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Easter Art And Craft Activities

 

Hop into Easter with a Crafty Eggs-Travaganza 

Easter is a time for family, friends, and of course adorable Easter craft! From super simple pre-cut ‘everything in the box’ activities to egg-citing multi-step projects for older students to have a crack at, we’ve rounded up 10 of the best!

Read on to adorn your classroom in Easter cheer, assemble the most adorable gifts for some-bunny special and organise an egg-stra special hat parade that’ll be the talk of the town.

So grab your best Easter bonnet and let’s hop to it.

 

 

Easter Hunting Baskets

Easter Hunting Basket

The traditional Easter hunting basket has formed part of our Easter memories for generations, with happy little hunters excitedly gathering hidden choccy eggs around the garden or school grounds. The basket making in the days and weeks before hand would build the anticipation of the festivities to come – and finally the day would arrive!

But it doesn’t need to be chocolate! There’s plenty of treasures for children to hunt for, why not try Easter sticker sheets, felt bunny stickers, mini carrots and fuzzy chicks for imaginative Easter hunting that’s bound to delight.

Simple to make and fun to craft, these cardboard baskets are pre-cut with slots and perforated lines to guide your basket folding. All you need to do is decide how you’ll decorate yours!

 

STEP-BY-STEP

  1. Apply the glue stick to the backing of your Easter basket and handle.
  2. Press the glue side of the basket onto the backing side of the pattern paper and gently smooth down with your fingers to remove any air bubbles, set aside to dry.
  3. Carefully cut away the excess pattered paper and recut along the pre-cut Easter basket lines
  4. Use the pre-fold lines of the basket to fold the basket into its shape and glue into place.
  5. Decorate your basket with Easter stickers, paper shred and chicks.

 

Done! The perfect hunting basket is ready for chocolate egg hunting!

 

*TOP TIP – Younger children will enjoy decorating their baskets with scraps of paper or paint, rather than one sheet of patterned paper.

 

Products Used;

Impressionist Pattern Papers OR Gingham Paper 

Easter Hunting Baskets

 Kraft Paper Shred  OR Green Crinkle Paper Shred

Easter Stickers 

Easter Chicks 

Creatistics Superstik Glue Stick  

 

 

Felt Threading Easter Chicks

Felt Threading Easter Chicks

Mess free crafts like these soft & sweet Easter Chicks are super simple to navigate. With all the pre-cut pieces supplied in the kit, students can experiment with sewing techniques as they assemble the components using the accompanying visual instructions. You’ll just need a tiny dab of glue at the end to adhere the little chicks’ eyes, beak, and wings. And ta-da! Your adorable textile creation is finished.

There are so many incredible developmental benefits for young students engaging in basic sewing, including patience and confidence, fine motor dexterity, the ability to cognitively following instructions, the building of valuable life skills and many more.

These little chickees are just about bouncing out of the packet to be assembled! Read on to follow the steps to make one for your very own.

 

STEP-BY-STEP

  1. Assemble all your pieces – 2 x yellow felt body pieces, filling, plastic sewing needle & yellow weaving thread, 2 x wings, 2 x eyes, a beak and length of orange pipe cleaner to form the legs.
  2. Bend your orange pipe cleaner over to that it forms a long semi-circle.
  3. Using scissors, carefully snip two short lengths off the ends, and use these lengths to twist around the legs to form the chick’s feet, and then set aside.
  4. Thread your plastic needle with the yellow weaving thread and tie a knot in one end.
  5. Place your yellow body pieces together, and using a whip stitch, begin to sew the two pieces together at one side.
  6. Place leg piece inside the 2 body pieces and continue to whip stitch, locking the legs into the body as you continue around the edge.
  7. When you have stitched most of the way around, carefully place your filling evenly into the body and finish off stitching the two pieces closed, tying off with a firm knot (the remaining thread can form a hanging loop if desired).
  8. Using a small dab of tacky glue, attach the 2 eyes, the beak and wings to chick and set aside to dry thoroughly.

 

Done! Your felt Easter chick is ready.

 

*TOP TIP – Holding the pieces together with a few pegs will help keep everything stable while younger students sew it all together.

 

Products Used;

 Felt Threading Easter Chicks

Tacky Craft Glue 

 

 

Eco Plate Roosting Nests

Eco Plate Roosting Nests

Paper plates – a classroom favourite! It’s amazing what you can transform them into. With just a snip of some scissors, a splash of colour, a dab of glue and a sprinkle of creativity, you’re able to make any creative creature.

For this activity we’ve transformed the trusty paper plate into an adorable roosting nest. We know little ones will love filling their nests with Mama Hen and her beloved eggs & chicks. We love the texture and stability the eco sugarcane ‘paper’ plates gave to this activity, providing value for children to engage in pretend play and storytelling with their creations.

