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SENSE
OF SIGHT
From
Stormie:
Although
I'm posting ideas below as often as I can, my very favorite activities for the
"sense of sight" have been reserved for my "SEE,
HEAR, TOUCH" booklet (see the "Stormie's
Stuff for Teachers" section of my website).
Do you see what I see? I love this time of year for doing a unit on
the sense of sight since there are so many bright lights around us! Give
the children some mini-homework: "While riding in your car at night, I want you
to watch for lights. Then, when you come back to school, you can tell all
of us what you saw." (This is a good language activity). Send a note
home too so parents can assist with the little assignment.
Extension:
Play the Christmas carole "Do You Hear What I Hear." Ask the children to
listen for something that was seen in the song (......Do you see what I
see? A star, a star......).
Language Activity: Close your classroom window blinds and turn off the lights. Look at and enjoy the softness of lighted blue Christmas lights. How do the lights make you feel?
Creative
Drama: Eye Doctor's Office: First talk about how there are various kinds of
doctors. The children will probably enjoy saying the word "ophthalmologist"
or "optometrist." The class can help make a sign to hang above the office
(“Dr. Katz, Eye Doctor,” for example). Make an eye chart using letters in
various sizes (older children can make their own charts). A white shirt
makes a great lab coat. Have a notebook and pen available for making appointments.
Pairs of play glasses and sunglasses can be put out to play with, or they can
be made from pipe cleaners or plastic rings from soda six-packs. Encourage
different types of roles: The doctor can point to the eye chart, patients can
read the chart, a receptionist can schedule appointments over the phone, etc.
Note: Remind children to keep fingers and objects
away from their eyes.
Hide and See: In advance, collect a bag full of items that are very familiar to the children. At Group Time, have everyone gather around a large deep pan of dry rice. One child volunteers to be blindfolded (or to look away) while another child hides one of the items from the bag in the rice, leaving only a hint of it sticking out. The child who is blindfolded then looks at the item sticking out of the sand and tries to guess what it is. This would also be fun in the outdoor Sand Box on a warm day. To lessen the difficulty, dump out all the items from the bag for children to see before playing the game.
*From
Sheryl Bauer, in Wisconsin:
Spy
Bottles: Recycle a soda bottle by making an "I Spy" game. Collect items
and put them in the bottle (paperclip, button, screw, sequin, macaroni noodle,
etc.) then fill the bottle with bird seed. (Be sure to finish it off by
hot gluing the top so it won't open.) The children then roll the bottle
around to find (SEE) the hidden items.
*From
Amy Minhinnick, in West Bloomfield, Michigan:
Transition
Idea: My Binoculars: When wanting to transition the children from one activity
to another, one thing I like to do is to tell them I'm going to put on my special
glasses (hands over eyes to make them look like binoculars), and then I look for
clothing details. I say something like "If you have butterflies on your
shirt, you may line up."
*From
Marcia Kridner:
Glow-in-the-Dark
Mobile: Dear Stormie, You may have this idea for your website -- I've done
it several times, and it is just "really cool." Cut out stars and a moon
shape from poster board -- a nice size for a mobile. Then, have the children
paint them with "glow in the dark" paint. Punch a hole in the moon and in
each star. Tie them to a hanger with yarn, and presto! The children
now have a very neat glow in the dark mobile......and it really does work!
Favorite Books:
From
Stormie:
The
Lucky Glasses, Written
by Jane Carruth; Tony Hutchings, Illustrator:Tippu,
the mouse, needs glasses but is afraid others will make fun of him. But
then, his glasses bring him luck. This is a big book with WONDERFUL pictures!
Making a Multi-Cultural Connection:
LIGHT
FESTIVALS:
What
a perfect idea for the sense of sight! I feel so honored that Elly Lampner,
in Randolph, Massachusetts wanted to share this way of combining several world
celebrations all at once:
Learning Goals:
1. To learn about the "common thread" of displaying
candles during holiday seasons in various cultures
2. To
explore and experience the creativity of making something
Materials:
Uncooked "lasagna, rigatoni, and/or ziti" noodles, cardboard
tubings, glue, lids, craft sticks, crayons, various types and colors of paper,
markers, paint, food colorings, brushes, and other collage materials and tools
Advance Preparation: Perhaps display some actual
candle holders (or pictures) depicting various seasonal celebrations.
Circle Time Preparation With the Children: Discuss
with the children the commonality of candles and lights for seasonal celebrations
around the world: Chanukah (or Hanukkah -- Nov-Dec), Christmas (Dec 25th), Kwanzaa
(Dec-Jan), St. Lucia's Day (Dec 13th), Los Posados (Dec 16th), etc. Compare
similarities and differences. If you have real candle samples, light them
(or plug them in) after turning off the classroom lights and/or darkening the
room, then perhaps share stories or pictures depicting candelabras from different
cultures.
Pre-Math:
Count the different number of candles needed for each.
Creative
Art: Invite the children to construct candles of their
own using collage materials.
This is also
a good time to review the fire safety rule of not playing with matches.
----------------------
Reminder
from Stormie: If you would like to begin collecting ALL my current classroom
ideas (each on a 4 x 6" index card), as well as new ones that I create, you
can do so by ordering my "Activity Cards." Click here
to check them out.
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