Compare & Contrast is an easy-to-use introduction to higher-order thinking. It improves comprehension by highlighting details and making abstract ideas more concrete. Comparing and contrasting help to reduce the confusion between related concepts. Finding differences and/or similarities help children organize both new and known information. To successfully compare & contrast students need knowledge and understanding …
Ways to Inspire Kids to Tinker and Invent
It is a grand feeling being allowed to develop your own creative ideas. Being lost, if only for a short moment, in visualising your own creation is something that may inspire even the most reluctant kid to read, investigate, explore, write and draw. Spark curiosity by asking open-ended questions but also teach your kids to …
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Tasting Words – Oi Aardvark!
What is a zillyzinkzikke? And what does it sit on? Words can be examined and explored in many different ways. Tasting the sounds is one way. Rhyming teaches children how language works and one of the best predictors of how well a child will learn to read is their skill to manipulate sounds. Old classical …
Learning at home – Explore Megalodons
In a matter of weeks, coronavirus (COVID-19) has changed how students are educated. Yet, the underlying ideas to change the way kids are educated has been discussed and developed for years but there has simply not been any real incentive to change education and to properly explore different ways of teaching and using technologies . …
Valentine Gnomes
Isn't Valentine Gnomes the sweetest idea? Gnomes are fascinating mythical creatures so they are suitable for a small Valentine's Day project. There a different types of gnomes, the farm gnome is well-known and so is the garden gnomes. Yet, it might be tricky to find any information aabout Valentine's Gnome - perfect opportunity to make …
The Snow dragon by Abi Elphinstone
Imagine that you are riding thorough the skies on a magical snow dragon! Start the new year with a snowy journey of love and exciting adventures. The Snow Dragon is beautifully illustrated by Fiona Woodcock and each page is filled by snowflakes and starlight. I love the image where the main character Phoebe and her …
Geometry Shapes and the Naming of Dogs!
The naming of dogs is a difficult matter, It isn't just one of your holiday games; You may think at first I'm as mad as a hatter. When I tell you, a dog must have three different names. Inspired by T.S. Eliot "The Naming of Cats" This is a fun activity. Give a dog a …
Space Game
I am armchair astronomer! I love watching photos of galxies and exoplanets online. The images are fantastic, and I can pour over a book like The Planets for hours. It would be wonderful to watch the sky if there is no light pollution but where I live it is tricky so I stick to my …
Faces – Creating characters
Have some fun and create some simple characters. If you like one of the characters, you can use the characters to illustrate a story. Children are great storytellers, but a blank page is often approached with trepidation. Nothing to say! Children are often stressed about letter formation, punctuation and proper spelling. Questions such as "What …
Dinosaurs – Intense interests
Some kids are obsessed with dinosaurs and there are several benefits with having a great passion, whether it be dinosaurs, insects, astronomy, or something else. Reserach suggests that intense interest in a topic such as dinosaurs "enhance perseverance, improve attention and enhance skills of complex thinking as the processing of information." Sometimes the intense interest …
Alphabreaths
Open your arms wide like Alligator jaws. Let your arms flap gently like a Butterfly. Imagine blowing out the candles on a birthday Cake. Make mindful breathing fun— it’s as easy as A-B-C! I instantly fell in love with this book. A charming mixture of mindfulness and learning the alphabet. Alphabreaths: The …
My big, dumb, invisible dragon
Imagine the weight of profound loss. Perhaps it looks like a dragon sitting on top of your head. My Big, Dumb, Invisible Dragon by Angie Lucas is an illustrated picture book for children dealing with loss. Grief is a heavy topic but Angie together with the illustrator Birgitta Sif show that although loss is painful …
Do things together
Mo Williems is the brillant and much-loved children's author, who created the Pigeon series, Knuffle Bunny, and Elephant & Piggie. Mo says that if you want your kid to be artistic you have to be a role model. You have to spend time sitting there drawing, playing the piano, or building weird and marvellous inventions. …
Analogies for Younger Children
moon : night :: sun : day. kitten : cat :: puppy : dog turtle : crawl :: frog : hop Similarities and differences is often taught to younger children who are asked to make comparisions often by using simple sorting acitivites. A higher level of thinking is required to use analogies. An analogy is …
Earth Day 2019
"Oh dear! Oh dear! I shall be too late!” The White Rabbit, from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll In a thought provoking but also thought inspiring booklet that I made for Earth Day or any Day, Alice, the Dodo and some of her other friends are used to challenge children to explore extinction …
Aha!
