- White plastic dishwashing detergent bottle
- scissors
- sharp nail
- charcoal or markers
- hole punch
- soft cloth
- cord or string
- dry soup bone, optional
More than 85 percent of Greenland is covered in thick ice all year round. It is the largest island in the world and lies mostly north of the Arctic circle. Fishing is a major industry, and in the past, whaling held great importance. Whalers developed scrimshaw, or scratching and engraving lines into ivory - whales teeth and bone. Ink was rubbed into the scratches, producing a picture. Through scrimshaw, whalers could record observations and stories they wanted to tell and remember.
- Wash out a dish washing detergent bottle until no suds remain. This can take longer than you think! Then dry.
- With scissors, cut the top and bottom of the bottle away. More drying may be needed, especially inside. Adult help will be needed.
- Next, cut a piece of white plastic from the bottle to use for a piece of "whale's tooth" or "ivory."
- Hold the plastic firmly on the work surface. Scratch a design into the white plastic with the nail.
- Next, rub charcoal or markers over the lines to fill in the scratches. Then rub away the excess with a soft cloth or fingers. Go back and make more scratches and colors as desired.
- Punch a hole at the top of the design with the hole punch. Insert a cord or string to make a pendant on a necklace or to make a loop for hanging.
- Wear or display the scrimshaw. Make more from the rest of the bottle.
NOTE: The next time there is a clean, dry soup bone around, try this same procedure on the bone.
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