Stained glass is an old art form found in the windows of many castles, cathedrals, and other important buildings across Europe. Traditionally constructed from molten metal and other less-than-kid-friendly materials, these works of art took a very long time to design and craft. Here, you and your kids can try your hand at making your own sunny "stained glass" art with all of the beauty but none of the danger, time, or expense of the real thing. All you need is black construction paper and a few sheets of colored cellophane to get started.
What You Need:
- Black construction paper
- White crayon
- Scissors
- Clear drying, non-toxic glue
- Colored acetate or cellophane
What You Do:
- Have your child draw a sun design on the construction paper with the white crayon. Before she starts drawing, help her think of basic shapes she can use to create the sun (circle for the face, triangles for the rays, etc.). To create a leaded glass effect, have her make the lines in her drawing at least one inch thick. Make sure to leave a 2-inch border around the edge of the paper.
- Help her cut out the sun. Cut a small slit in the center of each shape, then carefully cut out each individual shape to create a sun-shaped "window" in the paper.
- Cut different colors of acetate or cellophane to fit in each panel of the sun "window".
- Turn the construction paper over (this will help to hide the crayon lines) and glue to the acetate or cellophane pieces to the paper over each panel. Set aside to dry.
- Once the glue has dried, turn the paper over to reveal your faux stained glass design!
Display your "stained glass" artwork in a window or other light-filled area. What does your child think will happen when the sun shines through the colored panels? Encourage her to make observations, then explain why her artwork has caused the light to change colors.
By Erica Loop
Erica Loop has an MS in Applied Developmental Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh's School of Education. She has many years of teaching experience working in early childhood education, and as an arts educator at the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh.
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