I Just Can't Wait To Be King! | Festival of The Arts 2017

The performance is nearing closer and closer as this is our last week to rehearse! With the final performance this Thursday, we worked in the auditorium today to work out our cues, sound, and of course, practise!

I have been working hard on my Zulu call and Circle of Life duet with Faith. It has proven difficult to find the right key, so I have to sing purposely low to achieve it. My next steps are to be more confident be able to heard over the backing track. However, there are microphones on the night so I'm hoping that will work out fine. 

As a team, we are working on our bows at the end, cues, and overall performance. I think we need to focus on slowing down, because speeding up and being nervous is a common thing to happen during rehearsals. 
Here are some photos from today's rehearsal!

Hakuna Matata! | Festival of The Arts 2017

As the performance day nears closer and closer, we are bustling to get our show done! That involves lots and lots of practise, which is exactly what we did today!

We have been learning our cues (i.e when we come onstage) how we come onstage, how to pronounce and act out our lines, and how the show will run in general. So today we had our first run through of the script, which involved a lot of line reading and acting, as well as waiting for our cues. 

Thankfully I don't have a lot of lines to learn, just a few songs which I've nearly learned off my heart already, however all of the actors are learning theirs quickly! The show only had a few bumps along the way. The most difficult thing is not so much the cues or our lines, but acting onstage in front of people can definitely be a nerve racking experience. 

After going through the script a couple times today, it's safe to say that we are on the right track to having a successful show. My next steps are to learn all of my lines and cues off by heart and be able to perform confidently. I also want to work on my duet with Faith, and my calling, as that will be a big part of the show. The barb choir chorus is coming along just fine, and I'm really excited for what we get to perform!

Here are some photos from our recent practises. 

Science of The Arts 2017 | Sound Waves 💥

Aim: I want to find out about what sound waves are.

Research: A sound wave can be defined as a wave, invisible to the human eye, that can travel through all different forms of mediums; a medium can be air, a body of water, walls, doors, glass, wood, etc. Certain mediums are better to be heard through than others. The only place sound cannot be heard is in outer space, due to the lack of air in the atmosphere. 

How are sound waves generated?
Sound waves are generated by a vibration, which disturb the molecules around the source. An example of this is human vocal cords. When air passes through your vocal cords, a process called phonation, they vibrate and produce the sound waves that are heard by other humans as your voice. Sound waves are unable travel forever. This is because they eventually lose energy, weaken and distort.

What is pitch? 💭
All pitches of sound are generated by the length (short or long) of these sound waves. This term is called "wavelengths". The longer the wavelength, the deeper and lower pitch. The shorter the wavelength, the higher the pitch. 
The way pitch is measured is by the amount of wavelengths travelling through the air every second. This is called 'frequency.' Humans can hear frequencies (numbers of wavelengths) from 20 Hz up to 20,000 Hz. 
Frequencies below 20 Hz are called 'infrasonic', while frequencies above 20,000 Hz are  called 'ultra sonic'. 

Experiment 💥: 
The famous scientist named Robert Boyle conducted an experiment to demonstrate sound waves back in the 17th century. Boyle placed a ringing alarm clock inside a large glass car with a 'valve' on top. He used a vacuum pump to remove the air, and by doing this he demonstrated how sound needs air to be carried. 

Equipment to conduct the experiment:
- Alarm clock or cellphone
- Large glass jar with valve
- Vacuum pump

Equipment for the vacuum pump:
- Mason jar (with 5mm hole in centre of lid)
- Syringe
- One way valve (bike valves)
- 5mm flexible tubing 


Method: 💣💥
1. Place the ringing phone or alarm clock inside of the jar with the lid on as tight as possible, ensuring no air can escape or get inside.

2. Using the vacuum pump through the hole in the lid, 
suck of all the air out of the jar. Make sure there is no gap between the hole and pump to ensure no air can get in. The alarm clock's ringing will fade out as more air is sucked out and sound waves are distorted.
3. As the air is released back into the jar, the ringing will be able to be heard again as the air becomes a medium to allow sound waves to travel.

