ZigZag Dolls

One of the advantages of web-based content over print publication is the possibility of relatively unlimited space. Many times the articles in SchoolArts come with more images than we can print in the magazine. Here in the blog, though, we have room to share more, so I am posting the article, ZigZag Dolls, from the November 2013 issue with more images:

ZigZag Dolls by Patricia Saunders

Inspired by a charming story that addresses bullying with kindness.

Early Childhood Studio Lesson

Several years ago, Robert D. San Souci was the guest author at our school. He brought many of his books, including a picture book titled ZIGZAG, a story about a doll maker who created Zigzag and placed him on the shelf for the night. After the doll maker left, Zigzag was bullied and pushed off the shelf by the other dolls. Zigzag ultimately ended up outside in the trash bin and had to climb his way out. The book does have a happy ending, as three mice found him a nice home with a happy little girl, and his zigzagged mouth turned into a happy smile.

The beginning of the story reveals that ZIGZAG was made from scraps of fabrics. I just happened to have a large box full of donated fabrics in my classroom. Since then, creating Zigzag dolls has become an annual lesson. The children love to hear the story and talk about it.

The first step is to read the book to the class. Since it’s a picture book, it doesn’t take much time. If you want to make it a multi-disciplined lesson, you can discuss how the other dolls bullied Zigzag. You can also reinforce the kindness of the new found friends, the mice, and the happy ending. This lesson will take no more than two classes. Some will finish their dolls during the first class period (45 minutes) but most will not.

The charm of these Zigzag dolls is encouraging the children to create their own. Let them choose the fabrics, do their own cutting, and glue their fabrics where they want. Most will not be in the center of the paper and some will have legs, tails, and hats hanging off the edges, but that’s what makes them so special.

Materials and Resources

· ZIGZAG by Robert D. San Souci. Publisher, August House Little Folk.

· 12” x 18” white paper, poster board or whatever you have

· Assortment of donated fabrics (magazines, wallpaper, wrapping papers all can be used, if you haven’t any fabric)

· Yarn (optional)

· Scissors

· Liquid glue and/or glue sticks

· Markers/crayons or anything that can be used for drawing on the fabric

Procedures

1. Prepare the fabric before class. Have an arrangement of fabrics already cut into useable sizes. The largest I’ve used is approximately 8” x 11.”

2. At the beginning of the class, read and discuss the story.

3. Review shapes you’ve taught students. Have them draw shapes for their dolls onto the fabrics. Encourage different fabrics for different parts of the doll.

4. Have the students glue the shapes onto the paper

5. Have students add eyes, hair, ears and whatever else they want.