We tend to associated the term ‘concentric’ with circles and raindrops falling on puddles are a good example.but any shape, as shown below, can be concentric.
So here are some more early learning ideas based on the Concentric theme..
Learning Fun with Concentric Shapes
Raindrops on Puddles Part One
It’s incredible how much can be learnt using raindrops on puddles as inspiration.
Science. Art. Mathematics. Vocabulary. Fine motor skills and lots more.
But to kids it’s all just great fun and that’s what learning should be.
Here are just a few ideas. There will be more in the next few posts.
Georgie in China Town
Georgie visited China Town today. ,it was only a short visit. Just for a couple hours so there is much more waiting to be explored.
To see her visit today follow this Link: A glimpse of China Town for young children.
It’s not the first time she has visited. Last year she went during Chinese New Year to see the amazing lights. If you would like to see them too visit this links: 2016 China Town Lights
Tomorrow is New Years Eve and we will be filming from Marina Bay
If you want to see how Singapore welcomed in the New Year of 2016 then follow this link: Happy New Year Singapore 2016
The Jumbles in Singapore
The Jumbles are traveling in Singapore .
Follow them to experience the sights, smells, tastes and culture of this amazing country.
Today Georgie visited Chinatown.
Later we will post a video of what she saw plus an I spy worksheet for children.
In two days time we will be at Marina Bay for the countdown to New Year and the incredible firework display. Join us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
This is the third time that the JUMBLES have visited Singapore. There are lots of videos already posted on our channel.
See below for the link to the playlist Singapore for Kids.
Learning about Lizard
Today we saw a lizard in our little garden. She was very active and very healthy. But, a year ago we found one in our cantina. She wasn’t very well at all. We christened her ‘Little LIZZIE Lizard’.
Read on to find out what happened.
Yesterday we found this little lizard in our cantina and it wasn’t very well. We called it Little Lizzie Lizard!
She looked so thin and lifeless and so dull that we were really afraid she would die but we were determined to do our best and try to help her. First we needed to find out some facts about lizards. We have shared them and the story of Little Lizzie Lizard below.
Some Lizard Facts!
Lizards belong to an animal class called REPTILES.
Reptiles (with a few exceptions) are cold-blooded animals which lay eggs. They have a backbone, four legs and are covered in scales. Lizards can be found all over the world except at the North and South Poles.
Can you guess why?
There are over 3,000 different types of lizards and they come in all sorts of shapes, colours and sizes! The smallest measures a tiny 7cms whereas the largest, the Komodo Dragon can reach lengths of 3 metres.
Lizards have four legs each with five little toes and they are very fast runners and very good at climbing. They also have a very long tail part of which can detach itself if a predator grabs hold! The lizard then grows another one!
They are insectivores which means that they eat only insects but some of the larger ones are carnivores and eat small animals,
Most lizards live in trees or under rocks and are more active at night. During the day they like to sunbathe!
Why?? .
Well, it has something to do with the fact they aren’t found at the North or South Poles !!
Do you know what the climate is like at the poles?
Yes! Ice and snow and VERY cold.
You and I and all mammals like dogs and cats and rabbits and mice and horses are warm bloodied which means we are able to control our body temperature. To keep it the same even when the temperature outside changes. But reptiles and that includes lizards, are cold bloodied which means that they can’t control their body temperature. So they need to sunbathe to warm up!
This is why our little lizard was so poorly when we found her. She had been locked in a cold underground room with no sun and was very, very cold. She was also very dehydrated which means her body was lacking in water and dehydration is very serious. We couid tell she was poorly because she was so happy to be handled and that is NOT normal. The poor thing hadn’t the energy to run away!
So! The Jumbles came to the rescue!!
We had to warm her up and re-hydrate her which means we had to make sure she drank some water. We held her near a bowl of water and were really pleased because she started to lap it up !
Then we found a nice big bowl and popped her in with a shallow bowl of water and then we put it in a nice warm spot outside but not in direct sunlight because it is VERY hot here at the moment. We also gave her a little box just in case she wanted to hide!
Then we left her in peace but kept checking every hour.
