air project III – “Air makes music”

After  the previous ideas to somehow conclude the air project i added the last part – “Air makes music” We already talked about the abilities what can the air do and came to the music part. Because of the availability only of few materials we made simple but still beautiful wind-chimes. Used materials: old used CD’s, pipe cleaners, beads, bells, straws…

air project

After teaching the book and all units decided to switch to something useful and more interesting for the kids, The AIR project!

I started the class with few simple questions: can you see the air? can you feel the air? where and when do you feel it? Is the air strong?…. Kids gave somewhat similar answers…

Second phase- proof: All kids made fans and we gathered paper-rolls beforehand and the games started!!!!

Bees a lot of bees

Spring time

A very nice craft, for 3 years old kids. First find something circular, like a lid maybe and get the kids to draw a line round the lid. Cut out the two circles and stick them together. Cut two other circles and fold them in half and stick them as wings. The kids will come up with other creative ideas. Here are some pics:

Rainy Season

It is Spring and in some parts of the world it is rainy season

Here are some ideas and crafts that you can use in your classroom or at home.

http://www.dltk-teach.com/books/littlecritter/index.htm  the little critter doll hat you can dress in rain coat,boots,hat…

I did print the white and black version of the clothes and gave it to the kids to use their own imagination to color, cut and stick on the color version of the critter doll. Here are the pics:

Doll, car, train

Hand made toys!

Kids learn how to appreciate other peoples  efforts when they are aware that one person has dedicated their time and patience in doing something. To get this feeling i recommend to engage your kids in such activity where they will spend their time, be patient, and dedicate them into making a toy so later they will experience the procedure and cherish the effort. You wont have to worry about new toys, they will protect and enjoy the already existing toys.

Divergent thinking

Divergent thinking means to think in an unusual, novel and unique way. It is one ability that is highly appreciated in the new modern world.

“Creativity or divergent thinking can be identified with openness in expressing feeling, receptivity to ideas, concern for others, desire to grow as a person and actualize one’s potentials. Hence creativity is the playful exploration of thoughts by a person who is open, curious and imaginative.”

 

Promote spatial skills

Visual- spatial abilities are important for success in solving many tasks in everyday life. For example, using a map to guide yourself through an unfamiliar city, merging in traffic, orientation…

Also is important for success in many fields of study like: architecture, engineering, natural sciences, math.

“Visual-spatial ability is becoming increasingly important with the development and proliferation of new technologies such as imaging, computer graphics, data visualization, and super-computing. Highly demanding spatial tasks include the construction of mental representations of object configuration from images on several screens representing different perspectives, as in some fields of surgery.”

Encourage problem solving

One of the biggest problems or mistakes that parents cause or make  are doing everything for their kids, leaving them with no self-esteem or feeling of ability/ capability. Present parents don’t even let old enough children dress them selves non the less do chores. The toys that they choose are flashy on batteries, toys that not require any mental or physical activity.

Parents please encourage your kids to foster more and more abilities!!!And the answer is construction toys!!!

Construction toys help build:

• motor skills and hand-eye coordination

• spatial skills

• a capacity for creative, divergent thinking

• social skills, and

• language skills

 

 

 

Lantern art

More creativity!!!!

Practicing cutting, being bale to make something gives a sense of accomplished. Here is one very interesting craft with mixed materials.

Paper bag puppets

Creativity, creativity and more creativity. These puppets come with a paper bag and the rest parts of the puppet are pre-cut. It is suitable for 2 years old children and older.

One of the abilities of a 2- year old kid should be sorting by color and shape. The paper bag puppet can be the activity that you need to develop or acquire this ability. It is fun!

This age is when your kid grows from a baby to child and goes through significant development. Fine motor skills are starting to develop, uses one hand more than the other. This activity is just right to practice handedness, that will fullly develop in the later years.