Creativity workshop Royal Academy March 2013 ideas for working with UV light The workshops will include simply made props that could be used for intensive effects in a dark sensory room or to create dramatic effect to enhance teaching and storytelling etc in a shaded room using portable UV light or even UV LED torches.

Easily made effects for shows and storytelling also useful for visual and attention work Effects props can easily made with craft materials and everyday materials often found locally. In many cases

children can be involved in making and using them. This assortment of hair bobbles , straws , pipe cleaners ,

hats, garlands all came from a pound shop.

Health and safety note Working with UV materials is fun

and a vast amount of fluorescent materials are child friendly - However you do need to assess the safety of materials

— ensure paints are non toxic if children are to handle them or the effects made with them . They must be bite

chew , swallow and shatterproof If you do become ambitious and want to use graffiti effects remember spray cans

must only be used by adults in well ventilated areas or workshops .

Contact les.staves @ntlworld .com Also visit Veryspecialmaths.co.uk or Facebook Very Special Maths

Making art work that magicalizes light Using fluorescent papers and paints are a way to create art works that transform into magic artefacts. Children can be enraptured by their own creations. This simple serpent is a rod puppet created by fold-ing a long length of green neon paper cut from a roll. Kids painted his patterns and face. A shoebox lid made the base for his head. When he is suspended from the rod by a string from his head he moves and sways with serpentine ease . A charming puppet. The star on his head is a neon price ticket — other collage effects could be used

Useful materials available through education suppliers stationary shops and pound shops Black A4 card Fluorescent card or paper Fluorescent poster paints – you can mix in a little PVA to make it more permanent PVA glues or glue sticks Fluorescent price tag stars - available in packs at Staples office supplies or retail supplies or market traders shops Self sticky paper spots in fluorescent colours -- available in packs at staples, office supplies, graphics shops fluorescent fabrics materials – keep any scraps from cutting out they are great in collaging and making flowers etc Fluorescent or white ribbons Any other scraps such as ribbon,feathers glitter etc to add texture Party supplies shops often have fluorescent stuff Lots of hair bobbles and bangles include neon Neon Scoobies or strings and laces Some plastic cups and party glasses come in neon but check for durability or shattering Its useful to have a small LED uv torch with to check the degree of fluorescence – not everything that looks neon REALLY glows Other stuff may be purchased from specialist suppliers you can find on the internet like ‘UV gear’ and ‘Glowshop’ they are fascinating to troll through - though this can move you to-wards increasing expense

Lollipop - Reversing plaques Make a lollipop card – with round or rectangular stiff black card and a handle of dowel or flat beading Paste your fluorescent image on one side leave the other blank black. Or a different im-age Use it by switching the visible sides round in a dark room under UV light. The hide and reveal is very effective – great for promoting looking tracking or anticipa-

tion of appearance and disappearance in stories – different images on each side give

transformation effects -- happy or sad, winking eyes, twinkling stars,

Flutter Plaques—opening and closing Let the images kids have created live in movement and flight Make the butterfly or bird image - you may use handprints, folded blob patterns, cut outs , patterns of paper scraps and sticky spots or stars. Cut the image outline out and stick it on the black card. Fold the card so that the image can be hidden inside. This is a simple but very striking effect when the card is flapped in the dark under UV light, it appears and disappears so you can flutter, dive and settle – try it with a recording of bird song we have used part of a recording of the dawn cho-rus at the lost gardens of Heligan only £6 http://www.heliganshop.com/ShowDetails.asp?id=255 or the great Satchmo recording of its a wonderful world. And of course Here Comes the Sun To make it easy to handle you can paste little handles on the back of the card.

Roll and reveal Make a roller from a length of black velvet with dowels at each end. Attached

shapes , or loose items can be rolled up inside it and revealed by unrolling or un-

folding. This is very effective when used hanging , releasing it to suddenly fall open,

and reveal a sudden colour scene could be a blossom tree or a dragon. Loose items

can be rolled in it to fall out like leaves, or streaming ribbons that give a flame effect

For classroom fun the same idea can be used on the table or floor and can give a

magic edge to Kims game.

Growing Tall Things growing and expanding are great for promoting pupils inter-

est in looking, tracking, and anticipation. They extend apprecia-

tion of cause and effect and importantly can be used to create nar-

ratives that children can recall and experience repetitions that de-

velop use of memory..

The concertina garland—growing plant Cut folded fluorescent paper, or a number of

sheets of card put together ,into flower / leaf shapes with four petals. make as many as you may need.

Staple two together at two points Staple next layer at the two points on the other

axis Continue with more layers alternating the stapling

axis, just like making a Christmas decoration that will concertina .

By adding successive layers you make a plant that will grow as tall as you like as you pull the top layer up. You might add a flower bloom at the top. Its great for giving the effect of growing flowers and trees.