Below is what the experiment looks like in action - with proper equipment!






Explanation
My experiment was successful after a number of attempts, and definitely displayed how sound waves work. 

I first attempted to create a bell vacuum jar at home. The equipment I used for this was a mason jar with a hole in the lid and 10ml syringes. The bell jar didn't work. The reason for this is that the syringes were not big enough to suck all of the air out of the jar. For example if the syringes had a volume of 60ml, the volume would be large enough to suck all of the air out of the car. The 10ml syringe's volume was too small to be able to successful suck all of the air out of the jar.  
After realising my mistake and looking for a syringe with a larger volume, I eventually found a balloon pump. The pump had an approximate 100ml volume and would be able to suck all of the air out of my jar.
However, this also failed. My first mistake is that the seal I made around the jar's hole and pump was not air tight. I had to use a resource like blue tack or slime to make sure it was air tight and no air could escape. My second mistake was that the balloon pump was the incorrect way. The way I was holding it resulted in air being pushed into the jar, not out. I recognised my mistakes and was able to conduct a successful experiment.
The seal I used was Blue Tack, which was air tight. I held the pump differently to suck the air out, and got to use a real bell jar for the experiment.
On my first attempt of the experiment, there was a small mistake as I didn't put the phone on an object. Sound waves travel through materials and so it could still be heard because the sound was travelling through the table. 

The pump was able to suck most of the air out of the jar. The phone inside making a noise lowered in noise considerably, so even though the pump's volume was not big enough to suck all of the air out of the jar, it got most of it out. The lack of air in the jar resulted in the jar being stuck to the table, because there was a vacuum.

Why did this happen?
Sound waves travel though a range of different things, including air. The seals on both the bottom and valve of the jar were air tight, and so when the pump began to suck out the air, the sound did not have anything to travel through. No air in the jar meant vibrations, which sound is made from, could not occur. 
As the air was released back into the jar, the sound waves had something to travel through and could be heard again. The phone could not be heard ringing because of the lack of the medium, in this case it was air, to carry the sound waves inside of the jar. 

Think Globally, Act Locally: Global Warming

Think Globally, Act Locally

If planet Earth was being judged in a solar system competition, there is no question that one of our setbacks would be the effects of global warming on our planet.

Global warming has become very topical in the last few hundred years, particularly after the election of Donald J. Trump. The recently-sworn in U.S president insists that the entire concept global warming is merely a hoax; created by China to make ‘U.S manufacturing uncompetitive’. However, this has been proven wrong by scientists. Global warming is very true, and, sorry to break it to you, Trump, but the fact that it snowed outside The White House this October doesn’t mean anything. The entire world as we know it is heating up rapidly, and we have no one to blame but ourselves.

So, why is global warming happening anyway? Well, global warming is the result of excess smoke and gases released into the atmosphere; an act done only by humans. Invisible to the human eye, this has caused a thick layer of gas to form around the Earth’s atmosphere, which has the ability to allow in heat, as well as trap it in it. This ‘gas trapping’ is actually called the greenhouse effect, and it is very real. Scientists have explained that this gas layer allows in heat to radiate in from outside our atmosphere, but cannot release the heat. As a result from the heat, the world is warming quickly, melting icebergs, drying up rivers, and slowly, but surely, destroying the beautiful ecosystem around us. While scientists aren’t exactly able to predict the temperature of the following years, they can predict that the average teacher will rise even more quickly as the rates of greenhouse gases rise in today’s society. By 2020, the Earth will be one degree hotter, which might not seem like the biggest deal for Trump, but will actually melt icebergs and dry up rivers across the entire nation. Sorry to break it to you like this, Mr President, but deciding not to help France’s efforts to save our planet isn’t really going to help you - or really anyone on the planet, at all.

