Paper mache is a hugely messy ordeal.

I planned the lesson for 3 sessions of back to back to back (totaling 1 hour and 20 minutes) of art. This was not enough.

Upon reflection:
Paper mache should be done in consecutive days.
After day 1...the balloons usually show patchy areas.
So on day 2...the class should patch this up.
Also on day 2 - the balloon should be popped and air released.
We didn't do that so during the week the balloon pulled the paper mache and some of the balloons "imploded" (sunk in).

So we added 2 more classes and we finally got our globes done. Thank you grade 3's!

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Winners for the Every Day Heroes Film Competition have been announced, but they were up against some stiff competition. Check out the top 20 finalists.

Voting is open until April 25^th for the People’s Choice Award.
Watch the Every Day Heroes Film Competition entries online and vote for your favorite!


Making a Difference

Miranda Andersen, Writer, Producer, Director

This film is about Ruth Foster, a retired teacher, hatchery co-founder and local activist for all things environmental. She give a great deal of her time to preserving and protecting the wilderness. She should be the poster woman for earth day – she makes every day earth day!

Belcarra, British Columbia

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Engaging, educational and entertaining, the Sprockets Toronto International Film Festival for Children is an initiative of TIFF that offers children and youth the opportunity to learn about cultural perspectives from around the world through the power of the moving image.

An enriching experience that is much more than just a day at the movies, Sprockets includes a Public Programme for ages three and up and a week-long School Programme for students in grades 1 to 12. Featuring the best of Canadian and international cinema for children and youth, Sprockets offers a compelling selection of features and shorts on diverse subjects in a variety of genres and styles. It provides a rare opportunity to watch films that kids around the world are lining up to see and that in many cases may not be available again in Toronto.

In its first year the festival had an attendance of 2,300. It has since grown at a phenomenal pace, increasing its audience to over 13,000 in 2009. The tremendous success of the event led to the creation of the Sprockets Family Zone section at the Toronto International Film Festival, the year-round outreach programme Special Delivery and the Pocket Fund, a fund-raising initiative.

Contact 416-968-FILM 1-877-968-FILM for more information

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In preparation for the upcoming Earth Day celebration (April 22, 2010)...last week I started my class with a story called, "Sharon Finds the Environment" by Tom Hawkins

After reading the story I had a discussion with the class about the importance about being environmentally friendly. How we can do our part to keep Planet Earth/our Environment clean.

Our art activity for the afternoon was paper mache globes.
We had the entire afternoon to work on covering our balloons with 2-3 layers of paper.
It was fun and extremely messy!

We managed to finish our globes and they are nicely drying at the back of the classroom. This coming Thursday, we will create the stands for our globes, talk about the proportion of land to water and the placement of several continents.

Our aim is to have our paper mache globes finished to display for Earth Day!

Here is some photos I took while I was creating my sample globe for my class.

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Songkran is a Thai traditional New Year which starts on April 13 every year and lasts for 3 days. Songkran is a Thai word which means "move" or "change place" as it is the day when the sun changes its position in the zodiac. It is also known as the "Water Festival" as people believe that water will wash away bad luck. It begins on the 13th April and ends on the 15th April, but occasionally in certain years on the 16th April. The Songkran is in fact the celebration of the vernal equinox similar to those of the Indian Holi Festival, the Chinese Ching Ming, and the Christian Festival of Easter.

I want to wish my Thai friends and friends in Thailand: "Happy New Year!"

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Child prodigy Adora Svitak says the world needs "childish" thinking: bold ideas, wild creativity and especially optimism. Kids' big dreams deserve high expectations, she says, starting with grownups' willingness to learn from children as much as to teach.
About Adora Svitak

A prolific short story writer and blogger since age seven, Adora Svitak (now 12) speaks around the United States to adults and children as an advocate for literacy.

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Enter a world of magic this coming weekend at The Ontario Science Center and get up close and personal with the artistry and craftsmanship behind the Harry Potter™ films.

Immerse yourself in the world of Harry Potter by trying on the Sorting Hat™, pulling a Mandrake from its pot in the Herbology vignette, and playing a game of Quidditch™ as you experience elaborate settings such as the Gryffindor™ common room, Hagrid's hut and the Great Hall.

You'll also come upon authentic artifacts from the movies-including Harry's wand and glasses, the Marauders' Map, Professor Dumbledore's robe and more!

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Have a look around to see what’s going on across Canada and who’s doing what in your province.

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World Autism Awareness Day shines a bright light on autism as a growing global health crisis. WAAD activities help to increase and develop world knowledge of the autism epidemic and impart information regarding the importance of early diagnosis and early intervention. Additionally, WAAD celebrates the unique talents and skills of persons with autism and is a day when individuals with autism are warmly welcomed and embraced in community events around the globe.

By bringing together autism organizations all around the world, we will give a voice to the millions of individuals worldwide who are undiagnosed, misunderstood and looking for help. Please join us in our effort to inspire compassion, inclusion and hope.

For more information please visit World Autism Awareness

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