Hi folks,
Tomorrow I am doing a cyanotype demonstration with about 50 elementary students at my wife's school. I've already coated 70 + sheets of paper and have done some demonstration prints using simple materials. My basic idea is to give a very (very) brief history of the process and then to have them do sun prints with stuff picked up around the school yard.
Any hints or cautions? (I spent 30 years teaching teenagers, but younger children terrify me. )
I think you will do OK, Cyanotype is the best and safest thing to start with, especially if you already have the papers coated, so the kids don't have to hassle with the chemicals. Just do a thorough demonstration first of what they have to do because young kids can and will fool around with stuff. Don't expect that they will graps the details on the history, with young children it's still all about the results, not the way they get to it.
you are going to have a blast !
this is the first year in a couple of years i didnt' get a chance to do something similar...
you will blow their minds and have a great time yourself. you already did the "hard part"
(coating) i usually let them watch me wash the prints so they don't get the tailings
on them ... some of the kids i did this with had their prints at the public library
for the "all city art display" sort of thing
All set to go. I know there will be lots of leaves and twigs and stuff for the kids to use, but I've also got some bits of paper and a small bucket of sand to make shapes as well. Only problem... It's cloudy as f*&k.