What exactly can we do locally to help this? Surprisingly, using up water can affect global warming a lot. So turn your tap off while brushing your teeth, take shorter showers, and make an effort to use less water. This reduces carbon pollution, too, and can be extremely beneficial in saving energy across the world. The EPA predicts that millions of kilowatt-hours of electricity could be saved if 1 in 100 American homes became ‘water wise’. The effect of this in New Zealand would be even better.

Another thing you can do to help is replace your house’s light bulbs with LED’s. This kind of lightbulbs uses up to 80% less energy than regular lightbulbs. Not only will it save electricity, you can save an additional $125 per year. Think about it: you can save money and the planet at the exact same time, why wouldn’t you do it?

And so, we should ask ourselves, in one hundred years, when our children are living in poverty-stricken world of toxic gas and nuclear explosions, of inescapable heat and a broken economy, would you ever think back to 2017 and regret not helping saving the planet?

My Bio Security Posters

These are the posters I made displaying the individual roles of New Zealand's bio security border protectors. I tried not to make them too busy like some of my work has been in the past, however I have included specific and clear information. I also made the poster clear, visually appealing, attractive and professional-looking.
I believe I did my work to a high standard considering I did it by myself. Next time I will work on adding more pictures or colour. 

Bio Security in New Zealand

This is the poster I created displaying the bio security roles we have in New Zealand. 

A Day On Quail Island 🐦

Yesterday morning, wearing mufti and huge smiles on our faces, the entire Year Eight group ventured out to Quail Island for a daytrip. Although it was chilly at times, and the walks and hills we encountered were quite tiring, we all had a fantastic time both on the boat trip and on the island! We learnt many things along the way, and I am excited to share it with you! Here is our experience, and a brief history, on Quail Island.  

What is Quail Island?

Quail Island is a small uninhabited island located off the Lyttelton Harbour, just a short boat trip away. Back in the early 20th century, Quail Island was used as a human quarantine area for leprosy patients coming off boats and living in Christchurch. 

It was also used for Maori to hunt for quails (which are now extinct) bird's eggs, stone, flax, and also for farming and training dogs. As of 2017, the island is home to a beach, walks, penguins, native birds and trees, as well as introduced species of trees and birds. Black Cat Cruises is a company offering a ferry service to and from the island everyday. 

Heading to the Island!

As Lyttelton Harbour is quite a long distance east of our school, we were required to take a bus. It took about fifteen minutes to get there, and I was excited to get off by the end of it! 

Lyttelton Harbour was less than inviting - the sky was overcast, grey clouds glooming above us, the smell of sea water thick in the air as we approached the dock.

In the water was a small jetty boat, bold lettering displaying 'Black Cat Cruises' on the side. Excitedly, yet a little nervous at the events to come, we filed onto the two boats.

Surprisingly, the boats were very cosy. There was a top deck, as well as a deck around the sides, and a large area inside with seats and a bar. Me and my friends stood at the front of the boat, admiring the views and snapping photos. The boat departed almost immediately, speeding across the waves like a cheetah. It was much faster than the ferry is all I can say!

Arriving at the island after a short boat ride was amazing. We approached the dock, climbing off and seeing a large group of kids that had already arrived. The island was much larger than I anticipated. Tall trees sprouted from all ends, steep cliffs faced the harbour, and the water splashed beautifully against the rocks. We were greeted by our tour guides Ian and Tina, would be guiding us around the island in groups. My class had our ecological tour first, accompanied by Tina, Mr Mitchell, Jill, and Mr Gibson. 

An Ecological Tour of The Island

This tour would involve a very tiring walk up a hill, looping around the island to see the incredible view of the harbour. Walking up, Tina told us all about the different kinds of trees found on the land. Quail Island is home to a variety of both Evergreen and Deciduous trees; native species as well as introduced species.  

We learnt about pine trees, which originate from California but surprisingly grow much taller in New Zealand than they do back in the states, due to a number of reasons including higher rainfall and medium temperatures. The island is also home to many bushes, including bushes belonging to the Coprosma family - which contains seeds used to create coffee. 