This post contains ad links. A lightbulb hovering over a child's head. Or something else? Aha-moments can hit a child without warning. These aha-moments are often described as a sudden realization, inspiration, insight, recognition, or comprehension. Aha-moments make a child's eye widen, the awareness shapen and the heart might beat faster. Something new, excting that …
Unicorns, Mammoths & Siberian Unicorns
Unicorns! Unicorn cakes! Unicorn jumpers and notebook filled with pretty looking white horses! The unicorn is mythological creature. A beast with a single large, pointed, spiralling horn projecting from its forehead. A white horse with a golden horn. The unicorn is Scotland’s national animal. In Scotland, the unicorn was used on the Scottish royal coat …
What if you catch a Leprechaun?
Leprechauns and female leprechauns provide a rich tapestry of magic and a wonderful opportunity to dive into the fairy folk of Ireland. Saint Patrick's Day or the Feast of Saint Patrick (Irish: Lá Fhéile Pádraig) is a cultural and religious celebration held on 17 March. According to tradition, the foremost patron saint of Ireland, Saint …
Reading is Creative Thinking
Reading is important because it develops the mind. Children need to learn not only to figure out what kind of reading that is required but also which reading tools to use. Often reading means to summarize, infer, and make connections while reading. Children's comprehension is sometimes tested to make sure that they have understood the …
Innovations to change the world!
Do not underestimate children's desire to change the world. Nor how creative their solutions to change the world can be. I get quite a lot of surprised faces when I say that I think children should be taught at a young age to use innovative tools. Encouraging children to explore and develop their ideas may …
Be a Mindset Detective
What was the biggest challenge you faced today? How can you think about these challenges in a new way? What can we do differently tomorrow if we face similar challenges? Research conducted by Carol Dweck has found that children who believe that their brain could grow did better in school, and in life. Behind mindset …
Invent your own words
The first snow is always such a great joy. And yesterday evening the thin layer of snow sparkled with moonlight. There are hundreds of different words for snow. For Northern Scandinavian Sami, it is vital to know whether ice is fit to walk on or whether you will sink through it. The different words for …
Staring into Space
Lauren Child says: 'It is now widely recognised that creativity is as important as literacy or numeracy, and that allowing ourselves the time, space and freedom to be creative is essential for good mental health... Sometimes we need to stare into space." Lauren's new website, Staring into Space, invites visitors to post details of odd things …
Creative Thinking – Create Writing Prompts
Writing a love story is a great way to reflect on love. Often we have a million of excellent ideas for stories, but they disappear when we are asked to sit down and write a story. Story prompts are a wonderful way to encourage children to write a story. You can use random inspiration as …
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When I was a Child
There is magic in everything.The world is a spinning star, No matter how old you are. This blog post contains ad links. When I Was a Child by Andy Stanton is a celebration of love between a grandparent and child. This book paints an enchanting vision of the world as it is as the two …
Animalphabet by Julia Donaldson
Who is faster than a caterpillar? Who is wrinklier than a hedgehog? You are never to old for a guessing game, or an alphabet book. I love the inventive approach that is used in some alphabet books to teach children something that is. . . well good for them. The book Animalphabet by Julia Donaldson, …
Ice Age Art
During the Ice Age, cave artists used their fingers or materials from nature such as twigs, moss and brushes made from animal hairs to put paint onto cave walls.The paintings were made deep within caves. The curves and shapes of the cave walls were used to paint animals. Flickering lights created an illusion so that …
Spread Dot-ish Kindness
Kind Good-hearted Loving Generous Warm Giving Kind and warm energy is important to spread. And everyone can have ideas about ways to spread kindness. But how can you describe kindness? Make a list of words and draw them on dots. Inspiration for words can you get by discussing books such as Have You Filled a Bucket …
My child is different by Elaine Halligan
Elaine Halligan's My Child's Different: The lessons learned from one family's struggle to unlock their son's potential celebrates the unique qualities that children who are different bring to the world. Reading about development when the development does not follow the expected pattern enhances your understanding not only of children who are different but also of …
Maths and 3D Picasso Dogs
What does 3D geometry mean for young children? Maths is about problem-solving and thinking. Trying ot figure out what will happen. if you do something. Our initial thoughts when we think about 3D may circle around all sort of hard and difficult maths with intersecting lines. Using art is one way to introduce key concept …
Silly Summer Silliness
Lazy summer days! Relax from all the seriousness of school and homework. In the introduction to the book The Art of Silliness: A Creativity Book for Everyone Carla Sonheim says that she is not really a very silly person. She is actually a pretty serious person. She writes, "But "serious" does not equal "solemn", and I …
