ONCE UPON A SHOE.

Middle School

A trip to the foot doctor inspired an art project that was exciting from the first wrapping of the foot to the final transformation of a nursery rhyme.

1. Students pair up to wrap each other's foot.

2. Wrap foot to just below the ankle with 4 x 8" (10 x 20 cm) plaster wrap strips.

3. When the wrap is starting to harden, about three or four minutes, wiggle toes and carefully slip foot out of then cast.

4. When this basic ballet slipper form has hardened, build up a heel and sole with more plaster wrap.

5. Heighten the back and front of shoe with tag board. Insert in first form and attach with plaster wrap covering all the tag board inside and out.

6. Insert tag board tongue into front of shoe and attach.

7. Some students may wish to construct a tag board "tree house," cover with the plaster bandage wrap, place on top of the shoe and attach.

8. When the shoe is very dry (about five days) paint with acrylic paint.

9. Some students may want to use a real shoestring. Use a hole punch and lace shoe before completely dry.

10. The old woman and the children can be made with Sculpey clay, baked, and painted.

11. Other than the Old Woman in the Shoe this project could be adapted to a family tree or just a fun place for children of many cultures to play.

Supplies needed:

plaster wrap tag board cellophane or masking tape acrylic paint warm water Sculpey clay

ClipCard submitted by Geran Madison, an art teacher at St. Michael School in St. Paul, Minnesota, and Mariann Franzgrote, an art teacher at Christ the King School in Minneapolis Minnesota.