Think and Make
CAST’s free programme of workshops encourages children and families to think and make together. The workshops take place during school holidays – check ‘What’s On’ for details of upcoming sessions.
Alongside the in-person workshops that run during school holidays, there are a number of ‘Think and Make’ short films available online. When the CAST building closed to the public in March 2020 because of the coronavirus, artist Lucy Grant, CAST’s abundantly resourceful learning specialist, began looking for other ways of sharing her creative ‘Think and Make’ ideas. She produced downloadable resources and taught herself the rudiments of stop-frame animation, turning some of her popular making sessions into short videos to inspire young minds. Musician, composer and performer Seamas Carey made music to accompany the films and they were compiled by Cat Bagg, who also recorded the sound effects.
Lucy’s films demonstrate simple techniques – the main ingredient is time to get into the flow of creative thinking and making. She concentrates on materials that are available in most homes, but there are always alternatives.
If you decide to try out some of these ideas we’d love to see the results. If you use social media please tag @thinkandmakeatCAST on Instagram or Facebook.
Paper Cuts
Lucy Grant’s Paper Cut animation features some of the many different traditions of this art form from around the world. If you would like to have a go at some of designs featured you can download and print a free PDF with instructions and templates to get you started here. Think and Makes are starting point…
January Mood Mask
Janus is the Roman god who gave his name to the month of January. He was the god of doors, gates, and transitions, who oversaw seasonal changes including the new year. Janus is always portrayed with two faces—one facing the past, and one facing the future. Lucy Grant has designed this simple creative make that…
Christmas Makes
Lucy Grant has produced instructions for three different creative makes to try at home, all tried, tested and lovely: folded paper stars to decorate your windows, yarn stars for the Christmas tree, and tiny tomtens to hide amongst the greenery. Click on the images below to enlarge them. Think and Makes are…
Plants and Flowers
Take a look in your garden or out in the wild, what different shaped leaves and petals can you see? What interesting different materials could you find around the house to make a plant or flower? Can you think of some other ways of making a plant? How much variety can you get into your…
What interesting different objects could you find around the house to use to print with? Are there any with shapes that might look like something in particular? How does the paper you choose and the colour of the paint change the feel of your pictures? Think and Makes are starting point ideas to get little…
Spring Thing
For egg decoration try tearing up colourful pieces from newspapers or magazines instead of tissue paper, or use sweet wrappers or delicate fabric. For Easter bunnies sew pieces from a shrunken jumper or sock instead of felt and use cotton wool or tissue instead of wool tops for stuffing and tails. Or why not try…
Related Activities
BOTANICAL SPECIMENS
For this Easter holiday family workshop CAST’s black box will be transformed into a fun and informative immersive environment for exploration and play.
Creatures from the kiln
Join ceramicist Sarah Fassnidge from Clay Trap in CAST’s learning studio to make your own creature, talisman or charm.
Christmas Print Shop
Join us in our creative Christmas print shop to work simple forms into bold, bright Scandinavian folk-style patterns.
Lumos
As the Autumn nights draw in and darkness falls, shine a light with a paper lantern for your window.
Picture Stories
Lucy Grant will lead a free workshop for families with children to make fold-out concertina books
ENTER INTO THE DEEP DARK WOOD
Make a fairy tale diorama or a cabin in the woods at our ‘Think and Make’ sessions
Half-term THINK AND MAKE
Paint an object, character or scene, real or imagined, and tell a visual story in miniature.
EASTER NESTS
Be like a bird in spring, weave, wind and create a nest for your easter eggs.
Festival Angels, Elves and Santas
Learn how to make an angel who can flap her wings, an elf or a santa that jumps for joy.