Model Magic = Modeling Fun!
Written: Apr 08 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: soft, spongy modeling clay, enhances creativity, dries hard in 24 hours
Cons: all the clay must be used after the package is opened, may stain light colored fabrics
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| ritag's Full Review: Model Magic |
At a preschool teachers conference, I was given several samples Of Crayola Model Magic! I stashed the samples into my bag and decided that I would let the kids test this stuff before I ordered any. Upon returning to my classroom a few days later, I opened up several packages of the modeling clay and allowed the kids to create whatever they wished.
I was impressed with this modeling clay right from the start. The clay is soft, pliable and spongy. It is non toxic and does not smell like Play Doh does. Many modeling clays that I have purchased for my classroom have been hard and I have to spend a lot of time working the clay so that it is suitable for the children to use. Crayola Model Magic is ready to be used straight out of the foil package.
The thing that I like most about this product is that is is easy enough for the kids to use themselves and it allows for the expression of creativity. Their really are no limits to their imagination when they use this product. I have had all sorts of thing made by the chidlren and they never cease to amaze me at what they come up with. Just this past week they decided to use Crayola Model Magic to make ornaments for an Easter Egg Tree. They shaped the clay into egg shapes and they and poked a small hole through each one to tie a string for hanging. The eggs are currently drying and will be painted next week. I feel sure that we will have the prettiest Easter Egg Tree in town!
Even though this clay is pliabe and soft enough for the kids to use straight from the package, it holds well. It does not droop, slide, or lose it's shape while the sculpture is drying. It takes about 24 hours for the sculpture to dry. Every time the sculpture dries looking like it did when the child finished it.
We have also used the clay with cookie cutters. The kids simply roll out the clay and cut a shape with the cookie cutters. Next we poke a hole with a tooth pick and make necklaces. We have also used this clay to make pins. Again the dough is rolled out thin, cut a shape with a cookie cutter, allow to dry, paint or decorate as desired, and then I hot glue a pinback to the backside of the shape. Our most recent adventure with the pins was to make shamrock pins for all the parents to wear at out St. Patrick's Day celebration. I also plan to use this method to make pins for Mother's Day presents for the children to give.
We have also made sculptures. The children made some wonderfully creative snow people. To be sure the sculptures would remain as the children made them, I reinforced the entire sculptures by brushing them with glue. I really don't know if this was necessare but the packaging suggests this method for sculptures. Particular points that you may want to reinforce are any parts that would be added to the base of the sculpture. For example, the snow person's carrot nose was added to the top "snowball" and I added glue to the area where the "carrot" stuck to the "snowball."
This clay comes in the colors red, green, yellow, blue, black, and white. They can be mixed to make new colors. We have mixed the colors and they work well. The kids are able to manipulate the clay and thoroughly mix the colors to make new colors.
The clay can be painted when dried. I would suggest the use of acrylic paints with close supervision only. In my classroom I am not allowed to use acrylic paints. I have found that it works well to use tempera paints and when dried spray the objects with an acrylic sealer. This allows the children to paint their creations and then I can use the sealer.
I would recommend this clay for any child of 3+ years. I would suggest close supervision for the younger child though. The only drawback that I am familiar with is that this clay will stain light colored materials. This clay is a wonderful tool for creative expression. If you would like to keep one of your child's works of art, I suggest Crayola Model Magic!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
ritag
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Location: North Carolina
Reviews written: 211
Trusted by: 201 members
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