 

STEP-BY-STEP

  1. For the background, apply your choice of pastel paint onto the front side of a plate and set aside to dry.
  2. To make the nest, cut one plate in half, apply gold paint to the back side, and set aside to dry.
  3. To make Mama Hen, cut the remaining half plate into a semi-circle or large egg shape.
  4. Using coloured felt or paper, cut out one white tail, one orange beak and one red comb.
  5. Glue the beak, comb and tail onto Mama Hen and glue on some joggle eyes so she can keep watch over her chicks.
  6. When the painted plates have dried, glue the nest onto the background plate and set aside to dry again (a few pegs will help everything stay in place while the glue dries).
  7. When Mama Hen and her nest is thoroughly dry, pack in Kraft Paper Shred and then rest Mama Hen and her chicks inside their cosy home.

 

Done! Your very own Easter Roosting Rest is ready.

 

*TOP TIP – Add some extra goodies to Mama Hen’s nest by gluing patterned paper onto sugar cane plates and cut into oval egg shapes.

 

 

Products Used;

18cm White Sugar Cane Eco Plates

23cm White Sugar Cane Eco Plates 

Pattern Paper Squares 

 Creatistics Pastel Paint

Assorted Felt Sheets 

Joggle Eyes 

Kraft Paper Shred 

Gold Fabric and Craft Paint 

Creatistics Strong Craft Glue 

Easter Chicks

 

 

Weaving Eggs & Bunnies

Weaving Eggs & Bunnies

Create fantastic weaving patterns this Easter with the Weaving Eggs & Bunnies set. This is a brilliant introduction for children working with textiles as they gain an understanding of the fundamentals of weaving and pattern designs. They’re perfect to decorate the classroom, home or make the sweetest Easter gifts for loved ones. Extend children’s vocabulary as they discuss secondary colours and pastel shades and positional language to describe the action of ‘over and under’ as they work with the satin weaving ribbons.

Take the activity to the next level by adding eyes, nose and decorative details to the bunnies or create a nest for the eggs. Add them to Easter hats and bonnets, use them for storytelling or combine two together to make Easter themed hinting baskets. When children’s creativity is involved, there’s absolutely no limit!

 

STEP-BY-STEP

  1. Choose your design and pre-cut lengths of satin ribbon.
  2. Weave each length of ribbon over and under the pre-cut slots to form a pattern.
  3. Use a dab of tacky glue to hold the ribbon in place on the reverse side.
  4. Add your choice of detail such as bunny’s joggle eyes and pastel felt facial features or decorate both shapes with adhesive rhinestones or glitter flowers and daisies.
  5. If using glue, set aside to dry thoroughly.

 

Done! The perfect Easter weaving eggs & bunnies are ready.

 

*TOP TIP – Experimenting with pattern making and sequences in the classroom will help younger children get the hang of the over and under action to form weaving patterns.

 

Products Used;

Weaving Eggs & Bunnies 

Pastel Felt 

Assorted Joggle Eyes 

Tacky Craft Glue 

 

 

Colourful Wooden Bunnies

Colourful Wooden Bunnies

These solid pre-cut wooden bunnies are a terrific experience to incorporate woodwork to the younger year’s classroom. Made from a solid block of unfinished pinewood, they lend themselves to all sorts of decorations. Whether it’s patterned paper, paint, wood markers, POSCA pens, glitter glue or a combination of them all, there’s bound to be a colony of bunnies full of individual personality in no time!

Read on to follow the steps to make the illustrated impressionist artwork inspired bunnies.

 

STEP-BY-STEP

  1. Lay the wooden bunny onto the impressionist paper and trace around with a pencil.
  2. Lift the bunny off and carefully cut around the pencil markings.
  3. Cover one side of the wooden bunny with Creatistics Superstik glue stick and place the blank side of the paper onto the wooden bunny, matching the bunny paper shape to the corresponding wooden bunny side.
  4. Repeat for the second side.
  5. Apply Tacky glue to Joggle eyes and a Pom Pom tail and adhere in place and set aside to thoroughly dry.
  6. Draw whiskers and other details on your bunny as desired) or add on some Easter themed embellishments. Don’t forget Bunny’s crunchy carrot to nibble on too.

 

Done! Your adorable Easter Bunnies are ready.

 

*TOP TIP – Cutting the paper just on the inside of the pencil markings will ensure it fits the wooden bunny exactly.

 

 

Products Used;

Wooden Bunny

 Pastel Pom Poms 

 Impressionist Pattern Papers 

Creatistics Superstik Glue Stick  

 

 

Easter Block Print Stamps

Easter Block Print Stamps

Clay is a medium that lends itself to all age groups and crafting abilities – from beginners right through to experienced potters. And the beauty of air-dry clay is the ability to form incredible works without needing the hassle and expense of firing ovens. Simply use your hands to form coil or pinch pots, shallow dishes, birds in nests, necklaces, wall art, hanging decorations, nature prints, paper weights and so much more!

These adorable Easter themed wooden Block Print Stamps add festive flare to your Easter clay works. Perfectly paired with natural beading cord or leather cord, to make all sorts of jewellery or decorative works. Form your own clay beads or grab yourself convenient packs of beads in natural wood, pearl pony, or painted pink & white wood.

