Faux Stained-Glass Greeting Cards

Create looks-like stained glass greeting cards using traditional or contemporary images. Handmade cards are always appreciated!

• 1.

  Stained glass is used for a variety of decorative purposes. Research information about how stained glass is made. Find out why many of the world’s religions represent symbols in stained glass. Find stained glass examples in your community.

• 2.

  Choose a holiday celebrated by people from a culture or heritage other than your own. What are some symbols associated with this holiday? What do they represent? Share information with your classmates about holidays such as Eid al-Fitr or Christmas.

• 3.

  Fold Crayola Construction Paper into a card. Draw several symbols associated with the holiday that you researched on white Crayola Color Explosion™ Paper with the black marker. You could even leave parts of each image white to contrast with the colored background. Cut out the symbols.

• 4.

  Cut a piece of Color Explosion Paper slightly smaller than your card. Reveal surprising stained-glass effect colors in the background with a Color Explosion Marker. Watch colorful shapes appear. Outline some of these shapes with the black marker or outline your own symbols. Add interesting textures to the symbols.

• 5.

  Create a colorful greeting appropriate for the holiday on more Color Explosion Paper.

• 6.

  Glue your designs on the card. Air-dry the glue.

• 7.

  Embellish the card with additional images, sparkling Crayola Glitter Glue, or other craft materials if desired. Air-dry the glue before handing the card.

Benefits

• Children learn about the varied uses of stained glass.
• Children research cultural holidays celebrated by other families.
• Students identify symbols and greetings associated with cultural holidays and discuss their meanings.
• Students demonstrate their understanding of a holiday by creating and sharing greeting cards incor

Adaptations

• Hold a traditional classroom celebration of one or more of the holidays. Invite a community member who celebrates the holiday to speak to the class about traditions associated with it.
• Adapt opportunities for students with special needs to experience foods, games, crafts, and other traditions associated with unfamiliar holidays.
• ASSESSMENT: Does each card include at least one symbol associated with a specific holiday? Can students identify the symbols and explain their meanings? Did the students achieve a stained-glass effect? Were cards carefully assembled with appropriate messages?