Nature Story Bag
A day at the beach collecting shells and building sand castles inspires children to make friends with animals like the crabs runing along the beach and to dream up a story about the inquisitive and inventive princes and princesses who live in the sand castle they have just built. Stories help children understand their outdoor …
Do the Action – ABC See, Hear and Do
Affiliate links from Amazon are used in this blog post. A reading program that involves teaching children to crack the code by engaging all their senses is a great way to support your child on their journey towards literacy. Children learn through movement, touch and hands-on play. The book ABC See, Hear, Do: Learn to …
A Bit Average
The Age of the Average prevents children from blossoming. The dream that every child is given chances and opportunities to become the best they can, is a dream that it is worth striving for. Yet, this idea rests on the assumption that this can be achieved on a child's own terms. One thing that stands …
Cherry Blossom Madness
The Cherry Blossom season has arrived. A month later than last year! To watch the trees bloom, dressing our garden in magnificent shades of pink is wonderful. We filled some coloured papers with blossoms. Some art activities are better suited to the outdoors. And sometimes it is nice to display the work in the garden. …
The Art of Questioning – Is it Alive?
Young children are alive with questions. The world is a wonderful place filled with mysterious things. Things that surprise and amaze them. They often embark on a journey to investigate, explore and understand the world. At some point children tend to get the idea that questions are not particularly welcome. The learn that having a …
Creative Dot-to-Dot
Keeping things fun does not necessarily mean that the underlying purpose with an activity is lost. Dot-to-dot is in itself and activity that is designed to capture children's attention while at the same time checking if they "correctly can join the dots together by counting". A figure emerges if the child can correctly connect the …
Spring is here! Books about seeds and flowers
This post contains affiliate links. Flower Alphabet Book Which flower flavours tea? Can you use a flower to make a doll? Flower Alphabet Book by Jerry Pallotta is beutifully illustrated by Leslie Evans. A stunning alphabet book filled with flowers in bright colours and inspiring information. A beutiful bouquet of words and picutres! Oh Say …
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Creativity can be taught!
“How many ways can you add 10+10?” Can creativity be taught? In today's world innovation and creative problem solving are important. If innovation is the key to success, then it is time to think about ways to put creativity into our education system. For many of us, however, creativity is a mystery. Whether we are …
Creative Thinking in Young Children and Adults
Young children sometimes come up with a surprising fresh idea. They suggest something or do something in a way that we would never imagine ourselves. Imagine ways to be a kid again Look at the following suggestion made by 4-year-old Augie when his grandfather said, “I wish I could be a kid again.” But before …
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Mechanica
This post has ad links. Dip your toes into the future creatures of the land and skies. "Welcome to future Earth. Despite repeated warnings, the environment has become polluted to such an extent that many areas of the globe have become uninhabitable, and wildlife is now extinct. From the ashes, a new style of ‘wildlife’ …
Take Me Seriously! Philosophy & Children
Big questions is what most people think that philosphy is all about. Big and hard questions that only adults can have something important to contribute to. Philosophy for children is not about teaching children about philosophy but to engage with children about philosophical questions. Children are taught how to create their own philosophical questions. Questions …
Story Box – Imagine a Giant Pink Rabbit
Start the New Year by stretching your imagination by magically shrinking the giant pink rabbit that is terrorizing your castle? Children love fairy tales and from a young age they begin to retell a story. Emergent literacy is a term that is used to refer to the idea that children learn about reading and writing …
The Twelve Months of Endangered Animals Song – Whales
On the Twelfth Day of December We saved Twelve Giant Whales Whales are awe-inspiring and often elusive creatures. Their sheer size amazes us but as climate change and krill fishing increase, our time to learn more about these magnificent mammals is running out. Of the 13 “Great Whale” species, 7 of them are currently classified …
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Wishlist for Christmas
The magical Christmas adventure the Nutcracker is a popular ballet with music written by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. In The Nutcracker: Press the Note to Hear Tchaikovsky's Music (The Story Orchestra) you can listen to 'The Dance of the Reed Flutes', 'The Waltz of Flowers' and 'The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy', while you read about …
The Twelve Months of Endangered Animals Song – Polar Bears
On the Eleventh of November we saved, Eleven Polar Bears Sliding on the Snow. Polar bears live in remote areas that are tricky to study. But scientists predict that without action on climate change we could lose wild polar bears by 2100. Major treats are melting sea ice and loss of prey due to climate …
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Maybe ( ) Together |What is Love?