Don’t forget to add a finishing-off sparkle with Creatistics Bio-glitter, and you’re all done!

 

*TOP TIP – If your clay dries out while you’re using it for extended periods, use a little water on your hands to form a smooth surface. This is particularly handy for smoothing the edges of your works.

 

Products Used;

Easter Block Print Stamps 

Creatistics Air Dry Ceramic Clay  

 Air Hardening Clay 

Flowers of Australia Block Stamps  

Wooden Block Print Stamps 

 

 

Wooden Easter Ornaments

Wooden Easter Ornaments

These wooden Easter ornaments are the cutest little blank canvases, allowing for plenty of personalisation as children decorate them to their liking. The finished product can make all sorts of goodies – traditional hanging decorations, key chains, school bag accessories, car rear view mirror accessories, gift tags, Easter hat additions, hunting basket treasures and so much more.

For colourful multi-step creations, the following activity combines modelling with drawing. Although, the beauty of a blank wooden shape ensures there’s no end to the types of mediums that can be used – paint, patterned paper, collage, embellishments, glitter and more.

How will you transform your Easter ornaments?

 

STEP-BY-STEP

  1. Divide each Magiclay colour pot into 3 portions (each 20g container will cover approx. 3 Wooden Easter Ornaments).
  2. Using your fingers, gently press your portion of Magiclay into a flat rough circle.
  3. Place it onto the wooden ornament and wrap it around, covering the ornaments entire front surface.
  4. Gently mould the clay onto the back of the ornament, using your fingers to manipulate the Magiclay into place. Your ornament should now be completely covered.
  5. Carefully poke a skewer through the ornaments hole to ensure it can still hang when dry.
  6. Set aside to dry for 24 to 48 hours.
  7. Use POSCA paint pens to decorate your shapes and set aside to dry again.
  8. Thread a length of twine/ribbon through the ornament’s hole and tie off securely into a loop.

 

Done! The perfect Easter decorations for the classroom and home are ready.

 

*TOP TIP – For large classes or combination of classes, the bulk pack Silk Clay Kit, also available separately in individual colours, will ensure there’s plenty to go round in each student’s preference of colour.

 

Products Used;

Paper Magiclay Candy Colours  

 Wooden Easter Ornaments 

Natural Beading Cord 

POSCA Marker Pastel

 

 

Standing Cardboard Easter Bunny

Standing Cardboard Easter Bunny

These cute Standing Cardboard Bunny shapes are sure to capture children’s attention. They’re supplied in plain white cardboard to provide opportunities for creativity to shine – collage, paint, draw or stick on any number of embellishments. Add joggle eyes, a nose, a pom pom tail or even tie a decorative bow around the collar. You’re Peter Cottontail is ready to hop down the bunny trail!

Read on to work through the steps for creating your very own pastel toned gingham patterned bunny.

 

STEP-BY-STEP

  1. Apply a layer of glue stick to one side of the bunny and set aside to dry.
  2. Carefully cut the excess paper from around the bunny, and along the pre-cut standing slot.
  3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 on the reverse side of the bunny if desired.
  4. Use tacky glue to adhere joggle eyes, a pom pom tail (and any other embellishments) and set aside to thoroughly dry.
  5. Slot the bunny-shaped cardboard piece neatly into the pre-cut holder.

 

Done! Your adorable standing bunny is ready to decorate your desk, mantel, or Easter lunch table.

 

*TOP TIP – When using glue, allow your decorated pieces to thoroughly dry before slotting the bunny into its standing base.

 

Products Used;

Standing Cardboard Bunny

Gingham Paper

Pastel Pom Poms

Creatistics Superstik Glue Stick

Tacky Craft Glue 

Assorted Joggle Eyes

 

 

Easter Yarn Nests

Easter Yarn Nests

Are you looking for an oh-so-cute project for older students? This utterly adorable Easter activity uses a process similar to papier mache, in this case using yarn in place of paper, with PVA glue acting as the moist adhesive to bind the yarn onto a balloon and then hardening into a nest as it dries.

Buttery soft pastel toned yarn in light blue, pink, purple and white will make for a super sweet Easter theme while bright & bold coloured yarn will lend itself to artistic flare. When your nest is ready, it can be filled with paper shred in natural, pastel rainbow or green or even snuggly feathers in pastel, bright or natural. Add in some little chickees and hide your choccies away.

In any colour way you choose, your yarn nests will sit proudly on display!

 

STEP-BY-STEP

  1. Blow up the balloon with a small amount of air so that it resembled an egg shape, firmly tie a knot and set aside.
  2. Pour approx. 1 cup of PVA glue into a shallow bowl.
  3. Cut long lengths of coloured yarn and carefully place them into the glue to avoid tangling, making sure all parts of the yarn are covered in glue.
  4. Slowly wind the PVA covered yarn around the balloon, using fingers to gently move the yarn into place and remove excess glue when wrapping.
  5. Hang to dry (depending on the weather this may take up to a week).
  6. When the glue is thoroughly dry, pop the balloon and remove all pieces while carefully cutting the yarn egg in half to form 2 nests.
  7. Fill each nest with paper shred and decorate with chicks and chocolate eggs.

