Raising Jordans

I volunteer Saturday afternoons to help with an eduction program for children with Autism in New York’s Chinatown.  It is run out of the Chinese Christian Herald Crusaders Church which is a subsidiary of the non profit organization Hope for New York.  The organization strives to serve immigrant families by providing them with a community center to connect with one another and a variety of social services.  Currently, there is work underway for a fundraiser in February, where proceeds will help support the center’s valuable activities throughout 2014.

For the event, I have choreographed three dances for my students to preform.  The kids have enthusiastically spent the last three months practicing our pieces over and over.  My dedication to this endeavor even went as far as to (embarrassingly) have Jay film me preforming the numbers in our apartment living room so that my students could practice them at home.  I am excited to see the outcome of all their hard work.

Now the next phase to conquer are the costumes.  The needs and abilities of my children vary from severe to moderate, and as such we have some students who want to take part but won’t be dancing as much as their peers.  Therefore, I am creating simple, sensory minded costumes for them to wear on stage to make them an equally vital part of the performance.  Each dance has a different costume and the first is bright, vibrant flowers for a hip hoppy, Cha Cha style piece.  The best part is that each of our three costume styles will be created for less than $2.50 a piece.  This is a fundraiser after all!

Poster Board Flowers

Makes two flowers

Materials

1. 2 Pieces of brightly colored bristol board
2. Felt pens or paint pens
3. Gold Metallic paint
4. Gold Glitter
5. Paint brush
6. Ruler or meter stick
7. 5 feet of ribbon
8. Stapler
9. Circular Objects to trace (I use stacking mixing bowls) or a large protractor

Directions

Important note:
First of all I am Canadian, so all the measurements will be in metric.  Don’t worry your rulers will have those increments on them also.  Promise.

Step 1: Start by tracing the dimensions  and then cutting the poster board into a perfect square.
This requires measuring out the to the dimensions of 56 cm by 56 cm.

Step 2: Find and mark the middle of each side of your square.

Step 3: Then take a large mixing bowl with a diameter of approximately 22.5 cm and place it in the center of your poster.
Trace the circle onto the poster.

Step 4: Using the same mixing bowl align it with your mid way mark on the top of your poster so that it is in the center.
Trace the bowl until your line intersects your center circle.
Do the same for all other mid way marks

Step 5:  Using the scrapes from your second flower trace a circle with a diameter of approximately 15 cm to create your secondary petals.
Arrange the petals in the open spaces between your primary petals and glue to secure.

Step 6:  Trace the outer edges of all the petals  with either black or the same color marker as your poster board to make them stand out.

Step 7: Trace a circle with the diameter of approximately 18 cm in pencil in the center of your flower.

Step 8:  Paint the center with gold metallic paint.  You may need more than one coat.
Once you have finished painting your last coast sprinkle with gold sparkles and allow it to dry.

Optional Step for Costumes

Step 9: Staple the ribbon onto each corner of the petals to be worn like a sign board.

Hints:

• Make sure you plan the colors of your primary and secondary petals so that you don’t end up with the same color for both on one of your flowers
• Once you have traced out one flower use it as a template for the remaining flowers you create.  This will save you time and energy.

Like what you see? I would love to connect. Let’s be FRIENDS!

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