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 II

As a continuation to the air project combined with the summer hot weather i came up with a simple and already done by many idea- Boats. Can be used many materials that float on water a straw and left over paper or any other material that can be used as sail.

Than together with the kids we talked about the power of the air and of course jumped into the race. If you can find a bigger container for water or even a kids pool line up few kids and ask them to blow in the sail so they will move the boat. It is a lot of fun for kids to play with water!

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!!!!

shuttlecock or birdie

Crafts crafts and more crafts!!!!!

Playing much badminton? if yes, i am sure you have a lot of useless birdies that can be put to a good use. Please carefully look at the pics and get inspired….

blossoming tree

The spelling of tree is not just right, but it is very nice project. Teaching the seasons can be sometimes difficult, regarding the division of the seasons and the country that you are teaching in. Some countries just do not have the generalized season classification and characteristics so we need super cool project or idea to teach. One classroom teacher and her kids made this tree and presented the weather throughout the year. When it was summer or spring or winter or any season they showed the tree in the usual characteristics of the country’s climate.  Here is spring in Japan with the white or you can make them pink blossoms.

I personally think this was great idea. So choose your country and present the season as it is in particular countries. The kids will have better idea and will know more about the world and not only their own city or country.

Other ideas: Winter in Finland, Autumn in Germany or Thailand depending what you want to present…

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.”