Halloween STEAM
Use math, tools and art to make a magic wand & witch’s hat
‘I am hoping to do some good in the world’ - Hermione Granger
Halloween is a wonderful occasion to create, using math, tools and art. If your little one decided last minute that she wants to go trick-or-treat — like it is also our case — come along!
This Halloween, let’s restore the reputation of witches and build with them two of their favourite items: the magic wand & the hat.
Witches are good
Throughout the Middle Ages, more than 1 million witches were accused of witchcraft in Europe and many of them were executed. These were midwives, women healers and herb knowers who were accused of witchcraft because they were earning a living by healing animals and people at a time when they were not supposed to — says Katrine Marçal in her wonderful book ‘The Mother of Invention’.
If women had also been provided with access to resources and formal education — as wizards had — then they would have discovered new knowledge in science and medicine.
Very few women at that time, in the dark Middle Ages did. Hildegard von Bingen, wrote a medical treatise Causae et Curae, a medical treatise which describes the healing properties of plants, animals and stones.
Christine de Pizan, the very first European woman professional writer, imagined in her masterpiece from 1404–5, The Book of the City of Ladies, an allegorical city populated only by women and ruled by the Virgin Mary. In Christine’s text women created all good culture, politics and science. She argued that women should be allowed to be what everyone should be given — the right to be human.
These are just two testimonies of women’s willpower, resourcefulness, and perseverance at a time when access to knowledge, science and education was denied to them.
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Yes, let’s make this Halloween an occasion to rehabilitate the witches, their magic and healing powers. Let’s rebuild a good reputation for witches among our girls, praise the steps they took to carry the discovered secrets of nature and build knowledge of natural sciences.
How to make a magic wand [for kids aged 5+]
Savannah Tallino, neuroscience PhD student and fellow STEAM mom, published a post on her IG about wand-making, which looked impressive. I reached out to her asking how she did it and put together brief instructions for us.
Materials / tools:
- Wax paper — used as a working surface.
- Hot glue gun and glue — I have a mini “cool shot” gun which doesn’t heat up very high, and I like the small threads of glue it creates. It is cool enough that I’m comfortable letting my daughter use [mostly] unsupervised.
- Assorted acrylic paint and brushes — the metallic/shimmer paints are nice for finishing touches.
- Polyurethane spray for varnishing.
Instructions:
- Apply the hot glue around the chopstick. Symmetrical lines and ovals around the “handle” of the wand achieve an effect similar to a wand that would be turned on a lathe, while asymmetrical blobs can mimic natural wood forms. Vine-like shapes are also easy to swirl around the length of the wand. For some shapes, it can be helpful to wait until the glue is almost set and then squish into shape with fingers, or press against the wax paper to make a flat surface. Really, the only limit is your imagination!
- When the hot glue is completely set, paint the wand with acrylic paint. Painting over the glue with a darker coloured paint followed by a lighter colour/metallic sheen makes the ridges of the glue stand out wonderfully. Or, carefully add metallic paint to mimic metal pieces. Note that the paint will rub off of the hot glue to some extent, which can be used to create a distressed wood effect, but also try not to handle the wands too much at this point if you want the paint to stay put.
- When the paint is completely dry, spray the wand from all directions with a polyurethane [or similar, acrylic-safe] varnish in a well-ventilated area and allow it to dry. The wand can now be handled and enjoyed, and the paint should all stay put!
How to make a witch’s hat [for kids aged 10+]
Our last Halloween playdate was all about hat-making. My #STEAMGirl and her friend imagined the hats they would be wearing for their trick-or-treat trips around the neighbourhood. Below you find instructions and here an IG reel documenting the making-off.
Materials / tools:
- Measuring tape, compass, cutter.
- Thin cardboard — to cut out patterns that will serve as support for the hat.
- Fabric — you can use/buy black cotton or any other type of fabric that has good adherence. Optional, you can use lace, flowers, elastic or other elements of decor.
- Stapler, glue — to stick the fabric to the cardboard and all other elements together.
Instructions:
- This is where you have a bit of math fun and an occasion to apply geometry knowledge. Measure the circumference of the head, then apply the formula C = 2πr where c = circumference, r = radius. Once you have the radius, use the compass, to draw a circle on cardboard with that exact radius on cardboard. Depending on how wide you want to brim of the hat, draw a concentric circle, with a 5 cm or 10 cm bigger radius. This difference in radius will give you the brim of the hat. Cut the brim out.
- Also from cardboard, cut out a triangle and make a cone, fitting it within the brim that you just cut out. Bending the edge of the cone to go under the brim helps stick the two parts together. Do not glue them just yet.
- Now, that you have the brim and the cone of the hat, with them as patterns to cut out the fabric. You could also take a piece of different fabric and wrap it around the cardboard brim. This is how we did it and it was easier. Staple and glue the fabric to the cardboard as needed.
- At the end, adorn your hat with a lace bow or flowers to your wish. Staple elastic to both sides of the brim if you want to secure the hat with an elastic band under the chin. Now try it on and see how it fits ;)
Happy trick-or-treat!
As always, happy to hear your thoughts.
Stay in touch, Alex
