KidReadz Blog

Make a Dinosaur - Create Sculpture - Free Online Craft

2008-07-09T12:30:00.004-04:00

Create a Dinosaur from Boxes, Bottles, and Other Recycled Items
Free Online Instructions

Free Online Computer Games and Puzzles - from Bottle Top Bill

2008-07-09T11:31:00.005-04:00

Check Out the Free Online Games and Puzzles from Bottle Top Bill

Let's Build - Free Drag and Drop Computer Game - from the Bottle Top Bill Site

2008-07-09T11:23:00.009-04:00

Let's Build - Drag and Drop Game - Free Online

Try another great game at the Bottle Top Bill Site. You select an item to build; and you drag and drop the correct items into the correct place on the template.

Memory Game - Free Online

2008-07-09T11:13:00.006-04:00

Free Online Memory Game from Bottle Top Bill

Make a Character - Drag and Drop Game - Free

2008-07-09T10:53:00.018-04:00

Make a Character Game

I have discovered the neatest website with a game that I'd like to share. This Drag and Drop Game is located on the Bottletop Bill site. By selecting, dragging, dropping, and arranging various "body" parts, the Bottletop Bill Characters can be created. For instance, see the parts to create Jo Jo.

International Children's Digital Library - Free Children's EBooks Online

2008-06-15T15:44:00.013-04:00

Image from Flickr

Take a look at a guide for using the free,

International Children's Digital Library.

For the Guide Click Here!

The guide was developed virtually--completely online--as a collaborative effort among three library professionals [Irene Vershinin, Jennifer Walsh, and me]. The project illustrates the power of wikis--for collaborative planning and presentation.

Jennifer Walsh, one of the developers of the guide said the following about the project and the ICDL:

"We decided to create a user guide for the ICDL because, as aspiring librarians of different backgrounds and heritages, we are constantly inspired by children, children’s books, and the way literature can cross cultural boundaries to move us all. We wanted to create a search guide so others can easily maneuver through this magnificent digital library. In completing this project we hope to support the importance and beauty of multiculturalism."

Stars and Space Through Picture Books: Learning to Look Beyond

2008-06-15T15:13:00.010-04:00

Book Cover Images from www.booksamillion.com

Take a look at the KidReadz Wikispaces, where curriculum is currently being developed to help young children learn that they and other people might have varying opinions--especially about the ways that they look at and see art.

The unit is especially geared toward Constructivism and cultivating thinking skills. Internationalism and multiculturalism is also fostered in this unit. Children will be encouraged to view themselves as part of a larger world community--part of a greater universe.

Picture books, music, and the arts will be part of the curriculum, a portion of which is available now at: KidReadz Wikispaces

Check Back Often. More Authors, Book Lists, and Themes Are Being Added Weekly to the KidReadz Wikispaces!

Teaching About Feelings and Art -- Through Dr. Seuss and Vincent Van Gogh

2008-06-15T12:51:00.014-04:00

Jacki Kellum at Dr. Seuss Night
Linwood Free Public Library

Linwood, NJ

Take a look at the KidReadz Wikispaces, where curriculum is currently being developed to help young children learn about their own feelings and the feelings of other people.

Dr. Seuss books, music, and the arts [Vincent Van Gogh, Georgia O'Keefe, Picasso] will be part of the curriculum, a portion of which is available now at: KidReadz Wikispaces

More Authors, Book Lists, and Themes Are Being Added Weekly to the KidReadz Wikispaces! Check Back Often.

Vintage Raggedy Ann & Andy Online Free

2008-06-14T22:50:00.013-04:00

I just found a treasure that I'd like to share--an old Raggedy Andy book online. Both the images and the text are clear. This is a gem.

Click On This Text to View the Entire Raggedy Andy Book

Children's Art

2008-06-08T15:10:00.005-04:00

Image from Flickr

Picasso on Children and Art

2008-06-08T14:22:00.004-04:00

My mother said to me, "If you become a soldier, you'll be a general; if you become a monk, you'll end up as the Pope." Instead, I became a painter and wound up as Picasso.

-Picasso-

Tux Paint - Open Source Art Program for Kids

2008-06-07T21:23:00.010-04:00

Tux Paint has many features that are similar to those in Firefox -- It is even remotely similar to Photoshop. It is certainly a stepping stone toward either Firefox or Photoshop. Yet, this free program is simple enough to be handled by very young children.

Tux Paint provides a great outlet for creativity and for encouraging budding artists; and it is also a great teaching tool. In today's landscape, with an ever-widening mulitmedia horizon,Tux Paint is an excellent program to help children become more technologically literate--beginning with learning simple mouse control, in a fun and colorful way.

There are brush tools for drawing and painting and line tools for creating more linear images. Features, such as the Shapes Tool and the Stamp Tool could be used for teaching simple shapes--and for illustrating how to create patterns. These are actually math skills.

The Text Tools and images can be combined, so that children can write and illustrate together.

The program can be downloaded, with or without the extra Stamp Software, at:

http://www.tuxpaint.org/

Both are free at this time.

Quote of the Day

2008-06-07T21:09:00.006-04:00

Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.

- Pablo Picasso-

June Calendar

2008-06-07T19:38:00.011-04:00

Don't Forget Flag Day June 14th and
Father's Day June 15th