If we are fortunate, we will be able to borrow two Edukits for the upcoming Ancient China and the Silk Road program. Here they are.
Ancient Rome Edukit photo source : ROM
Ancient China Edukit photo source : ROM
The use of Edukits helps anchor the program into its mandate to reflect the Museum’s collections. Besides providing hands-on artifacts, the kits contain bilingual printed information and activities.
Most people use Power Point only for the construction and presentation of slide shows.
I mainly use the program for the creation of crafts and signage.
For example, I am designing a Passport that children can use to travel from table to table within the Silk Road event. At stops along the way, they will be able to trade for items and thereby learn more about the ancient cultures of China, India, Persia and the Roman Empire.
To simplify construction, I have decided to use one piece of paper that will be folded into a 4 page booklet. Children will get the booklets stamped along the way and perhaps record the goods that they traded.
passport as printed and before folding
page is folded twice to show front cover
Sometimes I pick up Lego sets or games on sale to get pieces I can use to build my own creations. In making the oasis, I cannibalized an Egyptian pyramid game, an Atlantis game and added some pieces from a dinosaur set by another maker.
oasis base photo source: Lorie Pierce
I started with a sand coloured base and attached the water feature, some water plants and a small earthen look building with a mini-figure trader. Also notice the small gold scorpion!
add some trees and rocks photo source: Lorie Pierce
The trees and rocks come with a prehistoric dinosaur set that also has volcanoes and dinos of different descriptions. The volcanoes did not look convincing as just hills so they were left out. And of course, there were no dinos along the Silk Road.
trader mini-figure photo source: Lorie Pierce
For the trader, I used a Pharaoh mini-figure without the headdress. It’s really the closest figure I have to a person who would live in the desert.
camels added photo source : Lorie Pierce
The paper camels help complete the tableau.
They are adapted from Cut & Fold Friends at thetoymaker.com
According to wiki answers, a lot of goods were traded along the Silk Road in addition to silk itself. Today we will look at a craft based on number 23 – peacocks and their feathers.
What was traded along the Silk Road?
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_was_traded_along_the_Silk_Road
Here is a peacock using a paper plate, some card stock and feathers. The idea originated from this book:
craft ideas by culture photo source : Lorie Pierce
The idea in this book is to use white paper plates and use your thumbprint for the peacock ‘eyes’. Great idea, but too messy for our location.
peacock with thumbprint 'eyes' photo source: Lorie Pierce
Nosing around in our craft supplies, I came across some pretty blue paper plates. They for the inspiration for this alternative peacock.
it's coming together photo source: Lorie Pierce
where body will be stapled onto the feather display photo source : Lorie Pierce
The body will probably be printed on a green paper and the beak can be coloured gold. Children can draw the feather eyes on with gold or silver markers or perhaps glitter adhesive back foam medallions can be used for the effect.
tape feathers to back of head photo source : Lorie Pierce
Children will pick three feathers in the colours of their choice to tape to the back of the head. In my model, I have made a slit through which the feather ends fit and then are taped down.
Two years ago, I had the opportunity to visit this fabulous country of contrasts.
Smart card technology wedged in amongst traditional bamboo signs.
Here are some images of the Ancient China I discovered in the midst of modern cities. These are images that will inform my programming of the Ancient China and the Silk Road mini-museum.
All photos credit : Lorie Pierce
The Silk Road in particular? Or is it just me?
While formulating ideas for the next mini-museum on Ancient China and the Silk Road, I came across this build-able game. It struck me that a game that is constructed while one plays it might be a good focal point for understanding the enduring trading route – the Silk Road.
The game that is the inspiration photo Source: Lorie Pierce
The idea is to start with a civilization at one end…in this case Ancient China (Han Dynasty) and build the route towards the other existing cultures of the day including the Roman Empire.
the roadway connected photos source: Lorie Pierce
New names will cover the current real estate labels. Bridges could be locations of questions whose answers will send you north, west, south or back home. A lot of the pieces will not fit the theme and will wait in the box.
Pieces can snap easily together over a base map drawn to show land and sea routes.
roadway bits and pieces
We were fortunate to have two Museum Studies students assist with the latest mini-museum. Their enthusiasm brightened the event. Take a look and see what I mean.
This inexpensive, colourful and quick craft uses a section from any type of empty paper roll as its basic structure.
Here’s how we created butterfly cuffs at our recent event.
butterfly cuff bracelet photo source: Lorie Pierce
Prior to event, the following steps were done at a preparation meeting:
1.slit empty paper rolls lengthwise
2. cut into short lengths, approx. 3.5 to 4 inches long (10 cm)
3. wrap each section with aluminum foil, inside and out
4. staple precut foam butterfly onto centre of wrapped roll segment. Butterflies were purchased 20 pieces for $1.25 at dollar store, in multiple colours.
During the event
5. Child chooses butterfly, precut thorax and pipe cleaner antennae – various colours available
6. Paper backing was peeled of the thorax to expose adhesive. Thorax was pressed onto the middle of the butterfly with pipe cleaner folded in half and stuck between head and cuff. Roll the ends of the pipe cleaner to make knobby ends.
7. Child uses stickers and precut foam shapes to decorate the butterfly. Since all the pieces are adhesive, there is no need for glue.
8. Wear the butterfly in beauty and health.
The Awesome Animals grow chart was a big hit at the event with children and adults measuring up against ROM animals like the white rhino, the fairy penguin, the moose and the ostrich. The chart could have been a bit narrower to fit on the pillar better.
I would have added more colour too, if I had more time for preparation. Height gradations were in both metres and feet.
Awesome Animals Grow Chart photo source: Lorie Pierce
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