 

Done! The perfect cosy Easter nest is ready.

 

*TOP TIP – Letting the PVA yarn dry between layers will speed up the process (too many layers of yarn and PVA will make it tricky to dry). Be patient, it can take days for some layers to dry thoroughly.

 

Products Used;

Balloons

Assorted Acrylic Yarn 

Creatistics PVA Washable School Glue

Kraft Paper Shred

 Easter Chicks

 

 

 

Shrink Film Easter Eggs

Shrink Film Easter Eggs

Have you tried shrink film before? Simply colour, bake, and watch it shrink!

Shrink film is a brilliantly mesmerising activity, and these new handy pre-cut Shrink Film Easter Eggs are sure to create a buzz in the classroom. Use the different patterns to make trinkets, jewellery, and decorations – and the happiest of Easter craft memories.

 

STEP-BY-STEP

  1. Colour in your design on the matt side of the shrink film using coloured pencils or permanent markers (remember to pop out the pre-cut hanging hole before baking).
  2. Pre-heat oven to 150°C.
  3. Place design on a lined tray (matt side up) and bake.
  4. Plastic will begin to shrink after 10 seconds (to approx. 60% of its original size).
  5. When the plastic has returned to its flat shape remove the tray from the oven.
  6. Wait for the shrink film to cool completely before handling.
  7. When thoroughly cool, thread a length of cord into the hole, and firmly tie off.
  8. Thread desired number of beads onto the cord and firmly attach to your keychain with several firm knots.

 

Done! The perfect Easter themed key ring is ready!

 

*TOP TIP – With shrink film, coloured pencils go a long way. A very light shading will result in bold and vibrant colours.

 

Products Used;

Shrink Film Easter Eggs

 Black Lobster Key Tags

Natural Beading Cord

Pearl Pony Beads

Jumbo Coloured Pencils

 

 

Easter Clay & Dough Cutters

Easter Clay & Dough Cutters

Working with dough is a satisfying way to entertain children’s tactile stimulation and creativity. It’s also an activity rich with physical benefits – from fine motor strength and dexterity to coordinating dough tools to form creations out of the chosen medium.

This set of Easter Clay and Dough Cutters offers incredible possibilities for children to make and create Easter goodies. In each set there’s an egg, baby chick, rabbit, tulip, and bunny face shape for children to stamp in any number of dough options (play dough, cookie dough, modelling clay, or plasticine).

For children to make permanent works, air dry clay is a handy option, simply roll the clay out as you would for dough, press the Easter shaped cutter into the clay, remove the excess and set your clay ornament aside to dry. Before it’s dry, use a pencil or skewer to carefully poke a hole into the top of the shape will ensure there’s somewhere to tie cording and beads for simply stunning Easter decorations.

 

*TOP TIP – A light sprinkling of Bio-Glitter will add an extra-special sparkly touch to the experience.

 

Products Used;

Easter Clay and Dough Cutters

Creatistics Pastel Dough

Plastic Rolling Pin 

 

We hope you’ve enjoyed the latest eggs-travaganza of Easter crafts and are bursting with inspiration for an egg-stra special Easter!

 

Download: Easter activities PDF Bundle

 

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Back-to-school essentials

Back to school classroom overhead view

Every new school year brings with it a level of excitement for both teachers and students. It is my favourite time of the year as everyone begins with a fresh start and an enthused energy for the year ahead. For teachers, we have the privilege of getting to teach a new class of students, designing the learning space from a blank canvas, and for many, the always-elusive goal to be more organised.

In this post I will be sharing some of my must-have resources for the classroom along with my favourite beginning-of-the-year activities to get to know your students and for your students to get to know each other.

 

Classroom Must-Haves:
When setting up my classroom I always like to have a theme or colour scheme. Over the years some of my favourite themes that I have created have been based on butterflies, ‘Up in the Sky’ (hot air balloons, planes), the ocean and the circus. I love having the colours of the learning space, resources and display boards match to set the tone of a creative organised space that welcomes students to our class.

Some items I love to include in my classroom are;


Classroom Caddies Laptrays and Chairbags

These products can be used in a variety of ways in the classroom and the best thing is that they all match.

 

Lap Trays
These Lap Trays are a great addition to any junior primary classroom. They allow for flexibility in the learning space during group work and also during independent learning. I love that these trays provide students with a hard surface to complete tasks in their books so they do not need to write on the carpet or flooring. I use these daily with my students during small group work that takes place on the floor space around the class. Many students also choose to use the Lap Trays during independent learning time so they can work in a quiet spot or away from others. In my classroom, I have a beautiful courtyard outside where my students sometimes choose to go outside to work and these Lap Trays allow them to have a suitable surface to work on.

