Welcome to The ReaDing Rhinoceros Resources! Happy Reading, Creating, and Exploring! Ray and Deb

Sunday, August 30, 2020

More FingerPrint Art

 More FingerPrint Art

We introduced you to FingePrint art earlier in this blog. See Ed Emberley's books for more information.
Here' a video to help parents.


You need stamp pads to paint, or even watercolor markers.

Use these photos for inspiration and make your own Fingerprint Art.






Share with your friends and family.   Make up stories... Use speech balloons to write your words.

Have fun!

Saturday, August 29, 2020

Paint with a Balloon

 
Paint with a Balloon

Almost everyone loves balloons. Here is a way you can use them to paint pictures.

ACTIVITY: You need a paper or plastic plate 
Poster, temera, or acrylic paint
Paper towels
Newspaper or a bag to cover your work surface

Remember the Very Hungry Caterpillar (see earlier post in the Blog) 


Here is a way to make lints using a balloon. You can even print on a shirt (ask your parents' permission, first!)
\

Use only a LITTLE bit of paint first... Then let your imagination run wild...

How can you make flowers? or a rainbow? (see earlier posts on Rainbows)

Friday, August 28, 2020

Wall Ball - Game

  Wall Ball - Game - 

Thanks to Dr. Lauren at Valdosta State University for another great game - 


Instructional video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VExeFl0CJ9Y

Equipment: 

2 players (these players are playing the game simultaneously, but more players can play as there is a rotation of players), a wall (this can be your garage, the side of the house, a barn side etc.), a bouncy ball (to make it more difficult you can use a smaller bouncy type ball like a tennis ball), and your hands. 

Make boundary lines with chalk, stones, tape or cones. The boundary line will indicate the out of bounds area. 


Before You Start Playing:

Practice Skills: Practice underhand and overhand ball hitting against the wall. Also, agility footwork is important to practice.

 

Playing Rules:

 

Starting:

1 player serves/hits the bouncy ball towards the wall. This player is called the server. The ball needs to be hit/bounce one time on the ground; then the ball needs to be able to reach/touch the wall. 

The other player, the returner, must allow the ball to hit the wall and then bounce once on the ground before returning/hitting it.  

Players will then alternate hitting/bouncing the ball on the ground and reaching the wall off the bounce.

Players will continue to play until the ball:            

Bounces on a line

Is hit outside the boundaries

Hits/reaches the wall before bouncing off the ground

Bounces twice in a row before it reaches the wall

Does not bounce

 

Once play is stopped, the player who made the mistake goes to the end of the line; a new player comes into the game to play.

 

You can play this game with your friends and family!!!

Thursday, August 27, 2020

SUNFLOWERS - GIRASOLE

 

SUNFLOWERS - GIRASOLE. 

(see post from 8/6/2020)
I absolutely LOVE sunflowers... and even more, I love the word in Italian - girasole  (jeer-ah-soo-lah).

It literally means, "It turns in the sun".

Isn't that the perfect word?

I have tried often to use watercolor to paint a sunflower. I use these directions, and I want to share this with you.

ACTIVTY:  WATERCOLOR SUNFLOWERS
You need watercolor paints and some paper. 

Follow the steps and KEEP painting. NEVER throw your paper away. Each one will be beautiful in its own way.

Hers' a photo I took this summer.  ENJOY!!! 

I love it.


Wednesday, August 26, 2020

Story Book Stick Puppets

Story Book Stick Puppets 

What is  YOUR favorite story? 
Do you have a copy of the book at home?
Or is the story of you and your family?

ACTIVITY:
Using markers and some sticks (the kind that come from ice cream treats) can become your very own actors in retelling your story.

Look at the photo as a model, and using your own story, create your wooden actors and actresses.

After you have your characters made, you can use some cardboard to make the setting or a backdrop, as it is called in theater.

Make your scenery from the illustrations in the book, or from your own imagination.

Then use the puppets to tell your story to your family or friends. 

BE SURE TO SHARE THIS BLOG WITH OTHERS!!

LOOK BACK ON ACTIVITIES YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED, OR ONES THAT ARE NEW TO YOU. 

