What You Do:

1. Discuss uses of fans such as functional and artistic uses (Click on title for information on Japanese fans.)

2. Fold paper in half horizontally like a book.

3. On the folded side draw half of a fan shape (like an arch) and cut. The piece will resemble an arch shape.

4. Lightly draw an image from nature. Draw leaning trees with branches and leaves.

5. Using watercolor, make bold brush strokes to fill in trees and leaves.

6. Let dry.

7. Fold the paper back and forth, creasing each time. Gather the paper together to form the fan and staple or glue.

8. Tape to wooden craft sticks together to form a handle.

9. Display the finished fans.

** Click on picture for help.**

Salsa Dancing

Kente Cloths, strips of fabric woven by hand in the colors that represent Africa.

Red – Life and Blood

Blue – Innocence

Green -Mother Africa, Mother Earth

Black – People and Unity

Gold – Strength and Fortune

Strips are sewn together to make cloth. Always woven from cotton threads.

What You Need to create a Kente cloth drawing using markers:

1. To create their own replica Kente cloth drawings, begin by using scissors to cut several long, narrow strips of paper.

2. Use Washable Markers to color each strip a different color. Select a different color marker and create repeated patterns to the strips. Vary the colors and patterns used on each strip. Duplicate authentic patterns or create personal symbols.

3. Cut the long strips into several shorter sections. Tape them together on the back. Use a third color of Washable Markers to create "stitches" that visually connect the strips to each other on the front of the drawings.

**Click on above picture for additional help**

What You Need:

• 2 8 oz (236 mL) water bottles

• 2 toilet paper rolls

• Electrical tape (colorful, if possible)

• Filling For your maracas.

• Any of the following:

Sand, salt, pebbles, birdseed, rice, beans, small beads, large beads, dried pasta, rice, dried peas or beans, small washers, paper clips, small erasers.

Although you can use any type of small plastic bottles, the 8 oz (236 mL) size water bottles are just perfect for this project in size and shape. If you’ve sworn off plastic, then ask around.

You’ll also need two toilet paper rolls and some sturdy tape. Electrical tape works best and colorful electrical tape adds a nice decorative touch to what you are creating.

Then you’ll need some fillings. Remember each filling produces a different sound, so that may also be part of your plan for creating your set of maracas. For instance, sand or salt maracas will be very quiet. Dried beans, macaroni or large bead maracas will be nice and loud.

Here are some suggestions that you can find around most every household:

Sand, salt, pebbles, birdseed, rice, beans, small beads, large beads, dried pasta, rice, dried peas or beans, small washers, paper clips, small erasers.

What You Do:

First take your clean and dried 8 oz water bottle and fill with your chosen contents. Close it up with the cap and then listen to the sound. Once it sounds good to your ears, then you can move to the next step.

Many sets of maracas are “pitched” differently. In other words, shaking the right hand one will sound different from shaking the left hand one, so you can create some great patterns by playing with the sounds.

The next step is to create the handle. Take your two toilet paper rolls and make a straight cut from one end to the other. Tighten the roll in on itself to about the size of a 3/4 inch dowel and then apply your electrical tape. Start wrapping the tape around the bottom part of the rattle on the bottle and move down onto the new handle. Wrap slowly, covering all the cardboard of the toilet paper roll and you will have created a rather sturdy handle for your new instrument.

Now you are ready to play.