A lovely stop-motion animation by Jackie Edwards using drawings made by children. "Love is a kind thing to do!" "Love is something very powerful!" "Love is something beautiful!" "I think love is important!" What is love? Maybe ( ) Together | What is love? from Performing Lines on Vimeo.
So many questions! Wonderful Questions
Children love questions. They learn and grow by asking questions. Few people are aware of the power of asking questions. When you think that you know it all, there is no need to ask questions. Why would you? But questions are the best way to gain insight and also to develop solutions to problems. Some …
Project Literacy – The Little Chicken Named Pong-Pong
Reading can open up new worlds and enrich a child's life. Words are beautiful and key to many things in life. Words help us make sense of the world around us and they shape our thoughts and influence our actions. Sadly, over one billion people around the world cannot read. Futurologist used to predict the …
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Inspired by Endangered Penguins
On the Tenth Day of October, we saved Ten Adorable Penguins If you are very lucky, according to Irish folklore, you might find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. But what is a pot of gold compared to some Gentoo penguins with flamboyant red-orange beaks, white-feather caps, and peach-colored feet. Or …
Counting Autumn Leaves – Creativity, Creative Thinking and Maths
A mathematical think dive into a pile of colourful autumn leaves. What if there was a leaf counting machine? A leaf-powered machine that could count the leaves in a rotting piles of autumn leaves. Why would you like to count the number of leaves in a pile? Who would think of such an idea? Maths …
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Asking Questions that Open the Possibility Door
Explore the learning potential and creative thinking benefits of shifting the way you ask your child questions. Good questions help children to think outside the square, they challenge assumptions and help to spark a desire to explore possibilities. A think dive into the unknown. Children love to ponder over ideas that are a bit silly …
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Creativity
What happens when we let external influences dim our inner light? Madrid based animators, Daniel Martinez Lara and Rafa Cano Mendez created this touching 8 minute short film that shows what happens when we let external influences dim our inner light. Copi is trying to teach his son, Paste, how to live and what is correct …
Invite a Tree and a Tree Kangaroo to Tea!
The Woodland Trust is encouraging families to celebrate the UK’s incredible trees and woods by throwing a tree party! Become a leaf expert and learn more about trees! We spent a morning walking around in a big local park looking for a suitable tree to invite. So difficult to choose. It would be lovely to …
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Books for an Autumn Evening to Spark Understanding and Creativity
What can be better than to cuddle up in the sofa and listen to a story while the autumn leaves are dancing on the streets? Madeline Finn and the Library Dog by Lisa Papp Cracking the reading cde takes time. And for some children it takes longer time. Madeline Finn and the Library Dog by …
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Picture books that will empower
Traditionally, children's books used to reinforce messages that children are powerless and unimportant. Books for children were written with the aim of teaching children to adopt to adult's values. The underlying messages in the books were that children must change to fit into the world - the adult world. Today, more and more children's books …
The Twelve Months of Endangered Animals Songs- Cool & Hot Zebra Socks
On the eighth day of August we saved eight elegant zebras. Black and white stripes. The skin helps to keep the zebra cool. So the answer to a lot of problems may be "zebra"! The pattern of the black and white stripes may be correlated to the climate where the zebras are living. The black …
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The Twelve Months of Endangered Animals – Hedgehogs
"What is the purpose of a Hedgehog?" This question popped up in a discussion about endangered animals and particularly endangered hedgehogs. Images of cute little hoglets flashed through my mind as well as beautiful illustrations from the book The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle by Beatrix Potter. After cats, hedgehogs might be the internet's favourite animal. …
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Imagine a city! A Smart City!
