These classes (making cards and boxes, decorating paper, origami, quilling, etc) are suitable for children from year 2 right through to year 12.

They can be adapted into many curriculum areas, and designed to suit all ability levels.

Some basic concepts can be covered in a one hour session, or a more comprehensive unit can be spread over several hours.

Contact Tricia to arrange a workshop for your school class or community venue.

CARDS & BOXES

primary school students ... years 2 – 6

Children enjoy making cards and boxes. These can be used as interesting extension activities to enhance handwriting/calligraphy lessons, and also as practical applications when studying the different genres covered in language arts.
Constructing the interesting shapes provides an ideal hands-on reinforcement for maths learning (shape, pattern, symmetry, etc) as well as stimulating gifted children to explore creative variations.
The techniques can also be incorporated into art activities, or tailored to suit specific themes and festivals.

This class has been taught at St Peters Lutheran College, as well as Chapel Hill, Graceville, Forest Lake and Robertson State Schools.

“The children benefitted greatly from this experience - improving their fine motor skills while reinforcing maths concepts in a practical and enjoyable way.” Rick Duguid, Year 3 teacher at Graceville State School & Year 7 teacher at Forest Lake State School “For three years Tricia Smout has worked with my gifted class. Each item that Tricia has taught has been able to be used by the students either as an end-product of a unit of work or transferred into their life as a leisure pursuit.” Mary Jane Smith, Robertson State School

secondary school students – years 7 – 12

Everyone enjoys manipulating paper and making cards and boxes. These classes can be used as interesting practical activities in many subject areas. Constructing the interesting shapes provides an ideal hands-on extra reinforcement for students experiencing learning difficulties in maths (shape, symmetry, etc). The course can also be structured to stimulate gifted children to explore creative variations.

Paper-crafts units have been taught at Brisbane Grammar School (extra-curricular activity afternoons), St Peter’s College (extension activities), St Aidan’s AGS (Life Skills class) and Mt Alvernia College (maths extension)

“The classes have been very enjoyable, and provided an opportunity for growth in several skill areas for these girls who do not always gain the same successes in their education as their peers.” Julie McCullough, Learning Support Teacher, St Aidan’s AGS “These stimulating construction activities should greatly benefit maths students who are struggling to come to terms with geometry concepts, but could also be used in mainstream classes to provide an interesting challenge in lateral thinking.” Moira Cordiner, Curriculum Officer, Board of Senior Secondary School Studies

PAPER DECORATING 

primary  & secondary school students – all year levels

Students learn many different ways to decorate paper and card, including patterned dyeing, paste patterning, crayon melts, embossing, stamping, stencilling, spattering, and some unusual printing techniques. The decorated paper and card is suitable for gift wrapping, covering books, making gift cards, paper modelling, paper collage, making boxes and origami.  This class can be used alone (as a special unit in art classes), although it also provides a perfect complement to the Artist Books, Cards & Boxes and Calligraphy classes.

NB. Some of these activities require access to a wet area.
Also some of these techniques are not suitable for inclusion in the classes for lower primary students.

“Jenny really enjoyed the school holiday activities at the library” Parent, BCC Hamilton Library   “Tricia provided many excellent workshops during her year as Artist-in-Residence at Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mt Coot-tha.”  Ross McKinnon, Curator, Brisbane Botanic Gardens

ORIGAMI

primary  & secondary school students – years 3 -12

Origami is an amazing tool to reinforce maths concepts, improve fine motor skills and foster creativity in children. A variety of different designs are available, depending on the age of the children and their ability levels. There are many ways that the children’s creations can be incorporated into cards, mobiles, and other sculptural objects. 

Constructing the interesting shapes provides an ideal hands-on extra reinforcement for students experiencing learning difficulties in maths (shape, symmetry, etc). The course can also be structured to stimulate gifted children to explore creative variations.
The techniques can also be incorporated into art activities, or tailored to suit specific themes and festivals. 

“Tricia provided many excellent workshops during her year as Artist-in-Residence at Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mt Coot-tha.” Ross McKinnon, Curator, Brisbane Botanic Gardens  “My gifted class really enjoyed Tricia’s workshops. These classes are beneficial for improving concentration and fine motor skills, as the children create some unique artwork.” Mary Jane Smith, Robertson State School

QUILLING

primary  & secondary school students – years 5 -12

Quilling is a great activity for improving children’s fine motor skills!
Everyone enjoys making fascinating designs by rolling paper strips into coils, which can be made into gift cards or used to decorate boxes or books.

“Tricia’s workshops were extremely popular.” Wendy Batho, Senior Librarian, BCC Carindale Library