Weather Chart

Here is another long delayed post. JS made this weather chart a few months back. I have been busy organising, scheduling and re-scheduling my time and things-to-do list for a few months now, trying to find the best way I could to juggle housework and the children's needs, thus, neglecting this blog for quiet a while. On top of that, I have been a bit selective on the activities that I prefer to post first. I just noticed that I have not even posted the second part of our Chinese New Year activities. I will try to find the time to write that as soon as I can. I am trying to psycho myself into getting up 1 to 2 hours earlier so that I can get more things done but I am finding it hard to get out of bed when I wake up at around 5am to make JE a bottle of milk. When JE was still an infant, I did not go back to bed after feeding her at 5am and I could get a lot of things done but now, I wonder why I just couldn't do the same. Hmmm... perhaps I am getting old? 

OK. Lets go back to the weather chart. It was very easy to make as we used cut out pictures. The colourful pictures actually made the chart look quiet attractive. We used labelling stickers for words and cut a pointer from a foam sheet. 

I wrote the words "WEATHER CHART" on a piece of paper for JS to refer to as he formed the words on a black mounting board. After that, he arranged and glued four pictures - rainy day, sunny day, cloudy day and windy day on the board. JS used to refer sunny day as "hotty day" (I presume that he figured the term out, in relation to "rainy day"). Until now, he would sometimes prefer to use his own terms. 

Then he placed the labels correctly under each picture. 

Lastly, he fixed the pointer at the centre. 

We hang the chart on the easel that we put near the sliding glass door where JS could check the weather whenever he likes and use the pointer to point at the correct weather. 

One morning, while on the way to school, JS told me that he dislike sunny days because it is too hot. He likes cloudy day or night time when the sun is not shining. Hmmm... he is more like his dad in this aspect. I love sunny day! Cloudy day is nice but if it lasts too long, I feel gloomy. Sunny day makes me happy. What about you? 

Mongo Plant Versus Garlic Plant

Two weeks ago, JS was into growing plants and asked if he could grow some flowers. We did not have any flower seeds at home and I suggested that he plant some mongo seeds instead. Yes, for those who are following our blog, we have done this on cotton about a year and a half ago and now, we are doing it in soil and in a proper flower pot. The other reason I told him to grow mongo seeds is that they grow very fast and kids are not very patient at waiting for results. 

So everyday, as we leave the house for school (JS is attending Kindergarten 1 now) JS would look at the plants and say, "Mommy! They are growing!"

A few days after we planted the mongo seeds, I suggested that we plant some garlic. This time, unlike the mongo seeds that showed some growth immediately on the following day, the garlics showed none. 

Two days after we planted the garlics, we went on a short vacation and when we returned, JS saw some changes to the garlic plant and shouted, "Mommy, look! The garlics are growing!"

Now, after half a month, we found some time to do some detailed observations on the plants. We compared the roots and the leaves. The garlic plant showed a lot of roots while the mongo plant has very little and the garlic plant has long leaves while the mongo plant has small leaves. 

Leaves and Branch Stamping

Here is an activity where we used materials from the nature - parts of a plant, to do stamping. This time, we are making a turkey. 

First, I made JS trace the picture of a turkey using carbon paper. 

Next, we gathered some leaves and soft branches from our garden. 

We used the leaves for the larger feathers. I made him do the leaves stamping on a different piece of paper and then we cut them out and stuck them on the picture accordingly. 

The following day, we used the soft branches to do some stampings for the smaller feathers. 

Here's how the turkey looks like. Well, it isn't that fantastic I kind of like the large feathers. 

Now that it's the month of November, perhaps your children can try this as a Thanksgiving art and craft activity!

The Apple Tree

While children from some parts of the world such those in the US and UK are having fun with lots of activities related to apples which is being harvested in autumn, here, in Malaysia, my son and I are using the life cycle of an apple tree to study about the four seasons. I have always wanted to do a four seasons picture with JS but on the other hand, I don't think he is able (yet) to relate the meaning of the seasons since we live in a tropical country. 

Fortunately, we have this book about the life cycle of an apple tree that covers all four seasons. It is one of JS' favourite books to read at the moment. With the names of all four seasons mentioned clearly in the book, alongside pictures that shows obvious changes in the tree, it serves as a perfect material for a four seasons picture.

First, we identified the words - winter, spring, summer and autumn in the book and studied the pictures that showed obvious changes in the tree. 

Then we divide a large piece of art block into four sections and started off with winter. 

