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Crafts can be as complex as stained glass or as simple as origami. They cover the area known as the decorative arts. Crafts are works of imagination, creativity, and skill.
Sample some of the following activities to learn more about crafts.
Places To Go 
People
To See Things To Do Teacher
Resources Bibliography
Places To GoThe following are places to go (some real and some virtual) to find out about crafts.
Amber
Amber is the hardened resin of trees. The ancient Greeks thought that amber was the hardened rays of a sunset and associated amber with the sun god, Apollo. Amber can be carved into beautiful craft items. Besides crafters, scientists are also interested in amber because it can sometimes contain the remains of ancient insects and other forms of life that became encased in the amber.
Amber is the hardened resin of trees. The ancient Greeks thought that amber was the hardened rays of a sunset and associated amber with the sun god, Apollo. Amber can be carved into beautiful craft items. Besides crafters, scientists are also interested in amber because it can sometimes contain the remains of ancient insects and other forms of life that became encased in the amber.
National
Gallery of Art - Toy Exhibit
Virtually visit the National Gallery of Art and look at antique toys. Have students ask their grandparents or older friends and neighbors about the toys that they had when they were young.
Virtually visit the National Gallery of Art and look at antique toys. Have students ask their grandparents or older friends and neighbors about the toys that they had when they were young.
Stained Glass Association of America
Visit beautiful homes, cathedrals, and distinctive buildings to view the wonder of stained glass.
Visit beautiful homes, cathedrals, and distinctive buildings to view the wonder of stained glass.
The Tortoiseshell Trade
DON’T go to the Gulf of California or the Galàpagos Islands to locate the hawksbill turtle. For centuries, people have been creating jewelry, hair combs, and many other craft items from tortoiseshell which does not really come from a tortoise—but from the hawksbill turtle. These turtles are now endangered, and artists/crafters are now using a plastic substance which looks like tortoiseshell.
DON’T go to the Gulf of California or the Galàpagos Islands to locate the hawksbill turtle. For centuries, people have been creating jewelry, hair combs, and many other craft items from tortoiseshell which does not really come from a tortoise—but from the hawksbill turtle. These turtles are now endangered, and artists/crafters are now using a plastic substance which looks like tortoiseshell.
Ultimate Guide to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
Visit New York City during the 3rd week of November and watch the famous Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The craft of those giant balloons is amazing! The first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade began in 1924. The balloons joined the parade in 1928 and have been a part of the parade ever since (except for two years during World War II when the rubber for the balloons was needed for the war effort). Tony Sarg, a German puppeteer and maker of marionettes, immigrated to the U.S. and was the original designer and crafter of the amazing Macy’s balloons. The children’s book, Balloons over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade, is a great resource for further information.
Visit New York City during the 3rd week of November and watch the famous Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The craft of those giant balloons is amazing! The first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade began in 1924. The balloons joined the parade in 1928 and have been a part of the parade ever since (except for two years during World War II when the rubber for the balloons was needed for the war effort). Tony Sarg, a German puppeteer and maker of marionettes, immigrated to the U.S. and was the original designer and crafter of the amazing Macy’s balloons. The children’s book, Balloons over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade, is a great resource for further information.
People To SeeAunt Annie's Crafts
From this website you can find craft ideas with complete instructions and patterns. You'll also find ideas for holiday crafts, for educational games, and more from this great resource.
From this website you can find craft ideas with complete instructions and patterns. You'll also find ideas for holiday crafts, for educational games, and more from this great resource.
Crafts Made from Craft Sticks
They’re not called popsicle sticks anymore; they’re called craft sticks! Visit with people who know how to use craft sticks to make a variety of projects.
They’re not called popsicle sticks anymore; they’re called craft sticks! Visit with people who know how to use craft sticks to make a variety of projects.
Goddess of
Garbage
Visit with the Goddess of Garbage and find out how to make stupendous classroom crafts on a budget.
Visit with the Goddess of Garbage and find out how to make stupendous classroom crafts on a budget.
Origami: the Art of Paper Folding
Visit with the people of ancient Japan to learn about the craft of intricate paper-folding called origami.
Visit with the people of ancient Japan to learn about the craft of intricate paper-folding called origami.
Step-by-Step Paper Mache Directions
Check with people who know how to do creative things with water and paper. Paper mache is French for chewed up paper.
Check with people who know how to do creative things with water and paper. Paper mache is French for chewed up paper.
Things To DoArts
and Crafts
Find those recipes for playdough, edible peanut butter playdough, and bubble-blowing liquid.
Find those recipes for playdough, edible peanut butter playdough, and bubble-blowing liquid.
DLTK's
Crafts for Kids
Using this site's printable instructions, patterns, and templates, learn how to make hundreds of different craft projects.
Using this site's printable instructions, patterns, and templates, learn how to make hundreds of different craft projects.
Joan
Irvine
Learn how to make a pop-up and browse this award winning author's (Joan Irvine) books, art, awards and links, and FAQ.
Learn how to make a pop-up and browse this award winning author's (Joan Irvine) books, art, awards and links, and FAQ.
Idea
Box
Discover seasonal and holiday craft ideas as well as worksheets and activities. Surf to the Idea Box's site of the week and read their "great idea" of the week.
Discover seasonal and holiday craft ideas as well as worksheets and activities. Surf to the Idea Box's site of the week and read their "great idea" of the week.
Origami
Fold an origami jumping frog, learn about the history of origami, take an origami quiz, and more.
Fold an origami jumping frog, learn about the history of origami, take an origami quiz, and more.
Teacher Resources Online Activities/Hotlists are a listing of internet
sites with fun, interesting, and educational tasks attached to each one.
(You can learn how to use this WWW
Activities tool created by UEN for Utah educators).
Virtual Field Trips are teacher and student-created
tours of curricular topics. (You can learn how to use this UEN Virtual
Field Trip tool created by UEN for Utah educators).
Lesson Plans/Webquests
Bibliography- Fredury, Melissa. 101 Craft Ideas for Kids. New York: Hyperion Books, 1998.
- Gardiner, Susan. Classroom Craft Ideas. New York: Dial Books, 1997.
- Martin, Sheila. Crafts for Kids. Chicago: Putnam Books, 1999.