My Daughter's Homework Projects

My arty side appears to have rubbed off on my Daughter somewhat...

We have worked together on several projects for school. Eighteen months ago (she was Eight) the project was "Our Village". Well, at the time the [famous] Victorian Chinese Bridge in the village was replaced with a replica as it was becoming unsafe. There was a lot in the local papers about it. My daughter decided that she wanted to make a bridge in a shoe box. We begun by cutting all of the pictures out of the newspapers and sticking them on the outside of the shoe box. I then took her down to the park near the bridge and she took a photo of 'The Causeway' to use as the background inside her box. She made Fimo ducks and swans to go on the base, in the river. Wool and green paper hung from the top, to represent the weeping willows. Then the bridge, this did require some assistance, we drew the bridge (quite complicated) on cardboard, then cut match sticks to stick on the card and painted white. It was a bit more of a task than originally anticipated but great result - teachers loved it, and she was photographed for a local magazine, The Bridge.

Last years Autumn half term homework (aged 9) - Guy Fawkes/Bonfire Night.

I blame Horrible Histories for this one. My Daughter decided she needed to make a Guy Fawkes doll, to demonstrate how he was killed when he was caught and tried for treason.

She traced all of the paper patterns from a rag doll book, and cut the fabric using them. We sewed it together on the sewing machine, she did the straight lines, I did the curved parts. She stuffed all of the arms and legs, etc. I sewed all the body parts together as this required a bit more skill. She sewed the trousers on the machine and I showed her how to thread elastic through the waist band. She hand stitched the felt boots, front and back and I did the bottoms (complicated curved bits again). I also embroidered the face - ended up looking like Johnny Depp, it wasn't the original intention.

End result was a rather dashing Guy Fawkes doll, with removable intestines, noose around his neck ( had to Youtube, how to tie a noose) and removable head. Quite disgusting, but ten year old's think it's cool!

Spring half term (aged 10) - Solar System.

This one was dreamed up by my daughter and her friend. They wanted to represent the solar system on a cushion... cue Mum!

Well, simple enough envelope cushion cover - easy.

Then they had to decide on some fabric to represent the colour of the planets. They cut the fabric into circles and we used iron on fabric adhesive to secure them while they blanket stitched them on to the cover.

Not the most difficult project we have attempted but still quite reasonable. It's now used at school in their reading corner, so useful too.

Looking forward to the next holiday project..... do your worst teachers!