Exploring South America at Michaels Passport to Imagination

Since I took the Michaels unplugged summer pact, we have been seriously committing time to do crafts. My daughter has been participating in the Michaels Passport to Imagination summer craft program whenever time permitted. She really enjoys the activities that are instructed by a Michaels staff during the sessions, in which children learn about different icons and landmarks in the seven continents. My daughter enjoys being able to use different craft medium and material that are provided to do the activities.

I liked dropping off my children at Michaels for the 2 hours in-store program on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10am to noon for a cost of $2 per child. Each week is dedicated to a continent and during the two hours, the kids get to make two different crafts. 

My son bailed out after the first day because he completed his project quickly and was bored. My daughter continued to attend, but she said that the projects were too easy and took less than an hour to do, so there was lots of time waiting around. 

For the future year, I suggest that some of the crafts could be re-thought so it would take a little more hands-on time to do. I think this type of fabulous programs encourage our children to be global citizens and inspire them to travel and become aware of other countries and its people.

Here are two projects my children did on one of the days dedicated to South America. As you see the projects used minimal amount of material and can be completed quicker than an hour. I think it would be better if the instructor shows children images and gives background information about their projects and explain the importance of the icons before they start each project.

To make this Moai, found in Easter Island they used Crayola Model Magic in brown.

Roll the Model Magic into a ball then shape it into a Moai by giving details. 

For the Textile weaving project they used

cardboard

wool in different colours

The piece of cardboard is cut into small 1" slits on top about 4 places on both ends. Then a piece of wool is wrapped around the slits vertically.

Basket weaving is done horizontally by going up and down in between the wool that is vertical. This has to be done all around the cardboard. Once it is finished the cardboard is slowly removed.

Let your children take the voyage and explore the landmarks and icons in a Michaels store close to you before August 23rd.

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