i'm looking for a simple craft i could do as a demonstration speech for my highschool pub. speaking class.

Question

It has to be simple..but end with great presentation. And nothing too simplistic..It is a class of 17 year olds. Any ideas?

Answer 1

I always did origami for these speeches, like a crane or a box. There are a ton of origami instructions online, and that way the only supply you need to provide is the pretty paper (available at Michael's or any art store).

If not origami, maybe calligraphy? You can get felt-tipped calligraphy pens and paper that's ruled for calligraphy pretty inexpensively. I'd say that painting or drawing is a bad idea, as is any sort of scrapbooking or knitting/crocheting. Cookie decorating is another good one - check out Martha Stewart for some design ideas, and buy those pre-filled tubes of icing (you'd have to teach something kind of complex, though). Everyone likes an edible presentation.

Answer 2

I had this task in High School too! I constructed an exploding volcano! My classmates loved it and while it took only an hour or so to complete, there is enough steps and stages to fulfill the "speech' component of the task.

Build a real working volcano

After mixing just the right amount of ingredients together, we'll add the final item to make our volcano 'blow its top' spewing red lava down the sides.

First we need to create the 'salt dough'. Mix 6 cups flour, 2 cups salt, 4 tablespoons cooking oil, and 2 cups of water in a large bowl. Work the ingredients with your hands until smooth and firm. Add more water to the mixture if needed.
Stand the soda bottle in the baking pan. Mold the salt dough around the bottle making sure you don't cover up the bottle mouth or drop any dough into the bottle. Take your time on this step and build your volcano with as much detail as you like.
Fill the bottle most of the way with warm water mixed with a little of the red food coloring.
Put 6 drops of the liquid detergent into the bottle.
Add 2 tablespoons of baking soda.
Slowly pour vinegar into the bottle and jump back quick!
Notice the red 'lava' that flows out of your volcano. This happens because of the baking soda and vinegar mixture. Mixing baking soda and vinegar produces a chemical reaction (a chemical reaction is a process in which one substance is chemically converted to another - all chemical reactions involve the formation or destruction of bonds between atoms) in which carbon dioxide gas is created - the same gas that bubbles in a real volcano. The gas bubbles build in the bottle, forcing the liquid 'lava' mixture of the bottle and down the sides of your volcano.

Answer 3

It's more of a hobby than a craft, and you'd have to learn how to do it yourself, but have you considered juggling? Very eye catching, entertaining, and particularly amusing if you can get your hands on some rubber eggs.

Answer 4

Yikes, it's risky to do this with a new craft. Is there anything you already are used to doing? What do you do in your spare time that you could demonstrate?