We have a lot of standardized testing at school, and I often need something quiet to keep my students occupied once everyone in my room is finished, but the testing session isn’t over. This year, one of the things I made available was paper dolls.
I started with a template from my friend Dina (she was on the old site, but I don’t think she’s on here). It’s designed to fold up and be ATC sized. I designed a couple of styles of wings that they could add, and then I ran them off on colored cardstock for them to cut out and trace onto index cards (I didn’t have any white cardstock). I bought some tiny paper fasteners, and made a sample to show them. I took photos of most of their creations, which were much more creative than mine!
This is mine, along with the templates, before I copied them for the kids:
What lucky students to have a fun and creative rest between standardized testing. I wonder if creative projects like this between tests help students test better, bringing right and left brain together.
I was actually inspired by two of my students. One was drawing figures and cutting them out, and another liked to make little characters from scraps of his bathroom passes. So, I thought they might enjoy this, and they did!
It really was fun! I think that next year I will bring in my collection from when I was swapping them. I’m thinking I might make it a bonus assignment if kids can make paper dolls of famous scientists!
Thanks! And, I loved how some of the kids used the wing variations that I created! But, even the ones without wings were very clever. I’m trying to think of other templates I could add for next year (the original template has a mermaid tail). But, I’m not sure if they’ll need them.
Thanks! And, you definitely should! Having the templates available for them to trace helped kickstart their creativity. Some kids didn’t use them at all, but it definitely helped others get started.
Thank you! And, I also wonder about that connection. I’ve considered teaching them some basic Zentangle patterns, but I need to practice a little bit for that, and prep some more materials.
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AIMR
(Linda -In the year 2025, I am happy to be alive! :us:)
16
What a terrific way to spark imagination! I adore the red and black striped doll. Looks so fierce and ready to take on the world! It’s also got my brain thinking what else you could use as additional props…
