Learn how to get the most from your laminating, wide format printing and binding gear.
Look What We Can Make With a Leaf
Submitted by Rose Marie Cassello of Roger Sherman School, Meriden, CT.
How they’re made: Each student collects several leaves like those they discussed in class, for the art project. The assignment is to use leaves design a picture on paper. Different shaped leaves create the shapes and color variations needed for the picture. Once completed, the entire picture is run through a laminator to preserve it.
How they’re used: This project was part of a unit on Fall and leaves. The students were asked to read “What Can You do With a Leaf?” which describes various types of leaves and where they can be found. After a discussion about the leaves the students begin their projects.
How well they work: The students came up with wonderful animal shapes including birds, a turkey, and a fox.
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Pinwheels
Submitted by Julie Knowlton of E.C. Stevens School, Wallingford, CT.
Materials Needed: 1 Styrofoam Tray, 6 1/2″ x 6 1/2″ white tissue paper, torn pieces of colored tissue paper, 2 small beads, 1 pipe cleaner, 1 straw or art straw (optional), water spray bottle.
How they’re made: Place the white tissue paper on the Styrofoam work tray. Place the torn colored tissue paper on the white tissue paper. Spray the tissue paper lightly to make colors run. Let dry. Cut corners to the middle 3″ long and approximately 1/8″ wide. (This is so that when the lamination is cut up there is a seal on the edges.) Laminate the square tissue using 1.5mil film. Punch a hole in the middle and on every other corner. Place a bead on a pipe cleaner. Place the pipe cleaner in the center hole from the front. Take the corners with the holes and bend to the middle over the pipe cleaner. When all four corners are in place, put the second bead on and bend the pipe cleaner to hold it in place. Bend the pipe cleaner and place a straw over it.
How well they work: This is a good project for any grade and is a fine motor activity for children in special education.
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Halloween Masks
Submitted by Lynn Yamauchi of Pa’ia School, Wailuku, HI
How they’re made: First the mask is designed. Individual mask components are cut out ready for lamination and assembly. Each piece is laminated with 1.5mil film and then assembled to make the mask. Pieces, such as ears, are stapled onto the mask. Then a piece of elastic is stapled to the inside of each side of the mask so it can be slipped on over the child’s head.
How they’re used: These make great Halloween masks. How well they work: The glossy lamination increases the reflection from the mask making the child easier to see and therefore, safer. And lamination also protects the mask from damage if it should rain during trick or treating.
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Map to the 12 Days of Christmas
Submitted by Laura Garrison of Springwood Elementary in Tallahassee, FL.
How they’re used: Springwood Elementary has 12 portable classrooms. When the school year began, we needed a way to draw the rest of our school population to the portable area during the Christmas season. We chose the “12 Days of Christmas” as our theme because we had 12 portables, each with its own day/number. When finished, an invitation was sent out to take a walking field trip around the portables encouraging the teachers to teach their students the song.
How they’re made: Parents, interns, teachers and students traced, colored, laminated, cut and taped to decorate each portable. They used 1.8mil film.
How well it worked: Many classes took the tour during the 2 week period, and it was uplifting to hear them sing as they went. (Our media center made available film strips, audio recordings and books of the “12 Days”. We even made a map of the portable area.)
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No-Waste Frames
Submitted by Teresa Stern & Catherine Ward of Kingswood Elementary, Cary, NC
How they’re made: Cut scrap cardboard into the size frame you need. Use a box cutter to cut out the center of the cardboard to make the edges of the frame. Then cover the frame edges with wallpaper. Use leftover lamination scrap in place of the glass.
How they’re used: Select the student work to be displayed in the frame and cut a matte to fit. (Frame stores will donate matting materials). When you put the frame, matted work and laminating film together you’ll have a beautiful framed piece of student work that can be displayed.
How well they work: This is a great way to use all that leftover laminating film that ends up in the garbage. It becomes part of a frame which will be displayed and treasured forever.
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The Anger Poem
Submitted by Marie Glossenof Franklin Elementary, Massillon, OH.
How it’s used: The Anger Poem was designed to develop in children a tool for coping with their anger in an appropriate way. The book is used to help children learn the poem so that they can recite it when they are upset, angry or out of control.
How it’s made: The children are each photographed making angry faces. When the pictures are developed, they become a part of the Anger Poem pages. The poem reads:
When angry feelings start to mount,
That’s when I take some time to count. One…Two…Three…Four…Five. Counting helps me settle down,
Counting helps to fade my frown.
Six….Seven…Eight….Nine…Ten.
Pictures are laminated onto the pages with 1.5mil film so that the book will endure constant use.
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First Grade Report Cards
Submitted by Elaine Metropolis of Welch Elementary School, Peabody, MA
How they’re used: Parents usually save their children’s report cards over the years as cherished mementos. None, however, are as special as that very first report card from first grade! I still have my own first grade report card which my mother saved.
How they’re made: Take a decorative pad of paper such as an apple, a school bus or school house and write the child’s name, room number, grade and teacher’s name on it. Then glue it to the outside of the envelope and laminate it with 1.5mil film, leaving the end flap open. Taking a single edge razor blade, cut around the opening so that the envelope will open.
How well they work: Not only do these envelopes look beautiful, but they hold up well. They all come back just the way they are sent home. The children all look so proud when they are walking out to meet their parents with this fancy report card. Ms. Metropolis has received many compliments from parents and colleagues. Since laminating them, every single report card and envelope has come back to her intact and looking as good as it did the day it went out.