 

Children with Laptrays sitting on floor

 

Classroom Book Caddies
These Book Caddies are a great way to store take-home readers and student books. I organise my student books in these Book Caddies and have labels on them for maths, reading, writing and inquiry books. I like having them all together for two reasons; the first being that students do not need to go to their tubs to get their specific book, rather I can either have the class captain hand the books out or I can call out student names to collect, and the second being that at the end of a learning experience students place all their books back into the Book Caddy and then I can easily view and assess their learning rather than searching through each student’s tub for their book.

 

Book caddies filled with books on desk

 

Classroom Caddies
These Classroom Caddies are perfect for shared stationery and the vibrant colours stand out when placed on classroom tables. The compartments in the Classroom Caddies allow for pencils, pens, scissors, glue, rulers to be stored neatly, making them easily accessible for student use.

Classroom Caddies are also a great resource for sharing required activity materials. During STEM and Inquiry Learning activities I use the Classroom Caddies to provide each group or table with the resources they need for the specific activity. I can organise the materials prior to the lesson and, upon completion, students can return the materials in an orderly way making clean up a lot more efficient.

Filled Classroom Caddies on classroom floor

 

Chair Bags
These beautiful Chair Bags provide students with a place to store their essentials without the hassle of a tub. I love the various pocket sizes which allow for students to store their devices, exercise books and the book they are reading, along with their essential classroom resources like a ruler, pencil case etc.

Filled Chairbags and Classroom Caddies on Desk in classroom

 

Beginning-of-the-Year Activities:
At the beginning of the school year the priority should be on developing relationships with your students and getting to know what they each like and are interested in. Spending time undertaking activities that highlight student personalities will support you as the teacher but also allow students to get to know each other and begin to develop new friendships. These activities also provide teachers with an insight to see how students work together, interact and complete tasks.

These are my favourite activities to get to know your students:

Jigsaw Activity:

Jigdraw DIY jigsaw activity

Materials
Jigdraw – 20 Pack 
– Snap-lock bags

Each student receives a blank Jigdraw template with 20 pieces. Students draw a different image on each puzzle piece that represents something about themselves. Some ideas for images can be family, pets, hobbies, favourite food, favourite places etc.

Students place their completed Jigdraw pieces into a snap lock bag.

The snap lock bags are then randomly handed out to students who need to put the puzzle pieces together and then try to guess which student is represented by the images.

These Jigdraw blocks are also a great resource to use for students to share their learning during inquiry learning. They can then build upon their ideas and knowledge as the learning continues throughout the year.


Chalk Mindmaps

DIY Chalkboard Signs activity

Materials – Sidewalk Chalk 

Chalk is a great resource to have in any classroom. I have found the Sidewalk Chalk to be the perfect size and thickness for student use and it comes in great colours. Students can use the Sidewalk Chalk to draw directly onto concrete, but I have created blackboard-painted timber pieces for student use across many learning areas.

Students receive a number of blackboard-painted timber pieces and draw a giant Mindmap to highlight the topic they are given. The topic gets placed in the centre and then students write or draw their ideas and place them around the topic to create their giant mind map. This is a great visualisation too.

Some ideas I like to focus on at different times are;

    • Looking forward to this school year
    • Holiday reflection
    • Inquiry brainstorm, questions, wonderings
    • Spelling words
    • End-of-term reflections


I hope this blog post has provided you with some inspiration to help you set up your classroom or provide you with some beginning-of-the-year activity ideas to get to know your students.

 

Featured Products:

 

About the author

Eleni Kyritsis is an award-winning Year 3 teacher and Leader of Curriculum and innovation from Melbourne, Australia. Eleni facilitates professional learning workshops around the world that focus on unleashing creativity and curiosity in classrooms. You can contact her at elenikyritis.com and @misskyritsis

 

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Hands-On Learning Experiences With Osmo

OSMO Coding Game and Tablet

The Osmo range features some of my favourite classroom resources for introducing coding and integrating technology across multiple key learning areas. Today I’m going to share with you the top five things I love about Osmo. Read along to find top-rated products and resources that my students and I love to use in our classroom.

 

Literacy & Numeracy Integration

Osmo has a large range of apps that cater to English and mathematics curriculum links as well as literacy and numeracy general capabilities. I began my Osmo journey with the Genius Starter Kit (ages 6-10), which allowed me to explore apps such as Osmo Words, Osmo Numbers and five other great programs. The Genius Starter Kit encourages versatile use of accessories across multiple apps and allows students to explore concepts they are developing whilst extending their understanding to new settings. Purchasing the Genius Starter Kit provided me with opportunities to explore various accessories such as the word tiles, number tiles and tangram pieces. It was as simple as unpacking the box and downloading the app!

OSMO Starter Kit and tablet on white background

The Osmo Words app has been a crowd favourite in my learning space and fantastic for promoting letter recognition, decoding and spelling rules across various age groups. Students can work alongside a computer guide or challenge their friends to a multiplayer competition. Adjusting the ability level has allowed flexible use of the product across various users and their needs. The Osmo accessories can be purchased separately and the Osmo support team can quite often generously provide replacements. No one likes missing pieces, right?