Heading back, Tina told us all about when the trees were planted, and what pattern. Originally, trees were planted in a cross shape across the island. Tina, as well as her tour group, are working towards restoring the island to it's original state before human settlers.

The History of Quail Island

After lunch, our tour guide Ian brought us on a tour around the 'Ship's Graveyard', teaching us about the history of the island. We got to see a replica of an old leprosy house, rebuilt by students from Canterbury University. Originally there were four houses on the island; inhabited by patients suffering from leprosy. Leprosy is one of the many diseases humans were quarantined on the island for, in which patients may lose their nose, toes, fingers and ears, among another limbs. 

The Ship's Graveyard is home to an array of old shipwrecks. Off the beach lays the remains of three sunken boats. The remains look like rib cages, however Ian informed us that these were only the iron structures of the boats. The boats were built for speed, and sailed between Britain and India for tea leaves. They were towed somewhere between the 19th and 20th century, and now are an amazing view for visitors of the island. 

We also visited the assumed gravesite of the only death on the island; Ivon Skelton. Due to the time period he died, searches for the body have been unsuccessful, and as a result the gravestone is not on the final burial site. This was personally the most fascinating thing on the island in my opinion. Ivon was born in Samoa and contracted leprosy while visiting relatives on the West Coast. He was the only recorded death on the island. 

In conclusion, I had an amazing time on the island. It was one of the most fascinating and interesting things I've ever seen! I visited the oldest building I'd ever been in, visited a grave site and saw the remains of sunken boats used in the 19th century and beyond. I learnt so much about the history of the island, as well as many different kinds of trees and birds on the island. I'm already planning to go back again! 

My Uru Manuka Logo Design Entry!

The Uru Manuka cluster based in Hornby, Christchurch, including my own school, Hornby High, is looking for a new logo. 

As I enjoy art and designing in my own time, I thought, why not? Here is my own entry for the logo competition.

The flower seen on top is a symbol of New Zealand nature - it is a flower native to our own country and is found in Christchurch. 

The Uru Manuka is the name of the organisation, along with it's slogan, 'Inspiring Futures'. I made sure my logo was still recognizable with different colours, when it's small or enlarged, and looks simple. I ensured my design has no copyright (filtering images for reuse) and reverse image searching on Google to look for similar looking results if there were any.

I am really proud of my logo design and can't wait to enter it in the competition. 

My Own Logo Design!

This is the logo I created using Google Drawings. 
I created this logo because my first initial is 'J' and my friends find me to be 'sassy' and 'wanting attention' hence the crown :) 

My next task is to design an original, thoughtful logo for the Uru Manuka competition. 

Changes In Adolescent - Digital Booklet

Orana Park Thank You Letter!

Hornby High School

180 Waterloo Rd

Hornby

Christchurch 8042

17.07.17

Hornby High School Year ⅞ Visit

Dear staff at Orana Wildlife Park,

I am writing today to express my thankful and gratitude, for the incredible experience I had last Monday, at the park.

We all had a massively entertaining time walking (or, in my case, hobbling) around the park, learning many, fascinating new things on the journey.

Some things I learned included the lifestyles of many animals there, such as the giraffes, gorillas, tigers and lions, plus many more. I learnt how cheetahs don’t roar, but whistle, and the adorable white tigers are in fact, not a separate breed from ordinary, orange and black striped tigers.

It definitely surprised me to see how many animals in the world are endangered! Getting the opportunity to see what the park is doing to help the animals is really inspiring.

My favourite part of the park was definitely either seeing the white tigers, as they were so beautifully majestic, or the gorillas, as they were hilarious to watch. I never wanted to leave!

Once again, I am very thankful for the experience I got the opportunity to receive. Orana Wildlife Park was an incredibly inspiring, massively enjoyable place that I am looking forward to visit again!

Sending thanks,

Jaime Burns

Visting Orana Wildlife Park!