People flying with their umbrellas as the wind blows. Paintings that escape from their frames. Buses are fish and fish fly in the sky! Imagine a City by Elise Hurst is an invitation to imagine all sort of fantastic things. She encourages us to not only imainge fantastical cities but also takes the game a …
Sparking Children’s Thinkibility – Interesting Videos
A selection of interesting, beautiful and mind-boggling videos that I stumbled upon the last weeks. Enjoy! Creative Constraints! Safe surfing on the Internet Philosophy and Children Soft robots inspired by Octopuses!
Wonder Question Jigsaw
“Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.” Winnie the Pooh Question Asking Let the students start the new school term by asking questions about things that take up the most room in their heart. They can ask BIG and important questions about serious things or small fuzzy questions that …
Endangered Frogs and Lily Pads
What would you think if there were no frogs to kiss? In stories, frogs are often portrayed as ugly and slimy. When frogs are not hopping off lily pads, or croaking"ribbit" in the pond, they are often said to turn into a beautiful prince or princess if you dare to kiss them. And it is …
Smart Feathers – Biomimicry for Young Children
Owls have beautiful as well as smart feathers! Why not make a project and study feathers? The beauty of bird feathers provides inspiration for art activities. And their smart design is perfect for young curious biomimicrist. A great way to study how feathers have evolved and to use their clever design as an inspiration for …
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Biomimicry for Young Children – Magic DinoPills
What if you were a dentist? Can you invent something inspired by dinosaurs? Magnificent plant-eating dinosaurs provided inspiration for the idea of Magic DinoPills. The long-necked, plant-eating giants such as Diplodocus and Camarasaurus grew new teeth every couple of months. Their diet consisting of plants such a trees, bushes, cycads, ginkgoes and ferns worn down …
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Elephants, where are they? Draw a Map of Endangered Animals
Every elephant counts! On the Fifth of May, we saved Five Trumpeting Elephants But where are they? The magnificent elephants migrate and cross borders. Elephants have no passports like humans and it vital to count the numbers and see where they are to help protect them. To help protect elephants in Africa "The Great Elephant …
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Be a Rabbit Detective – Life Cycle, Biomimicry, Inspiration for Ideas
In a local park not far from our house there are lots of rabbits running around. Watching the bouncy rabbits is always an exciting time.Rabbits are also a common pet. And pets can provide the perfect inspiration for new ideas. What if you were trapped in a cage with no friends or toys to play …
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Biomimicry Postal Stamps to Celebrate Nature
Postal stamps to celebrate nature! Stamps are awesome. And if you are wondering how big is the gap between teeth on the jagged edge you find the answer in the mind-boggling book Science of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials. "An atom is only about one hundred-millionth of a centimetre across, so that it would take …
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Vulnerable Giant Pandas
Any ideas to celebrate the news that the status of giant pandas has been changed? We made a collage using photos of endangered animals. We used gelli print to make the background and then we simply cut out some distinctive panda features - black ears and eyes (go here to read more about gelli …
Inspired by Vulnerable Giant Pandas
On the Fourth Day of April We saved Four Munching Pandas 'Great news, the giant panda has moved one step away from extinction. The giant panda has been downgraded from endangered to vulnerable. The charming bear with the large black patches around its eyes and over the ears and across its almost round body …
Playing a Red Pepper
What can you do with a ripe pepper apart from eating it? Well, you can always make a wonderful harmonica. Player's Pflute is a creative musician kit. A colourful modular system of wind instruments with different mouthpieces, hole punchers and silicone connectors. Jia Wu has created the most adorable kit that encourages children to …
How to raise a child that cares about nature
It is in the news every day, from climate change to disappearing species, and we need to do something to reverse these trends. But how do we encourage children to not only care but also take action? Curiosity, care and compassion for our natural world comes from early contact with nature. A sense of wonder, …
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Biomimicry for Young Children – Inspired by Endangered Orangutangs
On the third day of March We saved three Swinging Orangutans Our think dive this month is inspired by not only orangutans but also dreams about Easter bunnies and chocolate. After we have learnt that the production of palm oil is a major threat to orangutans we decided to make a chocolate bark using chocolate …
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Cool Questions and Hot Answers – Climate Change
