Ok, I swear- only 2 more discussions about all of this paper mache stuff that I am involved in. After all, there is only one more week before this play finally happens, it can't go on for much longer!
I was frazzled yesterday morning thinking about how in the world I was going to get those 25 fish hats finished. I have been thinking about little else other than how I am going to make these hats, how am I going to make THOSE GIANT EGGS, how am I EVER going to get all of this DONE? I go to bed thinking about it, I wake up thinking about it, I think about it all the time, even in the car! I will never get all of this done after school with my now smaller group of scenery painters (track has started- rats!)- what's a Mad Art teacher to do???
Ding, ding, ding, ding
I teach elementary school kids and they love EVERYTHING. That is my favorite thing about elementary students, they are game for anything. (Well, that and the hugs) They enjoy all sorts of crazy things, and even something I didn't think turned out well, they will tell me it is their favorite project of the year. I have an exuberant 4th grade on Wednesdays, and that was the perfect class to help out. Especially when several of those kids are in the play and will be wearing the fish hats!!!! I am amazed at what I think of in the wee hours of the morning, when my coffee is just kicking in!
My 4th grade buddies (the faces were changed to protect the innocent! hehe) were thrilled to paper mache the fishes. They dove in like the troopers that they are, and did a great job. But, in fact, the 2 classes of students were not able to totally finish the school of fish, so take it away, HS art classes.
 |
| Elementary assistance |
 |
| Some of my 4th grade buddies |
 |
| Fish hats in progress |
 |
| Fish painting |
I am not above bribery- and I shamelessly bribed my HS art classes with Girl Scout cookies. I was fortunate enough to get 3 boxes of Girl Scout cookies as a thank you gift from some very pleasant Brownie scouts. I truly appreciated it, but Mad husband brought home 2 boxes just the night before. Big problem- I love cookies, but I do not need to eat the cookies. And 5 boxes is just out of control. So, I got out a sleeve of delectable shortbread cookies and told my first HS class that anyone who paper mached would get cookies- Aha! It worked! At least for a while. And that tack continued to work through out the afternoon, I bribed them with cookies, they paper mached and the cookie supply dwindled quickly. With the help of my loyal scenery painter crew after school, we finished the macheing and got a good start on painting the hats. I also built eggs, but I will save that for tomorrow!
 |
| Painting of fish |
I left the art room, tonight, swimming with fish hats, and it looks like they will fit the kids and do what needs to be done. I hope to get a couple good pictures of them dancing during dress rehearsal next week. Such satisfaction amongst the gnashing teeth and clenched jaws....
Until next time- be a joy giver. If you can't kill them with kindness, bribe them with cookies!
Those fish hats look terrific! And what a great idea to get the kids involved, now those who will be in the play will feel an even greater sense of ownership AND will have a deeper understanding of what is necessary to pull off something like this.
ReplyDeleteThanks Allyce. The High School kids really want some of these fish hats, but you know that the elementary kids who wear them will end up with them!
ReplyDeleteLove the cookie motivation! Those fish are going to look fabulous. Love seeing the work you're doing!
ReplyDelete