Literature Based Arts and Crafts Program
Educators Focus on Students' Creativity Amid Reading a Fantasy Story
Oct 21, 2009
In between reading each chapter of C.S. (Clive Staples) Lewis' The lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe [HarperTrophy 1950] teachers can facilitate creative activities for their students. When participating in this arts and crafts section students will handle various materials as they gain hands-on experience in making artistic items. And of course, making Turkish Delight will give their taste buds something sweet.
Arts and Crafts Activities Prepared for Primary Grade Educators
Teachers can create their own arts and craft program based on all sorts of ideas and craft supplies. The possibilities are endless. There are many characters from Narnia that educators can base their projects on. A few arts and crafts ideas are seen here, below.
How to Make a Magical Wand with Primary Grades
Supplies required:
- a chop stick for handle
- cardboard and aluminum foil for star
- a pencil to trace star
- pair of scissors
- glue
- a stapler
- glitter, beads, ribbon, and buttons to decorate
Pretend play with magic and talk about good spells and bad spells and discuss what type of spell exists in the story. Have a discussion about knowing what’s right from wrong in real life.
How to Make a Puppet of Aslan the Lion
Supplies required:
- a paper lunch bag
- golden yarn for mane and tip of tail
- glue
- crayons
- a stapler
- a twisted cord for tail
While making the puppet discuss Aslan’s presence in the story. See what the children have to say about him.
How to Make Sock Puppets of Mr. and Mrs. Beaver
Supplies required:
- pair of dark brown socks
- hot glue gun
- craft eyes with brown centres
- brown buttons for noses
- red yarn for mouth
- have ready made beaver tails sewn together with brown fabric available for child(ren) to stuff with batting. Help children sew tail to sock.
Have a puppet show with Aslan, and Mr. and Mrs. Beaver to show personification of animal characters.
Create a Dot-to-Dot Santa Picture
Connect the lines using consecutive numbers then colour it in and paste white cotton batting to paper to create snow
Supplies required:
- pre-designed numbered dot-to-dot sheet
- pencil
- crayons
- markers
- cotton batting
Discuss Santa’s role in the story. See what the children have to say.
How to Make a Bookmark as a Gift for each Parent
Supplies required:
- card stock
- indelible markers
- one whole punch
- tassel
- ribbon
Have discussion about gift giving and how the most heartfelt gifts are homemade. Explain how a person does not need to spend lots of money on a meaningful gift.
How to Make Turkish Delight
Ingredients:
- 4 cups sugar
- 4 1/2 cups water
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 1/4 cups cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons rosewater
- red food coloring (optional)
- 1 cup confectioner's sugar
Have the recipe instructions printout available at time of preparation. Have a discussion about different food cravings that we all seem to experience once in a while.
Other Craft Ideas for Teachers of Young Children
Study the map of Narnia. An enlarged photocopy of the map of Narnia from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is required. Discuss the imaginary geography of the world of Narnia.
Various Narnia colouring sheets can be made available to students as a rotation (in between) other craft sessions. Supplies required are colouring sheets and crayons. Children will be able to pick out their own colouring sheet and colour it.
Watch Disney’s The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe movie as the finishing touch. Compare and contrast the book with the movie. Do this with a casual discussion.
Narnia Lesson Outcomes
- Practice cognitive and dexterity skills through creating art work
- Express self through art work
- Grow in confidence through expressing his/her own ideas and thoughts through arts and crafts, interactive discussions, and dramatic play sessions.
Evaluation of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Lesson
- Do the children show optimistic participation in art work, discussions, and play sessions?
- Observe if the children connect their own life to various parts of the story and or characters in it.
Educating young children in an enjoyable environment is rewarding to both teacher and students. Whether teachers use all or just bits and pieces of the above program or come up with brand new ideas, using a fantasy story in complement with arts and crafts will be a big hit with their students.
Other articles of related interest are Teach Students to Create a Book and Exploring The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
 |
