The Magic Hair
Image courtesy of Boosinka via Shutterstock
The Magic Hair Activities 1-15
Activity 2 / Send Smoke Signals
Activity 3 / Draw a Street Painting
Activity 6 / Make Selma's Choice
(*a favorite of the author)
Activity 11 / Create Stalactites and Stalagmites
Activity 1 / Create a Hinge
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When Nici tries to hide from the brat Sa’ahndra, her hair gets caught in the hinge of her bedroom door.
To understand how a hinge works, let’s create a simple one.
What You’ll Need
• 4” x 7” piece of cardboard (you can cut up a cereal box)
• Scissor
• Tape
• Ruler
• Pen or mechanical pencil with a clip
STEP 1
Mark three columns on your piece of cardboard. The two sides should be 2.5 inches and the middle column 2 inches.
Divide the middle column into three sections. The top and bottom sections should be 1 inch and the middle section 2 inches.
Your diagram should look like this:
STEP 2
Cut your cardboard along the lines so the A tabs are attached to the left side and the B tab is attached to the right.
It should look like this:
STEP 3
Trim about a quarter inch from the top and bottom of the B tab.
STEP 4
Curl the tabs around your pen or pencil and tape them in place. Make sure the tube isn’t too tight and that the “pin” can slide in and out easily.
STEP 5
Align the three tabs and insert the pencil.
Congratulations. You’ve just made a simple hinge.
Activity 2 / Send Smoke Signals
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When the Etto brothers see smoke on a distant hill, they wonder if someone is trying to contact them using smoke signals.
Smoke signals are an ancient and very simple way to communicate. And think how handy this skill will be if you’re ever lost in the woods without your cell phone.
What You’ll Need
ADULT SUPERVISION
• Metal pail or very large can
• Sand
• Newspaper
• Twigs, branches and grass
• Old towel or sturdy piece of cloth large enough to cover the pail
• Matches
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STEP 1
Place two inches of sand in the bottom of the pail or can. This will keep the fire from burning the bottom.
STEP 2
Place crumpled strips of newspaper on top of the sand. Then place a large handful of dry twigs on top of that.
Have an adult light the newspaper with the matches.
STEP 3
Let the fire burn for a little bit until it is going strong.
Place a few more twigs and a little bit of grass on top. It works best if the twigs are “green,” meaning that they haven’t dried out yet. The moisture in the grass and wood will create more smoke than dry materials.
Be careful not to put so much “green” fuel in that it puts out your fire.
STEP 4
Cover the pail or can with the towel for a few seconds, then remove it. This will create a puff of smoke.
That’s because smoke builds up inside the pail or can with nowhere to escape until you remove the cover. The longer the towel covers the container, the bigger the puff will be. Just don’t leave the towel on so long that your fire goes out.
Repeat this covering and uncovering action to create your signals.
STEP 5
When you’re done, pour more sand over the fire to put it out completely.
Remember that the pail or pan will be hot, so be careful handling it.
Hint
Signaling Code
Puffs of smoke are your alphabet, so you’ll want messages to be very short. (It’s even worse than texting with a flip phone.)
In the universal code of smoke signals, one puff generally means, “attention.” Two puffs mean “all is well.” And three puffs mean “danger” or “trouble.”
Of course, you can make up your own code. Or use Morse code with large and small puffs of smoke substituting for long and short dashes. Just remember that both you and the person reading the smoke signals have to know the code!
Activity 3 / Draw a Street Painting
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When Gino first meets Selma, she’s using charcoal and chalk to create drawings on the street.
This type of art is now known as street painting. Colored chalk is much easier to find than it was when this art form began in the Middle Ages. So you can easily become a street painter like Selma.
What You’ll Need
• Colored chalk
• Flat surface big enough for your drawing (sidewalks, driveways and empty parking lots are good places)
• Broom
• Measuring tape (optional)
• Rags (optional)
• Q-tips (optional)
STEP 1
Begin by sweeping the surface where you want to draw.
STEP 2
Draw a rectangle as large as you want your painting to be.
STEP 3
Begin sketching with the chalk. You may want to create an outline before coloring it in. (Sort of like a giant coloring book.)
Hints
Using a Grid Technique
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Street paintings are generally very large, often several feet long and wide. Some artists find it hard to draw something this large freehand, so they use a grid technique.
To do this, start by printing out the picture you want to draw. Then mark vertical lines on the printout one inch apart. Also draw horizontal lines one inch apart. Your image should look like grid paper.
