Thursday, 1 September 2016

Stained Glass Art (Sun Catchers)

"Stained Glass" Art
(Sun Catchers)
Paper "Stained Glass" Art
           (Sun Catchers)

Suitable for Kindergarten to Third Grade

- this art can be made using any shape (rectangle, heart, angel)
- can be varied to suit the age/needs of the children
- after deciding on a shape, using black construction paper,
  cut out the center of the paper, leaving a frame about
  1/2 to 3/4 inch wide
- vary the expectations depending on the age/ability of the children (older
  children may be able to cut out their own shapes and it can be divided into random parts)
- this compliments "Stained Glass" Cross (Art/Christian activity)



Materials
- construction paper or card stock
- tissue paper that can be cut into 1 inch squares or torn into small pieces - a variety of colors or
  specific colors to suit the frame
- waxed paper
- watered down glue
- brushes for gluing

Construction
- prepare small containers of the glue mixture (approximately 1:1 ratio of white glue and water)
- distribute the waxed paper to be used as the surface for the tissue paper to be
  glued to (if paper is being used to protect the tables/desks, be sure to remove the art immediately
  upon completion to avoid the art being permanently stuck to the paper)
- use the brush to put the water/glue mixture on the waxed paper
- distribute the shape being used (older children may cut out their own shapes ahead of time)
- place the black construction "frame" on the waxed paper
- place a piece of tissue paper in the center of the frame and use the brush to gently brush a light coat
  of the glue mixture
- continue to put one piece of tissue paper at a time overlapping the pieces slightly each time and
  remembering to brush with the mixture each time
- after the sun catcher is completely dry, the excess waxed paper needs to be trimmed to the shape of
  frame
- hang in a window and enjoy the colors

Pine Tree Ornaments

Pine Cone Ornaments
Pine Tree Ornaments

Tree Ornaments

Suitable for Kindergarten to Third Grade

- ornaments that can be hung on a 
  Christmas tree or in a window
- small pine cones can be used to form a 
  wreath

Materials


- pine cones
- glitter - assorted colors
- ribbon
- white glue or a low temperature glue gun
- optional - sequins, jewels, small pompoms

Construction
- apply glue to the pine cone, as much or as little as desired - older children can apply their 
  own glue on the pine cone and then sprinkle it with glitter
- a plastic lid or a container with glue in it can be used for young children to roll the pine
  cone around, allowing the glue to adhere to the cone
- once enough glue is on the cone, glitter can be sprinkled on it or it can be rolled around in 
  a container of glitter
- after the glittery pine cone has dried it may also be decorated with sequins, jewels, small 
  pompoms
- attach a loop made out of ribbon


Paper Plate Dove

Paper plate Dove
Paper Plate Dove


Suitable for Kindergarten to Third Grade


- tracers can be made as shown
- students use the tracers to make the parts of the   dove
- the tail and wings can be placed strategically on   
  paper plates with a scalloped edge. It gives a    
  "feathery" effect,
- plain paper plates are also effective


Materials
- thin, white paper plates (1-2 per student) 
- plates with a scalloped edge gives a fancier effect
- 2 tracers - one body part and one wing (to be 
  trace twice) Multiple tracers will be needed 
  according to class size
- glue
- green, yellow and black construction paper (green for the olive branch, yellow for the
  beak, black for eyes)
- the dove parts could be cut out for Kindergarten children and children without the tracing 
  and cutting skills

Construction
- trace and cut out three dove parts (have the dove's tail and the wings line up with the 
  scalloped edge to give the feathery effect)
- glue wings onto the dove body with the tip of the wing pointing up
- wings can be bent slightly to give a flight appearance
- cut out a small triangle shape for the beak, a circle for the eyes (one for each side) and a 
  leaf to be glued to the beak

Tuesday, 16 August 2016

Patterns

Weaving Patterns
Weaving Patterns

Suitable for Kindergarten to Third Grade


- using strips of paper/yarn/chenille stems
   to create a pattern
- vary the number of colours/shapes of 
  strips depending on the age/ability of the 
  children

Materials
- construction paper or card stock with cuts   made about an inch apart
- have a variety of "strips" available
- younger children will be drawn to 
  different colours to make their patterns
- older children may incorporate colour, 
  size, material etc. to create more 
  complex patterns.
  They could also make their own cuts in the paper.

