Creativity

Interesting and thought provoking.

Picasso-style Art

Visual Art
For creative players we have prepared a Mr. Picasso Head game. All you have to do is to customize various parts of the face in order to make a picture in Picasso's style. Don't forget you can also change the colours. At the end you may sign your work with a special font.

Thinker Keys

Now we know lots obout the Olympics and China we are going to use this information to think creatively and critically. Over the next 2 weeks we will do lots of thinking about the Olympics and China in our reading,writing and speaking activitiies. Inquiry is such fun!

WALT... think about he Olympics creatively and critically
Brick Wall Key
‘People should be able to take performance enhancing drugs to compete at the Olympics.’ Argue for this statement.
Alternatives Key
List 5 different countries that are competing in the Olympics.
Reverse Key
List 10 sports you WON'T find at the Olympics.
List 10 things you WON’T find at the Olympics.
List 10 things you CAN’T do at the Olympics.
What If? Key
What if anyone was allowed to enter the Olympics? Write a paragraph about it.
Combination Key
Combine a swimming pool and a running track. Draw a picture and describe it.
Bigger, Add, Replace Key
Make a rowing skiff Bigger, Add something to it and Replace something on it.
Questions Key
Write 5 questions that have the answer “a gold medal.”
Write 5 questions that have the answer “he would be disqualified.”
Write 5 questions that have the answer “athletics.”
Variations Key
How many different Olympic sports can you name?
How many Olympics gold medalists can you name?
Disadvantages Key
List 5 disadvantages of the Olympics
List 5 disadvantages of being an Olympic athlete.
List 5 disadvantages of the Olympics.
Different Uses Key
List 10 different uses for a swimming pool at the Olympics.
List 10 different uses for a chair at the Olympics
Prediction Key
What will the Olympics be like in 8 years time?
Ridiculous Key
They should build venues big enough for everyone to go and see their favourite sport. List 5 reasons why you agree and 5 reasons why you disagree.
The Olympic games should be held every year. List 5 reasons why you agree and 5 reasons why you disagree.
People are not interested in the Olympic games anymore. List 5 reasons why you agree and 5 reasons why you disagree.
Commonality Key
List 5 things the same about the Olympics and a box.
List 5 things the same about swimming and archery.
List 5 things the same about NZ and China
Alphabet Key
List 1 Olympics word for each letter of the alphabet.
Inventions Key
Design a New Zealand Olympics uniform.

The Olympic Torch

Click on the Olympic torch to read about the torch design

WALT... understand the importance & role of the Olympic torch
... discuss the design features,environmental principles and materials of 2008 torch
... design an Olympic torch for 2012 Olympic games
... write about your desing including size, materials, and artistic design
... create an Olympic torch maze for junior classes (extra for experts)
History of the Olympic Flame
The tradition of the Olympic flame began during the ancient Olympic Games, over 2700 years ago in Greece. A flame was lit for each Olympics, every four years, and it burned throughout the games. The flame symbolized the death and rebirth of Greek heroes. There was no torch relay in the ancient Olympics. The first torch relay took place at the 1936 games in Berlin, Germany.
The Torches of the Olympics
For each Olympics, a new flame is started in the ancient Olympic stadium in Olympia, Elis, Greece, using a parabolic mirror to focus the rays of the Sun. This flame begins its Olympic Torch Relay by touring Greece. The flame is normally taken to the country where the games will be held (usually by airplane). The flame is then carried around the country where the games are to be held, using a series of torches carried by people running, walking, riding horses and camels, scuba diving, and using other means of human conveyance. The last runner uses a torch to light the large Olympic torch which burns throughout the games. The flame is extinguished during the closing ceremony. A new Olympic torch is designed for each of the games.

From Fact Box: ABC's of Beijing Olympics

BEIJING OLYMPIC TORCH:

The Beijing Olympic torch, made of aluminum, is 72 centimeters high and weighs 985 grams. It can withstand winds of up to 65 kilometers per hour and stay alight in rain of up to 50 millimeters an hour.

Adventure Island

What is Adventure Island?
Click on the sign to find out more.
It is designed around the book 'Kensuke's Kingdom' by Michael Morpurgo, but can also be used as a stand-alone project for classes. Without needing to understand any computer language, classes can create an online island that other people can visit and explore. It can involve imaginative and descriptive writing, perhaps diary or poetry writing. There are challenges and puzzles for the visitor to solve. As the visitor travels around the island, descriptive writing for each area encourages them to explore further. Will they be able to survive, and leave the Island, or will they remain forever ... trapped?
We are going to try this out over the next few weeks. We'll let you know more soon.

The Willow Pattern

The Willow Pattern, a traditional Chinese story.
We read the story of 'The Willow Pattern', listened to an audio version and viewed a power point. It was amazing to see the way parts of the story changed each time it was retold. We then retold the story in written form. Some of us have already published, some are on their second draft, others are at the proof reading and editing stage. We will publish some stories on the blog next week. We also retold the story through visual art on white paper plates using different blue media. Annie was extremely proud of our efforts which are now displayed on the wall. The Smarties reading group are retelling the story through drama (role play) and will present this in assembly on Friday.

Making Dragon Puppets

Story Maker

Write a story about the picture.

Make a Tune Game

Create some Chinese music. Each lantern plays a tune. Click on a series of lanterns to make up a tune, then click on the speaker to play the tune.

What are tangrams?

Tangrams are ancient Chinese puzzle patterns that consist of seven pieces.

Try some at these sites. Click the coloured tangram pictures below

Design a garden

Design your own garden. Choose from the historical examples below. Then click and drag the plants into place on the "plan" screen.
You can view the garden from different angles using the "front" and "back" buttons.

Create a City

Creativity is an essential 21st century learning disposition. I found this excellent site where the children can create a city.