Teddy Bear Lunch at Lawson

What a lovely time we had at Lawson Park. Thank you to all the wonderful helpers who came with us.

Where in the world is Khamial? Can you find him in this picture?

Technology

Over the past week we have been making our puppets and our individual puppet theatres. We visited Room 18 to check out their amazing puppet theatres and puppets and to get some ideas for how we wanted ours to work.  We used our resources or the resources we had if there was something suitable in the class.

Designing and making puppets of our whanau

Designing and making our puppet theatres -

Did we fulfil our brief? Did it -

reflect our country or culture?

have suitable decorations for a puppet theatre?

work as a puppet theatre?

prototypes - models

This is how our prototypes turned out. We only had a few colours of paint but can you guess which countries they reflect:

It was fantastic to see that all the finished models were functional or worked as puppet theatres. The groups that were finished, presented their theatres, checked off that they had what what was in the brief. They also said what they would do differently when they made their own puppet theatre.

Please return any books, library books, and library cards

Bring in a small box or shoe box - technology - puppet theatre

We will be making our individual puppet theatres soon. Do you have a shoe box or other small box you could send to class? (Actually any size as your child might want to make a larger one). We have quite a few bits and pieces for decorating. Depending on your child's design you might need to have a hunt around to see if you have any items they need. They can let you know once they have designed their final puppet theatre.

Technology and Puppet Theatres

Technology can be televisions, computers and cellphones. They have been created to solve a problem and make life easier. Technology can also involve creating something to solve a problem or meet a need e.g. go-karts are fun, can be used for entertainment and help us to move quickly from place to place. We have been making puppets to perform plays in class but something is missing...a puppet theatre!

In groups (by country) the children designed a brief for their puppet theatre. Here we are in our groups discussing and drawing the designs.

What does our puppet theatre need to have to work?

• a hole for the stage
• a hole at the back for the puppeteer
• to be decorated to look like a puppet theatre. Since we are in groups by country - it needs to reflect something from our country.

Finn made a puppet theatre at home. We were impressed at how he made a small hole at the back and used 2 boxes to make it higher. The curtains were pretty cool too.

After seeing how Finn made his puppet theatre, we set to work making our models in our groups.

We are doing a great job and our models or PROTOTYPES will be finished shortly. Watch this space. Then we will make our individual puppet theatres based on what we have learned. We might need to bring things from home to create our designs.

Family Night Tuesday 5pm - Wednesday if raining

Come to school, buy a sausage and settle in to watch the childrens' performances. They have been working so hard during the year. You can bring a picnic if you want.

DVD SPECIAL OFFER - Family Night only

Looking for a Christmas gift promoting good values for your child/children?  How about ordering a copy of Christine Fuller's latest DVD 'Helping at Home'. This video is an entertaining, and fast moving DVD featuring many large puppets engaging four young children. You will love watching lots of fun activities in and around the home, where the children are encouraged to "stick at it, and not give up."  Running time = 25 minutes.

Normally, the video retails for $20, but tomorrow only, the video can be ordered at Family Night, for $15 with a portion of each sale going to our school. Look for the sign 'DVD orders' outside the school office to make your order. Cash only please. 

Orders can be collected from Miss Bland by 10 December. 

See an excerpt of the DVD here.   

Contact Miss Bland if you have questions.  Email: kirstenb@arahoe.school.nz