A Special Week

Our final full week of the summer found us exploring and learning about Japan. We are fortunate to have two families from Japan in our classroom. They were able to provide us with stories, pictures, and games native to their culture. It enabled us to experience Japan on a slightly more personal basis.

We were able to see pictures of Yuri and her sister in Kimonos. A Kimono is a traditional Japanese dress that girls wear on a special event, such as the New Year. We also looked at a picture of Kenshin on Children’s Day, May 5th, in Japan. They provided us with a picture of the beautiful Himeji Castle and of Kinkakuji (Golden Temple), which is one of the most famous temples in Japan, and of the highest mountain in Japan, Mt. Fuji.

We were able to play an origami sumo wrestling game, made by Kenshin’s mother. The students really enjoyed tapping the corner of the game to make the paper wrestlers move, trying to make their opponent fall from the board first. We were able to see many examples of origami, such as a cat, a dog, a frog, and a heart.

This week was a true learning experience as we were able to incorporate real pictures, real games, real stories, and real people into our education! We would like to give a special thank you to both Kenshin and Yuri’s family.

Educational Activity for Home

If you are looking for an interesting activity to do at home with your child to enhance their education then try: Flyswatter Painting. Yes, flyswatter painting. The children in Big Bird Buddies thoroughly enjoyed this unique activity composed of a simple household object and some paint.

Brief Description:
Pour different color paints on separate paper plates. This will provide your child with optimal choices. Supply your child with a piece of paper and a flyswatter. The flyswatter becomes the paintbrush and the artwork relies on their imagination.
-Some suggestions you might make to encourage thinking include:
* Ask questions about the colors your child chooses to use.
* Help your child recognize how the colors change as they overlap or mix. Are they making a new color? Are they getting darker? Are they getting lighter? To strengthen the chance of color changes supply only primary colors and either black or white for your child to paint with.
* Encourage your child to find multiple ways to use the flyswatter as a painting device (ex. Swatting paint on the paper, pushing paint around the paper, pressing it to make a definite flyswatter shape: like a stamp).
* Explore whether or not the pattern is effected if the flyswatter is used more quickly. More slowly?

Key Developmental Indicators that correspond with this activity:
Communication and Language: Listening and Responding
Creative Representation: Exploring Building and Art Materials
Social Relations: Playing with Others
Movement: Moving Parts of the Body, Moving with Objects
Time: Experiencing Fast and Slow

Enjoy,

Ms. Jolene

Tell me and I'll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I'll understand.
Chinese proverb