Exploring Card Making and Bookmaking
(Projects can be Community Service, MLK or Valentine Holiday Related)
Cards and Envelopes
Vocabulary: Symmetry and asymmetry
Materials: Glue, scissors, pencils/markers/colored pencils/crayons, card making and envelope making stencils or tracers
Directions:
- The simplest method of making a card is folding a vertical format paper in half down so it’s a horizontal rectangle and then fold in half across so it’s vertical again
- For pop-up method – cut two slits in the center of the crease and push inward
- Paper folded like an accordion can be another way to create a card
- Another way to create a card with a 3-D effect is to include a small accordion inside a larger card for pop-up effect
Opportunity for Discussion and play:
Cards can be a great tool to incorporate poetry and self-reflection and connection between people and can compassion between strangers (include first names only when sending cards to soldiers or senior citizens)
- Discuss types of messages and bring quotes
- Have students research different messages
- How can a message be particularly meaningful for family members, friends, senior citizens, or soldiers?
Card making and envelope making can also be a wonderful way for creating self-reflection. This can be done by having students think of a personal challenge or think of themselves a year from now, four years from now, or even as an adult writing their current self.
- What would your future self suggest to your current self?
- Write to your future self and ask for guidance on how to get to the goals and dreams that you want to have realized in the future
An envelope can be a kind of treasure chest where students can cut out things that they love or value. Making little precious pictures and putting them inside their treasure chest can be delightful to watch. discuss that they can keep these private and decorate the outside of the envelope like a treasure chest with a lock. students can also take an envelope and draw things that represent their outside versus the things that represent how they feel inside then fold and glue envelope.