American Girl class: Julie week 5 (time #2)

American Girl class this week was to dye for! In the two-and-a-half years that I have been teaching this class, we have never decorated t-shirts until this week!

After we reviewed the book Julie's Journey (book five in the series), we discussed America's Bicentennial Celebration, and we talked about what the word 'bicentennial' means.

In preparation for our Craft this week, I bought one t-shirt and pre-washed them for each of the girls. I emailed the moms two-three weeks ahead of time to get the sizes. I found the best deals and packages on boys white t-shirts at Target. I bought the Tulip one-step kit for tie-dye in bright colors at Jo-Ann's. I bought two kits that had enough to decorate nine  shirts or pieces each. The kit came with 3 bottles of dye, one pair of plastic gloves and lots of rubber-bands. I just had to add water to the dye to activate it.

 We had paper towels on hand and put tablecloths on the tables in the gym. Usually we meet in a classroom, but  I didn't want to get dye on the carpet! I was thankful that I brought aprons for myself and the girls, and told the girls to wear grubby clothes. It wasn't as messy as I imagined it to be, but I was glad that I had the girls bring aprons.

I was glad that I bought more gloves for the girls. I did bring ziploc and plastic bags to put the shirts into, one for each of the girls. I also used a spray bottle to dampen the shirts, since I didn't do that beforehand. The girls gathered the shirts together into a swirl with rubber bands, applied the dye using the dye bottles, and even used their shirts to clean extra dye off the tables! :-D

 For Snack we had Ants on a log (celery with PB & Raisins) and Kool-aid. More dye in the red kool-aid we had! The girls loved it and drank lots!

 I forgot to take pictures of the 2nd class tie-dying, it was a very hands-on craft, I was quite busy dying shirts for the girls that were sick...

Overall it was a fun craft which most of the girls had never done before. I rinsed and washed them at home, and will give them to the girls in class next week. I have quite a pile of bright shirts for the girls! NOTE: THE SHIRTS MUST BE WASHED SEPARATELY FOR THE FIRST FEW WASHES!

This was my list of materials to bring for class: aprons, thick rubber gloves, spray bottle with water, ziplock and plastic bags, tablecloths, paper towels and rags, in addition to the class supplies of t-shirts (one for each girl), tie-dye kits, and rubber gloves.

I was glad that I remembered thicker rubber gloves this time... since the plastic ones got a hole... It was worth it, the girls loved the craft and most said they had never tie-dyed before. I was kinda stressed about the craft, but the girls did really well being careful and following directions! I loved seeing their color combinations and creativity! More pictures of the shirts next week... which is our last week of class for the semester already!

Exodus 26:14
Make for the tent a covering of ram skins dyed red, and over that a covering of the other durable leather.

Exodus 35:23
Everyone who had blue, purple or scarlet yarn or fine linen, or goat hair, ram skins dyed red or the other durable leather brought them.

Proverbs 6:6
Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!