An easy-to-make pumpkin candleholder is sure to be a Halloween hit.
Objectives
Students
follow instructions.
demonstrate patience and creativity as they work with tiny pieces of paper and glue.
Keywords
Halloween, pumpkin
Materials Needed
baby food jars (or other small jars), one per student
orange tissue paper, crepe paper, or napkins
white liquid glue
paint brushes
masking tape
black construction paper
tea-light candles (available in craft stores and most large discount stores)
Lesson Plan
In this lesson, students will create a pumpkin candleholder for use at home on Halloween night.
Provide each student with a baby food jar (or another small jar). For identification purposes, students might write their initials on a small piece of masking tape and tape that to the bottom of the jar.
Create a 50/50 mixture of white glue and water. You might pour the mixture into each student's baby-food-jar lid, since that lid will have no other use in this project.
Have students rip the tissue paper (or crepe paper or orange napkins) into small pieces. Pieces about an inch square or smaller are best. Neatness of rips is not important; uneven ripped edges are great!
Next, students should "paint" their jars with the glue mixture.
Then have students cover the jar with the small orange-paper pieces. It's a good thing if the paper pieces overlap a bit. Caution students to not wrap paper over the mouth/rim of the jar; that would present a fire hazard when the candle is placed inside the jar.
When the jar is covered with pieces of orange paper, students might use the glue to "repaint" any areas where the paper seems a bit loose.
Place all the students' jars in an area where they can dry.
After the jars are completely dry, have students cut pumpkin eyes, a nose, and a mouth from black construction paper. Glue the jack-o-lantern face parts to the candleholder.
Emphasize to students that it is VERY IMPORTANT for an adult to be present when the candle is lit. The candle might be displayed on the dinner table on Halloween night, or it might be part of a display on a small table where candy for trick-or-treaters is kept.
Assessment
Did students follow directions?
Did they demonstrate patience and creativity as they created their pumpkin candleholders?
Lesson Plan Source
EducationWorld.com
Submitted By
Gary Hopkins
National Standards
FINE ARTS: Visual Arts GRADES K - 4 NA-VA.K-4.1 Understanding and Applying Media, Techniques, and Processes NA-VA.K-4.3 Choosing and Evaluating A Range of Subject Matter, Symbols, and Ideas GRADES 5 - 8 NA-VA.5-8.1 Understanding and Applying Media, Techniques, and Processes NA-VA.5-8.3 Choosing and Evaluating A Range of Subject
Matter, Symbols, and Ideas
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For additional lessons in the arts, see these Education World resources:
Create a Pumpkin Candleholder
