Flying Rockets

Flying Rockets guide the imagination. This kids art activity that uses recyclable products to construct fun Flying Rockets that stretch the imagination. Depending on the child and their experiences. For instance, they could think about the explosives involved. Or the excitement of where the flying rocket will travel. What land and creatures will it encounter? Whatever the playful thoughts are, sometimes children need an adult to spark the creative imagination.

Being a mom is hard work.  When I was younger, I had cousins my age, children on my city block, and siblings to play with.  We did not have a lot of toys, but it was enough. Somehow we occupied ourselves. Now with my own two children, I find that I have to organize their play.  Somehow I feel obligated to keep them engaged and active. We do not live in a city, nor are there cousins their age. In addition, my husband and I refuse to sit our children in front of a screen for hours a day.  How about you? What do you find different from your childhood compared to your children’s childhood?

If you give a mouse…

Amazingly, there are many television programs that are based on children’s books today.  Personally, I think these kinds of programs are wonderful. Many times my children are excited to visit the library and get additional books related to the television show.  Recently, my children started to watch the series on Amazon based on Laura Numeroff’s books with cookie mouse.

In one episode, my children picked up on a flying rocket the characters made.  So I told them that we could make one. As a result, I started to look for things in books and television that my children would enjoy duplicating.   Netflix has a show titled, “Creative Galaxy” in which we were able to make idea boxes. These were great fun. My children carried these boxes around with personal things inside to keep them busy. 

How did we make the rockets?

Step One:

First, gather the supplies.  We used whatever we had available like bathroom tissue tubes, any kind of paper, tape or glue, drawing media, and other decorative supplies.  Ideas for paper are computer printer, construction, scrapbook, and wrapping paper. Even your child’s old school worksheets would add some interest.  Additionally, decorative supplies could be stickers, gems, ribbons, tissue craft paper, and other light-weight items. We used the tissue craft paper for the rocket streamers, but party crepe paper would work too.

Step Two:

Next, we choose our paper, rolled the tube, and taped it in place.  The tape was a better choice for my children to keep the mess limited. After we taped it in place we just cut and trimmed the extra paper off.  Then I traced a large circle on a colored paper and the children cut the circles out. The following step is a little difficult. I folded the circle to find the middle point.  Then I cut a straight line toward the middle, so the circle could be overlapped to make a cone. Here is an opportunity for the teacher in me to explain to the children that the cone and the tube are forms and not shapes.  Cones and tube cylinders have 3 dimensions. Three-dimensional forms have roundness with height, length, and depth.

Step Three:

Now the next step is a little difficult.  An adult may need to help younger children.  When taping the cone to the tube or frame, it is better to place part of the tape on the end of the frame and attach the cone.  Then a pair of scissors was used to press and rub the tape into place. I used three pieces of tape to secure the cone to the frame.

Step Four:

Once the two forms are attached, I folded the paper to cut and make the rocket fins.  After it was folded, I drew a diagonal line and cut the line. Since I folded the paper twice, I received four triangles.  The four triangles were folded on the longest side and then three were taped to the frame. Before taping the fins to the structure, it looks like a castle tower.  Therefore, the fins help resemble the rocket.

Step Five:

Okay! Now your children will have free range with all the decorative supplies.  I used marker and tape to place the sequences on my demonstration rocket. My children wanted to put lots of stickers all over their rocket frames.  It would have been nice to see them decorate the cones. Finally, the children attached their craft tissue streamers to show the explosive fuel blazing behind their flying rockets.  Dollar store Christmas garland worked well for my rocket. Lastly, I poked a hole in the middle of the frame on the least decorated side and we found tree twigs to use as handles. Then we went outside running with the rockets flying high in the sky.

Wrapping up:

Here are some extra facts. The cone form on a rocket is called the nose. Sometimes the crew of the vessel is stored in the nose. If not the crew then other needed materials are in the nose. Also, the nose may have a guidance system.

Story-telling:

As your children run about, explore storytelling. Where are the rockets going? Where will they land? What happens on the way? Who or what do they encounter? Imagination starts with questions and a little prompting.

