March 28, 2011

Ideas???

Ok people...I need some ideas!!!  I just received a BIG BOX of envelopes. 
I hate to say no to something like this(though I am not a pack rat like some art teachers..ha ha).
Do you have any fun ideas for art lessons involving envelopes?!?!  I can't say I've
ever done a lesson using such a thing.  I am wide open people...throw me the crazy, amazing, awesome ideas that I know you all have!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(and thank you in advance)

14 comments:

  1. Years ago I was gifted with envelopes and I started something with my kids called "Mail Art" I found each student an "Art Pal" in another grade and they exchanged mail with each other. The envelopes had to be decorated and yet the had to make sure it was postal aceeptable and you could read the addresses.

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  2. We make cards to go in the envelopes and so a print on the front to send to the troops over seas.

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  3. I've seen (but never tried) accordian books made from envelopes. Here is a simple tutorial. http://www.paper-source.com/cgi-bin/paper/howto/ideas/envaccordion.html

    This could be adapted into so many great projects!

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  4. Write a letter to an artist.
    Artist trading cards in envelopes.
    I use them for keeping small collage items for each student safe. I recently did a magazine collage project and it was great to keep the clippings in for next class time. You could also use them around your room. Maybe for a behavior board. I also use envelopes to hold art critique cards for each table.

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  5. -origami!

    -some sort of pop-up book/project

    -letters from famous artists (your students to pretend to be them!)

    -keep for storage for those projects where you have itty bitty teeny weeny projects

    -storage for self-made puzzles

    -an open envelope makes a perfect "house" shape. Make another paper mural with lots of different "houses."

    Have fun!!

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  6. I LOVE that "accordion book" idea...hey Ted, can you send me some of those envelopes? (just kidding.)

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  7. Check out the Griffin and Sabine Trilogy by Nick Bantock.
    The entire series is comprised of the 2 main characters corresponding with eachother through letters/postcards.

    Each page is either a postcard to read, or a letter inside an envelope. It's great, it's like the reader is reading someone's mail....

    If it doesn't work as an art lesson, it's a great series to get.

    Good Luck

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  8. Hi there,
    I check your blog from time to time. I am an elementary art teacher from New Hampshire, teaching about 580+ students a week, grades 1-5.

    Check out the series Griffin and Sabine by Nick Bantock.

    The entire series is comprised of the 2 main characters corresponding with each other via postcards and letters (inside envelopes), which are attached to the pages of the book.

    The reader is supposed to take the letters out and read them as part of the story. It's like you are reading someone's mail!

    I love this series, and the artwork is all original. Check it out, it's one of my all time favorites, and I read it nearly every year.

    Hope this works for you, if not for an art project.

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  9. I use envelopes for storing collage pieces that are small. kids write their names on them and they can keep it in their folder and reuse it again and again.

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  10. Last year my students made Mother's Day cards using envelopes. First I carefully undid the envelopes, flattening them to create a template. The students placed their templates onto patterned scrapbooking paper and cut out the shape. They folded their paper to make a new envelope and then with miscellaneous paper they wrote a note to their mom's. The envelopes were beautiful!

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  11. You can make a monster head puppet or a gift bag (mother's day?) ...http://howaboutorange.blogspot.com/2009/03/gift-bags-made-from-envelopes.html

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  12. Not sure if my previous comment made it through, but you can make a gift bag (mother's day) or a monster head puppet. Check out this blog for instructions: http://howaboutorange.blogspot.com/2009/03/gift-bags-made-from-envelopes.html

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  13. Shape puppets! Kids seal the envelope, then cut off one end of it so they can insert their hand. then use shapes to make a puppet on the envelope:
    http://mrsbrownart.com/artwork/shapepuppets_800.jpg

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  14. I have my kindergarteners sing the "Itsy bitsy spider" song. Then we glue an envelope to a piece of 9 x 12 blue construction paper with the flap open and pointing up. The envelope becomes a house. We talk about parts of a house, what the yard looks like, etc. and add windows, curtains, doors, trees, grass, etc. I buy spider rings by the bag full after Halloween on clearance and staple a bendy drinking straw on the edge of the house, just above the bend. Next the child slides on the spider ring and I staple the straw at the top. Now the spider can slide up and down the water spout! The kids love this.
    -L

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