Learn

Here’s a fun way to make your mark on history - or at least a piece of paper! You might even design a simple Coat of Arms to print on your own stationery or wrapping paper. Best of all, your tool of choice is the humble but ever-useful potato. Hint: Simple shapes like stars, diamonds and half moons work the best.

Remember to ask an adult to help you with this project.

• large potato
• paper towel
• pencil
• knife for carving
• acrylic paints or colored ink stamp pads
• Paper

1. Cut the potato in half and pat it dry with a paper towel.
2. On the cut surface of the potato, draw an outline of the shape you want with the pencil.
3. Very carefully cut away the area outside your drawn shape. Start at the outline and then out to the sides so that the pieces come out. Cut down about 1 inch.
4. Pat the potato surface dry. Put some paint into a bowl and dip the potato shape into it, or press the shape onto a colored stamp pad.
5. Press the potato straight down onto the paper, then lift it straight up so that there won’t be any smudges.