Design and fly a beautiful fabric windsock! This one is decorated with traditional Chinese symbols.

• 1.

  Research Chinese culture, symbols, and traditions. In ancient China the carp was a symbol of endurance, perseverance, fortitude, and good luck. Choose Chinese symbols with which to decorate your windsock.

• 2.

  With Crayola® Scissors, cut white 100% polyester fabric into a piece large enough for a windsock.

• 3.

  Design the carp. Cover your art area with white paper. On the fabric, use Crayola Fabric Crayons to draw the head of a fish (carp) with two large eyes at one end. Fill in the area near the head with colorful scales. On the rest the fabric, draw stripes in various colors.

• 4.

  Set the colors. To make an ironing pad, place white paper or newspaper over an iron-safe surface. Place fabric on ironing pad. Top the crayon design with white paper.

• 5.

  Ironing should be done by an adult in a well-ventilated area. Set iron on synthetic. Press design with slow steady pressure for 1 to 2 minutes. Lift iron to move it. Hold paper in place to prevent blurring. Remove paper carefully. For more intense colors, add more crayon while the fabric is still warm. Decorated fabrics can be machine washed, using warm or cold water and a gentle cycle. Do not place in dryer. *Overheating or scorching may release irritating fumes.

• 6.

  Assemble the windsock. Fold over the top of the fabric, near the head of the carp, to form a pocket. Leaving a small opening, use Crayola School Glue to attach the turned-over edge to the back of the fabric. Air-dry the glue.

• 7.

  Push a chenille stick through the opening. Twist the ends together to form a circle. Fasten another chenille stem across the circle for added strength.

• 8.

  From the bottom of the windsock, cut between each stripe up to where the stripes meet the scales.

• 9.

  Tie colorful ribbon or yarn on the chenille circle for hanging.

Standards

• LA: Read and comprehend complex literary and informational texts independently and proficiently.
• LA: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization and analysis of content.
• LA: Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources, assess the credibility and accuracy of each source, and integrate the information while avoiding plagiarism.
• LA: Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
• LA: Present information, findings, and supporting evidence such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning and the organization, development, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
• SS: Describe ways in which language, stories, folktales, music, and artistic creations serve as expressions of culture and influence behavior of people living in a particular culture.
• SS: Use appropriate resources, data sources, and geographic tools to generate, manipulate, and interpret information.
• SS: Describe how people create places that reflect ideas, personality, culture, and wants and needs as they design homes, playgrounds, classrooms, and the like.
• VA: Intentionally take advantage of the qualities and characteristics of art media, techniques, and processes to enhance communication of their experiences and ideas.
• VA: Select and use the qualities of structures and functions of art to improve communication of their ideas.
• VA: Describe and place a variety of art objects in historical and cultural contexts.

Adaptations

• According to ancient belief, carp could transform themselves into dragons upon reaching 100 years of age. Students investigate other interesting Chinese beliefs. Organize this research and create a sketch to accompany the research presentation using Crayola Colored Pencils.
• The word carp is similar to a Chinese word meaning profit, so it is a lucky symbol often used in Chinese paper cutting. Students design an original lucky symbol and use the paper-cutting technique to create a model of the symbol.