Classroom Door Directions
Get the captains (teachers) and their crews (students) in the spirit
with seaworthy classroom doors and personal Jolly Rogers (flags)
for the whole fleet! It's the
S.S. Mrs. Smith bound for adventure
with a lively crew of readers, and all of 'em signed the ship's
log with a feather quill.
Here's how to create it:
Hatch
and Porthole
The door is covered in brown paper. "Boards" and wood-grain
are drawn on with black, brown and orange markers.
Get classroom artists to create a porthole scene that puts them
on the high seas, or in a favorite port of call. Mount picture on
door, and encircle with a 2-inch ring of gold-covered cardboard
with spray-painted bottle-cap "screws", then frame it
all with a circle of heavy rope.
The SS (name your ship) panel is two layers of foam-core or construction
paper mounted on a piece of cardboard for depth. A slightly larger-cut
black pattern outlines the blue sign and red letters create contrast.
Deck
Hands Sign On
List all hands on a paper scroll, "aged" with burnt edges
and mounted at an angle. Create surfaces curves for dimensional
effect.
Quills are pens or pencils transformed with a "feather"
top of artfully snipped paper shafts. Remember to mount the feather
portion so that is doesn't interfere with the gripping area.
Shovels are made of construction paper, with student's favorite
reads written on the scoops prior to posting. Handles are rolled
paper.
Flag
Your Classroom!
Each classroom flies its colors and nautical name on its own Jolly
Roger. Not only will it stand watch by your hatch, it's also ready
to post where X marks the winner's spot in the
Treasure
Hunt!
The flag is made of craft foam with pre-cut purchased letters (also
of craft foam) glued on. Outline your flag with a slightly larger
pennant of contrasting color.
The Flag base is a precut round of wood; the flagpole is a plain
dowel - both are from the lumber section of a hardware store. The
base is framed in heavy rope that is hot-glued on, then trails artisticaly
up the flagpole. Glue flag to flagpole, adding a twist of rope and
a jaunty parrot for a final touch.
