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Lesson Plans


re: Ross Art Paste

From: JIM WITTSTRUCK (JWITTSTRUCK.us)
Date: Thu Feb 10 2000 - 11:25:29 PST

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    Teri,

    You probably got lots of other answers, but I thought I would give you my advice on paper mache.

    I have done paper mache with 2nd, 3rd, and 4th graders now for 3 or 4 years. We make some pretty big projects- check out my 4th grade masks at:

    http://www.burnsville.org/education/schools/mwses/classroom/art/4TH.HTM

    The secret for me has always been to make a mixture of wheat paste AND ross's art paste. The ross paste just does not have enough stickiness to it for me, though it is clear and does not irritate skin.

    Wheat paste- available from Dick Blick, Sax, and others, (golden harvest brand) is much stickier, but takes more care in mixing, and sometimes can irritate a very few sensitive hands. In that case, I usually give the student some skin block cream, or give them just the ross paste only.

    I mix about 50/50 mix for a good working mixture. You can keep the ross stuff mixed by the gallon- it keeps- and just mix up fresh wheat paste to blend in. Most classes we tend to go through about a gallon and a half a day! That's what you get when you encourage 30 kids to work big at once. Anyway, my choice is a mixture. It dries hard, no doubt about it.

    Yours,

    Jim Wittstruck

    Jim Wittstruck
    M. W. Savage Elementary
    Savage, MN 55044 

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