 

OSMO Word game and Tablet on carpet

 

The Osmo Math Wizard series (ages 6-8) has been recently launched, which focuses on place value and measurement concepts within the mathematics curriculum. These new additions to the Osmo range provide engaging ways to promote fluencies within these concept areas. Both programs include interactive guides, printed student workbooks, sturdy game pieces, storage solutions and game-based learning opportunities. The Osmo reflector and the interactive guide provides feedback to the child on their place value and measurement work. This app enables multiple users to create accounts which allows for the product to be used by a classroom shared audience.

 

OSMO Math Wizard Place Value game on carpet OSMO Math Wizard Measurement game on carpet

 

The Osmo range includes various other apps such as Osmo Kaleidoscope and Osmo Tangram, which assist in promoting discrete parts of the mathematics curriculum or combining the ICT General Capability and Numeracy General Capability in your play-based learning experiences.

 

Projector App

The Osmo Projector app was launched during peak COVID-19 home learning in Australia. Responding to urgent requests from educators seeking the right tool to teach in an online or remote learning environment, Osmo created this free app to use in conjunction with the Osmo base and reflector. The app allows educators to scribe on whiteboards, worksheets or manipulate objects in front of the reflector and base, and the iPad will display this in the correct orientation for viewers. When combined with online conferencing platforms such as Zoom or by using AirPlay to stream from your device to LED displays in the classroom, this provides an innovative way to use your iPad as a projector for face-to-face and virtual learning.

 

OSMO Projector app with Tablet on school desk

 

In my classroom, I AirPlay my iPad to my Macbook which is displayed on my LED TV screen. I use the Projector app to illustrate sequencing concepts such as arrows and patterns from my work station, allowing all students to view this live-action while I’m modelling a lesson to the class. A benefit to this app is that you can screen record your learning experience and upload it to online portfolios or live cast during online conferencing.

 

Coding Starter Kit

The Osmo Coding Starter Kit (ages 5-10) provides users with access to the Osmo Coding Awbie, Osmo Coding Jam and Osmo Coding Duo apps. These hands-on learning apps provide various ways to access the Digital Technologies curriculum concepts of directional sequencing, algorithms and abstraction. This kit provides fabulous introductory and intermediate learning opportunities with self-paced programs and built-in computer support guides. With a mix between structured learning tasks and free-play opportunities, the Coding Starter Kit is a go-to product of mine as a Specialist Digital Technologies teacher. Plus, if the students are begging to use them at lunch time- the resources must be fairly awesome!

 

    • OSMO Coding Jam Game and Tablet on desk in classroomOsmo Coding Awbie Game and Tablet on carpet

 

I use these resources in my Digital Technologies lessons, lunch-time coding clubs and before/after school at the students’ requests. To introduce the activities, I model and co-complete tasks with the students first and then allow them to continue to complete the programs independently. After a couple of structured lessons, my students can now access this resource as an independent activity as a fast-finisher task.

 

Osmo Pizza Co.

The Osmo Pizza Co. Game is easily my personal favourite game to play using the Osmo base and reflector. Have you ever watched a child play a game where you are itching to move them aside so that you can have a go? You will feel that way with this game. The premise of the game is to serve customers in a pizza shop by taking orders then preparing and presenting pizzas to the customers. Additional curriculum links can be made to financial mathematics as the user is also responsible for billing the customers at the end of their visit. As the timer counts down and the customer lines grow longer, you’ll find your competitive side shines as you succeed as a virtual small business pizza shop owner.

OSMO Pizza Co Game and tablet on white background

 

Storage

Storage! The thing that makes almost every educator’s heart sing. Osmo considers their storage to make it easy for students and teachers alike to grab-and-go with their products. Every accessory and starter kit comes in durable storage solutions that allow every piece to have its own home. As someone who owns various Osmo kits, I organise the storage containers into a large plastic container so students know exactly how to access the resources when needed. The items stack together neatly and come with clear, colour-coordinated labels which means even my youngest students can find what they’re looking for and pack them away efficiently.

 

    • OSMO open storage containers birds eye viewOsmo games and storage containers on floor

 

There you have it! My top five favourite things about the Osmo range! Osmo has made a positive difference in my classroom and has been a fantastic way to easily and efficiently integrate technology across multiple key learning areas.

Featured Products:

Osmo Genius Starter Kit

Osmo Coding Starter Kit

Osmo Pizza Co. Starter Kit

 

About the Author

Taylor is a Specialist Digital Technologies Teacher. In her five years of teaching, she has found a passion for integrating a range of technologies into her classroom and strives to share these experiences with those around her. Follow Taylor along in her teaching journey on Instagram @taylorteachestech

 

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Using Sphero Specdrums In The Classroom

Specdrum ring and Boomwhackers with tablet

Since the development of Sphero 2.0 and more recently SPRK+ and BOLT, Spheros have become one of the most popular tools in schools all around the world to teach students the fundamentals of coding and computational thinking. As these technologies continue to iterate and improve, so do the opportunities to empower our students’ learning experiences with creative lesson design.