Now mark a large grid on the street with the same number of squares as your printout. The idea is to take the portion of the drawing in each printout square and draw it in the appropriate square on the street.
For example, if a red balloon appears in the upper left corner square of the printout, then you’ll need to draw a red balloon in the upper left corner square on the street.
This way, you’ll be drawing a lot of smaller images rather than one large street painting.
Blending Colors
Part of the fun of chalk is that you can smear it around. It’s a great way to come up with new colors.
Blending can also help your painting look more real. Think about the color of a lake. It may be a greenish-blue near the shore and a brighter blue in the middle where it gets deep. It can look almost black where clouds block out the sun. And where the sun bounces off ripples, it can almost appear gold. By blending these different colors in the right places, your chalk drawing can look more like a real lake.
To blend, apply two or more colors and use your fingers or a rag to smear them together. For very small areas or delicate lines, you can use a Q-tip.
Extra
If you want to see some amazing street painting, search for Kurt Wenner’s artwork.
Activity 4 / Build a Table
After Gino is hauled away, Nici and Selma start talking about several pieces of furniture that he created.
While you may not be able to create furniture out of wood like Gino does, you can easily build it out of cardboard.
What You’ll Need
• 4 tubes from empty toilet paper rolls
• Newspaper
• Cereal box
• Extra cardboard (corrugated cardboard is best)
• Scissors or utility knife
• Glue
• Tape
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STEP 1
Stuff newspaper into the tubes to make your table legs more solid
STEP 2
Cut the front panel off the cereal box. It should look like a tray.
STEP 3
Cut several pieces of your extra cardboard so that they fit inside the cereal box. The thicker your cardboard, the fewer pieces you’ll need. Cut enough pieces to fill your tray at least half full. These will make your table sturdier.
STEP 4
For each cardboard inset piece, cut out a square in all four corners just big enough to fit the tube legs. Your insets should look like fat crosses. Set these aside for a minute.
STEP 5
Glue each leg into a corner of the tray. Tape them into place as well.
STEP 6
One by one, glue your inset pieces of cardboard into the tray. Glue the first one to the cereal box. Glue the next layer to the first one, and so on.
Set one inset layer aside.
STEP 7
After the next to last layer of cardboard is in place, add some more tape to each leg to make it sturdier.
STEP 8
Glue the final layer into place over the tape.
STEP 9
Let your project completely dry before decorating it.
Hint
Paper maché
Paper maché is a fun and easy way to smooth out the rough edges and strengthen your table.
You can find plenty of information on the web about how to do this. Basically, you apply strips of thin pieces of paper with a “glue” made out of flour, water and salt.
For best results, apply a few layers of paper (no more than four) and let them dry completely. Then apply no more than four more layers and let them dry. If you apply too many layers at once, your table won’t dry and set up properly. Repeat the layering and drying as much as you need to create a sturdy table.
Extra
Check the web for some of the amazing pieces of cardboard furniture that artists have created.
Activity 5 / Make Grape Juice
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Elliot supervises the children as they press juice from the grapes to make wine.
Rather than telling you how to make wine, here’s an easy recipe for grape juice—which is fermented grape juice.
What You’ll Need
• 5 lbs. of seedless grapes
• 1/2 cup of water
• Sugar (optional)
• 2 large pots—big enough to hold the grapes
• Fine-mesh strainer, sieve or colander
• Ladle
• Container that can hold at least 1/2 gallon of liquid
• Funnel (optional)
STEP 1
Wash the grapes and remove them from the stem.
STEP 2
Put the grapes and water in one of the large pots. Smash them with the ladle so that the juice begins to flow.
STEP 3
Simmer the grapes for 10 minutes. Stir the fruit to keep it from sticking to the bottom or sides. Continue smashing the grapes as they cook.
STEP 4
Place your strainer over the second pot. Pour or ladle the grape mash into the strainer. Press down with your ladle to smash out more juice.
Let the whole thing sit for several hours or overnight in the refrigerator. This will allow even more juice to drip into the pot.
Rinse out the cooking pot while you’re waiting.
STEP 5
When the juice cools, discard any remaining pulp in the strainer and rinse it out. Then place it over the clean cooking pot. Pour the juice through the strainer to filter out any remaining sediment.
STEP 6
Taste the juice.
If it’s too strong, add water.