Climate change! A debated and difficult problem. Is it important to talk about this situation with children? I think so. As the earth gets warmer and warmer the causes, mechanisms, or impacts of climate change on our planet is something that is important to discuss. It is also crucial to explore solutions and ideas that …
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Inspired by Endangered Sloths – Sloth Meditation
Imagine that you can be the sloth. What does it mean to find your inner sloth? Sloths are asleep a good portion of the twenty-four-hour day. The rest of the time the are slowly moving and feeding. What if you were licking an ice-cream in a way that a sloth munches slowly on leaves? What …
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Biomimicry for Young Children Inspired by the Endagered Sloths
Bring slowness into the world! On the Second Day of February, We Saved Two Sleepy Sloths Would it not be great to stretch time? How can we celebrate slowfulness? William Beebe was a sloth researcher who was very impressed by the sloths' slowness. He wrote, "Sloths have no right to be living on this earth, …
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Valentine – In My Heart: A Book of Feelings By Jo Witek
Even brown bracts are beautiful! A nature Valentine heart made of twigs, flowers and brown hydrangea bracts and flowers. Mopheads, as they are also called, are showy bushes that in the warmer months have colourful and big bracts around each flower. Now the bushes are filled with brown but still beautiful big mopheads. We also …
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Biomimicry for Young Children – Inspired by Endangered Dugongs – Donald Dugong Seacleaner
Meet Donald Dugong Seacleaner! The graceful dugongs spend time eating seagrass from the bottom of the sea. Seagrass is important to save. We wrote a story about Doctor Delia Dugong who saved the seagrass. We also reversed the thinking and ended up with an idea where we take something away from the sea that does …
Biomimicry for Young Children – Inspired by Endangered Dugongs
Dugongs spark our curiosity and tug our heart-strings. These sea cows are beautiful and fascinating creatures. The first day of January we saved One swimming dugong Inspired by the carol "The Twelve days fo Christmas", we made up a song where we each month saved an animal - The Twelve Months of Endangered Animals Song. …
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The Twelve Months of Endangered Animals Song
I wish all my readers a Happy New Year! During 2017, I will among other things be using the animals in this mindmap as inspiration for new ideas. You can download the mind map here for free. Save
New Year – Memories, Goals & Dreams
What are your creative resolutions for 2017? This time of the year we all reflect on the “good” and the “bad” of the previous year and many us make New Year’s Resolutions for the upcoming year. Often lists are filled with words like More and Less. We promise to "exercise More" and "eat Less sugar". …
The Twelve Days of Endangered Animals Christmas Challenge – Day 12
On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love sent to me 12 drummers drumming The last challenge inspired by the traditional as well as the Australian version of the Christmas Carol The Twelve Days of Christmas. Can you rewrite the song and use endangered animals as inspiration. Perhaps you can write a version that …
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The Twelve Days of Endangered Animals Christmas Challenge – Day 11
Does nagging help? Does nagging make you stop doing something? In the Australian version of Twelve Days of Christmas, we have On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love to me 11 numbats nagging Photo Helenabella So what can we do instead of nagging? Perhaps you can make a play and perform it during …
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The Twelve Days of Endangered Animals Christmas Challenge – Day 10
Kings, Queens, Lords. . . A treat fit for a king! On the Tenth day of Christmas my true love sent to me 10 Lords a-Leaping The king of all the animals and the jungle is the lion. Sadly, this much-loved animal is now an endangered species. It is easy to think that the protection …
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The Twelve Days of Endangered Animals Challenge – Day 9
On the 9th day of Christmas My true love sent to me 9 wombats working, In Australia the 11 th of May is Wombat Day and one thing you can do to support then endangered wombat is to make Hairy-Nosed truffles. Since it is almost Christmas, why not make your own truffles to spotlight an …
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The Twelve Days of Endangered Animals Christmas Challenge – Day 8
Dairy cows! Are cows an endangered species? On the eighth day of Christmas my true love sent to me: 8 Maids a Milking The loss of biodiversity is not only threatening wild animals but also farm animals. Farm animals have been domesticated for centuries but today many species are not regarded as suitable for contemporary …
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The Twelve Days of Endangered Animals Christmas Challenge – Day 7
Kids Power! Everyone has their own way of taking actions to helping the world. What can you do? Take words from the animal of 7th day of Christmas as inspiration to support an endangered animal. On the 7th day of Christmas My true love sent to me 7 possums playing In the song, we have …