 Next, we moved on to spring where flowers started to blossom, followed by summer where the flowers fall off and apples started to grow. 

And finally in autumn the apples are ready to be picked and be enjoyed in various ways such as the delicious apple pie. 

What's In A Jungle?

Here is another project we did using materials we gather from our garden. This time, we made a picture of a jungle. 

After collecting some leaves, soft branches and barks we gathered other materials needed for the project, including two books about  jungle which I wanted JS to use as reference. 

First, he had to go through the books to know what a jungle looks like. 

Then he started by making a big tree. 

After working on the trees, he cut out pictures of animals from some old books. 

This is how JS' jungle looks like. 

Learning Via TV Programmes

Recently I had the privilege to observe JS work on a craft activity based on a video clip. I My purpose was to "evaluate" his developments in understanding instructions given by a stranger because as a parent, I might always try to explain things based on his level of understanding. 

JS has been repeatedly watching Mister Maker making this Bubble Wrap Cactus for about a month before he had the chance to make one for himself. The reason was because we did not have any pipe cleaners at home. We also did not have enough bubble wrap to do the craft. 

So, there was this day when he came to me again and said: "Mommy, I want to make bubble wrap cactus. Can you buy some pipe cleaners, please?" Since I was planning to do some marketing and the art and craft shop is just next door, I agreed. I was also hoping that they sell bubble wraps too but to my disappointment, they don't. Anyway, I already had some other plans in mind. 

Besides "evaluating" him doing his own work by referring to the video clip, I would also let him learn about modifying or using substitutes when we do not have the exact resources. 

When we got home, he immediately got off to work. 

JS watching Mister Maker to check whether he has the right items he needs to work on his
Bubble Wrap Cactus. 

We turned on the video and JS started running around the house to gather the materials needed as Mister Maker names them. The items include bubble wraps, glue stick, sticky tapes, pipe cleaners, a flower pot, some paint and a paintbrush. 

Then he took the only bubble wrap we had and started rolling it with a pipe cleaner. That was what Mister Maker did so that was what he was supposed to do too but I stopped him. I told him that we only have one bubble wrap but we have to make three cactus stem so if he used the entire wrap for one stem, we will not be able to make a cactus just like the he sees in the video. Then I told him that we could cut the bubble wrap in three equal portions since we have a very small flower pot. He agreed. 

JS cutting the bubble wrap into three equal portions. 

I continued to watch him work as he rolled the first stem. He had some difficulties trying to hold on the rolled portion with one hand and applying glue with the other. He did the same with the second stem. 

However, for the third stem, he decided to do things differently. After putting sticky tapes on the pipe cleaner to hold it in place before rolling, he applied glue on the other end of the bubble wrap. He said, "Must put glue first, ok." I was glad to see that he was able to find another method to make the work easier for him.

JS applying glue first before rolling. 

Lastly, he painted the cactus with some green poster colour. The correct way of doing it was to add some gloppy glue to the colour before painting. We did not and the colour could not stick on the bubble wrap and came off easily. Nevertheless, JS was very proud of this make. 

From this session, I was glad to discover that he was able to

1) understand most of the instructions given and 

2) change the method of doing things according to his abilities

JS painting his Bubble Wrap Cactus.

Various Art and Craft Trees

Trees are one of the most frequent subjects in our art and craft activities. We drew trees with markers and colour pencils when JS was younger. Then when JS started to explore painting, we used finger printing to print an autumn tree. When we dyed some strings for artwork, we used the strings to make trees for a picture of a garden. We also used leaves and tree barks to make trees.  On top of that, we made 3D trees for our "A City of My Own" a few weeks back.

So this time round, while making our mini garden, I had to come up with a new way of making a tree. 

I wanted to make it more like a real tree so this is what we made.

Orange Tree

We used a toilet roll tube for the tree trunk. I made some holes in the tube and JS had to poke wooden sticks into the holes for the branches. 

Next, he painted the tree truck with some brown poster colour. 

The tree truck

While waiting for it to dry, we made the leaves.

JS trying hard to cut curvy lines for the leaves.

Then we put little round orange stickers on the leaves for the oranges. It was no easy task for JS as it was quiet hard for him to handle the tiny pieces of stickers. 

JS putting on little round stickers for the oranges.

Then he had to put lots of glue on the leaves before sticking them on the branches.

JS squeezing glue onto the leaves.

JS pressing the leaves to make sure they stick properly on the branches.