Japanese Art, Vellum Lanterns, Vienna ES 10-11

This project was used in the following grades: 4-6

Materials used:

9x12 white Vellum (Paper and More had packs of 100 for a reasonable price)

Multi-color Sharpies

Japanese drawings and images

Scotch tape

Basic description of process:

Kids were allowed to either draw their own picture or trace patterns from a pattern book onto vellum.  We first asked the kids to draw their original picture on a scrap piece of paper before tracing it with a sharpie since there was not enough vellum to correct mistakes. 

Lanterns could be round or square.  For square lanterns, the kids folded the vellum in half then in half again.  The one crease was then folded the opposite way to make a square.  Once the lanterns were done, they were taped at the seam and stood on end for display.

Amazingly, this project took a full 45 minutes.  The kids really got into the detail work of making these lanterns.

Other comments:

On summer evenings, many cities in Japan hold an event called Toro Nagashi (The Festival of Floating Lanterns).  The festival is related to Obon, a three-day period to honor the departed.  Participants inscribe messages and drawings on paper lanterns attached to a wood or bamboo base, lit by candles and set afloat on a lake or river.

We displayed these at our Multi-culture night with electric candles inside.