What you'll need...
Paper or card (preferably up-cycled).
A pencil.
Coloured pens or pencils.
Decorations that you can have to hand or can up-cycle, like glitter, ribbon, glitter glue, beads, scraps of shiny paper or material.
Suitable for ages 5-11
Time guideline: 30 minutes
STEP ONE
It is opening night at the royal ball and there is excitement in the air - just like on the night of the ball in Cinderella! In the fairy tale, Cinderella receives a special invitation to the ball. Who would you like to invite along to the grand opening night?
Choose a person that you'd like to share the best seats with. Think about what that person is like. Are they a friend or family member? Or would you like to invite your hero? A doctor or nurse, or someone who helps their community during difficult times? Perhaps you might like to invite a character from a story?
Once you have decided who you will invite, take some time to think about how you will write the invitation. If you don't know the person, you might use 'formal' language. If you do know them, your invitation might be more relaxed and friendly. Plan what you will write on your invitation. How will your invitation begin ('Dear', 'To', etc.). What are you inviting them to? Why would you like them in particular to accompany you? What can they expect from the performance? How will you end your invitation, and let them know you are looking forward to them accepting it? Research invitation examples on the internet if you need a little inspiration.
STEP TWO Once you have planned out what you will write, find some paper or card that you will make your invitation from. Have a look through your paper recycling to see what you can find. You might use the side of a cardboard box, a stuck down envelope or a bright piece of packaging. You can decorate your invitation however you like, to make it appeal to the person who will receive it. You could collage coloured paper pieces from old wrapping paper, food packaging or magazines. You could stick on glitter or ribbon or use coloured pens or glitter glue to create a pattern. You could draw or paint a picture that relates to the ballet or opera that you are inviting the person to. This decoration could go on the side of the card you will not write on, and on the other side it could continue around the edges of your text.
STEP THREE
Once you have decorated the card, you can write the text of your invite. Take a look at lettering styles on the internet for ideas. You can search ‘fancy lettering’ or ‘calligraphy’, or type your text into a word processing programme and try out the different fonts you find. You could also look at lettering in books or magazines. Once you have decided on your lettering style, use a pencil to mark out lines on your invitation where you will write your message, so you know it will all fit on the card. Now write the lettering lightly in pencil first - so you can make mistakes and rub them out - before going over in pen to make it clear. Rub out your lines once the ink is dry.
What I have learned...
How to write, compose and structure an invitation LITERACY
How to organise ideas and communicate intentions LITERACY
How to design and create an invitation ART
How to use lettering and typefaces ART AND DESIGN
Once you've finished you invitation, why don't you share it with us on social media? #kuuoliving
Comments