"From the desk of my Mom"

"From the desk of my Mom”

(Mother’s Day Stationery)

Traditions can be great, and a wonderful tradition at our school is the Mother's Day Stationery our Pre-K friends give their moms.  When I received mine, some 13 years ago, I was so delighted.  The picture above is of a piece of my stationery; the artist, (my son), is in college now.

 

Supplies needed:

            White 8 ½ x 11 copy paper cut equally into fourths (4 ¼ x 5 ½ inches)

            Fine tip permanent black pens

            Glue stick, teacher scissors

            Colored copy paper

            ¼ inch ribbon or yarn

            White 6 x 9 inch mailing envelopes

Child’s part:

            Give each child ¼ sheet of copy paper.

            Instruct child to draw a picture of himself/herself or his/her Mother using a fine tip permanent black pen.

            Instruct child to write his/her name on same sheet of paper or another piece if needed using black pen. 

Teacher’s part:

            Make “working” copies for masters:

                        Make working copy by printing in landscape form using font of your choice “From the desk of my Mom” at the top left hand corner of 1 piece of white 8 ½ x 11 copy paper; turn paper around and print “From the desk of my Mom” again. Make as many copies as needed.  (You will use 1 sheet of paper for each 2 children.  If you have 20 children, you will need 10 sheets of working copies.)  Set these aside for later.

           

            Shrink drawings and names:

                        1.  Sort drawings according to size.

                        2.  If drawings cover most of the 4 ¼ x 5 ½ sheet of paper, reduce 4 drawings of similar or close size by approximately 50%.  Reductions may have to be made more or less than 50 % depending on the size of the child’s drawing.  Names may have to be reduced or enlarged separately and at different increments, too, depending on the original size.

                        3.  When you are satisfied with the size of the drawing and the child’s name, cut each picture and name in a circle or with curved edges.  (Sharp corners do not copy as well for making the master copy.)

                        5.  Using a glue stick, paste child’s drawing and name to the left and just below “From the desk of my Mom”.

                        6.  Copy each working master and examine for any lines showing from the glued cut edges of drawings/names.  Use white out if necessary and made another copy. 

                        7.  When you are satisfied with a “clean” working copy, then make copies using colored copy paper. 

                        8.  Cut copies in half; tie each child’s stack of stationery with a ribbon.

Wrapping:

            Give each child a white 6 x 9 inch mailing envelope.  Children can decorate their envelope using crayons, markers, stickers, stamps, watercolors, etc.  Allow to dry if necessary.

            Place stationery set in envelope and seal.