Another free chapter of my ebook, Your Art Room's a Mess: Glue

Here is another excerpt from  "Your Art Room's a Mess" available on ITunes.

White Glue

What is this used for?

• Putting objects together.

How should this supply be stored?

• In the Student Area in color-coded cans, bins, or caddies.

How should this supply be distributed?

• Table helpers can retrieve or the teacher can pass it out after directions are given.

What is the student going to do with this supply?

• Not know how to open it.
• Not know how to unclog it.
• Put it on their palm to peel off after it dries.
• Use too much on their project (because it is fun to watch it pour out.)
• Use the correct amount, but then go back and add more.
• Thinking a bottle is empty when it is still half full.

Are there any special concerns with this supply?

• Teaching the students how to open and close their own glue bottle as well as how to unclog it is a great time saver.
• Students need to be taught how to use this supply appropriately in the art room.

Glue is what keeps projects together!  White glue works fantastic.  I have never found a glue stick I have been happy with.  They never seem to hold projects and the children’s fingers get too sticky.

Instead of keeping all the glue bottles together in one big bin or carryall, I divide it up in color-coded cans per table.  So, if there were six chairs at the “green” table, I would keep six bottles of glue in the green glue can.  I keep all of the cans in the student area.  This keeps students from digging around for the fullest bottle or one that is unclogged.

If the glue is not used very often or you travel to several schools it will undoubted have to be unclogged for every class, and for almost every kid.  Teaching the student how to open, close, and unclog his or her own bottle is important.  If a student has a bottle that isn’t working tell them to close the glue, pick off the little dry part on top, then open it back up.  This will unclog about ½ the bottles in the room.  Be mindful of the student who unscrews the whole white part off the bottle!  Also, be certain to remind students at clean up time to close their bottles and this will help with clogs.

For the other half that are still having trouble you can pull off the orange nib and poke out the dried glue with a bent paper clip or a blunt tapestry needle. I usually wipe the mess on my apron and keep the tapestry needle tied to my keys where it is always handy.

The other fun that white glue presents; like using too much, or using it in inappropriate places, are just behaviors that need to be taught to your students.  If you do not tell them what the expectations are like, “a dot is a lot!”  They are not going to know.

If you like what you've read here, check out other free chapters:
Management Plan
Behavior Plan
Student Area
Teacher Storage Area
Pencils
Erasers
Scissors





Or download the whole book on iTunes or TeachersPayTeachers