Miniatures Badges
(Discover Knowledge)
By Kerry Cordy
Preschool: Do three requirements including the two starred *
_____1.* What is a miniature? Find pictures of three different types of miniatures and their regular sized counterparts.
_____2.* Make a miniature of any type by yourself or with help.
Level 1: Do four requirements including the two starred *
_____ 1.* Do Preschool requirements 1 & 2. Make at least 3 types of miniatures, like furniture, food, doll houses, or books.
_____ 2.* Choose a specific type of miniatures such as doll houses, miniature writing or books, miniature horses or other animals, miniature trains, etc. and learn the history of this type of miniature. When did people first start to make them? Where? Did they originally serve a specific purpose?
Level 2: Do five requirements including the two starred *
_____ 1.* Complete Level 1 requirements 1 & 2.
_____ 2.* Learn what the following terms mean in relation to miniatures:
- Scale
- OOAK
- Diorama
- Layout
- Polymer clay
- Artisan quality
- Acetate
- Adhesive
- Armature
- Balsa
Level 3: Do six requirements including the two starred *
_____ 1.* Complete Level 2 requirements 1 & 2.
_____ 2.* Learn how to make something to scale. Measure something in your home and try to recreate it using 1:12 scale. Find miniatures that come in at least 3 different scales. Which size do you like best?
Level 4: Do seven requirements including the two starred *
_____ 1.* Complete Level 3 requirements 1 & 2.
_____ 2.* Learn about the International Guild of Miniature Artisans (IGMA) or the National Association of Miniature Enthusiasts (NAME). Who can join and what are the benefits of membership? What are the objectives of the Guild? What other associations, organizations, or clubs are there for miniature enthusiasts?
Level 5: Do nine requirements including the two starred *
_____ 1.* Do Level 4 requirements 1 & 2.
_____ 2.* Teach someone how to do a skill from this badge or teach some knowledge about this badge to someone. You can teach kids, your spouse, seniors, anyone, just as long as you are sharing your new found knowledge. If for some reason you cannot teach what you have learned to someone else, you may choose an additional 2 optional requirements instead.
Optional Requirements:
_____ 3. Use a polymer clay such as Fimo or Sculpty to create something in miniature such as food or dishes.
_____ 4. Create a diorama using miniatures you have around the house or that you make yourself.
_____ 5. Learn about what miniature water can be made of. How can a person make ponds, streams, and waterfalls?
_____ 6. Visit a museum or collection of miniatures.
_____ 7. Find a book or catalog about miniatures and look through it with a parent.
_____ 8. Learn about lightning and miniatures. How does lighting in doll houses, barns, towns, and Christmas trees work?
_____ 9. A living miniature is a living plant or animal that has been bred specifically for its small size. Examples include miniature horses, dogs, and goats as well as fruit trees, bonsai trees, or flowers. Either visit someone who owns a living miniature and learn what makes them different from their full sized relatives, or go online with a parent and learn about at least 2 types of living miniatures.
_____ 10. Find at least 3 companies that sell miniatures and look through their catalogs.
_____ 11. Research at least one job related to miniatures. Examples might include an artist, product developer for a toy company, or even a miniature golf course designer. What companies could you work for? What type of education would you need? What type of pay could you expect?
_____ 12. Learn about miniature shows. For instance, model horses are primarily shown through the North American Model Horse Show Association (NAMHSA). See if there are photo or live shows, or conventions, for your favorite type of miniature.
_____ 13. Learn what miniatures are made out of. For instance, what can trees be made out of, compared to doll houses, dolls, or flowers?