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Good Night, Gorilla

 


by Peggy Rathmann

Good Night, Gorilla  by Peggy Rathmann

Good night, Gorilla,” says the weary watchman as he walks by the gorilla cage on his nightly rounds at the zoo. The gorilla answers by quietly pickpocketing the guard’s keys, stealthily trailing him, and unlocking the cages of every animal the oblivious fellow bids goodnight to. Looking much like an exhausted father, the uniformed guard traipses home toward his cottage, while the lonely zoo animals softly parade behind him. The animals manage to slip into his bedroom and nestle unnoticed near his sleepy wife–until the bold little gorilla goes so far as to snuggle up beside her as she turns out the light.

ACTIVITY: Print out (or draw your own) animals from the zoo. Put them in the order of the animal parade. Retell the story to a friend or family member. 

What do you think the animals were thinking as they followed the zookeeper?
 
Paste your animals on another sheet of paper and make THOUGHT BUBBLES to write down what they were thinking.

🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔

Friday, August 21, 2020

Butterfly from Tubes

 Toilet Paper Roll Butterfly 

toilet paper roll butterfly craft
ADAPTED FROM Where Imagination Grows
Save those toilet paper rolls you usually throw away to make these cute little butterflies! They are super easy, and it only takes a few steps and a creative kid to turn old cardboard paper rolls into colorful butterflies.


YOU NEED:

TOILET PAPER ROLL,    PAINT,     PIPECLEANER,     STAPLER.   SCISSORS




1. CUT THE ROLL INTO 4 EVEN PIECES.

2. PAINT THE INSIDE ONE COLOR AND THE OUTSIDES ANOTHER.

3. WHEN THE PAINT HAS DRIED, TWIST A PIPECLEANER LIKE IN THE PICTURE.

4. SQUEEZE THE ROLLS GENTLY TO MAKE THEM MORE OVAL THAN ROUND.

4. HAVE AN ADULT HEL[ TO STAPLE THE PIPECLEANER TO THE PIECES OF THE ROLL.

NOW YOU HAVE A BUTTERFLY!




Thursday, August 20, 2020

The Cat in the Hat - Read Aloud


How to Draw Step by Step Drawing Tutorials - Learn How to Draw ... The Cat in the Hat 

by Dr. Seuss. 
Read aloud by Justin Bieber

The Cat in the Hat is getting another movie, but without Mike MyersThis is my favorite illustration from the book. I think I like it because, like the Cat, I juggle lots of things at once...

Can YOU juggle?

See our post from July 29, 2020 to learn how!

Wednesday, August 19, 2020

Sylvester and the Magic Pebble - READ ALOUD VIDEO

Sylvester and the Magic Pebble - 

READ ALOUD VIDEO by Reid Scott

Story written and illustrated by William Steig



Sylvester had a pebble collection. When he found an unusual one, he realized it had magical powers.

Find out what happens in the story. Come back fo an activity.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNGUnk8JeLE

ACTIVITY:

Go outside and look for a pebble that looks and feels nice to you. Carry it around and see if it has any magic!

Think about what you might do it if DOES turn out to be magical!

Draw or paint some pictures, and tell the adventures of what happened with YOUR magic pebble! Turn your drawing and story into a BOOK!

Ask your friends to do the same thing, and then exchange and read each other's stories.

Tuesday, August 18, 2020

Bubble Wrap Butterfly

Bubble Wrap Butterfly 

adapted from  https://the-gingerbread-house.co.uk/2014/05/13/butterfly-craft-the-very-hungry-butterfly/
bubble wrap butterfly craft for kids          I saw lots of butteries in my garden this week, and I thought of today's activity.
You will need:

cardboard tube
bubble wrap
double sided sticky tape
paint and paint brush
tray or large lid (paper plate, clean styrofoam meat tray, etc.)
paper

Lay down some newspaper, an old table covering, or some garbage bags to protect the surface. Cover the cardboard tube with a layer of bubble wrap, held in place with double sided sticky tape.

Squirt some different colored lines on your tray.

bubble wrap printing

Roll the bubble wrap tube in the paint and rolled it onto the paper. Repeat.

bubble wrap printing


bubble wrap printing When the paint dries, draw a butterfly shape on the paper and cut it out. Taped pipecleaners on for feelers.

bubble wrap printing

Ask your family and friends to make some. If you have them up, you will have a beautiful sky of butterflies!


Saturday, August 15, 2020

Make a Race Horse


Make Your Own Race Horses

MATERIALS:

You need heavy paper (like construction paper or cover stock)

Scissors.    a ruler.    a pencil

a sloped surface

WATCH the video first.













I made our horses in the colors of the SELVA Contrada - orange and green.

Race your horses with your friends and family.   Which horse do you think will win?

