Our second open source book on Bioplastics, this time the bioplastic cook book gives everyone tips and recipes to make their own bioplastics! The book contains a flyer to print for labeling your bioplastic and creating your material archive. Book written by Margaret Dunne during her internship at Fab Textiles June-July 2018
There's been a lot of paper crafting at my house lately, thanks to my oldest son's obsession with Tom Angleberger's Origami Yoda book series. While we're at the kitchen table folding up the whole cast of Star Wars, I thought I'd work in a few other crafts - namely paper flyers. My oldest boy loves a good DIY toy. (He gets that from me.) Flying Paper Whirligig As a kid I used to pick up sycamore seeds and throw them into the air to make them spin back down to the ground. These whirligigs remind me of those seeds. Making them is simple. Don't let the instructions fool you. Start with a long rectangular piece of paper about 2 inches by 6 inches; we used origami paper but plain 'ol office paper will do. Draw your lines (dotted and solid like the picture below). You will cut on the solid lines and fold on the dotted lines. Fold the paper in on the two long dotted lines to make a handle for what now looks like a small spade of paper. Fold the end of the handle up and adhere with a small piece of tape. Slide a small paper clip (as a weight) over the folded and taped end. Next fold one side of the spade shovel down along the dotted line. Flip the paper over and do the same to the other side, so your whirligig's blades are pointing in opposite directions. You're done! Hold the whirligig in the air and drop it. Watch it gracefully spin to the ground (and if you're like my son, drop it over the stair railing to see it spin for a greater distance). This idea came from Babble Dabble Do. She's got a great photo tutorial so head over there if you're stumped. Straw Plane This next craft is a must-do for paper airplane aficionados. It looks nothing like a plane, but boy oh boy, does it glide through the air with streamlined precision. Impressive is an understatement. Cut two strips of cardstock paper, one 1 inch by 10 inches, and the other 1 inch by 5 inches. Tape them into two circle shapes. Now take a plastic drinking straw and adhere each with more tape to the ends of the straw. You're done! Now hold it by the middle of the straw, and propel your wrist forward releasing it into the air. It keeps going and going and going. This is one of the farthest flying "planes" we've ever made (and we've made A LOT of paper airplanes). This idea came from Discover Explore Learn. These crafts provide an excellent opportunity to explain aerodynamics, opposing thrust, and gravity. Kids can experiment by adjusting the size of the papers, the number of paper clips on the whirligig, the length of the straw, to observe and record any variance in the performance of the flyer.
Book Page Roses: I am obsessed with repurposing old books and love making paper flowers, so I have decided to show you how I have joined both my passions to make - book page roses. There are many variations on how to make paper roses, however I feel this is one of t…
As Spring Break approaches, I find that my fifth graders are in need of some reminders as to what it means to be kind to each other. In general, they are sweet kids, but at times the words they use and actions they take, particularly on the playground, aren't the kindest. Our read aloud for the month is Wonder by RJ Palacio so the theme of kindness fit right into our room. It just so happens that a new book, We're All Wonders by RJ Palacio, a picture book intended for younger readers to access the story, came out this week as well. So the timing was perfect. (the two links above are my affiliate links and will take you to Amazon to buy the books.) I began by asking the students what kindness is. We brainstormed a list of ideas and created an anchor chart. Then I read the picture book to the students. Because we had just finished Wonder, they were so excited to read this new version. When we finished, I asked the kids to think of all the ways, in both the picture book and the novel, that people were not very kind to Auggie (the main character). The kids were able to fill our entire circle map in no time. It was easy to recall how people would scream in his face, recoiling at the way he looked. They remembered the names Auggie was called and the no-touching game that was played. The instantly told me about all the awful things that happened to him. I then asked the kids to brainstorm ways that, if they were in the novel with Auggie, they could be kinder to him. Again, they had no problem thinking of ways they could be kind to Auggie. Next, I asked the students to think about their own real life. I asked them to reflect upon how they personally treat others and how they personally could make better choices when speaking to others. Here is where things got a little challenging. You see, when students are talking about fictional characters, or reading news stories about OTHER kids they don't know being treated unfairly or unkindly, they know exactly what they would do if they were there. Because they aren't there. They know they never will be there. But when confronted with their own lives, and real possibilities for what they would have to do to step in or change situations, it is a bit harder for them. So I asked them to brainstorm 15 different ways they PERSONALLY could show kindness to our classmates. (I drew a lot of inspiration for this next part from Study All Knight's FREE Kindness unit, which you can grab here.) The students then used tempra paint and painted 15 (or so) rainbow sunshine rays. They also drew their own Wonder-Inspired portrait. (I have previously done this before, but had them focus on precepts and writing....if you would like to do that, click here. It is one of my fav lessons too!) The students then glued their Wonder portraits into the middle of the rays, used Sharpie to outline and write the 15 ways they could show real kindness in their lives (one way per ray) and were done. They came out amazing. (See the picture at the top of the post!) What is better though, is that the past two days, my students are actively trying to be kinder to each other. They are watching their words. I have seen people purposefully go up to those who tend to wander during group time and invite them into the group. I have seen students smile at others just a bit more. It truly has been a Wonder. Right now, for a limited time, Amazon has the book available for $3.99!!! Snag up to 4 copies at that price. Use my affiliate link here to get your copy ASAP before they are all gone!! SaveSave
These cappuccino chip muffins will become your next obsession! With only six steps and 10 minutes of prep, I’m going to teach you my foolproof method for making perfectly moist cappuccino chocolate muffins with bakery-style tops that are seriously impressive.
Are you looking for ways to hold your students’ interest and ignite their passion for learning? Look no further! In today's blog post, we will explore
Kids love learning about animals. Teach your toddler or preschooler about animal coverings with this fun matching game.
Annie Ernaux now has a Nobel Peace Prize in Literature, so here’s what makes her work so very Ernaux: obsessive and intermittent love.
This post is not so much about cats reading books, but more about what thie cats are reading about! Some of them are rather scary indeed.
A huge list of sound-loaded books for speech therapy articulation practice, sorted by phoneme. Download this free list from Speech Sprouts.
Top organizing, packing, and moving experts share their best packing and moving tips.
If you're obsessed with Phoebe Waller-Bridge's dry-witted black comedy like we are, this list is for you!
Une recette de crumble salé facile et original
The Kindle and its ilk may be changing the way many of us read, but there's truly no substitute for the original. "Traditional" books are as functional as a design element as they are good reads. Here, 11 inspired suggestions to incorporate your love of reading into your home's decor. 1. It's a book! It's […]
With so many books skyrocketing into popularity on BookTok, it is time to take a look at the most popular and best recommendations on there.
Assuming you’re a writer or a thinker, why should you care about the way you take notes? If you want to think creatively and write original articles and books, you need to form associations in your mind effectively. Notes can help you with that if you adhere to a few basic principles.
The Three-act structure. The definition of three-act structure is a narrative model that divides a plot up into three sections
Here's the Flying Machine STEM Challenge: Using a list of supplies, STEM teams must design and build a flying machine. Using theirknowledge of the Laws of Motion and 4 Forces of Flight, students must create ainnovative machine that applies those laws and forces. STEM teams have 3 trials to testtheir flying machines.
Use social media obsession to your benefit and get to know your students! This Instagram page layout is current to 2023, and includes two pages: A profile page - draw your profile photo, write your username and a brief bio; and fill six photo squares with drawings of activities, foods, family members, or friends. A post page - draw one photo and add your own caption. Want more Back to School activities? Try these: All About Me Mingle Bingo
