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Magnetic Ice Skater

  • History & Social Studies
  • Grades 4-5
  • Grades 6-8
  • Grades 1-3

Create your very own ice dancer from an old fashioned clothespin. Attach a magnet to the bottom to make her spin and dance!

Materials

  • Feathers White
  • Friendship Thread Basic Colors
  • Iridescent Glitter 4 oz.
  • Acrylic Paint Jars, 24 Assorted colors
  • Suncatcher Paint Pots Primary
  • Plastic Plate
  • Craft Glue
  • Black Marker
  • Pink Marker

Instructions

Step 1. Gather your supplies.

 

Step 2.

Paint the bottom of a clear plastic plate with blue suncatcher paint.

 

Step 3.

Cover the edges of the bottom of the plate in iridescent glitter.

 

Step 4.

Flip the plate over and glue white jumbo fuzzy sticks around the edges to look like snow.

 

Step 5.

Paint the top half of an old fashioned clothespin light blue. Wrap brown friendship thread around the top of the clothespin until it is covered, to create the ice skater’s hair.

 

Step 6.

Cut a piece of brown friendship thread and fold as shown.

 

Step 7.

Fold in half one more time.

 

Step 8.

Cut off top half to be the ice skater’s bun.

 

Step 9.

Glue the bun to the top of the clothespin and paint the rest of the top of the clothespin peach.

 

 

Step 10.

Stick the ends of white feathers through the middle of the clothespin and around the front of the clothespin and glue to create a flowing skirt.

 

 

Step 11.

Glue small silver acrylic jewels to the ice skater’s hair to create a tiara.

 

Step 12.

Draw a face using markers.

 

Step 13.

Glue a neo-magnet to the bottom of the clothespin.

 

Step 14.

Glue a neo-magnet to one end of a dowel.

 

Step 15.

 

Use your magnetic dowel to make the ice skater spin and dance!

 


Teacher's Corner

What do clothespin crafts and Olympic figure skaters have in common? They’re both one of a kind! Mix art with athletics to learn about two history-making women! 

Lesson Objectives

  • The Art of Skating: In 1992, Kristi Yamaguchi became the first Asian American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in figure skating. Her elegant moves and unique style brought something new to the rink! As a class, watch her medal-winning performance — what stands out about this routine?
  • Flipping the Script: Surya Bonaly changed the way people viewed figure skating by performing a backflip and landing on one leg during her 1998 Olympic routine. She showcased her athletic ability to prove that skaters are graceful and strong. Hear what Bonaly thought of her iconic moment and the impact it left!         

Follow-up Discussion

As a class, chat about the similarities and differences between art and sports. Have your students ever thought about athletics as an art? Can they think of other athletes who bring artistry to their sport (ex. the Williams sisters, Michael Phelps, Fierce Five U.S. Gymnastics team)?