FACT OR FICTION

PARENTS NEED TO HAVE CHILD'S EYES TESTED BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS!

                Parents Need To Have Their Child's Eyes Tested BEFORE School Starts!

As a retired teacher and now a reading tutor I have seen too many children classified with learning disabilities,  labeled as attention deficit, slow, and with discipline problems or even classified as autistic because they have a problem with their eyesight. The child does not know enough to tell the parent or the teacher they cannot see the page or the white board from where they are sitting. They just start to feel there is something wrong with them self or they are dumber that other kids. The child is put into a group with others with learning problems. He or she gets tested and of course cannot get the needed score because of sight problems. The child's psyche is affected. Every child in the class knows which is the slow to learn group no matter if the teacher gives each group a fancy name.  Quite often the child acts out and becomes a problem in the class and is labeled ADHD. The child is also classified and put into a special group and He or she gets tested and of course cannot get the needed score because of sight problems. taken away from the class for special help--which also affects his psyche and  he loses what the class has learned while he was taken for help. Most teachers do not first think to ask the parent to check the eyesight before the child is classified.

 When I have noticed what I think is a sight problem and I have approached parents with the suggestion of having the child's eyes tested by a pediatric ophthalmologist , I am told the pediatrician checked the child. Pediatrician's are not taught to find a children who are farsighted, near sighted, astigmatic, or  amblyopic. I used to think any optometrist could test the children until I had a parent of a student in my class who was an ophthalmologist . I had noticed my grandchild was having problems with finding what she dropped or recognizing letters or even seeing what I was pointing  to. My son took her to a mall optometrist  but she still had problems even with her glasses.  I was asking my ophthalmologist parents'  advice and she said a young child needs a pediatric eye doctor to correctly find the problem. She was right, my grandchild had the "lazy" eye and needed to wear a patch to correct her eyes. This need to be corrected before age 7 or it would never be correctable.  I had another child in my class who I noticed had  to come so close to what I was writing or demonstrating in the class that he was almost in my lap. For three months I spoke to the mother who ignored the problem. Finally I cornered the dad who listened and got the child tested. To this day I am considered the savior of the child because the  eye doctor found a defect that would have caused blindness.

I could go on and on with examples of how eyesight can affect a child's learning or discipline problems and the many parents and teachers who did not realize it was a simple matter of having the eyes checked before the child is classified , so I implore you as a parent to have your child's eyes checked before school starts. I think all schools should require eye examinations by a qualified eye doctor just as they require pediatric examinations before school starts.

   

GIFT  TIME—MOTHER’S DAY, CHRISTMAS, ETC.—SCULPTY BEADS

   In my class’s we have astonished mothers with the most beautiful bead creations   the children hand crafted. We use the polymer clay that can be found in all the craft stores such as Michaels, or AC Moore. There are a few different brands and I use what is on sale.  One of the brands I use is Sculpty.  Sometimes the store marks the bricks down to $1.00 each. I usually buy at least 10 colors so they can be mixed into all kinds of marbleized patterns. I start by explaining how to soften the clay to be useable and show the kids how to mix colors and make shapes




. Warn them not to mix too much or the clay will become one solid color and not a beautiful colorful mixture. I show them how to roll 1 to 3 colors, then twist together or braid together to make colorful beads. They can also put polka dots  around, or any other shapes on the beads. The beads can be made into many shapes, not just round and I also demonstrate that. For young children I have them use a rounded toothpick to make the holes.

 Older kids or adults can use a smaller pin for the hole maker. The way I explain it is that the hole is ok only when you can look into it and see the outside, otherwise you have  not completed a full hole for the bead string to go through.

To start I allow them about 2 inches from each color brick and let them start and explain not to make the bead so large  it  won’t cook. After they have made their shapes and run out of material I will let them get more. You will be surprised how much they love making the beads. I have had classes, even kindergarteners not want to stop and would continue for as much as 3 hours and ask to do more the next day

Next I explain about symmetry, patterning, and centerpieces and show how the larger shapes can be the centerpiece and how on beads you want each side to match.  You as the teacher will have to go around and help put the holes in the right way for the centerpiece and check that the beads get the holes made correctly before cooking. 