Sphero has released a new product in Specdrums. The Specdrums are rings that connect via Bluetooth to the Specdrums MIX or EDU apps, to create and play music, sounds or recorded audio when the rings touch specific colours. The great thing with Specdrums is that the rings can pick up on colours on any material, plastic, paper and even the paint on walls, making their use very versatile in the classroom.

The two apps you can use with Specdrums are;

Specdrums EDU App

EDU Logo

The Specdrums EDU app connects via Bluetooth to the Specdrums rings. It allows students to use the pre-programmed sound packs which include instruments, synths, strings, animals and sound effects. Students have the ability to create and record their own sounds. Students then link their sounds to specific colours, and when the Specdrums rings touch that colour the associated sound will play. When students have finalised their Specdrums colour codes they can be shared with others via the apps QR creator feature.

EDU App shown on phone screen

Specdrums MIX App

Mix App Logo

The Specdrums MIX app uses the Specdrums mat, which comes together with the Specdrums rings when purchased. It allows students to become their own DJ by exploring and creating their own musical remixes. Students have the ability to record their own voice and sounds that can then be played back when the ring touches the specific colours of the mat.

Sphero Specdrums was originally designed with the intention to create and produce music. Along with its use in the music classroom, Specdrums can be integrated and linked to other curriculum areas with creative lesson design. Here are some of my favourite integrated Specdrums lesson ideas;

 

Music
Students can explore and remix their own music by changing the colours to respond to notes and music scales in both the Specdrums EDU and the MIX apps. Within the EDU app students can click and select different instruments to play including the piano and stringed instruments, linking the notes to various colours which can be customised accordingly.

Boomwhackers Lesson:
Boomwhackers are eight polyethylene coloured percussion tubes perfectly tuned to the C major scale. As students learn about the specific sounds each note makes they can associate these with the various colours of the Boomwhackers. Using the Specdrums ring, students can then replicate these colours with the same scale.

ART
Students can bring their art masterpieces to life by creating sounds or recording explanations that are played when the Sphero Specdrums touches specific parts of their artwork.

Primary & Secondary Colours
When learning about primary and secondary colours, students can create art pieces and programme the Specdrums ring to pick up on colours within their art piece to explain their learning. For example, when the Sphero Specdrums touches a particular colour students can record themselves explaining what happens when that colour is mixed with another.

Specdrum Ring on coloured dot background

Feelings/ Emotions
Using a provocation such as the movie ‘Inside Out’ or the picture book ‘Feel A Little: Little Poems About Big Feelings’ by Jenny Palmer, students can learn about the various emotions we experience through coloured characters. Using the Sphero Specdrums, students can explain how they feel by touching the various colours with the Sphero Specdrums to explain their feelings. Students can create a remix of sounds and have other students try to guess what emotion they are trying to portray through the use of colour and sound.

Feel A Little Little Poems About Big Feelings by Jenny Palmer

Unit of Inquiry – Melbourne
With creative lesson design there are many ways to integrate the Sphero Specdrums into your units of work.

Connecting to our Year 3 unit looking at the History of Melbourne, students used the Sphero Specdrums together with a Sphero Bolt to create a model of the city of Melbourne. Students researched information about the unique buildings in Melbourne and then used coloured dots to create an interactive model where others could listen to their researched explanation. (Read previous post to read about how the Sphero Bolt was used to move the trams through the city)

Sphero bolt activity on classroom floor featuring paper contruction and melbourne pictures and tablet

Interactive Posters:
Students create posters or brochures all the time to showcase their learning on a range of topics. Using the Sphero Specdrums, students can enhance their completed product by recording themselves read and explain each key informative aspect of their work for others to listen and learn from. Here are two examples of interactive posters;

Sphero interactive body organs posterSphero interactive poster with tablet and specdrum ring

There are so many ways to use the Sphero Specdrums in the classroom. This new technology has only been available for a very short period of time and is continually being developed and improved to transform teaching and learning in our classrooms.

How have you used the Specdrums in your classroom? We’d love to hear from you!

About the author

Eleni Kyritsis is an award-winning Year 3 teacher and Leader of Curriculum and innovation from Melbourne, Australia. Eleni facilitates professional learning workshops around the world that focus on unleashing creativity and curiosity in classrooms. You can contact her at elenikyritis.com and @misskyritsis

 

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Spark The Christmas Imagination

Christmas Craft images hanging on string with pegs with Christmas themed background

Christmas is such a delightful time of the year. The anticipation of this joyous occasion brings such an amazing atmosphere to the art room as the impending holidays approach. Students of all ages embrace the opportunity to create festive-themed pieces that are treasured on trees and shelves in their family homes. With such a wide array of art and craft that can be produced, the hardest part is choosing what to create!

