme of arts and crafts. We aren’t just talking about paper, paste, and paint anymore. People use arts and crafts as part of their careers, or build a career around the entire idea of arts and crafts.
1. Experiment with several types of crafts. You could investigate crafting in: leather, macramé, crocheting, quilting, decoupage, candle making, metal work, stained glass design, pottery, ceramics, printmaking, woodcarving, woodworking, jewelry making, floral design, basket weaving, or clothing design.
2. Clay is a medium that offers many ways to use it. You can make something as small as a bead to large pieces of pottery. It used to be you have to fire you clay pieces in a kiln, but nowadays there are varieties of clay that can be baked in the oven (e.g., “Sculpy”) or left to air-dry. Make at least one finished project out of clay.
3. Find out some of the places in your community for crafts instruction. Some craft supply store chains (e.g., Michaels) offer crafting classes for both children and adults. If possible, participate in one of these classes on a crafting medium that you are interested in.
4. When you have chosen which type of craft is your favorite, do the following:
§ Become familiar with the craft. Be able to explain the process and describe the tools needed and where you would find them.
§ Make a scrapbook with pictures, articles, and samples of this craft.
§ Develop at least three different designs; complete one of them.
5. Choose several crafts that are listed in activity one. Find out about the tools used in each of the crafts that you chose.
6. Surf the internet for sites relating to crafts in general and more specifically on the craft you chose as your favorite. Learn three new things about your craft from the internet sites.
7. Make several craft items that you can donate to a nursing home, children’s center, library, or other organization.
8. Develop your own craft how-to manual. Include both written instructions and illustrations.
9. Find and interview someone in your community who earns part or all of their living from their craft. Find out how they got started, what they have learned, some typical aspects of their work, and what advice they would offer to someone just starting out.
10. Visit a craft show, exhibit, or sale and do the following:
§ Find out how many different media are represented in the show or fair.
§ After looking at the objects on display, decide which ones you like best and why.
11. There are many career options related to crafts besides being an artisan. These include craft shop owner, crafts wholesaler, craft show manager, and designer of craft displays. Choose a crafts-related career and find out how you would pursue it.
If you would like to know why you are so tired and how to get the energy back into your life -- even if you've tried *everything* -- then read this entire article.
Are you sleepy, tired, or worn out most of the time?
