A Delicate Art - Egg Decorating

Date: 1994

Grade Level(s): 4, 5, 6

Subject(s):

• Interdisciplinary
• Social Studies
• Language Arts/Reading
• Arts/Visual Arts

• Raw egg
• Yellow dye
• Red or blue dye
• No. 2 pencil
• White wax crayon
• Small plastic margarine tub filled with crumbled tissue paper.
• A fine felt-tip black marker

• To expose students to the Ukrainian custom of decorating eggs.
• To have students decorate their own eggs with their own creative designs.

1. Each student draws a simple design on a piece of paper. They repeat lines and shapes to make patterns and create symbols.
2. Dye each student's egg yellow.
3. As the dry egg rests in the nest of tissue, students copy their design onto the egg with pencil.
4. The white crayon is then used to cover any part of the design that was to remain yellow.
5. After three layers of white crayon, the egg is dyed with the second color of dye, red or blue.
6. Two holes are then poked in the ends of the egg and the contents blown out.
7. Place the blown egg in a microwave for 7 to 10 seconds or until the crayon wax begins to melt.
8. Wipe the softened wax away with paper towels exposing both colors. The designs are taking shape.
9. The students then use a fine-tip permanent marker to outline the shapes and add details.
10. Finally each egg is covered with clear acrylic spray to make it more durable. (in a well ventilated area).