I will say right at the top, this little instrument made out of popsicle sticks is good for MANY things children might be quizzing themselves on as they work to memorize. Books of the bible, names of the twelve disciples, fruits of the spirit, catechism questions, and tribes of israel are a few more ideas. Here, they are shown with the ten commandments! The accordion concept with popsicle sticks makes it so children can gradually reveal, and test themselves on the next item.
It is sort of like flashcards but without the quiet chaos of keeping track of the cards, especially as children practice throughout their day around the house in different places.
Also I think the accordion part is liked by children a bit more than simple flashcards!
MATERIALS
- popsicle sticks
- masking tape
- scissors
- paints
- paintbrushes
- marker
INSTRUCTIONS
- Count out twenty (for ten commandments version) popsicle sticks and tape together to make ten popsicle stick “couplets.”
- Tape all couplets together on opposite side of first piece of tape. This should make a single chain of popsicle sticks that can be folded into an accordion. When it’s correct, each side has tape on only every other seam.
- Paint popsicle sticks. I like to do a different color for each couplet, or commandment. (Colors associated with different pieces of information helps with memory.)
- Paint reverse side once first side is dried, if desired.
- Write out ten commandments on to popsicle sticks. On the top flap when it is in the closed accordion, we like to write the title of this quizzing set. So here, we would write “The Ten Commandments: Exodus 20.” Youngest children may need it written for them, slightly older can trace a pencil writing, and older children can write on their own in print or cursive.
This was a fun and useful project we loved making together. Everyone’s goal was to have them memorized by easter sunday!
All of my posts about doing art with children can be found here.