Prima Selvata in Campo! Selva is always first in the Campo Race.


See the videos of the Palio Race in the next post (8/16/2020).







Thursday, August 13, 2020

Bocce Ball Game

:

Bocce Ball for Kids

Thanks to Dr. Lauren Holzberg, VSU

This is a game that can be played inside or outside the house. 


Bocce is an ancient game from Italy. It is like lawn bowling, and can be played with Bocce Balls or any other balls you have around the house.  


 How to Play Bocce Ball   - pronounced: Baahh- Chee


EQUIPMENT

There is limited equipment for bocce ball.  All you need to play is a bocce set. If you do not have a bocce set, you can use objects/balls you have at home.  

A small white ball or rock can be used as the pallino. The pallino is a smaller object used as the target for the bocce balls to hit during game play. 

You will also need bocce balls. This consists of 8 larger balls or objects, 4 of one color, 4 of another color. Around the house you can use tennis balls, golf balls, rubber bouncy balls, or any type of balls you have that roll. These balls will be your bocce balls.  

 

BOCCE COURT

In order to play bocce ball, you will need to have a smooth, flat surface. This can be a floor in your home, grass, sand, concrete, a rug, or any type of surface that you can toss or roll balls on. The size of your area can be whatever size you need to accommodate your game play. You will also have to draw or make a foul line. This line will be where the players throw from.

 

PLAYERS 

Bocce ball can be played with any amount of players. You can ask your friends, family and parents to join.  Divide the teams evenly. 

 

BOCCE RULES

Standing behind the foul line, the first player will roll or toss the pallino to set the target.  

That same player will then throw/toss or roll a bocce ball. 

The goal of the toss or roll is to try to get the bocce ball as close to the pallino as possible.

The next person to toss or roll is from the opposing team. This player will throw/ toss or roll one of their bocce balls. The goal is to get closer to the pallino than their opponent. 

Teams will keep tossing or rolling their bocce balls in opposite order, with everyone in the team tossing a bocce ball at least once, until all the bocce balls have been tossed. 

 

BOCCE SCORING 

Point(s) will be rewarded to whatever team has a bocce ball closest to the pallino. 

If the bocce balls are equal distance to the pallino, no points are awarded. 

For the team that has their bocce balls closet to the pallino, they will receive a point. Points will be rewarded for multiple balls closest to the pallino than the opponent’s closest ball. 

Games will go on for as long as you want, each time with a different player tossing the pallino. 

 

GAME PLAY

Now that you know how to the setup up the court, have equipment, know the rules and scoring of bocce, you can begin playing. 

Enjoy playing with your family and friends. 

 

With the video so you can see a game in action.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbQJ6s0YUlc

Wednesday, August 12, 2020

Meet Your Mask



      Meet Your Mask

During the Pandemic, it is important to keep yourself and others safe. In some places, you will be asked to wear a mask.  The mask can be fun and you can show that you are very responsible by wearing it correctly.

Here are some tips. 

 Valdosta State University


ACTIVITY:  Design some masks for your favorite book, TV, or cartoon characters.

Tell why they like the mask you have drawn for them. 





Tuesday, August 11, 2020

Summertime Word Cloud Art and Story

 Summertime Word Cloud Art and Story

An earlier post showed you how to make word clouds.  (See 4/9/2020)

I made one of Summer Words. Here it is. 

THEN I was inspired to write a few sentences using the words from my word cloud.

ACTIVITY:  Think of something you really like. Make a list of words, using the WorsArt.com tool, or any other program or app to make word clouds.

You can also sketch a shape on a piece of paper, and just write the words on the paper, generating your wn picture.

Then think about the words you used, and write a few sentences.

Here's mine to go with this word cloud shown:

Summer by Deb

It's a HOT day in the summer. I am sitting outside, listening to the birds and Beas as they go to the flowers. My plants are growing, but I must water them. First, though, I am thirsty and hungry. I will have some lemonade with lots of ice and maybe even a popsicle. Then, I will read a book under the tree in the shade. 


Monday, August 10, 2020

I Can See...

What can you see when you look out your bedroom window? Does your eye always catch in the same place? What about looking WAY up?  Now look way down (get close to the window). How is the view different from another window in your house?

ACTIVITY:  WHAT I CAN SEE

Using toilet paper tubes (empty ones), make a pair of binoculars, like in the picture. Glue them to a picture you draw or paint of your face.

On another sheet of paper, write a story about what you see from wherever you want to be... real or imagined. 

