Thursday, October 1, 2009

Paper Airplane Science Resources



Paper airplanes are often thought of as a classroom annoyance, not an educational activity. In fact, paper airplanes are a great science activity. Children of all ages have the ability to create airplanes and even young learners can learn basic scientific principles, vocabulary, and recording practices when allowed to experiment with them.

Airplane Designs:

Best Paper Airplane

Fun Paper Airplanes

Learn to Make 10 Paper Airplanes

Nick Jr.

Online Paper Airplane Museum

Paper Aircraft Association

Paper Airplane Designs



Experiments:

Aereodynamics of Paper Airplanes

Experiment Resources

Ken Blackburn's Paper Airplanes

MAIS

Preschool Rock

Teach Engineering




sundazed flicker.com

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Tall Tale Resources



Updated May 2018

Tall Tales are a required literature element in many school curricula. Many homeschool parents choose to include them in their programs as well. Finding resources to broaden what is found in basic curriculum programs can be a challenge. Libraries offer the stories, but teachers and parents often want additional resources to use with their children.

Free Tales:
American Folklore
Paul Bunyan Trail

Books:
American Tall Tales
American Tall Tales (Puffin Books)
Casey Jones (JR. Graphic American Legends)
John Henry
John Henry: An American Legend
John Henry, Hammerin' Hero: The Graphic Novel (Graphic Spin)
Johnny Appleseed
Johnny Appleseed
Johnny Appleseed: My Story (Step-Into-Reading, Step 3)
Mike Fink
Mike Fink (On My Own Folklore)
Paul Bunyan (Reading rainbow book)
Pecos Bill
Pecos Bill, Colossal Cowboy: The Graphic Novel (Graphic Spin)
Readers' Theater: Tall Tales
Sally Ann Thunder Ann Whirlwind Crockett
The Legend of Johnny Appleseed: The Graphic Novel (Graphic Spin)
The Tall Tale of Paul Bunyan: The Graphic Novel (Graphic Spin)
Who Was Johnny Appleseed?

Movies:
Annie Oakley
Casey At The Bat
Disney's American Legends
Johnny Appleseed
John Henry, Told by Denzel Washington with Music by B.B. King
Paul Bunyan, Told by Jonathan Winters with Music by Leo Kottke with Duck Baker
Tall Tales and Legends - John Henry
Tall Tales and Legends - Pecos Bill

Teaching Resources:

American Folklore Lessons and Full Units

Education World Lesson Plan Using Graphic Oranizers to Identify Characteristics of Genre

First Schools Paul Bunyon Preschool Lesson Plan with Coloring Sheets and Crafts

Library Thinkquest Short versions with Quizes

Stories and Description of Tall Tales Write Your Own

Tall Tale Coloring Sheets

Tall Tale American Map

Web Resources










Picture Credit: Jason McHuff flicker.com

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Gimp Plastic Lacing Projects for Kids



Many of us remember Gimp or Plastic lacing projects from summer camp and craft projects done as children. Gimp is a great fine motor project for children. It also has a practical applications that can later be applied to teaching knots. I suprised more than a few people during my camping experiences with my ability to learn knot tying. I didn't have the heart to tell them it came from years of working with summer camp students tying and fixing gimp projects.

Stitches:

Barrel Stitch

Basic Stitches with Pictures and Explanations

Box Stitch

Box Stitch with Great Pictures

Butterfly Stitch Directions with Pictures

Diamond/Spiral Stitch

Finishing Stitches

Pictures of the Stitches

Scoubidou Stiches and Projects

Starter Stitches

Starting the Project on a Keychain



Projects:

Boondoggle Projects

Gimp Barrette

Making Friends

Making Friends Lanyard First Aid Kits

Making Friends Key Ring

Spiral Keychain



Picture Credits: jc.westbrook flickr.com