Early Bird Gets the Worm

crayola supplies

Fine Line Markers
Paint Brushes
Washable Kid's Paint
Model Magic®
No-Run School Glue
Sketchbook

household supplies

recycled newspaper
paper towels
masking tape
container(s) of water
decorative craft items
rubber bands

Why?

Design a decorative 3-D mask honoring a local bird.

Steps

1. In temperate climates, spring arrives each year with a large assortment of birds. Find out which colorful species are native to your area. Watch them as they search for food and prepare their nests. Make a list of the birds you see with a Crayola® Fine Tip Marker, and note the date. Sketch the birds you see. Some bird watchers keep journals year to year, and can predict the changing seasons by the arrival of key species.
2. To create a decorative bird mask of a local bird, begin by making a round mound of recycled newspaper that is as large as your face. Use masking tape to hold the mound's shape.
3. Flatten Crayola Model Magic in your hands until it is about 1/2 inch (2 cm) thick and large enough to cover your newspaper base. Mold it to the base. Create a beak, eyes, and other features by adding Model Magic to your bird mask. Dry.
4. Cover a table top with recycled newspaper. Paint your mask with Crayola Washable Paints and Brushes. Dry.
5. Attach beads, sequins, or other decorative items with Crayola School Glue. Rubber bands make great worms!

adaptations

Design a wearable mask by adding eye holes and attaching yarn or elastic to the back.

Create 3-D models of other animals that you see in the spring. Paint them and use Crayola Crayons to draw an environment for them.

Invite an ornithologist or amateur bird watcher to share journals, photographs, and other information about birds in your area, or another part of the world. Go on a bird watch together to a natural habitat.

benefits

Children identify natural changes in the seasons in temperate climates.

Students research birds that are native to their area, including those that migrate.

Children represent a bird of their choice by making a decorative 3-dimensional mask of its face.

grades

Grades 1 to 3
Grades 4 to 6
Grades 7 to 12

subjects

Language Arts
Science
Visual Arts

time

Multiple Sessions

curriculum standards links

US: Research U.S. Standards
UK: Research UK Standards
Canada: Research Canada Standards

safety guidelines

Costumes & Masks— CAUTION: When children wear hand-crafted costumes and masks, make sure the crafts do not obstruct the child’s vision, hearing, or impede movement. Do not use feathers, fabric, or raffia on wearable costumes and masks because these items do not pass costume flammability tests. Wearable masks are those held in place on the face with elastic, yarn, or other materials. Keep away from open flames.

Crayola Modeling Materials including Crayola Model Magic®, and Model Magic Fusion™, Crayola Air-Dry Clay, and Crayola Dough—

Keep away from open flames. Do not use to make candleholders, hot plates, trivets, or other similar objects that will be used or placed near fire and other heat sources.
Do not put in an oven, microwave, or kiln.
Do not make into vessels/containers that will hold unpackaged food.
The use of modeling material to make items that look like food is discouraged for children younger than age 5 to avoid their confusion with real food.
Unless sealed with a water-resistant glaze, do not make projects exposed to or immersed in water, such as boats or outdoor bird feeders. They would disintegrate when exposed to moisture.
Crayola Dough—contains gluten (wheat flour) as an ingredient.
Crayola Air-Dry Clay, Crayola Model Magic and Model Magic Fusion are gluten-free. However, they are produced on the same machinery as Crayola Dough which does contain gluten. Although the machines are cleaned prior to the start of each production run, there is a slight possibility that trace amounts of gluten from Crayola Dough may be present in the other modeling compound products. For information regarding specific ingredients or allergic concerns, please call our Consumer Affairs department at 1-800-272-9652 weekdays between 9 AM and 4 PM Eastern Standard Time.

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