Thursday, November 17, 2011

Handicraft Productions




These are words from Charlotte Mason on the wonderful teaching of handicraft.

"The points to be borne in mind in children's handicrafts are: (a) that they should not be employed in making futilities such as pea and stick work, paper mats, and the like; (b) that they should be taught slowly and carefully what they are to do; (c) that slipshod work should not be allowed; (d) and that, therefore, the children's work should be kept well within their compass.

Again we know that the human hand is a wonderful and exquisite instrument to be used in a hundred movements exacting delicacy, direction and force; every such movement is a cause of joy as it leads to the pleasure of execution and the triumph of success. We begin to understand this and make some efforts to train the young in the deft handling of tools and the practice of handicrafts. Some day perhaps, we shall see apprenticeship to trades revived and good and beautiful work enforced. In so far, we are laying ourselves out to secure that each shall "live his life"; and that, not at his neighbor's expense; because, so wonderful is the economy of the world that when a man really lives his life he benefits his neighbor as well as himself; we all thrive in the well being of each."

Above is the example I made of our Soap Carving project.  The children were able to carve either a diamond or a heart.  We also made our own carving tools out of Popsicle sticks.  I was teaching from an excellent book that can be found here. (I may need to purchase another copy as ours got completely shredded in the treadmill, my kids happen to have no recollection of how the book got inside the treadmill belt!). 










The above by my children are still a work in progress.




Leaf Collages. I cannot take credit for this handicraft.  Liz took on handicraft this day and combined it with Nature Study.  We identified (or tried to identify) all the leaves and put them on labels along with name and date and pasted them on the back.  The glass on the frame easily pops out and the leaves can be replaced as the colors fade. 









We also made friendship bracelets.  This picture was taken today and the kids have never taken theirs off.  We drew names in a hat to determine who would make a bracelet for who.  My girls then, on their own time, made bracelets for their Daddy for his birthday.  He too, has never taken his off.

We are currently working on sewing projects and I will be sure to share our productions when the children have finished them.

Ciao!


The following are more handicraft photos featuring Liz's children.



















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