Visting Orana Park

Last Monday, Hornby High School was very kindly given the opportunity by the Warehouse's Zoofari programme, to visit and experience the Orana Wildlife Park in Christchurch!
After a short bus ride to the park in our classes, we gathered in the gravel carpark to be organised into groups - from 1E to 4W.

 I was lucky enough to injure myself the day before, so I was hobbling around in crutches for half the day!

Orana Park was full of surprises. From seeing the long tongues of giraffes, to the strange lifestyles of the gorillas, everyone in my group sure enjoyed the day! 
Some animals we saw included the lions and tigers, gorillas, giraffes, meerkats, water buffaloes, cheetahs, and many native New Zealand birds such as the Kea and the Kiwi. 

However, seeing the cool animals wasn't the only thing we got to experience! Along the way, our tour guide Paula also taught us some awesome facts about the animals. For example, I learned that a giraffe's tongue is roughly the same length as your forearm! Also, the Kiwi, a New Zealand native, flightless bird, is nocturnal, which means it sleeps during the day and is active during the night. 

My favourite part of Orana Park had to be the gorillas. They have such a fascinating lifestyle! Viewing the Gorilla area was truly magical. There were three creatures in there, living in cozy treehouses and nature area just a walk away from the park. Of course, their enclosure was adorned with many things to make it feel like a proper jungle. For example, the floor was sawdust, grass and soil, and there was also a treehouses joined together by ropes, to imitate vines and trees. In the enclosure, there was also an entrance to a proper "jungle area". This area was difficult to see, but it included many ropes and tree structures, and lots of grass and wildlife to give the gorillas a sense of fun, adventure, and home. 

I would like to thank the Warehouse for sponsoring Hornby High's trip to Orana Park, and Orana Park for hosting such a fun day out! I look forward to returning to the park!

These are some photos from the trip.

My Goals for Hauora!

My Goals For Hauora

This term we have started a new Kete. It is the study of Maori philosophy, named Hauora. This revolves around four dimensions, or walls,named Taha Tinana (physical wellbeing) Taha Hinengaro (mental wellbeing) Taha Wairua (spiritual wellbeing) and Taha Whanau (social wellbeing). 

We were given the task to write four goals to try and achieve by the end of the Kete, one for each of the dimensions. Our goals had to be specific to what I willed to achieve, measurable, attainable and realistic, relevant to my current life, and time-suitable. 

These are the goals I have created.

This is my goal for my Taha Tinana, as it is related to my physical and sport wellbeing. I have decided to improve my overall basketball skills by the end of the Kete. I believe my goal has reached all of the requirements needed.

This is my goal for the Taha Hinengaro dimension, as it relates to my mental health. I have chosen to attend a support group once a week for the rest of the Kete. This goal, I believe, has reached the requirements.

This is my goal for my Taha Whanau dimension, as it relates to my relationship with my little sister. I believe this goal relates to the dimension well and meets the requirements.

This is my final goal for the Taha Wairua dimension. This is based around my personal identity as an artist. I have chosen to reactivate my old art accounts and post work, to reastablish my online identity as an artist. I believe this goal
has met the requirements.

These have been my goals for this term's Kete. I hope you enjoyed reading them and you have been inspired to create and write your own. Feel free to leave your feedback in the comments below, I love receiving them! 

Hauora: Taha Wairua

Taha Wairua

The third dimension of the Maori philosophy Hauora; translates to spiritual wellbeing. This dimension is often hard to define. 

What is Taha Wairua?

Taha Wairua is one of the four dimensions of the Maori philosophy of Hauora. In English, it translates to Spiritual Wellbeing. Taha Wairua relates to your beliefs and purpose in life. Many people define Taha Wairua as just going to church. However, it is much more than that, and this is why Taha Wairua is hard to define. An individual who has a balanced Taha Wairua would have their own, defined beliefs, be connected to their culture (e.g visiting a Marae or cultured area) and know their purpose and meaning in life. Taha Wairua is considered to be the most important dimension in Hauora. 

