A FABULOUS FABERGE EGGS-HIBIT Elementary.

Materials: To create simulated Faberge eggs, each student needs egg shells that have had the yolk and white blown out, various sizes and shapes of colored sequins and beads, colored thin fabric ribbon, colored markers, a life saver, and white glue.

Purpose: Incorporate Faberge's meticulous attention to jeweled detail and his ideas of commemorating family history into a student eggs-hibit.

Process: After a quick history lesson and presentation of different images of Faberge eggs, students design an egg of their own in a preliminary drawing. Their design goal for their egg is to portray a celebration of events that are important and unique to their own families. Students are instructed that symbols work best for this design space rather than illustrating a whole event.

They are given the eggs and asked to transfer their design onto the egg. Students use colored markers to color the entire egg. The children now realize the minute detail this requires as they hold onto their own eggs.

Sequins and fine fabric ribbon are applied to the egg with white glue. Decorating the eggs is a highlight for students as they enjoy seeing their eggs come to life with jewels. The final touch is to either glue or Fun-Tac a life saver onto the bottom of the egg to support it.

Ask students to share their creations and family experiences symbolized by their family egg with the class. This part of the lesson reveals what children cherish as part of family tradition or rituals.

Put the eggs on eggs-hibit for the whole school to appreciate.

Conclusion: This project teaches students to appreciate the artistic use of jewelry making and symbols used to convey history, while learning about the renowned craftsman Faberge. The children also learn to apply a creative process, similar to the design used by Faberge, thus increasing their appreciation of his work.

ClipCard submitted by Dianne Turner, a professor of art education at California State University in Bakersfield, California.