Students will learn about Japanese windsocks as they create a windsock using a paper bag.
By Written by: C. Schilling [C. is an art educator at Kadena Arts and Crafts in Okinawa.]
What You Need:
- brown paper bag (or construction paper rolled and stapled)
- markers
- kite string
- scissors
- hole punch
- clear tape for reinforcement, or stapler
- crepe paper streamers (optional)
What You Do:
- Cut the bottom out of a brown paper bag and then open it up, separating at the bags seam until you have one large piece of paper.
- On the top 1/4 to 1/3 of bag, (eyeball it), have the students draw/scribble an abstract, free-form design. Encourage them to cross over their own lines to create open spaces.
- Have them color in the open spaces with the primary colors, alternating the colors so that yellow never touches yellow, etc.
- On remaining 3/4 or 2/3, cut up from the bottom of the bag to 2″ below the design, creating strips or tails about 2″ wide and the length of the bag OR attach crepe paper streamers to the bottom of the bag.
- Roll bag into a cylinder shape and staple or tape closed. Punch four holes in the design end, two on each side and tie a 1 foot piece of string into each hole.
- Knot all four strings together and hang up for decoration.
- The windsock will resemble a fish or octopus when done!
Resources:
Koinobori https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koinobori
Explore Japan (National Geographic Kids): http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/countries/japan/