What can I do to have a balanced Taha Wairua?

For an individual to have a balanced Taha Wairua, it is a good idea to be in touch with your culture and beliefs. For example, visiting a local marae or doing Kapa Haka if you are Maori, or doing another form of cultural activity. An individual can also attend a church, group, or club.

My digital learning object I created on Google Drawing. This girl visiting a marae has part of a balanced Taha Wairua, as she is connecting with her culture.

How is having a balanced Taha Wairua demonstrated in real life?

Everyday, we do cultural activites at school; such as Kapa Haka, and our school camp to maraes each year. This promotes having a balanced Taha Wairua, as you are connecting with your culture and beliefs. 

In some jobs, you will be required to have knowledge about a certain culture. In certain jobs, it is even required that you speak a whole language! 

Hauora: Taha Hinengaro

Taha Hinengaro

The second dimension of Hauora; translated as psychological wellbeing in English.

What is Taha Hinengaro?

Taha Hinengaro is one of the four dimensions in the Maori philosophy of Hauora. In English, it translates to psychological wellbeing. An individual in a bad mental state, i.e not depressed/suicidal, psychotic, schizophrenic, etc, would not have a balanced Taha Hinengaro, as they lack a good psychological wellbeing or state of mind. An individual who is happy, social, extroverted, and in a good mental state, would have a balanced Taha Hinengaro. 

What can I do to have a balanced Taha Hinengaro?

To have a balanced Taha Hinengaro, you will require a good mental state of mind and health.

To maintain good mental health, your body will require...

 - A good sleep cycle. Make sure you get 8-10 hours of sleep per night, and nap if you are tired. If you are sleep deprived, you are more likely to overreact, become angry, and concentrate less at work or school. It is also likely you will be fatigued during the day. 

- To exercise frequently. Not only is exercising very beneficial to the body, it also makes you happier. Aim for at least one hour of physical activity per day. You can do things such as going for short walks, jogging or running, participating in sports and fitness. 

- A healthy diet. Eating healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables are prone to make you happier and less tired or hungry. Living on a diet of sugary, fatty foods is bad for your body and may make you gain weight. 

- To spend time with your whanau and friends. Hang out with your friends at school and sit down with your family at night. Make sure you get out of your bedroom and socialize at least three times a day. Being isolated can lead to feeling lonely, depressed, and sad, which are all signs of an unbalanced Taha Hinengaro!

Above is my digital learning object (DLO) based on Taha Hinengaro that I created in Google Drawing. Who in this drawing do you think has a balanced Taha Hinengaro? The isolated person, alone on his laptop underneath a blanket on the right, or the people talking with each other happily on the left?
I believe my DLO demonstrates that having social connections with people everyday contributes to having a balanced Taha Hinengaro.

How is having a balanced Taha Hinengaro demonstrated in real life?
At work and at school, people work in groups everyday. People who have a balanced Taha Hinengaro, and spend time with others instead of being alone, are much more likely to work well in group settings, because they are around people more and know how to act. This is not only demonstrated in groups, but in lots of different social situations, such as being in a classroom with other students. An unbalanced Taha Hinengaro, for example being sad or sleep deprived, can effect your learning, as concentration levels are low. 
People with a balanced Taha Hinengaro work better in groups and are more likely to do well at school, as they are more alert and concentrated!

Hauora: Taha Tinana

Taha Tinana

The first dimension of Hauora; in English, translates to physical wellbeing.

What is Taha Tinana?

Taha Tinana is one of the four dimensions, or walls, in the Maori philosophy of Hauora. Taha Tinana, or physical wellbeing, revolves around health, fitness, and your body. 

What do I need to do to have a balanced Taha Tinana?

In order for an individual to maintain a balanced Taha Tinana or physical wellbeing, they would require to be in good health, by maintaining a healthy diet (cutting back on junky, fatty, sugary foods, and more fruits and vegetables), a good sleep cycle (getting 8-10 hours of 
sleep per night) and sustain no injuries or illnesses. 