One of my favorite centerpieces is the one of a snail. I have had a kindergartener make children and animals as centerpieces. Gemstones, glass, and metal objects can also be used as centerpieces if you put the clay around them or make a bail on top from the sculpty. Do not try to use plastic as it will melt when cooked.

The most difficult part of the whole project is for the teacher now. All the beads have to be cooked at 275 degrees for 15 minutes and the hard part is getting everyone’s correct beads back to them. What I do is to give each bead  maker a zip lock bag with their name in it and have them put the beads they made in.  After trial and error I think I have the perfectly easy way to cook beads for a class of 20 in just a few hours. I use a toaster oven. Put aluminum foil on the oven tray and with a permanent marker divide into 4 parts .Put the name of the person whose beads you are cooking on each division. You do not have to throw out the foil each time you cook—just cross out the name and put another name when cooking again. If you have adults they can take their beads home and cook them. In a class, if you are lucky and have a toaster oven it can be done in the class while everyone is working. It will smell a little but don’t worry, it is safe.

When stringing time comes I bring in all types of other beads to add to the handmade polymer beads to add more interest. A mixed media necklace usually gives a more professional look the project. To better visualize their design I have them lay the beads out on a paper plate. This helps keep the beads  and  design together and prevents them from falling to the floor all the time.  For stringing I use a tiger tail cord which is plastic coated around wire. It holds up better than cord and other stringing material. You will need crimp beads to end the necklace or bracelet, jump rings to attach the clasp and end. You can also use memory wire for necklaces or bracelets. I use chain nose pliers, and round nose pliers and clippers to put it all together.

Parents have been amazed at what their children can handcraft. Most look just like what is featured in the stores. I have had parents come and tell me their friends ask where they bought their necklaces and one even told me the exclusive clothing shop in our town asked where she got the necklace so she could carry them in her shop. We also participated in a outside fair in town for a money - making event and the necklaces sold from $18 to $38 and it wasn’t the parents who bought them.

CARBON DIOXIDE AND YEAST EXPERIMENTS

Most children have no idea what yeast is, or how it is used. When I explain to them that bread, rolls, and cake are made from yeast the kids got interested.

 I start by telling them that yeast is a living organism, a fungus.  As a living  organism it needs the same things to live as humans and it gets old just like we do. Its life span is only 6 months after its container has been opened and it must be kept in the refrigerator..  Then I ask what people needed to keep alive. Almost always the kids will guess oxygen, food, and water.  When I tell them that the the yeast needs the same oxygen, food and water to live and just like them the yeast breathes out the gas carbon dioxide. Yeast also needs warmth to grow. If one element is missing the yeast will not grow.  Lets' do an experiment to prove that 1. yeast needs oxygen and gives off carbon dioxide, 2. yeast needs sugar for food , 3. water to grow, and 4. warmth.

We set up 3 small soda bottles. In one bottle with the blue balloon we put yeast and water, no food.  In another bottle with the yellow balloon we put fresh yeast, sugar, and water.  In the third bottle with the green balloon we put old yeast, sugar, and water. We put different colored balloons to be able to keep track of which experiment it was.  We used 1 tablespoon yeast, and sugar and 1/4  water in each.

We set the bottles on the top of the stove and put the oven temperature to 200 degrees because it was winter and my house temperature is only  64 degrees. Yeast needs 75 degrees. A lamp would give warmth also.

The yellow balloon bottle with the new yeast, sugar and warm water is growing big because it has food is creating the gas carbon dioxide. Just like people yeast needs food to grow bigger.

The new yeast with food continued to produce carbon dioxide and grow bigger.

·        The balloon of the bottle of old yeast (green) just stood up but did not grow. This proves that new yeast is needed to make bread rise.  The balloon of the bottle of yeast without food (blue) only stood up but did not grow proving that yeast needs food to grow and produce carbon dioxide--just like people.

·        The total time we needed for this experiment was 2 hours.

