ECO-RAMA STEP H : Sculpting Wildlife
Hi! Your EcoRama looks great! It's almost finished! Now it's time to add another important element to your Crystal River scene wildlife. Rivers are habitats that teem with life. If you have ever visited a river or lake, you know that lots of animals, birds, bugs, even people, make their homes in and around the water. What type of animals and insects are usually located near a river?
By now you should have some clay dough already made. If you don't yet, go back to step five and Geo will help you make some. If you have your dough, you are ready to create the wonderful wildlife for your EcoRama. Since this is your special nature scene, you can put any bugs and animals that you want to in it. Maybe you'd like to create a sculpture of yourself or your favorite EcoPal and place them in the scene too!
Stuff you'll need:
Trash Treasures:
- wax paper (for micro waving)
-or- - aluminum foil (for the oven) or a cookie sheet (listed below)
-or- - black paper (for your solar oven)
- clay dough (from Geo's step five)
- paints
- paint brush
- cookie sheet for baking (instead of aluminum foil listed above)
- glue (optional)
- Select your favorite insects and animals for your EcoRama. Then create them, using your imagination and clay dough.
- In this step, you will dry your wildlife works of art. You can air dry them, sun cook them, microwave them, or bake them in a regular oven. Make sure to ask an adult for help when using a microwave or conventional oven.
To air dry: Place your wildlife sculptures in a warm dry place overnight. Be sure the clay is hard and dry before continuing on to the next step.
To sun cook: Here's a great way to use your solar oven! If you haven't already made one and would like to, visit Pulsar's Cool Project section. Find a sunny spot outside for your solar oven. Put your wildlife sculptures on a piece of black paper or aluminum foil. Place them inside your solar oven. Let them cook for 1-3 hours, be sure the clay is hard and dry before continuing on to step 3.
To microwave: Get an adult to help you. Place your wildlife sculptures on waxed paper and bake on high for 1 to 2 minutes. Be sure the clay is fully baked and hard. Test to see if it is, but be careful. Your sculptures will be hot! If the clay is soft to the touch, continue baking it in 10 second intervals until it is hard. Remind the adults to be careful when they check them because the sculptures will be hot! Use a cooking mitten to remove the wax paper and your sculptures from the oven. When they are cool, you can take it off of the wax paper and go to Step 3.
To bake in an oven: Get an adult to help you. Preheat oven to 300° Fahrenheit. Place your wildlife sculptures on a cookie sheet or aluminum foil and bake for an hour. Watch your sculptures to make sure they don't burn.
If they brown too quickly, have an adult cover them with foil and continue to bake them. Be sure the clay is fully baked and hard. Have an adult test to see if it is. Remind you adult to be careful. Your sculptures will be hot! If the dough is soft to the touch, continue baking it in 15 minite intervals until it is hard. Have an adult remove the sculptures. Let them cool on the sheet or aluminum foil. When your sculptures are cool you're ready for step 3.
- Once your sculptures are cool they are ready to paint. Have fun! Then, set them aside to let the paint dry. It will take about an hour, but it varies depending on the type of paint you used.
- Once the paint has dried, your wildlife art is complete. Carefully place them in their Crystal River habitat in your EcoRama.
- You can glue them into place or leave them free to roam around.
When you want to continue, click on US ! We're waiting to help you with some finishing touches to your fantastic Eco-Rama!