Meet Raja

I don't know why I haven't posted anything about my pet bird, Raja. Raja means Prince in Urdu. He is an Australian Budgie and he has been with us for a little over 5 years. 

He is super friendly. He loves to sing and tweet. And he is just really, really cute!!! Oh, and he is a bit of a show off which is why he is super friendly!

We let Raja fly around in the house at times. He likes to take about  4-5 rounds around the kitchen and the living room and then he sits back in his cage.

In the cage, I have some bells for him, a swing and a couple of mirrors. He loves anything shiny so he is crazy about the mirror.

Raja loves walking on shoulders and arms. And he loves sitting on my finger. Every time I put my thumb up to his beak, he kisses it...so cute!!

I have taken him many times into different classrooms for the students to see. They love to observe him and listen to him when he is tweeting. It is a great way to spark an interest in pets, animals and science all at the same time.

For an art activity, I bought feathers from the dollar store and put it with paint on the art table. The children loved painting with feathers. Super fun activity.

On the science table, I took some feathers and put them with magnifying glasses. The students had a great time observing the feathers and feeling the feathers. I also put out white paper and crayons if they wanted to draw some feathers. 

For the play dough table, I was lucky enough to have cutters in shapes of birds. The children loved recreating Raja with play dough (I also used green play dough so it seems more realistic). 

My students drew pictures, painted pictures, built bird houses and wrote stories about Raja. They love it when he comes for a visit. Has anyone else taken their house pets for a school visit?

Practicing Alphabets - Quick Activity

Here is a very quick letter activity I came up with. I was using the die cutter to cut out alphabets and I noticed there was a lot of paper left for recycling which I didn't feel comfortable recycling. So I decided to use it for learning letters. 

We are doing the letter S for the week. So I only used the letter S.

I put out paper, markers and crayons. You also choose to use paint. Finger painting would be fantastic for tiny fingers!

Here are my kids doing the activity. I allow them to start from the top or bottom. Whatever helps them make the S.

Here is the finished product. It was their first time but we are getting the point!

Classroom Centres - Art Centre

So I have been away from my blog for nearly three weeks. I can't believe how fast time has gone by but I have been super busy with my family in the past month. However, I have found a bit of time today during putting in laundry loads and folding. 

Source: http://www.woodetccorp.com/R0042%20Art%20Center%20for%204.jpg

Here is my post about one of the most underrated centres of all time: The Art Centre. The art centre should be packed with all sorts of materials that you can touch, smell, hear, taste and see. 

I have walked into many classrooms and the art centre only has the regular materials: paint with an easel, crayons, markers, glue, construction paper, white paper, scissors, etc. What ever happened to using different kinds of art materials?? Here is my short list of materials that can be put into the classroom other than the regular paint, markers and crayons.

Large-knob paintbrushes for small hands. Allows for fine motor skills to become enhanced. 

Source: http://www.specialneedstoys.com.au/shop/images/stubby%20paint%20brushes.jpg

Different styles of paintbrushes. Allows children to experience different kids of painting with them.

Source: http://mailjust4me.com/crafts/paintbrushes.jpg


Funky brushes are awesome. They give out different textured results.

Source: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh4sQSLcvd7XJNQ_SgHClQD56THPZ4RIV5LFfR4aaorv1sfZszyGLGyGEOrFf2Bknn4yURU16bCjYNpWeS-2t_KtAeFhHZGP8xA3irlcYULeP8kjSkmj8rx8Ymwlvk3248U_wCm9woRnY/s1600/Alex-3-Funky-Brushes-PaintBrushes-For-Kids-With-Special-Needs.jpg


How about a week with no paintbrushes allowed! Find out different materials to use. The picture below shows awesome ideas.

Source: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7271/7023496541_9ed36f173d.jpg

Spray bottle art! Add water and food coloring and spray away!

Source: http://totschool.shannons.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/CoffeeFilterSpray-7608.jpg

I was in love with watercolours when I was a kid. I don't know why we don't use these as much as we did back in the day. They are fun because they also give different results compared to poster paint.

Source: http://www.kidsart.com/store/paintimg/ryrsetwat200_x.jpg


Where have pastels gone? I know they get a little messy but the texture of it is amazing. And the whole point of childhood is to experience all that art has to offer!

Source: http://blog.thedrycleaner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/82-preparing-pastels.jpg

Tissue Paper is fantastic.

Source: http://tissuepaperinfo.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Colored-Wrapping-Tissue-Paper.87115339_std.jpg


Popsicle sticks. They are great for the block centre as well as the art centre. Allow children to experience and build all sorts of structures, animals and other creations.

