October 2013: School holidays workshops at the Penrith Regional Gallery

For the first time I got to work at the gallery’s holidays workshops. They run for 4 days and are hectic, but fun. Hahgoot did the two workshops with Emma for 5-8 years olds, while I taught the older kids (9-12). When I taught the 5-8 years old group, Hanna was the fantastic designated babysitter. The first workshop Hahgoot did was a paper boats class. She was very negative about doing it, after her class at school participated in the gallery’s paper boat project and she had difficulties folding (typically, she blocked her brain from learning as it was a new skill). To her surprise, at the gallery workshop she did really well, so when she came home she became paper folding obsessed and made A LOT of paper hats for everyone!

The second workshop Hahgoot did was a construction workshop, and she thoroughly enjoyed it. She made a “fountain with sharks”... As she found the workshop inspiring, she also created a kaleidoscope by herself, which actually moves! She put a piece of white tissue paper (becomes transparent to light) and stuck scrunched tissue paper pieces on it from the inside. By inserting the toilet paper role into several rolls she created the ability to rotate the instrument. Very clever!

Meanwhile, I was working my students hard... One group made a 3D pop up pocket zoo with origami animals (this is my prototype for demonstration, the origami animals were actually colourful for contrast)

Another group made maps of imaginary lands on a net of a truncated icosahedron (better known as a football shape…). When they finished their designs, they cut the net out and stuck it together to make a 3D globe like artifact.

The younger groups also got ambitious projects: One group created “bugs” in various techniques of mark making, and then made their own “paper bug lab” displays. The kids loved it and each one had detailed stories about their insects

The other group made clay boats in little dioramas, choosing their own theme for their boat. The activity was so successful they each made two boats! The holidays workshops are also a way to find new students for the yearly classes – the girl on the far left later became one of my Saturday class students.

My favourite pirate ship, complete with a fiery battle and sea monster!

After the gallery workshops we walked to Alma’s day care to collect her – very convenient it is 5 minutes walk from the gallery! In our next presentation: A visit to the dentist in the city