Express Yourself August 15-19, 2011

Music and art and poetry attune the soul to God.

(Thomas Merton)

At Home…

It is through the Art that books can come to life and children can develop a love

of reading.

1. When visiting your local public library, ask the librarian for some wordless

picture books. Some to consider: Flotsam by David Wiesner, Once Upon a

Banana Peel by Jennifer Armstrong, Pancakes for Breakfast by Tomie DePaola.

Sit with your child and have him/her tell you the story based on the images

in the book. Encourage him/her to look at the detail in the pictures and

imagine what it would sound like, smell like, feel like, etc.

2. Visit the Toronto Public Library site, www.torontopubliclibrary.ca, and connect

to Tumblebooks. Have your child choose any book that sounds interesting.

He/she can read the book on his/her own or listen to it.

Using old socks, yarn, buttons, and any other odds and ends you have lying

around the home, have your child create puppets of the main characters in

the story. Have him/her retell the story by putting on a puppet show. If

you need some help making the puppets, visit

http://www.daniellesplace.com/HTML/puppets.html. When the puppets

are done, have your child put on a puppet show. You may want to invite

some friends to take part in the show or watch the production.

OR

Have your child and friends or family put on a skit about a story or a

favourite part of a story that they have enjoyed. You may use old

cardboard boxes and fabrics to create the set/scene. You can incorporate

some math by having your child set up a mini refreshment booth where

your child can sell drinks and snacks. Things to have your child consider:

how much to spend, how much to charge. Perhaps predict how much

he/she will make in sales.

Have your child compile a list of his/her summer highlights (i.e., fun times

experienced this summer). Then ask him/her to choose one of his/her

favourite songs and change the lyrics of the song using the list of summer

highlights. Your child may want to change the song into a summer RAP.

Remind your child not to forget the sound effects!

Fun with Technology...

1. Have your child visit the following interactive sites to create pieces of art: http://www.nga.gov/kids/zone/zone.htm

Your child may use geometric shapes in his/her art work. Have your child give

his/her art work a title. Encourage him/her to explain why he/she chose that

title and to share what is happening in the piece of art created.

2. Visit http://www.philtulga.com/pie.html to create your own rhythms and

music: The Fraction Pie Rhythms activity connects your knowledge of fractions

and equivalency to musical notes and rhythms. Simply choose your fractions

and press play — your fractions will transform into a musical composition you

can see and hear!

In the Community….

1. Do you want something exciting to write about in your journal? Visit:

http://www.canadianstage.com/dream to get details on ‘Shakespeare in the

Park.’ It’s a fabulous theatre production that is put on annually and it takes

place in our local parks.

2. Visit the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO). Go to http://www.ago.net/visit for

address/directions and times.

Admission to the AGO is free for all on Wednesday evenings from 6 to 8:30

p.m. and for Ontario high school students with valid student ID, Tuesday

to Friday after 3 p.m. (Permanent Collection only, excludes surcharged

exhibitions.)

Talk about the works of art with your child. Have your child identify the

various shapes and art techniques as you walk through the gallery together.

3. HarbourKIDS is the name Harbourfront Centre gives to FREE programming specifically designed for kids ages 5–12. The purpose of the programming is to present contemporary arts and culture from a kid's point of view, making it accessible for all ages. For example, each of the summer festivals offer Sunday afternoon kids programming from 1-3 p.m. Go to: http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/harbourkids/index.cfm

4. FREE concerts take place in the Toronto Music Garden most Thursdays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 4 p.m. and are approximately one hour in length. Bench seating is available but limited, so feel free to bring a lawn chair – and don't forget your hat or umbrella and sunscreen as shade is also limited. Go to: http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/torontomusicgarden/index.cfm