Change—New
Paths—New Directions
While
most of us realize that in order to grow we must step out of our comfort zone
and explore new paths in life. However, recognizing the need to change
directions and actually taking that first step are often at opposite ends of
the spectrum. Many times we need a nudge to help us take that first step. For
me, the nudge came in the form of a major health setback. I was forced to make
choices that I preferred not to make. Yet, now that I can look back at the
footprints I have left on that new path, I realize that my change in direction
was a good choice to make.
Since
the beginning of 2014 my blog posts have become less frequent. In fact, for
several months I did not even add a new post. I apologize for the lack of new
educational ideas and activities during this time. I have come to the
conclusion that for the remainder of 2014, I must devote my time to my family,
my health, and personal commitments. Trying to juggle all of those needs with
maintaining this blog was not in the best interest of my family, my readers,
and my health. I intend to return to this blog in 2015, hopefully renewed and
revitalized. In that time, please remember that monthly activities and ideas
that I posted in 2013 and early 2014 will still provide creative suggestions
for making learning fun and memorable.
My
final blog post for 2014 fits in perfectly with my decision to journey down a
different path for a while. Mother Nature is on her own path to change with the
turning of the seasons. While pictures, books, classroom decorations, and the
like lead us to believe otherwise, the transition from one season to the next
is anything but sudden. For weeks in our area summer has been fighting to
maintain its hold on our region. In fact, during the first week of September we
had record breaking temperatures. Our usually wet month of September has been
dry. Yet, each morning, there is a glimmer of hope that the cooler autumn
weather is winning the battle of the seasons. Spiders are capturing the dew
each morning and now spinning the spectacular webs that are synonymous with fall.
Moths and butterflies are hastily slurping the last of the nectar from the
fading blossoms of summer. Caterpillars are beginning to stake their claim to
their sleeping grounds to ride out their transition to new creations—moths and
butterflies that will emerge in the spring.
Summer to autumn
Autumn to winter
Winter to Spring
Spring to Summer
The
endless change of directions that nature takes is a reminder to all of us that
to grow we must change, even if the change may not be as easy as we’d like.
As
my final educational activity for 2014, I have chosen a craftivity centered on
what I believe are the ultimate examples of change—butterflies. From the moment they hatch into a tiny caterpillar
until the time comes to settle into a deep metamorphic slumber, butterflies are
nature’s example of how trust in change can result in beautiful creations. When
a butterfly lays her eggs, not knowing if her efforts will succeed, she trusts
that the leaf, the branch, or the seedpod will provide for her young offspring.
The caterpillars emerge and forage for weeks, trusting that food will be
readily available. They grow and shed one casing after another, trusting nature
to protect them during each transition. Then, the caterpillars trust nature
once again to protect them as they spin their protective chrysalis and finally
emerge a magnificent winged creature.
The
activity below provides children with an opportunity to demonstrate how change
(addition of paint to a crayon resist background) can yield beautiful results.
Beautiful
Butterfly Batik*
Objective:
Children will learn the traditional method of batik (hot wax resist), but use
that information to create a variation of the method—crayon batik.
Materials:
Crayons with fine points
Sturdy paper or cardstock
Diluted tempera or acrylic paintLarge bowl
Optional: butterfly template (provided)
Plain newsprint or screen mat for drying
Procedure:
Preparation:
Prior to conducting the activity, pour a small amount of paint into a large
bowl. Dilute the paint with water so that there is ample pigment in the water,
but the paint is now the consistency of water. This will be used as the paint
bath to dye the crayon artwork.
1. Show your children pictures of
traditional batik (Hint: an internet search will provide some excellent
examples).
2. Discuss the process for creating
traditional batik.A. Paint melted wax on fabric.
B. Dye the fabric a light color and allow to dry. The dye will resist the fabric that is coated in wax.
C. Add more melted wax. Repeat the dying process.
D. When the last dye has been added and dries, the wax is melted from the fabric, usually with a hot iron.
The result is a design with bold colors and lines that crisscross the colors where the wax cracked during the dying process.
3. Ask the children to use the crayons draw a block style picture of a butterfly or moth, encouraging the children to use large shapes with small spaces in between. It is important that the crayons completely cover each shape with a thick layer of wax.
5. Unfold the paper and briefly dip it
into the bowl of diluted paint. (Hint: younger children may need to be reminded
that if their artwork is allowed to remain in the paint too long, the paper
fibers may become weak and tear.)
The
faux batik butterfly artwork is a combination of different mediums that can
represent the change of the seasons. When the children look at their completed
artwork, ask them to find the small lines of paint that worked their way into
the blocks of crayon wax. Explain that these lines can represent the days where
our seasons are a mixture of two seasons—for example, very hot days in September
that begin chilly with a heavy dew coating the windows and plants.
*I
originally created this activity for a wonderful web site that focuses on
teaching children the wonders of nature and how butterflies are wonderful
ambassadors for nature’s ability to grow and change. Please check out their
site for more activities and information about butterflies.
