Our request in the newsletter for previously alive fish resulted in "empty nets". Anticipating this we had 2 Art workshops. In the first workshop the kids made fish from playdough with special attention to texture. I took them home and baked them to get them dry, glued them to cardboard and varnished them to make the surface nonporus.

The fish were most sturdy if the playdough was about 3/16 of an inch thick and the fish shape was cut from a flat piece of playdough. Fins that were added tended to pull away as it dried. Glueing them to cardboard helped solve this.

We used fabric paint. It dried rather quickly so adequate paint was necessary. After the print was made the playdough fish could be blotted dry and other colors used.

We had the adults hang the printed projects on the bulletin board while the next fish was painted.

Children were invited to bring shirts to decorate. We also provided fabric (14x14) to make small banners. They had great fun putting several prints on their project and sharing fish. They added sea weed, fish details and bubbles free hand. They took their own fish home.

I like this playdough receipe, the mixer is willing to stir longer than I am.

Combine in mixer bowl:
1 cup flour
1 T cream of tarter
1 T oil
1/4 c salt
Add:
1 cup boiling water
Mix until it stiffens, cool and store in a sealed container.

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Exchange Volunteer modified title of post for clarity.