How is having a balanced Taha Tinana demonstrated in real life?  
We do activities each and everyday that involve having a balanced Taha Tinana. Examples of this include fitness before school every morning, P.E class in school, out of school sports teams and club (playing netball and rugby on Saturdays, rugby league and hockey on Sunday etc.) and in-school sports such as Friday-night basketball, and winter rugby, hockey, netball and football, on Friday afternoons. These activites all contribute towards having a balanced Taha Tinana.

In some jobs across the world, such as the police force, military/army, and sportspeople/athletes/jockeys, you will be required to have a balanced Taha Tinana, as there is a level of fitness and health involved. These jobs are much more likely to recruit a strong, healthy person who has a balanced Taha Tinana, rather than an obese, lazy person, who has an unbalanced Taha Tinana. 

What is an example of Taha Tinana? (DLO)

Above is a digital learning object (DLO) I created on Google Drawing to demonstrate a food pyramid. 
My DLO displays the recommended portions and what foods you should consume each day to help maintain a good diet. As a part of an active lifestyle including exercise, a good diet will alway contribute to having a balanced Taha Tinana and physical wellbeing!

Market Day Results!

This morning we got to calculate our finances that we earned at yesterday's Market Day.

In total, we had 190 50c tokens, which means we made $100.50! However, we used $14.40 to buy supplies, which meant we earned a profit of $86.10!

Last year at Market Day, my group (which sold bath bombs/cosmetics) made $81 and we were awarded with the Highest Profit and Business of The Year!

Although the awards are not being announced until Friday, Business of The Year and highest profit is a goal my group strive for. I can't wait for the final results! There were some fantastic stalls at the Market Day and it's sure to be a close competition!

If you were at Market Day and purchased something from us, how did you like our product?

How to create Perler Beads!

This year for our Business and Enterprise Kete, me and my group created and sold Perler Beads! You might not know how to make them, so here's a tutorial! Enjoy!

Materials

Perler/hama beads.
These are colourful, small beads.
These are found at craft stores such as Spotlight, or online.

Hama beads.

Pegboards
These are small white trays that you arrange the beads on. 
These are found at craft stores such as Spotlight, or online.

Pegboards.

Baking paper

An iron.
Get parental supervision while using this! When hot, it can be potentially dangerous! 


Method

1. Arrange perler beads on the pegboard to make it look like your design. For example, if you were making a lemon wedge, you would need to arrange the beads in the shape and colour of a lemon wedge. You may need a specific shape of pegboard for your design. If your design is circular, you will need a circular pegboard rather than a square one. 

This is what it should look like with the beads arranged on the pegboard.

2. Now that the beads are arranged, place a sheet of baking paper on top of it. Make sure you are ironing on a stable, heat-proof surface. Laying down a towel underneath the pegboard is ideal.

3. Set the iron to a low heat. When the iron is heated up, carefully place it on the baking paper and slide it back and forth slowly across it. This will melt the perler beads. Do this for about 15 seconds before taking the iron off.

4. Gently peel the baking paper off of the perler bead. Do this carefully, as the beads might come with it! 

5. Now, gently peel the perler bead design off of the pegboard. BE CAREFUL! If it is melted enough, the perler beads will peel off in one piece. If several beads fall out, arrange them again, and iron it a little more with the baking on top. 

6. Place the perler bead design inbetween two sheets of baking paper. Now, it can be ironed for as long as you like. However, it is recommended for up to 20 seconds. Iron the other side of the perler beads, moving the iron back and forth, for about 20 seconds. Peel the baking paper off, and carefully remove the perler bead, placing it aside to dry. Be careful, as it is hot!

There! Now you know how to make your own perler beads. Feel free to use online templates, or create your own fun designs! Perler beads are an inexpensive craft activity perfect for kids and teenagers on a rainy or sunny day. 

Will you be making your own perler bead designs?