Don't these Stained Glass Easter Eggs look wonderful on a window?
These are SO easy to make, your students will love making them. Follow the steps below and you'll have a wonderful Easter window display in no time at all!
Step 1: Print out some Easter Egg templates.
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Once you have printed off the template you would like, insert it into a clear plastic sleeve/document holder.
Step 2: Trace an outline of the printout with a thick permanent blackline pen.
If you're doing this for lots of students you may want to see if a parent helper can trace them for you or if your students are confident enough, let them trace over the egg. Keep the paper template inside the plastic sleeve. Do not remove it till the very end as it makes it easier to decorate when the paper is left inside.
Step 3: Find some coloured tissue paper.
I got a pack with a range of tissue papers inside from a craft store but most office supply or craft shops have some. You won't need a lot though.
Step 4: Cut the tracing paper into strips.
You can cut or tear deciding on which look you want to go for but I find it easier to sit and cut up a long strip into smaller pieces. Again, this would be a great job for a parent helper or a teacher aide to do ahead of time.
Step 5: Place glue on the plastic sleeve over the image
I find it easier to use a glue that goes on blue and dries clear so I can see where it is still wet but any type of glue will do. Just make sure that you control which area the students are gluing first. So only glue the bottom half if you want to make sure they take their time decorating.
Once glued students can start placing the small pieces of tissue paper on the plastic. Encourage students not to leave any white spaces by making the pieces overlap a little.
This is a great activity for fine motor skills!
Step 6: Do not attempt this all in one day.
Students are going to rush these and they do require a little patience, so work on them one piece at a time and let them dry in-between. Encourage students to take their time and have pride in the finished piece. This would be a great morning work activity when they are less tired and more engaged. Do perhaps 30 minutes of the egg work and then let them dry. Over the week you can get them completed and hanging on your window.
Step 7: Encourage students to take risks and experiment
Encourage students to consider the effect of leaving some parts of the design clear with no paper tissue.
Slowly work through each section until the whole egg is covered.
Step 8: Remove the template
Once the whole egg is dry, remove the template from inside the plastic sleeve.
Step 9: Cut the egg out from the plastic
Gently cut the egg out from the plastic sheet (use a teacher aide for this)
Step 10: Hang completed eggs on the window and admire!
If you're looking for more Easter teaching ideas, take a look at the activities here.