The modeling of animals or people for the sand table is full of interest for the younger children. Such stories as "The Three Bears," "Chicken Little" and "The Little Red Hen" immediately suggest themselves. For children of about the fourth grade "Alice in Wonderland" offers a most fascinating array of models. "The White Rabbit," "The Duchess," "The Mock Turtle," "The Mad Hatter," grotesques of all sorts, seem a natural outcome of this illustration work and the wise teacher will see the possibility for developing the imagination in the modeling of mythical creatures, such as dragons and gnomes, and in the personification of the elements. There is also an unlimited fund of material in the tales of knighthood and of fairyland.
With the older children, simple principles of design and composition should be suggested. A paper weight is an interesting problem demanding the adaptation of form to space.
Many of these things may be modeled in clay, dried and painted with water color or one of the patent modeling clays which set like cement may be used. If no supports have been left in the model it may be fired when thoroughly dry.
Some of the best projects for sand table work involving modeling are Eskimo Life, Indian Life, Farm Life, The Circus, and Fairy Tales. Generally a suggestion is all that is necessary to call forth the most original conceptions and once started the children will soon far outstrip the teacher.
NOTES
[A] Those who wish to study Indian pottery in detail are referred to Dr. W. H. Holmes' work on the Aboriginal Pottery of the Eastern United States, published by the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C.
[B] Georgia Kaolin and Tennessee Ball Clay may be procured from the John H. Sant and Sons Company, East Liverpool, Ohio, and flint and feldspar from the Golding Sons' Company, Trenton, N. J., or the Eureka Flint and Spar Company, Trenton, N. J., in quantities of not less than one barrel or sack.
[C] If English china clay can be procured it will make a whiter ware than Georgia clay.
[D] Silk lawn of any desired mesh may be purchased by the yard from A. Sartorius & Company, 57 Murray Street, New York City; or brass sieves ready for use from the W. S. Tyler Company, Cleveland, O.
[E] Calvin Tomkins, 30 Church Street, New York City.