Now you have an illustrated story!

Share with your. family. What do your friends see? 

Exchange stories and try to imagine what they are describing.

Sunday, August 9, 2020

WATER BALLOON PINATA PARTY

WATER BALLOON PINATA 

It's the end of summer, but it is still HOT HOT HOT...


ACTIVITY:  fill some balloons with water, tie them with string or 
ribbons, and hang them from trees nearby. 

With a stick, blindfold your friend or family member and let them try
 to smash the balloon, giving a welcome shower!

Maybe wear your bathing suit!!!









Saturday, August 8, 2020

ABC Fun

     ABC Fun

I have a friend who is a children's book author. His name is Jerry Pallotta. You can read more about him here: https://jerrypallotta.com.

He has written a LOT of books. That's why I call him ALLOTTA PALLOTTA. My favorites are topics using the ALPHABET.

Like: The Furry Alphabet Book, The Dinosaur Alphabet Book, The Flower Alphabet Book, The Butterfly Alphabet Book, The Navy Alphabet Book, TheUnderwater Alphabet Book... SO many alphabet books.

So, when I saw this fingerprint Alphabet, I thought of another book illustrator friend, Ed Emberley.

Ed's site shows you how to make thumbprint illustrations. He gives examples on this page, of making a thumbprint cat:  http://www.edemberley.com/pages/main.aspx?section=db&subSection=thumbPrintPages

This is a step-by-step video:   http://www.edemberley.com/pages/main.aspx?section=db

ACTIVITY: Combine Jerry's and Ed's like the sample Alphabet. 

Think of items that YOU like to illustrate every letter of the alphabet.

FUN FACT: (Did you know, that in the Italian Alphabet, there are no: j, k, w, x, or y?)

MAKE A LIST AND THEN USE A STAMP PAD OR PAINT, OR A MARKER ON YOUR FINGER to make thumbprint drawings. Use the videos, the fun pages, and the sample pages here to guide you.

Maybe you can do this with your family or friends. 

The possibilities are ENDLESS

Have fun, and be sure to wash your hands when you are finished. Clean up any mess. 

Friday, August 7, 2020

Barn Yard Animals



Barn Yard Animals Story Read Aloud Video and Bookmarks

   
Here's a story called Farmer Duck, written by Martin Waddell and illustrated by Helen Oxenbury.
You can listen to the story and follow along with your friends and family at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOJIEBsytmY

ACTIVITY:  You need:  popsicle or craft sticks,  Glue or glue stick  and Paint or markers
Using this photo as a guide, make an animal bookmark. If you want, you can make many and give them to your family or friends.    You can also use them as puppets to retell this story or any other animal story.

Thursday, August 6, 2020

SUNFLOWERS

SUNFLOWERS


 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCRNHdGXTi4

I absolutely LOVE sunflowers...but only yellow ones... I love how they follow the sun (I also love the                            sun (see previous post 8/5/2020).

The Italian word for sunflowers is girasole - which means, turn in the sun. See how that happens:

 ACTIVITY:   MAKE A FAMILY VASE OF SUNFLOWERS:

Following the ice from the previous post, you can make a sunflower using your handprints as the petals. Cut a big brown (or black) circle to paste in the middle, OR, you can paint it brown, OR you can color it with crayons or markers. ANYTHING you use will be fine.

You can also put texture (like the sunflower seeds) by gluing brown rice in the middle.

Ask each member of your family to make a sunflower and then tape them on the wall (ask permission first) to make a vase like this.

 

THIS IS MY FAVORITE PHOTO I TOOK THIS SUMMER...


MAKE BELIEVE YOU ARE A SUNFLOWER... 
Stretch and make yourfel move with the sun, from east to west!


Wednesday, August 5, 2020

Sunshine

Sunshine

I know SO many songs that celebrate SUNSHINE:

You are My Sunshine, My only sunshine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGa3zFRqDn4

Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun... 

Sunshine on my Shoulders Makes me Happy (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diwuu_r6GJE)

ACTIVITY:
Listen to these and celebrate the sunshine glow by making a sunshine shown here.

You need a paper plate (or a circle cut out of yellow paper). 
Trace your hand and cut out as many copies (you can cut multiple hands at once) and paste, glue, or staple on the underside around to make the sun's rays.

DANCE TO THE SUNSHINE SONGS! GET YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO SING AND DANCE WITH YOU. 

Sing along as you make your art work.  Hang your sunshine in your room or a window.