Download pdf - Bluecoat School Stamford

Jonathan Korejko 12 Church Lane, Timberland, Lincoln LN4 3SB T: 01526 378222 E: [email protected] W:www.jonathankorejko.co.uk 1

The Bluecoat School, Stamford, Lincolnshire

A Family Learning Project working in The Bluecoat Primary School

with 20 children in Years Reception, 1, 2 and 3, and their parents/carers.

"FOOD FOR THOUGHT"

The theme of food was the starting point for our papermaking activities. To this, we added the

notion that plants growing on the school grounds could add colour, texture and aroma to our

papers. We set out to explore all of the various combinations we might invent. Alongside the

obvious things like flowers and leaves which we collected, we also used 1) peel from apples,

cucumbers, bananas, oranges, potatoes 2) onion skins 3) garden herbs 4) cooked kidney

beans 5) feathers and yarns 6) coloured recycled papers. Parents/carers worked together with

their children in all stages of the activities not just as adult helpers, but to share and enjoy the

process of learning with the children.


Adults generally helped their children with the more complicated tasks on the first day, but by

the end of day 2, most of the children were quite capable of making their papers unassisted.

We created many different colours using recycled papers from the school's waste bins.


We also progressed onto more adventurous work, learning about embedding, and how to make

a large sheet of colourful paper on a specially constructed table top. This piece of work was a

real group effort, with both children and adults lending a hand. If you look closely, you might be

able to see that we incorporated a photograph of our group of papermakers into the paper itself.


When the papers were dry, we moved onto the next phase of the project: making things with paper.

First, we constructed simple shapes by moulding clay in our hands, to create a form in the shape of a

bowl or flat dish. Once the mould was complete, we proceeded to cover it using papier-mâché tech-

niques. Pieces of the handmade paper which we had made were stuck onto the mould, and then layered

on top of one another, using washaway Pva glue. When dry (it took a week), the paper vessels were

carefully removed from the clay, and varnished to give them a nice finish.


There was one more little job for everyone to do before the project finished. Small wooden mirrors were

bought from a popular interior design shop, which were very easy to use. Children and adults took

measurements of the mirrors home with them. They returned with design plans for how they intended

cover their mirrors in handmade paper.


Everyone was doing well with their individual projects, and they were also getting on very well

with one another. We decided to take advantage of the group dynamics to make larger pieces

of work. But we had to learn some of the basics first, so we all had a go at making little paper

lanterns using willow withies and thin tissue paper. These lanterns were decorated with pieces

of handmade paper. A soon as these were complete, people worked in groups of 6 or 7, chil-

dren and adults combined, to create willow structures that were taller than any of the children in

the room ! These were also covered in colourful and decorative designs of handmade paper.

The finished articles were lit with battery operated lamps, or low wattage electric lights.


A pictorial review

of papermaking and the

making of decorative objects with handmade paper

at a primary school

in Stamford, England.

June, 2009.

Credits:

This Project is part of the Creative Partnership Programme

Managed by : Creativity, Culture and Education

Creative Agent : Leanne Taylor

Supported by : Arts Council England

The Bluecoat School

Headteacher : Mr. Tim Howley

Designed and written by Jonathan Korejko

Papermaker and Printmaker

Photographs by Jonathan Korejko

© July 2009