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Teaching
Ross, January 29, 2002
Again with the Play Dough. Ross is
beginning to work with it easier, even after just three days. He is
learning to mix it to the right texture, and to roll it out in
cylinders.
Roll four cylinders "snakes" out about
two inches long. Cut the ends off on top and bottom at the same time so
they are identical lengths. On a cookie sheet press the cylinders into
square shapes. The squares can be different sizes.
Color the picture of an octopus you have
printed from one of the learning Urls for children from the computer.
Talk about the octopus having eight arms. Write the number eight on the
paper. If you type the word octopus into Google there are 13,000
illustrations there. Allow your child to look at the ones he wants to
see. There will be much discussion as to the "weird" looking way they
are.
Since you have made a double batch of
play dough, 2 cups of flour, 2 cups of salt, you will have enough to
make an octopus. You have already printed off a picture of an octopus
from one of the learning Urls for children. The head is an egg shape.
Help the child to roll the shape and lay it on the cookie sheet. Let
them work at rolling eight of the cylinders out and attach them to the
egg shaped head. Press an eye into the dough with the tip of a pencil.
The eraser end will press the suction cups into the arms of the octopus.
Talk about the different species of octopi, 100.
After the play dough octopus has dried in
the oven have the child glue it to a stiff piece of cardboard or paper.
From all the species you have observed on the computer the child will be
able to choose whatever color he wishes of the acrylic to paint the
octopus (yes there are even red ones).
If time permits, you can make a tight
ball of a fiber fill or even newspaper. Many strand of yarn wrapped
around anything that is 24 inches will give you the basis for a yarn
octopus. Tie one end with a strong yarn. Cut the other end. Divide the
yarn into eight groups after you have placed it over the tight ball. You
will have to tie a piece of yarn again at the bottom of the ball. Braid
each arm. If you have some light colored heavy knit fabric, or some
felt, cut round eyes from that. Glue this to the head and make the
center of its eyes with a black felt tip pen. You should end up with an
octopus cute enough for any kid's bed. Keep counting the arms as you go.
The dry squares you have made you will
glue to heavy paper also. Create a collage by stacking the squares,
gluing them, as high as they will go. You will end up with an attractive
"art" piece, just of squares.
Any small pieces of play dough left over
I have the child press into the shapes they are learning, so far,
circles, squares, cylinders. Punch a hole in the top of the shape and
after it is dry, run a ribbon or piece of yarn through it for a necklace
for the child to give to their mother. They get a thrill out of giving
their mother a gift. Poor Mom will have to wear it, probably.
On painting the dried shapes from the
play dough always mix two colors to get a third, red and yellow to get
orange, blue and yellow to get green, etc. Ross knows his primary colors
so this is of interest to him. |