Christmas Wreath

Christmas wreath yarn craft project.

We hang them with such love and care on our doors during the Christmas period as a symbol of family and eternity, it is only fitting that they should feature in any festive crafting project.
This wreath kit is just perfect as you can make it as is or you can add your own unique touches to it. The creating process will build and develop fine motor skills as each strand of yarn is attached to the cardboard ring. Students can personalise their wreaths with different coloured yarn, extra pompoms, bows, buttons, bells or even felt cut-outs. I have used the centre cardboard circle and some yarn to make a bow. This would be a lovely addition to any Christmas tree.

Featured Products:
Wreath Yarn Kit
Red Acrylic Yarn  
White Acrylic Yarn

 

Paper Angel

Christmas Angel Craft Project.

What a classic, the Christmas angel has been re-imagined in so many ways in classrooms and art rooms alike. Their angelic form and principal position on any tree make them a delight to create.
This version can be produced simplistically or can have all the bells and whistles added to it to make it sparkle bright. The basis for the angel is paper which can be white cartridge paper or tissue paper that is then concertina folded. When using cartridge paper students can use gold and silver pens to add patterns before folding. The heart-shaped doilies are divine for this project, just the ideal shape to fashion wings and an elaborate collar for the angel’s dress before adding a Magiclay head adorned in glitter. A halo can be made from various materials such as armature wire or a tinsel pipe cleaner and is the perfect finishing touch for an angel that will capture many hearts.

 

Featured Products:
Coloured Tissue Paper
Gold Heart Shaped Doileys
Candy Coloured Paper Magiclay 
Creatistics Glitter Shakers

 

Christmas Printmaking

Print Making piece of art on canvas

There are so many different symbols that we associate with Christmas time. Printmaking is a wonderful process to use to give your students’ illustrations a new life. Using the A4 printing foam, a Christmas-inspired drawing and a blunt pencil or ballpoint pen students can transfer their design onto the printing plate which can be cut to any size or shape. The creative process from here is limitless where different backgrounds can be created to apply the print such as tissue paper collages, watercolour washes and textured papers.

Featured Products:
A4 Printing Foam 
Coloured Tissue Paper
Printing Ink

 

Australiana Christmas

Christmas Kanagaroo Craft Project inside a Cloch.

From Santas on surfboards to kangaroos pulling a ute sleigh, an Australiana Christmas is unique and wonderful and is the inspiration for this artwork using a glass cloche. This activity has a lovely depth to it as it combines sculpture and drawing. Students can imagine Australian Christmas scenes, drawing the background on paper to curve around the glass cloche, and then add to their scene with Magiclay models. A task that will have their imaginations running wild with a hint of humour. This piece will be treasured by all and is one that all children will place on the shelf every year during the festive period.

Featured Products:
Candy Coloured Paper Magiclay 
Glass Cloche

 

Gingerbread People

Gingerbread an Christmas Craft Project .

A character that has inspired songs and been in movies, the beloved gingerbread man has personality and style.
The Felt Gingerbread Sewing Kit comes complete to assemble your very own plush gingerbread person. Fantastic for beginner sewing skills with the pre-cut holes, the plastic needle supplied glides through to make each stitch. Once the student’s gingerbread person is filled with stuffing then the creativity can begin. Use the accessories supplied with the kit to bring them to life or give students the option of other craft materials such as buttons, fabric, glitter and felt shapes and pieces to add their own unique touches.

Featured Product:
Felt Gingerbread Sewing Kit

 

Paper Bag Elf

Christmas Craft Paper Bag Elf Activity

It would not be Christmas without Santa’s fabulous little helpers, the elves, busily working away in the toy shop. Inspired by “The Elf on the Shelf” this paper bag sculpture will enhance any students paper techniques. From concertina folds to jack-in-the-box springs, this elf has it all. Two Christmassy-coloured paper bags form the base shapes that are packed with low gsm paper, closed and glued together to form the head and body. Now it is time to add character using patterned paper. This step is where each student can make their own creative choices to decide what their elf will look like. From bows to buttons and hats, each student can give their elf a unique style.

Featured Products:
Christmas Coloured Paper Bags
Handmade Christmas Paper

 

Christmas Cards

Christmas Craft Card Activy displayed on top of brown box

Christmas wishes and joy are spread across the globe in folded pieces of card and paper. Students love giving these to their families as well as their friends. There are so many different materials you can use to create, and these natural coloured cards are the perfect canvas for creative ideas to adorn their surfaces. Buttons are so versatile, and students can imagine them into anything.

 

Featured Products:
Natural Cards and Envelopes
Christmas Coloured Buttons
Christmas Sequins Mix 

How do you spark the Christmas imagination in your learning environment? We’d love to hear from you!

 

About the Author
Olivia is a specialist Visual Art Teacher in an ELC, primary and secondary school setting. She has a broad breadth of experience with inquiry learning and is an IBO-qualified educator. Olivia particularly enjoys developing Visual Art units around STEAM which include electronics, technology and science concepts.

 

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