After about four hours Lizzie Lizard was looking very different. More alert and a much better colour ! So we put a few ants and maggots into the bowl to tempt her to eat. The DOG BISCUIT was not for Lizzie Lizard! It was just a quick way to catch some insects and transport to the bowl !
By the following morning Lizzie Lizard was anxious to get out and, instead if wanting to be handled she ran off when we tried to touch her !
That was a good sign Lizzie was feeling normal again.
It was time to let her out !
And that’s what we did!
It was such a great feeling to have helped an animal back to health and to return it to the wild.
Fun exercise for kids
We all know that exercise is important but did you know that it can also turn an irritable or sulky child into a happy one? When you exercise more of a hormone called Seratonim is released into the bloodstream. This hormone is responsible for the ‘high’ we get after a workout. It elevates mood .
So ensuring that children enjoy short bursts of exercise during the day should keep them feeling good and stop them getting crotchety, all depending, of course, that there they are not ill or have some other underlying cause for moodiness.
Exercise doesn’t have to be in a sports hall or even outside although sunlight also increases the production of Seratonim.
Playing balloons, tag or dancing around to music will all increase the ‘feel good’ factor,
So will playing skittles! I keep a few empty water bottles handy. With just a glass of water inside they are perfect for knocking over with a soft ball.
Christmas Crafts
There’s still time to make a snowman! – decoration, lamp, little and small.
A good way to channel all that pre-Christmas excitement.
This little fellow took only thirty minutes and no mess! I used cotton wool wadding, a litter bin for the body, A football for the head and some black card for all the other bits!
To attach the cotton wool to the head and body I used a reel of white cotton. It helps to have someone holding the head whilst twining the thread around. The hat can be made from a circle of card with an upturned box or empty cottage cheese container stuck on to (covered in black card or fabric. Stick on buttons and face features with glue or cellotape and use a sock or tinsel for the scarf.
Mt. Snowman Lamp,
All you need is an empty plastic large water bottle, some cotton wool or padding from inside a cushion or pillowslip and black card or felt. I used a LED flashing candle light inside the body.
SEE: INSTRUCTION VIDEO
Mr. Snowman decoration
He can be as big or small as you like. You can also make him into a lamp (see video below). For this rather large one I used an umbrella stand for the body and a football for the head.
You will need a ball fir the head. The stuffing from a pillow for a very large one or some cotton wool wadding for smaller. A litter bun or cylindrical box for the body and black card or felt for eyes etc.
See: SEE HIM IN ACTION!
See: HOW TO MAKE
Mr Snowman decoration or lamp.
This one takes time and patience!
You will need a couple of balloons, white glue, thin string and black card or felt or foam.
See: HOW TO MAKE VIDEO
Homemade bowl and flowers
I love this display because it’s so fresh and spring like.
It’s also fun and cheap to make.
I always like posting something which involves children helping and this post is no exception. With help even the youngest will enjoy making the flower petals from coffee filter bags and they will learn a little about chromatography at the same time! The video instructions are on the link below.
How to make the filter paper flowers
Putting the flowers together is more tricky and a task for older children or adults.
The Bowl
The bowl is made entirely from string which is soaked in glue and wrapped around a balloon. The fun bit that kids love is the popping of the balloon once the glue has set!
The level of difficulty depends on the size of the balloon. For the blue bowl featured above the balloon was well inflated making it trickier to handle.
At Christmas we followed the same procedure to make baubles but using much smaller balloons which are easier to handle. If your children are small my suggestion would be to help them make the smaller bowls which can be used for biscuits or Easter Eggs while you make the trickier large bowl.
The instructions to make the string balls are given in ‘child friendly’ format on the link below. To make the balls into bowls all you need to do is cut them in half using either very strong scissors or a craft knife and then neaten the edges.
I hope you enjoy. If you do please add a nice comment !
Follow this link for the video instructions for children
For many more art, craft, science and learning videos please visit our channel:
Puppet Theatre
Take a cardboard box, a couple of wooden spoons and a couple of puppets. Add a small child and you have hours of fun, imagination and creative learning.
Don’t waste time making it ‘pretty’. If the kids are enthusiastic let them use it immediately. Decorations an£ backcloths can wait!
Creative Learning for Young Children 