Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Making 3D Shapes

I asked my students to construct 3D shapes using matchsticks and plasticine. Students demonstrated great problem solving skills when they encountered problems with the materials. For some students, they preferred using straws, while others preferred matchsticks. Some students experimented with using pipe cleaners.



Sunday, June 20, 2010

Fruit People

I originally found this idea on Art Projects for Kids (one of the best art blogs for children). As Kathy Barbro said, images of fruit and vegetables are easily found on www.iStockPhoto.com, however we used Microsoft Publisher to find clipart images instead. Students were asked to colour in their chosen pictures and cut carefully along the lines. We used water colour pastels to colour. As you can see, students were rather creative. It was also a great introduction to eating healthy.





Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Big Smelly Bear


Written by Britta Teckentrup

This is a favourite of my class. It is a simple story of cleanliness, however there are stronger messages of friendship. The book has some very cute illustrations that children will love.

It is a story of a bear who has no friends because he is so smelly and refuses to have a bath. That changes the day he gets an itch he just can't get rid of it. A bear comes to his rescue, but tells Big Smelly Bear that she wont scratch him until he has a bath. He finally gives in and a friendship grows. Big Smelly Bear does not want to lose his new friend, so he secretly bathes in the pond each day.






Teaching Points

  • Discuss personal hygeine as part of a personal care/safety unit
  • Write a procedure for a personal care activity
  • Discuss positive things children can do for their friends
  • Follow up with other texts about friendship
  • Learn about bears and their habitat
  • Create bear art using various mediums


Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Simple Machines - Useful Texts

Non-Fiction
Machines We Use by Sally Hewitt
How Do You Lift a Lion? by Robert E. Wells 
Machines by Chris Oxlade
Machines, Transportation & Art Activities by John Stringer
What do Ramps and Wedges do? by David Glover
What do Wheels and Cranks do? by David Glover

Fiction
Wheelie Girl Miriam Latimer
Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton
Duck on a Bike by David Shannon
Mr Gumpy's Motor Car by John Burmingham