These copper wire trees are simple and beautiful. Start with at least 15 strands of wire (or more!) all the same length (at least 6" long), this will be the height of your tree. Bundle all the wires together and twist tightly in the middle to create the trunk. Little hands may need help with this part, you can also use pliers to help twist. Next we'll build the roots, so decide which end is the bottom of your tree and divide up the 15 strands into groups of 3 or 4 wires. Twist each of those groups a little bit and then divide them into groups of 1 or 2 strands. The single strands can be left alone and the double strands can be twisted a little more. Then separate them into single strands so that it appears your roots are thicker towards the trunk and thinner towards the tips. The same process is repeated for the branches. Bend the branches and roots to simulate natural tree shapes and to balance the tree on its roots. You could also find a small stone to wrap the roots around and anchor the base of it.
Next I used small seed beads on the tips of the branches and bent the end of the single wire strands to hold the beads in place. The beads could be a lesson in color theory using on warm or cool color beads. Or you could have students pick out colored beads for the birth stone of each family member and make these family trees. Or use pink and white beads for cherry blossom trees. Or celebrate Arbor Day with these wire bonsai trees! So many options....
!!B CR8IV!!
The Japanese have mastered the art of the tea bowl, which can range in style from a perfectly symmetrical shape or an exquisitely organic form. This is a great project to talk about the anatomy of a pot with your students; the lip, body and foot are all essential elements to the parts of a tea bowl. There are a few options to build the body of the bowl, one is to make a pinch-pot with high sides to it, or if you have access to a potters wheel, throwing a bowl is an option, the other choice which I have done here is to use a slab of clay. I rolled out my clay flat and used a paper template to cut a small cylindrical shape, you can cut out rectangular paper templates for your students too. Once the shape is cut out, its rolled into a cylinder and the edges are scratched-to-attached together. The bottom is made narrower by cutting 4 V-shaped notches or darts, one on each side. Then scratch the inside edge of those V-shaped cuts and fold them in together. This may leave a small square hole in the very bottom of your tea bowl, if it does, just cut a small flat square to scratch-to-attach on and cover the hole. This procedure is a little bit tricky but it shapes the body of your tea bowl to be wider towards the top and narrower towards the foot, which is the traditional shape of a tea bowl. Design and pattern can be added to the outside now using tools or stamps and the lip of the bowl should be smoothed out with your finger. Next, roll out a coil of clay and wrap it up to make a small donut shape that will fit onto the bottom of your tea bowl to create the foot. Make sure to scratch-to-attach both parts together and also add some surface decoration to the foot. To learn more about the tradition of tea bowls and the Japanese Tea Ceremony, click here. 
