Stars and Stripes Sparkler Necklace

Grades Kindergarten- 8 th grade

Children from kindergarten on up can create these fun necklaces using the basic elements of art (color, line, shape, pattern and space) to design a patriotic symbol that they can wear as a necklace.

• Sculpey III Red Hot Red
• Sculpey III White
• Sculpey III Blue
• Red, white and blue glass seed beads
• Small shape cutters (optional)
• Toothpicks, Popsicle sticks, and stylus sticks
• Aluminum Foil for work surface and to bake on
• Hemp, twine, or string to hang the clay

Note: Plan on getting one 2 oz. packet for every three students. So for 9 students, get one 2 oz. package of each color.

Motivation:

The symbol of the United States of America, the American flag. The history of the evolution of the American Flag. The thirteen stripes are symbolic of the original 13 colonies, and the 50 stars stand for the 50 states.

Objectives:

• The student will identify design qualities of the American Flag.
• The student will select shape and color to create the foundation for their pendant.
• The student will create a pattern using the seed beads as embellishments.

Timeline:

One 45 minute class, teacher bakes and strings the necklaces later.

0-5 minutes discuss the art elements utilized by the American Flag

5-10 minutes

• Show demonstration of selecting a main color for the foundation of the pendant.
• Soften 1/8 of a bar of the Sculpey III and roll it into a ball (slab) about ¼ ” thick.
• Use the popsicle sticks or shape cutters create the main shape of the pendant.

Repeat with a second color to create a smaller shape on top of the base. Press into base clay.

• Demonstrate coil technique (rolling clay into a long skinny shape using your finger tips)
• Press onto clay to adhere it.
• Show how the beads can be pressed into clay in certain areas to create a more interesting design (toothpick can be very helpful).

10-30 minutes

• Pass out clay (less than ¼ bar for main color, and smaller pieces for the second and third colors.
• Students work on project.

30-40 minutes pass out seed beads and students may add them to their design.

40-45 Clean up and collect projects to bake later (follow package directions). Put the pendants on the strings after cooled from baking.

New Vocabulary:

Shape, color, pattern, line, space, coil, slab, embellishment