If it’s not sweet enough, bring the juice to a boil and add up to 1 cup of sugar. Start ¼ cup at a time and taste the juice as soon as the sugar melts so you don’t make it too sweet. Let the juice cool before moving on to Step 7.
STEP 7
Pour the juice into your container.
If you’re using a container with a narrow mouth, pour the juice into it using a funnel.
Makes about 1/2 gallon of juice.
Extra
Try adding other fruit to the recipe to make a juice blend.
Activity 6 / Make Selma’s Choice
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Selma has to make a very difficult decision when she’s forced to choose whether to keep searching for Nici or go find Gino.
You may never have to make a choice as dramatic as Selma’s. But tough decisions are a part of everyone’s life. Here’s a little exercise that you can use whenever there is no clear right-or-wrong choice.
What You’ll Need
• Pen or pencil
• Paper
STEP 1
Divide a piece of paper into two columns.
On one side, list as many reasons as you can think of (at least three) for why you would go after Nici first.
On the other side, list all your reasons for going after Gino first.
STEP 2
Compare your two lists. Does one seem to have stronger reasons than the other? If so, that should be your choice.
Do the reasons on both lists seem equally strong? If so, you’ll have to go with your gut instinct.
Activity 7 / Create a Vortex
During her harrowing trip down the Roon River, Nici gets caught up in a whirlpool, also called a vortex.
You can also create your own vortex with this experiment.
What You’ll Need
• 2 clear plastic bottles, 1-liter or 2-liter size
• Duct tape
• Water
• Scissors (optional)
STEP 1
Remove the labels from the bottles and tear or cut them into tiny pieces like confetti.
STEP 2
Fill one bottle 3/4 full with water. Drop in the label confetti.
STEP 3
Place the second bottle on top of the first and wrap duct tape around the narrow necks. Add enough tape so that you have a water-tight seal.
STEP 4
Turn the bottles sideways and swirl the water-filled bottle around a few times.
STEP 5
Flip the bottles so the one with the water is on top. This will create a vortex as it flows into the bottom bottle. The confetti makes the vortex easier to see.
Hints
Instead of using label confetti, try:
• Food coloring (a few drops)
• Dish soap (one squirt)
• Colored lamp oil (about an inch poured on top of the water)
Instead of duct tape, you can buy a “tornado tube” to connect the two bottles. You can find them online and in some hobby and toy stores.
Extra
Build two vortex makers with the exact same amount of water. Have races with a friend to see who can empty theirs the fastest. The first time you race, turn one over without swirling it around. See which one empties faster—the swirled or non-swirled water.
Activity 8 / Make a Quill Pen
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Rikart, the magistrate, signs Gino’s release papers with a quill pen.
Quill pens were used for over 1,300 years. You can create one for yourself in a few quick steps.
What You’ll Need
ADULT SUPERVISION
• Large feathers
• Tin can (soup can is the perfect size)
• Sand
• X-acto or other sharp knife
• Cutting board
• Ink
• Paper
• Paper towels
STEP 1
Cut away some of the lower barbs so that each feather rests comfortably in your hand.
STEP 2
Temper the bare shaft of the feathers to make the quills harder.
To do this, fill the tin can ¾ full of sand. Heat it in your oven (not microwave). Carefully remove the can from the oven with a potholder.
NOTE: If your can has a paper label, remove it before putting the can in the oven.
STEP 3
Place the quills of the trimmed feathers into the sand and allow everything to cool.
NOTE: You can skip Steps 2 and 3, but your pen tips will break more easily and won’t last as long.
STEP 4
On the cutting board, use your knife to cut away the rounded tip of the quill.
STEP 5
Cut a notch in the quill about a ½ inch away from the end. Place the blade in this notch and cut down toward the tip. Cut at a 45º angle.
STEP 6
Clear away the thin membrane inside the quill.
STEP 7
In the nib that’s left, make a slit down the center that cuts all the way through. It should be about ¼ inch long.
STEP 8
Dip your pen tip into the ink and write The Magic Hair on a sheet of paper.
If you get excess ink on the nib, blot it on a paper towel before writing on the paper.
Hints
Grip
Don’t press down too hard on the quill or the slit in the point will widen and drop all of the ink in a blob. Pressing too hard can also break the tip. Use much less pressure than you would with a pen or pencil. With practice, you’ll learn just the right amount of pressure for your pen.
Ink
Calligraphy ink works well and is easily available in craft and hobby stores. India ink doesn’t flow freely on quill pens.
