project for 5th graders??

[JDeMoss]

I am working with our school district as a visiting artist to our 5th graders. I will be working with them for a total of about ten hours spread through a number of different days. I need to think of a project that they can get a little hands on with without actually getting behind the torch. Any idea's? I think there will be about twenty of them. I've been thinking about having them design things for me to make. Or draw pictures that I can graal into something. I'm not sure.

If any of you have ever worked with a large group of kids over an extended period of time, let me know what you've done.

Thanks

Jesse

[menty666]

Make a complicated bead on video and bring it to "bring the magic to life". Bring in some honey and maybe some sticks of clear you can wash later so they can try keeping a round shape. If you bring some wonky beads and twine they can then each make a zipper pull.

Not exactly as fun as playing with a 4 foot plume of flame, but it involves them and gives some idea of what it's like playing with a soupy solid.

If you're up for it (and have the setup) maybe help them design a small panel to fuse as a classroom design. Even if it's just the classroom number they can hang up on the wall.

[menty666]

Oh wait, missed the 10 hours part :)

You might let them each make a fused coaster if you have some BE laying around.

It's not glamorous but it's a pretty low intensity project for everyone involved and allows them to play with the glass.

Look into space and releases, you might be able to let them actually do a little torchwork with a hothead. There are plenty of tales of kids as young as 4 torching, so these kids could probably handle it.

[Brian Newman]

How about this?
http://www.thegldg.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4464
http://www.thegldg.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10370

[Greymatter Glass]

Sugar glass is cool. But kids + sugar = ...well...heh...have fun.

I like the honey idea, that's a classic one.

I know 5th graders can cut and do stained glass and fused glass with proper supervision.... but 20 on 1? eh... cuts.... lots of cuts. Maybe if they make their designs in construction paper one day, then you work with small groups the following days to make their designs and bring them in fused a few days or a week later, just to drop them off.

I've done painted tiles with kids like that, where we spent a day painting their tiles then it took like 2 weeks to fire them all, and I dropped them off at the office and the teacher came and got them. No problem.

for torchwork, I think the only safe way to go is the sugar glass. Even then they could get burned, but not badly. Just a hot light bulb or a hair dryer screen contact ...ouch.

in 10 hours they'd probably be masters.

You could also do clay/fimo milli designs, or even make them with hard candy. That would be fun.

You coudl also use differnt colored hard candy sticks and maybe a bunsen burner or something to make candy beads. I think 5th graders can use bunsen burners with supervision.

.... whatever you do, just let them do it.... supervise, guide, but don't force it on them.

-Doug

[Mike_Aurelius]

Unless they are in a "science classroom", most likely open flames will not be permitted. Most schools these days are pretty strict about things like that.

[somberbear]

candy sugar as far i remeber is some narsty stuff.... you might as well throw the pots out.... and if some one gets nailed it leaves a nice scar... or so im told.... not like i dont have em but theses are peoples kids....

so every thing were to happen to the wee ones ... yea exactly....

Even fussion provides problem cause of the basic underlying statement...

Glass cuts , hot glass burns...

the people who taught me used to do demos in school auditoriums, make sue you do it befoore lunch.... make a whole bunch of turtles and show em how there made, maybe take them threw your creative process.... teach em a little history... dont know man.... i wanna do it or set up a week summer camp for kids with parents that understand and get them seeing how cool this stuff is ..... maybe one day...

peace
rob

[Adapt]

hmmm. teach them to do production work? j/k

[Mr. Wonka]

Jesse- I work with kids all the time. Give me a call when you get a chance and I'll fill you in on some of the things I do to make it educational and interactive.

I'll talk to you soon bro!

Tom
(724) 791-2100

[Swampy]

http://www.ecu.edu/glassblowing/glassdemo.htm

[NUBBLET]

RUPERTS DROP would be a killer thing to see as a 5th grader . you can smack it , but snap just the tip of the tail and pop , hell I still like them . If you can have release forms and ... I say a tear drop would be simple enough to make then you take over when they get it to droop and make the loop , then they can all take something to show off at home "and he even let me .........." simple yarn tie and they can wear it home . Good PR if nothing else , but some little minds may take a further interest in the art . Let us know what you come up with and how it goes.

[sunray]

Interesting.. Trev was in a class in 5th grade and someone did a demo as a glass blower and he told me "I am going to be a glass blower when I grow up"
Like I believed it then.. Not really..
Fast forward and we have that Blower and the supply shop.. LOL

[Swampy]

Be interesting to find out who it was. Tom? Was it you.

[Norskiglass]

Casting & Slumping and spice it up a little with fusing and making shapes with stringers and a candle.

~It worked for 3rd graders!!!

~W~

[Greymatter Glass]

Just go dadaist on them. bring in a piano and bang on the keys with a frozen fish then sell photographs of walls in your house for $50 each to the kids.

When you leave, say hello.

-Doug