Both books are available soft cover!
Available in the UK, Canada, Europe and Australia soon.
Welcome to washcloth crafts!
The TerryGami books can be easily used as a teaching tool or workbook. A wide variety of materials can be used to spark the imagination: colorful terrycloth washcloths and rubber bands, yarn, foam board, felt, glass gems, sequins, painted wood pieces and quilt batting if the project requires stuffing.
The children can start with the list of factoids in the books. They can then search for more interesting facts about a critter or holiday icon either on the web, at the library or just from the books and magazines you have at home, like "Ranger Rick."
Many academic subjects come into play with this craft:
*History: The factoid page list how a holiday icon came into being.
*Science: The factoids provide information about an animal's habitat, needs and characteristics.
*Math: Measuring is necessary when making a critter or holiday ornament.
*Language: Children have to read and decipher the instructions.
*Fine motor skills: Children have mold, roll, and shape the washcloths, and, also, sew or glue them. It's great for improving their dexterity.
*Learning new a new skill: Children will be able to create toys for themselves and others with just a few rubber bands or a piece of string and a piece of cloth.
Finding and purchasing supplies can be another opportunity to teach. For example: What materials do we need? Where do we need to go to buy them? Do we already have craft items on hand that can be used? How inexpensively can each critter be made and what price would it sell for at a craft show or on an online store like Etsy?
The TerryGami books can be easily used as a teaching tool or workbook. A wide variety of materials can be used to spark the imagination: colorful terrycloth washcloths and rubber bands, yarn, foam board, felt, glass gems, sequins, painted wood pieces and quilt batting if the project requires stuffing.
The children can start with the list of factoids in the books. They can then search for more interesting facts about a critter or holiday icon either on the web, at the library or just from the books and magazines you have at home, like "Ranger Rick."
Many academic subjects come into play with this craft:
*History: The factoid page list how a holiday icon came into being.
*Science: The factoids provide information about an animal's habitat, needs and characteristics.
*Math: Measuring is necessary when making a critter or holiday ornament.
*Language: Children have to read and decipher the instructions.
*Fine motor skills: Children have mold, roll, and shape the washcloths, and, also, sew or glue them. It's great for improving their dexterity.
*Learning new a new skill: Children will be able to create toys for themselves and others with just a few rubber bands or a piece of string and a piece of cloth.
Finding and purchasing supplies can be another opportunity to teach. For example: What materials do we need? Where do we need to go to buy them? Do we already have craft items on hand that can be used? How inexpensively can each critter be made and what price would it sell for at a craft show or on an online store like Etsy?
Have
the children read the TerryGami instructions first and see if they can
figure out how to make the project on their own. It may seem like work
to them, but if you make a game of it, they might find it fun to tell
you how to make the critter. Teaching them to have enough patience to
read through the instructions and figure it out themselves is a lesson
in and of itself.
Why not teach
the kids a little bit about terrycloth or the other craft supplies used
like ribbon or yarn? From what I can find on the Internet, terrycloth has
at least been around since the middle of the 1800s. The material and
weaving technique was invented in France. The French used silk to weave
this new, looped fabric, but later, Englishmen made the material, first
from worsted (a wool yarn), and then later, from cotton. The
Englishman Samuel Holt brought it to the United States, patented the
looped weaving technique, and later sold it to a cotton manufacturer.
The loops in the fabric make the material very water absorbent. This is why
washcloths and towels are made from terrycloth.
Teaching the children to hand sew is another opportunity for learning washcloth crafts can offer. Kids just learning to sew can get great
results their first time sewing on terrycloth. If the thread matches
the color of the washcloth, the stitches can barely be seen, especially
if you instruct them to keep their stitches small. If you want to teach a child to sew on buttons, use buttons for the facial features on the critter. The snowman requires buttons down the front of his body and small
buttons can be used for his facial features.
There
are many, many ways to teach using TerryGami books, but don't tell the kids!!
Happy Crafting!
~Terry
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