Paper
Paper that’s smooth, such as printer paper, will work better than textured paper. Textured paper absorbs too much ink and can distort your writing.
Activity 9 / Make a Parachute
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As she’s tumbling over the waterfall, Nici’s hair forms a cone-like structure. Air gets up underneath it and creates drag or air resistance, just like a parachute. This is what slows Nici’s descent.
You can see how this works by making your own model parachute.
What You’ll Need
• Plastic bag
• Paper or plastic cup
• Kite string
• Scissors
• Felt-tip marker
STEP 1
Cut out a circle at least 12 inches in diameter from your plastic bag.
STEP 2
Fold the circle in half, then in half again.
STEP 3
Punch a hole in the middle of the wide end about ½ inch from the edge. Be sure to punch through all four layers.
STEP 4
Cut four pieces of kite string, each one 24 inches long. Open the plastic circle and tie one string to each hole.
STEP 5
Punch four holes in the cup an equal distance apart and about ½ inch from the rim.
STEP 6
Tie the loose ends of the strings to the holes in the cup.
Your parachute is now ready for flight. Drop it from a high place and see how well it works.
Extra
Have a friend create a parachute as well. Then you can conduct races by dropping them at the same time from a high place.
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You can also put different small objects into the cups to see how the extra weight affects the speed of the descent.
Activity 10 / Create an Echo
Selma and Gino create echoes as they call back and forth to each other in the canyon.
Echoes are caused by sound waves bouncing off hard surfaces and returning to your ears. And they’re fun to create.
What You’ll Need
• Your voice
• An echo spot
• A smartphone or recorder
STEP 1
When you’re in different surroundings, pay attention to the sound quality around you.
Very large spaces with smooth sides make the best echo chambers. Large, empty rooms, tunnels and canyons are just a few places to check out.
STEP 2
When you find a place where the sound bounces back, record yourself saying “Magic Hair.”
STEP 3
Compare your recordings to see which place produces the best echo.
Activity 11 – Create Stalactites and Stalagmites
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Lars and Marietta marvel at the odd formations that hang from the ceiling and grow from the floor of the mountain cave. They’re looking at what we call stalactites and stalagmites.
These strange, but beautiful formations develop from one drop of water at a time. So they can take millions of years to form. But you can build your own in about a week.
What You’ll Need
• Two glass jars or cups, 4-6 inches tall
• Cotton string, 24 inches long
• Baking soda or Epsom salts
• 2 metal washers
• Small plate or saucer
• Spoon
STEP 1
Fill each glass container about ¾ full of water.
STEP 2
Stir in enough baking soda or Epsom salts to make a thick solution. It should be the consistency of mud.
STEP 3
Tie the metal washers to either end of the string. These will act as weights to keep your string from falling out of the containers.
STEP 4
Thoroughly soak the string in the solution.
STEP 5
Place the plate in between your two jars or cups.
STEP 6
Place one washer in one container and the second washer in the other container. Let the string sag between the two containers, but keep it a few inches above the plate.
STEP 7
Check your experiment every day to watch the formations grow. You should have a spike shape coming down from the string and another one building up from the plate.
Hints
Materials
Use a ceramic or metal plate instead of paper. A paper plate will absorb the solution and your stalagmite will not build up from the bottom.
Make sure your string is a natural fiber, not synthetic. The stalactite won’t form properly on man-made materials.
Location
Your experiment will need to sit for about a week to 10 days without being disturbed. So select a warm, dry location that is out of the way. Make sure no one—including a pet—touches the stalactite and stalagmite while they’re forming. They’re very fragile—just like the real ones in caves.
Activity 12 / Make a Gourd Bowl
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Parmalee serves rabbit stew to Nici in a bowl made from a gourd.
Gourds are in the same plant family as pumpkins and squash. They have a very hard rind that can be used to make a bowl. Here’s how to do it.
What You’ll Need
ADULT SUPERVISION
• Dried gourd
• Felt-tip marker
• Jigsaw or hand saw
• Safety goggles
• Respirator mask
• Ice cream scooper
• Sand paper
• Paintbrush
• Enamel paint
STEP 1
Use the felt-tip marker to draw a line where you want to cut off the top of your gourd.
STEP 2
Have an adult saw the gourd along the line you drew.
IMPORTANT: Wear safety goggles and a respirator mask when sawing the gourd. The tiny dust particles can be harmful if they get in your eyes, nose or mouth.
STEP 3
Use the ice cream scoop to clean out the seeds and pulp.