Glitter Paint

Going to the art supply store…

What are we to do with glitter paint?

The art supply store is like a treasure room. Because of this, my children enjoy going there when I mention it. But it is rare because I know I will end up spending more money than I wish and get additional things I did not want. Like this particular visit. We needed more tempera paint. Yet on the shelf were more choices than expected. Then my daughter spotted the glitter paint. What are we to do with the glitter paint? It is time to explore glitter paint.

At least four different bundles were being offered. Therefore, we could choose the regular colors with primary colors and three additional colors like black, green, and purple. Another was a selection of six neon, glow in the dark, and pastel colors. My daughter was all over examining the colors. Her eyes and mind were fixated on the glitter paints. Glitter is not my thing.

Now I have to make a choice of what paint to buy. I have only a certain amount of money in my purse, so I have to be very mindful of the cost. No matter, I give in to purchasing two bundles of paint, which includes the glitter paint. Of course, I am thinking what are we going to do with it?

Replicas

So my daughter is demonstrating all the creative juices that I have. She enjoys all things art. Markers, paint, glue, and many things that were not even around when I was a child. It is absolutely remarkable how our children are replicas of us. How about you? Do you see your children behave or have similar interests to you?

“Oh no! No, No, Mommy. Don’t take a picture.”

What are we to do with glitter paint?

Time to explore.

Not much is done with the paint because it behaved as I expected. The glitter gets pushed around on the paper with the color. It is just an added extra in the paint. And the paint is a bit translucent. Now I state this as if it was all bad, but not exactly. The colors were pretty and when the art dried the glitter sparkles. In the end, my daughter and I enjoyed our painting time together. And that is all that truly matters right?

Check out our paintings.

Drawing on the paintings:

Several years ago, both my children painted messy masterpieces in their high chairs and elsewhere. I kept many of them with the intent to draw on top of them with my own intertwined masterworks. However, I have yet to do so. But with these glitter paintings, I was able to draw a bit. It took me just a little time to decipher what to draw. My images emerged from the examination of the negative space.

Hope you gain some inspiration to try something new. And just maybe what you expected does not exactly turn out that way. Look for the inspiration around you daily. It is everywhere.

Beautiful Butterflies

Discuss symmetry with nature.

Recently, I was able to observe some butterflies at a local nature center.  On a bench, the butterfly opened and closed its wings like it was fanning itself with the morning sun.  So slowly its wings moved from the middle out and back. Resulting in a display that exhibits nature’s perfect symmetrical balance.  Here is a go to subject to discuss symmetry with nature.

Every art teacher is familiar with the butterfly as the perfect subject for symmetry.  Alike, I too have taught my share of big beautiful butterflies. One year I used paper towel tubes for bodies.  Another year, I focused on secondary orange for the monarch. Many times I use primary colors for color mixing exploration.  

Boisterous Butterflies

But one year, I decided instead of making one butterfly, we should make several boisterous butterflies.  Each child made three different sizes. Because we used the primary colors a range of combinations were created. They were introduced to symmetry.  Nature exhibits symmetry well.

Space and Grounds

Here is what we did. The butterflies are arranged smallest to largest. The largest butterfly at the bottom of the paper depicts the foreground. It is close to the viewer. The smallest butterfly at the top of the paper is in the background. Correct size and location develop the perception of space and distance.

Free the Butterflies

The Beautiful Brave Butterflies

Back fold the butterflies and cut them out. It is tricky to have kids cut a folded paper. Many times they slide the scissors between the papers. When they do this they cut one side out. It is best to double-check that they are cutting correctly or tape along the open sides to keep it closed for cutting.

Finishing Touches

Before arranging and gluing the butterflies down, decorate the edge of the paper. By doing so, the finished product looks more complete. I experimented with printing dots from the back of the marker to make flowers. Then I played around with the location and position of the papers. The final artwork indicates that the smallest butterfly is higher in the sky. Henceforth, it is further away from the viewer.

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