Glide Along a Venetian Canal

crayola supplies

Erasable Colored Pencils
Markers
Washable Watercolors
Watercolor Brushes with Plastic Handle
No-Run School Glue
Pointed Tip Scissors
Giant Marker and Watercolor Pad

household supplies

recycled newspaper
recycled boxes
paper towels
container(s) of water

Why

In Venice, Italy, the streets are canals and the cars are boats! Find out about this fascinating place, then create your own gondola and gondolier.

Steps

1. Research Venice, Italy, and its famous gondolas and gondoliers. Find a picture of a gondola so you can show one in a diorama of this beautiful city.
2. Cover your art area with newspaper. On watercolor paper, use your imagination to create a background scene of a Venice canal using Crayola® Watercolor Paints and Watercolor Brushes. You might include buildings, a bridge over water, and people. Dry.
3. Use Crayola Scissors to cut the sides and top off a box if flaps are in the way. Attach your painting to the bottom of the box with Crayola School Glue.
4. Fold watercolor paper in half horizontally. With Crayola Erasable Colored Pencils, draw a gondola. Cut it out so you have two pieces. Paint your gondola with watercolors. Dry.
5. Glue each end of one gondola. Press the two gondolas together. Dry. Push open the middle of the boat.
6. With colored pencils, draw a gondolier and an oar on watercolor paper. Color them using Crayola Washable Markers. Cut them out. Glue them inside the gondola. Glue the gondola with its boatsman onto the front on your diorama. Dry.

When & Where

"My son made this diorama for a social studies project on Italy. We learned a lot about Venice and its famous waterways. "
- Trudy S., mother of age 9.

"Our scout troop made dioramas while learning about transportation around the world. The gondola is certainly unique!"
- Kostas K., scout leader.

Interesting Info

The gondola is the most well-known boat in the world. Even people who have never been to Venice recognize its unique shape. The gondola is like other lagoon boats with a flat bottom that allows it to float in very shallow water. It weighs about 400 kg and is built with eight different types of wood.

Safety Guidelines

Crayola Washable Paints—Not for use as body/face paint.

Scissors—ATTENTION: The cutting edges of scissors are sharp and care should be taken whenever cutting or handling. Blunt-tip scissors should be used only by children 4 years and older. Pointed-tip scissors should be used only by children 6 years and older.