We started our topic by watching a quick biography video on Louis Armstrong. I introduced words like " musician" to the students as well as asked them what they remembered about the instrument families. They quickly recalled the brass section when they saw Louis playing his shiny trumpet. After the video, the students went back to their seats and they were given a trumpet coloring page. We looked back at the picture Louis' trumpet and talked about what color we might use to color our picture (yellow). To extend the activity (and the fun) I introduced the class to jazz music. We got out watercolors and paper and I let them paint while listening to some jazz music. A few said they had heard music like that at the coffee place (Starbucks)...one even said it made her think of Disney's Princess and the Frog! That particular conversation actually helped the class understand more about jazz and the time period since it was something familiar to many of them.
A few students kept asking what they needed to paint....my goal for them was to listen to the music and paint how that made them feel. They took a minute or two to get in the groove but soon they were painting away and tapping their toes to the jazz.
With teaching young children, I am very cautious about introducing certain topics like racism or prejudice since children naturally do not see our differences (LOVE that about kids!). Since I work at a church based center, I have the liberty to tie in my faith to our lessons. This week with our theme being Black History, I wanted to focus on how God sees us---how He loves us and made us different, unique, and special. To help my students understand this, we did a fun art activity.
I traced my hand and made copies (only to save time). The next day, asthe students arrived, I had these pages on their tables instead of our morning centers. They had free reign to use markers and/or crayons to decorate this hand. I LOVE how they each are so different! We hung them on our door and I read the quote: "I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin but of the content of their character" from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
We discussed how each picture was a hand but each one looked different. Each one was unique and special, carefully created and loved---JUST like we are!
It's been very rainy around here lately (like basically all month!). Our students have not been able to go outside for almost 2 weeks so I knew I needed to come up with something fun for them to do (to get all that energy an outlet!)
So, I got to thinking about famous African American athletes----Jesse Owens! I quickly looked up a kid-friendly biography video . After our weekly chapel, we went to the other kids worship room and watched the video clip and then participated in some track and field games. The kids did some sprints and even a mini marathon! They ran and ran and had a good time. I wish I had snapped a few pictures, but I was running with them!
Tomorrow, to wrap up our week, we are planning on doing an egg experiment! The students will see a brown egg and we will record what it looks like on our recording sheet. Then I will show them a white egg.....we will talk about what is the same about the eggs and what is different. Then the fun stuff!!!! Will the eggs be the same or different on the inside????
My goal for this week is to show my students how special they each are---how our differences make us unique and special and how God loves each us so much!
Dear Megan, Seeing you instill patriotism in our youngsters who are only 4 thrills my heart. This is exactly what our country needs. I appreciate you making topics like these come to life for the kids at such a young age. This is one of the most important lessons of all that we must reiterate each and every year during our children's education! This is simply awesome!
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