Could also make a serpent or dragon

ideas for growing plants Plastic straws Scooby strings threaded through fluorescent drinking straws or from the pound shop can make a plant stalk leaves can be added at intervals with paper or tying fabric scraps Use fishing line threaded through a ceiling hook to pull it

up and make it grow like Jacks beanstalk. Stringing plastic cups Is another way to make a tree trunk plant stalk or snake. Flower heads can be made either flat with card or by using a plastic cup or party glass sticking one end of fabric or paper inside and allowing the other end to flop out like petals

Umbrellas Are popular in very special classrooms creating mini envi-ronments and ad hoc projection surfaces, they also make terrific Umbrella puppets or effects props You can paint images or patterns on the outside.—Maybe a flower or dramatic animal face or op art effects which change as they are opened - closed and spun. Streamers or small objects can be hidden inside to drop out when opened. Ribbon streamers can be attached to the edge to flare out as you spin Here are some examples

The deadly shark – that can dart about narrow and pointed - then suddenly pulsate open with his frightening face flapping and growing

The Spiral Sun Opens to shine gloriously and spins dazzling orange and yellow

The shower umbrella -- a clear blue cloud from which a cascade of teardrop ribbons and silver confetti can fall

Umbrellas can be purchased in pound shops and on ebay. Check they are safe - you may need to add a ball to the spike if it is prominent

Ribbon Effects Fluorescent ribbon shimmers powerfully especially against black back-grounds. Lengths can be worked into many props or used on its own to unroll and create a track or trail . Strands attached to short handles and used in dancing twirling movements create the effect of wonderful streaks of light or flames as you swirl or dance them . Create your own firebird.

Surprise tubes and bags Ribbon or chiffon pulled out of tubes or bags create sudden breathtaking colour — bring-ing with it learning about cause and effect, object permanence, anticipation and fun with other people — communication is inspired. Plastic tubing or whisky or Pringles tubes can be painted black and then used to contain fluorescent objects that can be produced or tipped out from them creating surprise appear-ance. e.g Fluorescent foam balls attached on elastic that tumble out from the tube , flowers each simply made from a neon colour pipe cleaner and a paper star very effective pro-duced as a bunch from the tube , the slinky dangles and sways , -- the rubber spider in one of the tubes below may cause consternation – use with care.

Black or UV light is comprised of waves at the end of the visible spectrum not directly visible to the human eye as it travels from its source, but it causes certain colours to glow – ‘fluoresce’— making them intensely visible. This is very useful for dramatic effect and for working with pupils with visual difficulties who may for example be able to locate or track things that have intensified contrast. With experience you will start to recognise that not all ‘neon’ looking materials actually ‘fluoresce’ some just reflect – they will not have the same visual power, Though they may still have some fascination and add to the texture of scenes in the dark Types of UV lights The most common Black light bulbs that are used in entertainment and education are UV type A which is the closest UV to the visible light spectrum, it shows some blush purple tinges. These lights are low powered and do not cause sunburn in the way that direct sunlight or tanning bed tubes can. Short period of exposure in lessons etc are safe but one should always consider safety and comfort – close proximity to directly facing lamps does cause glare which can be disorienting, and children should not be allowed to stare di-rectly at the lights from close quarters UV A lights have long been available as bayonet fitting bulbs, UV light tubes are com-mon in discos and often found in sensory rooms, though it reduces effect it is desirable for them to have protective housing particularly if they are within children’s possible ac-cess.

Recently LED UV lights have become available and the light used for The Ultra Violets workshop sessions is a power stage wash with 18 LEDs these are more robust, get warm but not hot, do not have exposed breakable bulbs and have very long lamp lives. The supplier we used for lights was http://www.uvgear.co.uk/index.htm

Note Other shorter wave length lights UV - B and UV – C lights have specialist

use in industry , forensics and sterilisation or purification they are more powerful

and are not for school or entertainment use.

What is Black light About fluorescence

UV LED Torches In addition to mains lights for shows and sensory rooms in

The Ultra Violets workshops we use UV LED torches. They

are very useful both in the sensory room and for highlight-

ing objects during table work in the classroom.

A black mat is useful on the table it forms a centre of fo-

cus , adults or children can use the torch to illuminate and

point to objects promoting looking sequencing and commu-

nication .

White cotton gloves look terrific under UV and using them with torches is a great way to de-

velop finger skills and sequencing.

The torches come with varying numbers of LEDs the ones we were using had 41 LEDs

and are good for working with groups. Smaller ones also have their uses -- even the sin-

gle LED key ring torch is useful as a magic light for pointing – or just for checking that mate-

rials or toys you are buying are truly fluorescent. Though the torches are quite expensive

from sensory catalogues etc they can be found from about £6 or 7 on Ebay

Sticky fluorescent spots and the stars that shopkeepers write prices on can be used to create art work. Or for activities They look good even in day light particularly if used on a black backing mat , but

The torches are also good for looking into UV shoebox stories—here’s an aquarium from Les the light that doubles as a magnetic fishing game and two feely examples of from Flo the Glo

Peace and optimism with a joy full out-come Fallen leaves fine filigree The nightly moon paints silver Laying in the for-est peace The silent sleeping slumber Waiting for the new day

Here it comes The sun ! Mysterious and dangerous imagine the outcome Neon leaves are laying Scattered on the ground

The silver stretching moonlight Cast silently around Hush Hush whisper who dares Who watches from the shadow where are the eyes that stare ?

Write with light UV torches make a glowing mark that gradu-ally fades when you use them with the Photoluminescent board the signwriters use to make glow in the dark safety signs . RNIB sell Glowmat on Amazon Hirstwood Training sell a write in light sensory sensory sack . Argos sell the Glow Crazy Doodle dome

Setting Drama The magic of light creates emotive settings. Here are two different drama scenarios—

the leaves are fine gauze—from Ikea —but paper leaves could be made by children.

Bring on the spinning umbrella

and music

http://www.hirstwood.com/sensory-kits/super-uv-sensory-sack/