Many of the world's most important historical documents were written with quill pens. Now your child can make his own, and experiment writing with a feather pen-- just like Washington and Jefferson.
The Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, the Magna Carta, and many other vital documents were written and signed with quill pens. In fact, the word "pen" comes from the Latin word "penna", which means feather.
Help your child step into Franklin, Paine, and other forefathers' footsteps, by teaching him to make his own quill. By the time students have mastered the skills of penmanship they can begin to appreciate ways to make writing unique. Every quill writes differently and your child can see how his penmanship changes with unusual tools.
Find your own feathers during a nature walk, or take a trip to a craft store to buy a package. Throughout history, quill pens were made from the flight feathers (preferably the largest wing feathers) of large birds. Here's how your child can make his own!
What You Need:
- Large wing feathers (A pack of plain turkey quill feathers can be bought for under $3). Try to find feathers that are about 12" long or more, with a thick shaft.
- An art knife to cut the correct angle on the feather shaft
- Ink in a bottle - can be purchased at most craft and art supply stores. You might want to start with non-permanent ink until you are experienced.
- Cutting board
- Marker
- Tweezers
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