Weaving
- teach the concept of weaving by using key
  words such as over and under
- for young children, over and under exercises would
  be beneficial 

Measurement

Measurement


Suitable for Kindergarten to Third Grade
-using standard and nonstandard units of 
 measurement



Materials
- standard units of measurement (rulers,
  yardsticks or metre sticks)
- nonstandard units of measurement (blocks, wooden craft sticks,



Measuring

Back To School

Back To School Checklist
Back To School Checklist
- classroom set-up 
- furniture placement
- math manipulatives
- reading materials
- art supplies
- daily supplies -pencils, erasers, 
  rulers, notebooks, paper, books,
- technology - devices/cords in working   
  order
- clean up any unnecessary files/apps

The following should also be included in the Substitute Teacher Handbook

- classroom behaviour plan
- emergency procedures - classroom evacuation and alternate sight
                                       - fire, tornado, hurricane, code red, code black
                                       - information package (class list, phone numbers, email addresses, 
                                         medical plans, behaviour plans) prepared and ready to take 
                                         offsight
                                       - medication/necessary requirements for children with medical 
                                         plans
- school protocol - dress code
                            - behaviour
                            - recesses
                            - assemblies
                            - websites/newsletters,                                      
                            - communication with
                              parents/guardians
                            - staff/division meetings
                            - social media
- schedules - yard/lunch supervision
                   - timetable
                   - prep
- school and yard maps - supervision areas
                                      - fire/evacuation exits
                                      - student entrance/exit
                                      - parking
                                      - student pick-up area
                                      - buses
                                   


Wind Socks

Wind Socks

Wind Socks

Suitable for Kindergarten to Third Grade


- three dimensional, colourful, and the 
  movement of the streamers near an 
  open window is beautiful
- very effective results for all ages 
  and abilities
- the cylindrical part may be designed 
  according to personal preference
- my favourite is to draw sea creatures in 
  an underwater scene 
- other suggestions - a beach scene, a 
  snowy day, flowers, abstract designs, 
  Halloween, Valentine's Day, seasons 

Materials
- depending on the project - crayons, oil pastels,
  pencil crayons paint, etc.
- art paper or thin craft foam
- tissue paper or streamers (about an inch wide and 2 feet in length)
- chenille stems
- stapler
- glue sticks

Construction
- decorate the cylinder part according to the design selected, skills being taught, 
  and age of the children
- the following instructions are for the sea creature windsock, using crayon resist
- begin by using crayons or oil pastels to draw an underwater scene on 
  white art paper (approximately 17 X 22 inches) with the paper in a horizontal position
- be sure that the children press hard enough withe the crayons/oil pastels to allow the 
  drawing to show through the paint
- using a water colour/water wash, use horizontal stokes to paint over the drawing
- once the paint is dry, turn the paper over and glue the streamers/ tissue paper strips along 
  the bottom edge, about an inch apart
- make a cylindrical shape by attaching the ends of the papers together with a stapler
- to make the handle, poke a chenille stem twice through the top of the paper and secure it 
  by twisting 

Crayon Resist Collage

Rubbings With Crayon Resist - Collage
Crayon Resist Collage


Suitable for Kindergarten to Third Grade
- students will create a beautiful collage of 
  different textured prints, vibrant colours, 
  and contrasting painted washes
- crayon/oil pastel rubbings are made on 
  paper
- it is followed up with a paint and water 
  wash brushed over the rubbings to 
  create a contrast of colour and art 
  mediums  
  