CRAFTS—CREATING  DINOSAURS’ FROM BOXES AND SCRAPS

Children of all ages are fascinated by dinosaurs. I find it amazing that kindergarteners’ know the names and habits of so many dinosaurs’.  Many of their concepts are from cartoons, movies, and some books. I have found YouTube to be invaluable in presenting what scientists have found out about dinosaurs up to now-I say that because they are always finding new fossils and coming up with new concepts about how they lived and why they died. The YouTube Program I use in my classes the most often is, National Geographic’s “ How Dinosaurs Lived”. It consists of many different videos of dinosaurs roaming the earth, how they are born from eggs, how they fight (the boys love this), where they lived and the theories of how they died, etc. I find the children remember better and are more excited when they see the videos.

After we read, study, watch videos, discuss, and write about dinosaur life we create dinosaurs. This year I saved many sizes of cartons, different shaped boxes, paper, cans and craft scraps. I let the each child pick the carton they want and whatever they thought they needed for the project.

To put the dino together I had masking tape, glue, and hot glue guns.  I had my aid help the children with the glue gun. Young children should not use the glue guns because of the danger of burns.

This was one of the most exciting projects we did. I had some dinosaur books the kids could look at to help with their concepts. They spent the whole day creating and were very disappointed when school ended-they wanted to stay and work on their project

I was very surprised by the reaction of most of the parents. They also got excited about what their child did and couldn’t wait to take them home. Some even took pictures with their phones to show them off. A few parents had them displayed in the family room for the rest of the year.

MARSHMALLOW CRAFT, FOR ALL AGES, FOOD, ENGINEERING, SCULPTURE, AND SCIENCE PROJECT, EDIBLE FUN PROJECT

CRAFTS-MARSHMALLOW  SCULPTURES

Creating marshmallow sculptures is a perfect craft for all ages from kindergarten to college and adults.


 It is not only a good fun project for art.  This craft is also an excellent project for engineering , architecture. and science groups. It is also one of the most enjoyable projects to create because you can eat the finished project. 

Materials needed- - 
 1.Large and small Marshmallows, 2, Round toothpicks, 3.Gumdrops, and any other soft candy, 4. Large paper plate.

The project is to make a sculpture using the candy.  To start I will give a large paper plate filled with marshmallows, toothpicks, and other candy to each child (make sure you give the same amount to each) The large paper plate is so the project can be carried home when finished.  To start I will give the children 4 small candies to eat and tell them they cannot eat the ones for the sculpture until they take them home.

I know most people think this is not an architecture, engineering, or science project but it really is.  It is very difficult to get these soft candies not to collapse or cave in. The child or adult has to position them so they do not lean, or fall down



                          
                                              
. They have to engineer how to reinforce with the toothpicks, how to keep the heavier candies at the bottom, etc. I suggest you try it yourself to understand how difficult it really is.

I  add to the fun and also to keep any one from eating the candies as they work by offering prizes (an extra gum drop or marshmallow) for different categories such as who can build the tallest, widest, most interesting, etc.

CRAFTS---ROCK CREATURES    

Children love be creative! Crafts that are designed and packaged so that they all look the same and use the same materials take away the fun of using the child's own imagination. 

When I present a craft project I will use a theme or a particular material or topic,  I  encourage the children to create their designs and use whatever materials they feel will enhance their own creation.

To start a project I will put all materials on the art table, give the kids a tray and tell them to pick whatever they want to work with.

CREATED BY 10 YEAR OLD

CREATED BY A 12 YEAR OLD

For the "rock creatures"  I go to a garden center and buy a bag of river rocks that are 2 to 5 inches. If you live in a rural area you can always ask the kids to bring a rock in. On my art table I will put paper, plastic, foam, and material scraps, eyes, pipe cleaners, wood shapes, yarn scraps, straws, pom poms, ribbons, and whatever else I have that might be used.  On the work tables I will place white glue for the kids to use and if they are older I will allow them to use glue guns.  Glue from the glue gun is quicker to dry and holds better than white glue which takes hours to dry. If the children are younger I will glue with the glue gun for the kids.

CREATED BY A 12 YEAR OLD

CREATED BY A 7 YEAR OLD

                                                                           

This craft is good for all ages and usually the kids take from one to two hours to complete the project.  I have used it in my kindergarten class to the summer camp I am teaching with kids ranging from 7 to 12.  All approach the project with the same enthusiasm and have sooo much excitement and fun.