A strength of the material science curriculum is that students are encouraged to incorporate what they have learned about various materials and their properties into the design and construction of meaningful projects. Often times during the project development manufacturing process, students "discover" even more material characteristics. It’s my constant quest to find additional project ideas that not only will interest and motivate students but also provide new opportunities for them to "investigate" materials.

During the unit on glass I have students do the experiment where they make "beads on a wire" using Borax on a wire loop. They enjoy the activity and get excited by their little "glob of glass" but frequently ask, "How do we get the bend off the wire and put a hole in it for stringing?" You can imagine the disappointment when they realize that the material and the process used do not lend themselves well to drilling and stringing. I think I have found the perfect follow up activity/project. I am going to have the students make glass beads using commercial glass rods as well as the "tons" of scrap glass from the past years stained glass and glass slump projects.

I first started thinking about the glass bead project after a discussion with the owner of the local glass shop. She showed me some examples of beads "kids" had made and shared with me a how to book on the subject. As I looked through it I realized the bead making process was not only something the students would likely enjoy as it allowed them to express their creativity but also it is a process that allows them to experience many of the properties of glass. Making beads will increase students awareness of glass viscosity as it changes with temperature; thermal shock; fiber drawing; annealing; coefficient of thermal expansion; material compatability; and tool use. As an added benefit I see it as a great way to use up a lot of glass scraps that are too small for anything else.

I plan to implement the glass bead project along with my glass unit next school year (Sept.97). I have made arrangements with the instructor from the glass shop to demonstrate bead making with my students. I have purchased enough torches for four stations and have also purchased a few easy to follow books on glass bead making. Beyond the initial demonstration and reference books I think it is important to let the students experiment and be as creative as they want.

Students will be given the task of creating:

1) A round bead using commercial glass rods.

2) A round bead from stained glass scraps

3) A long bead using a glass mix of commercial rod and glass scraps

4) An additional bead of their choice incorporating some of the demonstrated techniques

Minimum requirements should be completed during our glass unit. Additional beads can be made when ever the students schedule allows and they are motivated to do so.

1. Nonflammable surface to work on

2. Mandrels - (9" lengths of stainless steel welding rods/diameter determines hole size)

3. Bead Separator - kiln wash or shelf prime

4. Coffee can of vermiculite

5. Torch - map gas and "Hot Head"

6. Tools (sissors, pliers, dentist tools, etc.)

7. Marver - flat surface of marble or aluminum/very smooth to shape bead

8. Didymium lens safety glasses

1. You can Make Glass Beads by Cindy Jenkins

2. Torch Beads by Suzanne Cooper

3. Making Glass Beads by Cindy Jenkins

Charles Wright
29412 52nd Ave. E
Graham, WA 98338
(253)847-2849
E-mail cwright51@Juno.com

Word 97 doc file of this project:  wright.doc