Materials
- crayons or oil pastels (with paper wrapping removed)
- watercolour paint or paint with a very small amount water - check to see how it covers the 
  rubbing (you should be able to see enough of the rubbing through the paint
- paint brushes
- white art paper
- textured articles (examples - lego, sides of baskets, peg boards, rough surfaces)

Procedure
- remove the paper wrapping from either 
  crayons or oil pastels
- make textured articles available from the 
  classroom, home, nature (leaves)
- after placing the paper on a rough surface, the children use the side of the crayon
  or oil pastel to make the rubbing
- continue to change colours and textures until the page is filled with different sections
- each section should touch another section
- brush the paint over each section, using a different colour paint over the rubbings each 
  time (example - blue over green next to red over yellow)

Crayon Resist Design

Christmas Concert Idea

Primary Christmas Concert
The First Christmas

Suitable for Kindergarten to Third Grade


- a narrated play describing the birth of 
  Jesus
- ideal for 3 to 6 narrators with enough    
  characters   to include a whole class
- young children can have older children 
  help out with the narration and children 
  with special needs

Characters 
Narrators
Mary 
Joseph
Jesus (a doll)
3 Wisemen
3 Shepherds
Angel Gabriel
Angels
Innkeepers
Caesar Augustus
Animals

Props
Doll (Baby Jesus)
Manger (doll cradle or box)
Scroll for Caesar Augustus (rolled up paper that can be unrolled as it is held up)
Gold, Frankincense, Myrrh for the Wisemen (in decorative boxes or containers)
Shepherds crooks (canes) - optional
Stuffed sheep/lambs for shepherds to hold - optional

Costumes
Keep it simple.  Some parts can be made by the children.
Angels - tunics - a white piece of material with an opening to put over the head, wings made out of bristol board trimmed with garland, halos made out of garland to be placed on top of the head.
Mary, Joseph, Wisemen, Shepherds, Innkeepers, Caesar Augustus - robes or tunics, towels placed on the head and secured by tying a long piece of material (Mary could have a lacy piece of material on her head). Wisemen - crowns made out of bristol board and decorated with glitter and jewels.
Animals - animal costumes that can be borrowed 
- clothes that match the colour of each particular animal (headbands can be made to match the animal with appropriate ears and nose)

Script

The First Christmas

First Narrator (can be split up)

The greatest gift that God has ever given us was his son, Jesus Christ.  Jesus came to bring peace to the world.

Let us watch and listen to the story of the birth of Jesus.

Long ago the king passed a law that everyone in the world should be counted.

And so, all the people went to the town where they were born to give their names.

Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem to be counted.

But in Bethlehem there was no room at the inn for Mary and Joseph.

ACTION:  Knock, knock, knock.
JOSEPH:  Do you have any room in your inn?
INNKEEPER:  Sorry - no room here.  But I have a stable you may stay in.
Mary and Joseph:  Thank you.

Second Narrator

While they were there, the time came for Mary’s baby to be born.  She gave birth to her son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger.

At that time, shepherds were watching over their sheep at night.  An angel of God appeared and said Jesus had been born.  The shepherds had never seen an angel before and they were afraid.

ACTION:  Shepherds act frightened.

The angel told the shepherds not to be afraid.  They would find a baby lying in a manger in a stable in Bethlehem.

The Shepherds went to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph and saw the baby lying in a manger.  They knelt down before baby Jesus.

ACTION:  Shepherds kneel down.

Third Narrator

After Jesus was born, some Wise Men journeyed from the East.

They looked up in the sky and saw a bright star.

So they set out for Bethlehem, bringing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.  They followed the star from the East.

The sight of the star filled them with delight.  The Wise Men knelt down before Jesus. 

ACTION:  Wise Men kneel down.

One Wise Man gave a gift of gold.  The next Wise Man gave frankincense.  The last Wise man gave the gift of myrrh.



Thus it was, that our Lord Jesus was born in the humble stable in the town of Bethlehem.