Sometimes the moon looks like a circle, sometimes it looks like a crescent, and sometimes you can’t see it at all. What’s going on? The moon never actually changes shape: it’s always a sphere, like a ball or an orange. But it looks different at different times because of the relationship between the moon, the... Read more »
Cast your mind back, back to the time you learned things that left you wide-eyed and awestruck. When you were learning about the Earth you live in for the first time. You were probably a lot smaller then you are now, likely less tired(?!), but with a fresh young brain that soaked up information like... Read more »
The definition of a Blanket Fort: A den constructed indoors, made of sheets, blankets, cushions, pillows, clothes pegs, elastic bands and fairy lights. Though specifically made for children, all ages welcome. This space becomes a place for whispers or shouts, quiet time or raucous time, watching films or playing, getting cuddly and cozy or… fort... Read more »
STEM Engineering with Spaghetti and Marshmallow Structures! STEM Learning, what is it and why do you need to know about it? STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Teachers, professionals and any educators of children are working together to create hands-on, cross-curricular, inter-disciplinary learning. They are encouraging communities to recognize the deep value of... Read more »
Each year, we bring out the Christmas boxes from the basement, garage or storage locker. We set up the tree, and unveil our Christmas decorations for another year. As we open the box and see the ornaments year after year, we are reminded that these boxes are filled not only with things but with memories.... Read more »
Today we will be learning about Henri Matisse’s Cut-Outs and using his work as a tool to practise your child’s Fine Motor Skills and creativity. We will do this by creating our own Matisse Cut-Out masterpiece. Got older kids that want to join in? No problem! This activity caters for a range of ages. Henri... Read more »
“Arts education is a big part of building a 21st century creative mind, and I think that we have let way too many kids lose their way by not drawing in their young minds with music, dance, painting and the other various ways we can express those things we do not have words for.” –... Read more »
Introducing The Spreadable Joy Series The Spreadable Joy Advent Calendar Christmas. Warm coats, toasted chestnuts, fires, lights, baubles, cinnamon sticks, sugar cookies, mince pies, mulled cider, eggnog and presents. Lots and lots of presents. Children these days can easily miss the true meaning of the festive season. Whether you do the nativity or not, the season can get... Read more »
Who doesn’t love a good bubble bath? For little ones, bubbles may be the highlight of bath time, or the reason to get into the bath in the first place! For them, bath time isn’t always about getting clean, but about having fun in the water. And why not? These days, with a great variety... Read more »
Crayons are fun all the time! Imagine being able to take them into the bath, how fun would bathtime be!? Parents not to worry! Even though we would love to keep all of our children’s masterpieces we know that’s just not always possible. This play time will be super easy to clean up: a quick wipe down... Read more »
Oil & Water Sensory Bottles Materials Baby oil or Canola oil water large glass water-based food coloring oil-based food coloring for candy bottles Steps Fill bottle up one-third of the way with water and add water-based food coloring until you reach your desired color. Add lid and shake If you chose to color the oil, pour... Read more »
Today on Caitie’s Classroom, we’re talking all about baths! Here is a fun activity you can do with soap suds. Are you ready to make your own bubbly snake? Materials sock dish soap small dish with water rubber bands small empty water bottle craft knife scissors Steps 1. With a craft knife pierce a hole at... Read more »
Alexander Calder (American abstract sculptor, 1898-1976), was a pioneer of Kinetic Art and is considered by the art world as one of the most important figures of American 20th century sculpture. Born into a family of artists, his grandfather and father were both sculptors and his mother was a painter. From studying mechanical engineering at... Read more »
Every fall, I look forward to the beautiful colours as the green leaves on the trees change to yellow, orange, brown, and red. But why does this happen? To understand why leaves change colour, you need to understand why they’re green to begin with. Most colours in living things are caused by chemicals called pigments.... Read more »
What you’ll need: Black Face Paint Orange Face Paint Red Face Paint Black Eyeliner Pencil Large Brush or Makeup Sponge Small Brush Setting Powder Powder Brush STEP ONE Using the black eyeliner pencil draw the outline of Mr. Monkey’s face. STEP TWO Using a small brush and the orange paint make short lines around the... Read more »
‘Then she filled up her cauldron and said with a grin, “find something everyone! Throw something in!”’ – Julia Donaldson, Room on the Broom Depending on where you live, Fall/Autumn has fallen on the land. The nights draw in, the sweaters and thermals have been retrieved from the back of the cupboard and the pumpkin... Read more »
Milk and juice are liquids: they flow, and they don’t hold their shape. Wood and rocks are solids: they hold their shape, and they don’t flow. But slime is different. When you pour it, it flows like a liquid. But when you squeeze it or slap it, it feels like a solid. All the stuff... Read more »
What you’ll need: Blue Face Paint Green Face Paint Yellow Face Paint Black Face Paint White Face Paint Red Face Paint Orange Face Paint Black eyeliner pencil Medium Brush Small Brush Powder Brush Setting Powder STEP ONE Outline your monster’s mouth using the black eyeliner pencil. Create a large half circle over your child’s mouth... Read more »
Welcome to the Edible Construction Sensory Bin! Today we will be exploring what construction people do through the medium of sensory play! I am yet to meet a child that does not love a tractor, digger, dump truck, bulldozer, fire engine, police car or garbage truck or really any vehicle that is big and has... Read more »
What you’ll need: Blue Face Paint White Face Paint Red Face Paint Black Face Paint Setting Powder Small brush Powder Brush STEP ONE Draw the outline of Baby Shark in blue paint. He can be made with 3 continuous lines. One slightly curved line for the top of his head/body. A second on the bottom... Read more »
Barbara Hepworth (1903-1975) Who? A British Sculptor and leading artist in the international art scene. Her career spanned the course of five decades and she was the first female modernist sculptor. She studied and worked alongside the equally infamous British sculptor, Henry Moore. Both were pioneers of the avant-garde movement and method of ‘Direct Carving’.... Read more »
Teaching your kids to be thankful for what they have in their lives. Whether you are a toddler, preschooler, teenager, millennial, or even an adult, it is easy to take for granted what we have in our lives. It’s an important lesson for children to learn and think about in a world where social media... Read more »
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations educates its online readers on some key facts about food loss and waste. Today we are going to share a few: ‘Roughly one-third of the food produced in the world for human consumption every year – approximately 1.3 billion tonnes – gets lost or wasted.’ ‘Fruits... Read more »
There is something so wonderful about seeing the world through the eyes of a child. One place I love watching my children’s faces light up with excitement is at local Farmers Markets. The fresh produce, the livestock, the homemade pastries, the fresh iced tea, the little wooden toys made and sold by the same hands,... Read more »