STEP 4
Sand the lip of the bowl where it was cut with the saw. Also, sand the inside of the bowl to make it as smooth as possible.
IMPORTANT: Wear safety goggles and a respirator mask when sanding the gourd because this can also cause harmful dust particles.
STEP 5
Decorate your bowl with paint.
Hints
Gourd Sources
You may want to buy dried gourds online because it can take up to a year to dry it on your own. If you do want to dry your own gourds, you can find how-to information online.
Pulp Removal
If you find it difficult to get all of the flesh out of your gourd, pour warm water into the bowl. Let it sit for about 20 minutes. Then pour out the water and use your ice cream scooper to scrape out the softened pulp.
Sealer
To preserve your artwork for a longer time, put on a few coats of acrylic sealer. Just be sure your paint has dried thoroughly before applying the sealer.
Activity 13 / Make a Trumpet
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Renetta, Tem and the other agricultural workers are awakened by the sound of a trumpet.
While today’s trumpets are expensive brass instruments, you can create a simple version with a few everyday materials.
What You’ll Need
ADULT SUPERVISION
• Plastic bottle (1- or 2-liter size works well)
• Cardboard tube from paper towels or wrapping paper
• Felt-tip marker
• Construction paper
• X-acto blade or utility knife
• Tape
STEP 1
Place the cardboard tube over the mouth of the plastic bottle. Use the felt-tip marker to trace the outline of the tube on the bottle.
STEP 2
Ask an adult to cut the bottle at the line.
STEP 3
Tape the top of the plastic bottle over one end of the cardboard tube. This is your mouthpiece.
STEP 4
Make a funnel shape with construction paper and tape it together. The small end of the funnel should be just big enough to fit over the cardboard tube.
STEP 5
Tape the small end of the funnel over the open end of the tube (the end without the mouthpiece).
STEP 6
Press your lips together inside the plastic mouthpiece. Blow or buzz your lips hard to create a sound.
Activity 14 / Dehydrate Fruit
Brylie gives Selma and Gino a sack full of dried fruit and other food for their journey.
Drying or dehydrating helps preserve foods by removing the water. (Mold and rot can’t set in if there is no water.) You can make your own dehydrated fruit using a microwave.
What You’ll Need
ADULT SUPERVISION
• Fruit (apples, bananas, peaches, pears, and pineapple work well)
• Sharp knife
• Paper towels
• Microwave oven
• Microwave-safe ridged tray
• Wire cooling rack
STEP 1
Wash your fruit in water and dry off all moisture.
STEP 2
Have an adult slice the fruit to a thickness of about ¼ inch.
STEP 3
Place the slices on several paper towels. Cover with more paper towels and press lightly to remove as much moisture as possible.
STEP 4
Put the sliced fruit on a microwave-safe tray that allows air to flow above and below the fruit. (A ridged tray meant for cooking bacon is ideal.)
STEP 5
Cook on Defrost or half-power setting for 5-10 minutes. Check to see if the fruit looks like leather. If so, remove it from the oven. If not, microwave it at 30-second intervals until it become leathery.
STEP 6
Take the fruit out of the microwave and place it on a wire cooling rack. Let it sit for a few hours to complete the dehydration.
Your fruit should now be soft and flexible, but not juicy.
Store any leftovers in airtight jars or plastic bags.
Hint
Alternative Drying Method
If you want to dry fruit the way Brylie might have, do Steps 1-3. Then place your slices on a wire rack and cover with a piece of cheesecloth to keep insects away. Put the fruit in a very sunny place. Depending on the fruit you’re drying, it can take 2-4 days to completely dry out.
Note that your fruit will be brownish in color. The dehydrated fruit you see in grocery stores that is brightly colored has sulfur on it to preserve the color.
Activity 15 / Research Herbal and Plant Cures
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Parmalee talks about Ashanna, the Romani woman, who used herbal medicine to help heal wounds.
Herbs and other plants have been used since ancient times to cure illnesses and relieve pain. Alternative medicine practitioners still use these remedies to treat patients.
You might be surprised by some of the uses people have found for common plants and herbs.
What You’ll Need
• Computer with Internet connection
STEP 1
Copy the following list to a blank document.
• Catnip
• Cranberry
• Dandelion
• Dill
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Lavender
• Licorice
• Oregano
• Parsley
• Pepper
• Peppermint
• Rosemary
STEP 2
Research several herbal medicine sites to discover what these plants offer.
Write at least three uses for each of the plants.