Source: http://www.instructables.com/image/FEXES8LF9T3NR1D/Lincoln-Sticks-Popsicle-Stick-Log-Cabins.jpg


Feathers are wonderful to use to paint.

Source: http://www.lakeshorelearning.com/media/images/products/full/lc120_f.jpg


Don't forget good old chalk!

Source: http://www.toptenz.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/chalk.jpg

Use cotton balls to paint. Or create your own masterpiece by making snowballs/snowmen, etc.

Source: http://headfullofhydrangeas.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/cotton-balls.jpg


Marbles. Great for painting. Take a big box. Put paper inside. Dip marbles in paint and then put inside the box. Move the box around so the marbles spread paint everywhere. Use different sizes marbles for better results.

Source: http://6bdanielasblog.weebly.com/uploads/8/7/8/0/8780862/2605895_orig.jpg

Coffee filters are great for painting, spray painting, food coloring art and markers. Use any materials to have fun.

Source: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin-0ytzs-QAm7z-7GLu3qVw_gINPGZVY6wATqVmDT57u7_ySXlCLriIQmZ3xGin8vrWVp20bHrntjpTMhRR7vsgqzSZnF-fqmMPYIjaZQJzzWxjdvcl6ZnczLZdEtNNj5CFSApEExLo40/s1600/coffee_filters1.jpg

Tea bags are fantastic after they have been dipped in the water for a bit. The colors and the smell will mesmerize the children!

Source: http://agapeantiaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/tea-bags.jpg


I like to use glitter glue pens rather than glitter. It's a lot easier to clean up after!

Source: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLjLm4cWoBy0M0ew-nlGxuF43-E0H7XocyggbTN1iVUjUY1g7L85jHfuw2KyOlBSLTNKf0XZNVBxBsWlz9eBEfTCcgpLEOmrDHas62jKD-4sxxV2Brs-TCedR1QYgN5n9GodUAxwFLkk8/s400/712.gif


Stickers! Kids will never tire of stickers.

Source: http://blogs.smarter.com/blogs/Stickers1.jpg


Threads and Yarns are good with paint as well. Also, these can be used to create necklaces/bracelets, etc.

Source: http://www.aurorasilk.com/yarns_and_threads/naturally_dyed/hemps/images/hempyarncolours.JPG


Buttons and beads are an art on their own. Use them to paint with or put through thread and yarn for jewelry.

Source: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2373/2459497354_8065cfcd01_o.jpg


Stencils. Use spray bottles, paint or markers.

Source: http://blogs.smarter.com/blogs/Face%20Painting%20Stencil%20Set11.jpg


Shaving cream with food colouring is TONS of fun. The children don't get tired of touching the shaving cream because it is so soft!

Source: http://artfulparent.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55246b63f88340120a690b608970c-pi


Add food coloring instead of paint for art to change up the style of activities. 

Source: http://healingautismandadhd.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/food-coloring-300x300.jpg


Home-made sponges with clothespins.

Source: http://picklebums.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/sponge-printing2.jpg


Bingo dabbers. 

Source: http://www.american-bingo.com/images/Bingo-Daubers/Ultima-Bingo-Daubers-4-Oz-sm.jpg


Finger stampers. Use with paint or use with playdough.

Source: http://www.alcoofcanada.net/images/T/Finger-Painter-Stampers-24-Pack-N16008_XL.jpg


Other kind of stampers.

Source: http://www.rainbowresource.com/products/036176.jpg


Different materials: pom poms, pipe cleaners, feathers, confetti, etc.

Source: http://www.littlecraftybugs.co.uk/images/XX%20KIT08.JPG

Another kind of stampers.

Source: http://www.lakeshorelearning.com/media/images/products/full/la536_f.jpg


Large knob stampers.

Source: http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51F%2BJMp4yUL._SL500_AA300_.jpg


Paper mache. It's unfortunate we don't do enough of it anymore. 

Source: http://thefuntimesguide.com/images/blogs/paper-mache-pumpkin-craft.jpg


Clay.

Source: http://www.buzzle.com/img/articleImages/318224-12922-39.jpg


Playdough, of course.

Source: http://www.frugalcouponliving.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/playdough-homemade.jpg


Bubble painting! So much fun.

Source: http://www.worldslargestbubble.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/bubble-art-colorful.jpg

Hope you enjoyed this post! Also, here is a link to different kind of art activities. It is a fantastic website!

http://nurturestore.co.uk/