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The Twelve Days of Endangered Animals Christmas Challenge – Day 6
On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Six geese a-laying. . . Is creativity an inborn talent that kids either do or do not have? Or is it a skill that can be taught? Creativity is sometimes linked to intelligence and it is suggested that not all children are equally …
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The Twelve Days of Endangered Animals Christmas Challenge – Day 5
How cool are frogs? A challenge inspired by golden rings and the frog prince. On the fifth day of Christmas my true love sent to me: 5 Golden Rings 4 Calling Birds 3 French Hens 2 Turtle Doves and a Partridge in a Pear Tree The Frog Prince is a fairy tale that was included …
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The Polar Bear By Jenni Desmond
A wonderful exploration of polar bears and their habitat. The Polar Bear by Jenni Desmond is a rare treat, a book that is both magical and factually accurate. You are taken on a journey of polar bear bodies, habits, as well as habitats. Yet, the reading the book is a bit bittersweet. Polar bears …
The Twelve Days of Endangered Animals Christmas Challenge – Day 4
There is an Australian version of the Twelve Days of Christmas and this version is used as inspiration for today's challenge. On the 4th day of Christmas My true love sent to me 4 koalas cuddling, 3 kookaburras laughing 2 pink galahs And an emu up a gum tree. Koalas are regarded as a vulnerable …
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The Twelve Days of Endangered Animals Christmas Challenge – Day 3
On the Third day of Christmas my true love sent to me Three French Hens Two Turtle Doves and a Partridge in a Pear Tree.French Hens! The thoughts drift towards foxes and the story about the clever Fantastic Mr Fox. Mr Fox lives with his wife and four children,who are always hungry. To feed his …
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The Twelve Days of Endangered Animal Christmas Challenge – Day 2
Welcome to the second challenge. On the Second day of Christmas my true love sent to me Two Turtle Doves and a Partridge in a Pear Tree. Photo Yuvalr European turtle doves form strong bonds and the rather small dove with the wedge-shaped tail with a dark centre and white borders and tips is a …
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The Twelve Days of Endangered Animals Christmas Challenge – Day 1
Welcome to the first challenge. A challenge filled with a dollop of fun, a spoon of seriousness and an ocean of sparking thinkibility. On the first day of Christmas my true love sent to me: A Partridge in a Pear Tree On this the first day of Christmas we may look for ideas that contain: …
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Kindness & Christmas – Spread Christmas Spirit Wherever You Go
Everyone can make a difference. Everyone can be kind. And everyone can have creative ideas about acts of kindness during the Festive Season! There are many wonderful and creative lists where you can select acts of kindness that your students or child can carry out during December. If you are looking for ways to …
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Slugs are Cool
Would it not be great if you could smell with your body just like a slug? Slugs are everywhere! And gooey slime is a wonderful substance that can solve many problems. Britain has ideal conditions for slugs to thrive - cool damp summers and warmish mild wet winters. Climate changes also contribute into turning our …
Hunt for Straight Lines
What prevents a tree from growing in straight lines? Are there straight lines in nature? And are there right angles? The trees have lost most of their leaves and the structure of the trees are visible. So the other day we hunted for the tree with the straightest trunk and branches. When we look at …
We Found a Hat by Jon Klassen
"There is a hat. The turtles fund it together. But there is two of them and there is only one hat" A bear, a fish and turtles! Jon Klassen's hat trilogy is a lesson in minimalism. The conclusion to this trilogy, We Found a Hat, is both deliciously funny and heart-warming. And of course, …
A bit of this and that – Things that Caught my Eyes this Week
Here is a mix of things that has caught my attention the last couple of days. I hope you and your kids feels inspired. First is a video that is absolutely magical. Lego in a way you have probably never seen it before. Magic angle sculptures created with layers and layers of LEGO pieces. At …
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Beetle Boy by M.G. Leonard
Make sure that you have a beetle spotters’ guide to hand when you start reading the exciting adventure of Beetle Boy (The Battle of the Beetles) by M.G. Leonard, charmingly illustrated by Júlia Sardà. Why has it taken so long for beetles to get a starring role in a children's book? They represent a quarter …
Bring Books to Life
Be a book detective and learn to love new words and explore challenging ideas. Save the best books and read them aloud. Bring the lovely, exciting stories to life. Challenge your kids to listen to stories that boost their vocabulary. Listening to someone reading book with challenging ideas and vocabulary is not only a wonderful …