Crafts

A Bouquet of Bookmarks (Wonderful Mother's Day Idea)

Earlier last month I was checking out Pinterest when I came across this cute craft idea to use pictures of flowers to create a bouquet of bookmarks (click here to see it on my teacher inspiration board), which I immediately adapted for my fourth graders.  

Materials-
Craft sticks (6 per student)
photo paper (one piece per student)
printer paper (one to two sheets per student)
paints (I used water colors)
paint brushes
cups for water
Fine point sharpies, or flair tipped pens
scissors
glue (I used Elmer's but I think a tacky glue might be better)
ribbons for tying bouquets 
Hole punch
access to the internet (or you could use flower pictures from gardening magazines, but then I would use a glue stick to adhesive them to tag board to give the pictures some stiffness)

I introduced the following steps during a mini-whole class lesson, and then let my students complete them during independent work time.    If there are misconceptions about directions, I  met with students independently or in small groups .  Once they are sure about what to do, I make them my "experts" and they will then turn key their understanding to others if questions arise.

1- Have each student paint six craft sticks.  Use the computer paper as a little drop cloth to protect their desk.  Let one side dry then paint the other side. 

Tell them they will need to write on the craft stick so choose their colors wisely.  Several of my children decided to paint just the front and leave the back alone so that they could write their messages.



Craft sticks drying on computer paper.  

Save the paper they painted on,  it makes a cool gift tag later.




2- Have each student access google images and copy 6 flower pictures onto a word document.  Tell them to use pictures of single flowers the closer to the tower the better.  I had my students save their work onto a shared drive and I made very narrow margins (0.2), and resized the pictures to fill up one page.  Then print the pictures onto photo paper. 

Pictures of flowers from google images


3- Have each student carefully cut out just the flower from each picture.

Cut out flower.  Some of your students may need a little help.

4- On the back of each craft stick have them write a statement to their Mothers.  Some sentence starters could be I love you because......, or Thank you for....., I love how you......, or I love it when......   Then using small dots of glue, fix the flower to the front of the craft stick.


Flower glued to the front of the craft stick.  Message to Mom is on back.

5- When the glue is dried they can decorate the front.  When they are done carefully gather the bookmarks together and tie them with a ribbon.

I love the cool prints this child did.

I was so proud of all of their hard work.  I can't wait to hear how their gifts were received.



6- Lastly use the paper that was painted on to cut out a gift tag.  Punch a hole in the tag and tie it onto the bouquet.
 Paper with a circle cut out for a tag.

this is one tag.  Message is on the back.

Possible message:
Dear Mom,
Here is a bouquet of bookmarks from me to you.
Happy Mother's Day!
Love,















No comments:

Post a Comment