Teachers should take some time to review the history of the Fourth of July before they begin the craft. The shrinky dinks then become visual reminders of the reasons that the holiday is so important.
The Fourth of July is a day for the people of the United States to celebrate freedom from other countries. Immigrants began coming to America because they wanted to be free from the rules of the governments in their countries. They wanted better lives and they wanted to be able to worship God without persecution. A lot of men fought for the freedom that Americans enjoy and it is good to remember. The first Fourth of July celebrations included, placing candles in windows and men blowing off a cannon. The celebration was in praise and thanksgiving to God.
Ask students what symbols that they can think of that represent the United States. Write their suggestions on the board. They may come up with the flag, the colors red, white, and blue, fireworks, the Declaration of Independence, or some of the presidents.
You will need the following items to make your Fourth of July shrinky dinks:
Shrinky Dink sheets Cookie sheets Oven Pencil crayons Scissors
Follow the directions to make your Fourth of July shrinky dinks:
Get a shrinky dink sheet for each of the students in your class. They are sold in packages. You may have them available at your local craft store, but if not, then you can purchase them online from the makers of Shrinky Dinks. Just click on the link and choose “shop online”. Give each student one shrinky dink sheet and have them place the rough side up. This is the side they are going to color on. Have each student pick one of the symbols on the board to create. First, have them make an outline with a red, white, or blue pencil crayon. Tell them to make their shrinky dink big because it is going to shrink to be small when heated. Have the student’s color in their shrinky dink outline. Allow them to be as creative as they want to be, so that their drawings are original. Show students how to cut out their shrinky dinks and tell them to leave a clear edge all the way around the image. This gives the symbol room to shrink. Place the symbols on the cookie sheets and head to the school’s kitchen. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Insert the cookie sheets and leave in the oven for sixty seconds. Remove the cookie sheets and allow the symbols to cool for at least ten minutes. Use a hole puncher in the top of the symbol and thread a string through it. Students can now hang their symbols or wear them as necklaces.