Montessori-Inspired Panda Activities Using Free Printables

By Deb Chitwood from Living Montessori Now 

One of my favorite themes for Chinese New Year or a study of China in general is the panda bear. Because the giant panda is the national animal of China, it's a perfect addition to almost any China unit. Of course, it's an important part of any bear unit study, too. 

At Living Montessori Now, I have a list of free panda printables featuring real pandas. The free printables include my latest subscriber freebie (a Montessori-inspired panda pack). Here, I'm sharing ideas for using free panda printables to create Montessori-inspired activities.  

You'll find many activities for preschoolers through first graders throughout the year along with presentation ideas in my previous posts at PreK + K Sharing. You'll also find ideas for using free printables to create activity trays here: How to Use Printables to Create Montessori-Inspired Activities. 

At Living Montessori Now, I have a post with resource links of Free Printables for Montessori Homeschools and Preschools. 

Disclosure: This post contains some affiliate links (at no cost to you).

Montessori Shelves with Panda-Themed Activities

 

My shelves with panda-themed activities include a free panda culture card designed by The Montessori Company. You’ll also find Montessori-inspired panda numbers, letters, spinners, and and more (part of my subscriber freebie pack, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password … or check the bottom of your latest newsletter if you’re already a subscriber) 

I always have related books available throughout a unit. On my top shelf, I have the Scholastic Pandas, 40 Panda Facts for Kids, and a homemade Giant Panda book using the free printable Giant Panda by A Special Day in College and Career Readiness at Teachers Pay Teachers. A free printable reader with more words is the Panda Bear Nonfiction Reader from Simply Kinder. 

I have a number of other panda books in a book basket. I love the National Geographic animal books. There are a number of great National Geographic bear books. I have both Pandas and Mission Panda Rescue for this unit. I also have the National Geographic Red Pandas book. Even though red pandas belong to their own family, I think it's important to read about them since they share the name "panda" with the giant panda and also like to eat bamboo. 

I have fictional panda books in our book basket, too. I even have two books for babies and toddlers. My 4-year-old granddaughter, Zoey, loves to share books with her month-old sister, Sophia, so these are especially fun for Zoey. Sophia loves having Zoey read to her, although I'm sure she doesn't care if her books fit with a theme! I have the adorable Little Panda Finger Puppet book and Bill Martin, Jr.,/Eric Carle's Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See? They aren't Montessori-style books, but they're favorites at my house. 

Zoey, loves puzzles, so I have a giant world foam puzzle with 54 pieces in a large basket (not shown in my photos). That's great for using with Safari Ltd. or Schleich animals. When Zoey was younger, I used the puzzle that I have displayed for  animal geography. I don't think it's available any longer. For home use, I don't use the Montessori continent puzzle, which is a bit too large and impractical. I like to get world puzzles that are less expensive and can be changed according to Zoey's developmental level. 

On another shelf, I have the beautiful world map from Pin It! Maps that's perfect for animals of the continents as well as other geography activities. 

You could mix your panda-themed activities among your shelves according to curriculum area. Or you could have a special panda-themed area something like the one pictured. My shelves this month have a mixture of skill levels. Many of the activities can be adapted for a variety of levels. If you’re a homeschooler, just choose the activities that work for your child’s interests and ability levels. If you don’t have room for all the activities you’d like to do, simply rotate them.

Panda Culture Card (on Shelf Introducing the Panda Theme)

 

I'm happy to share with you this hand-painted panda culture card from The Montessori Company. You can use it on your shelves to introduce a panda unit or as part of a bear unit. I’m hosting the free printable as an instant download at Living Montessori Now. You can always access the free panda culture card here. 

The description says: “Pandas are a bear native to China. They eat almost only bamboo. They live mostly solitary lives except when raising cubs.” I displayed the card with a Schleich giant panda, Schleich giant panda cub, and Pandas book. 

Panda Same or Different Activity  

Free Printable: Panda Same or Different Cards from Wise Owl Factory 

This activity just uses the printable and a  Montessori Services basket. It's simply a fun way to discuss panda photos and visual differences. 

Panda Skip Counting Puzzles Free Printable: Panda Skip Counting Puzzles from Wise Owl Factory 

There are a number of different skip counting puzzles in this printable. I used two puzzles, counting by 2s and counting by 10s, to make it more challenging. That way, Zoey has to sort out the two puzzles before putting them together. 

For a younger child, just use one puzzle in your basket, pencil box (often a good size for these types of puzzles), or other container. 

P is for Panda Salt Tray and Movable Alphabet Work

 

Free Printables: Panda Letters for Letter P Salt Tray (part of my subscriber freebie pack, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password … or check the bottom of your latest newsletter if you’re already a subscriber) 

For the salt tray, I used the wooden tray from the Melissa & Doug Lace and Trace Shapes. You can use whatever tray or container work best for you, though. I added a Safari Ltd. panda and cub from the Pandas TOOB for interest.

For the movable alphabet work, I used the panda movable alphabet cards from our subscriber freebie pack  for matching or spelling along with a traditional small wooden movable alphabet. I also used Montessori Services language objects pin, pin, peg, pan, and pot as objects for spelling with the movable alphabet. 

For children working on their phonetic sounds, they the /p/ objects could be used in an object basket. If you would like help with introducing phonetic sounds, introducing objects with sounds, or beginning phonics in general, check out my DIY Beginning Montessori Phonics with Preschoolers. 

Parts of a Giant Panda Activity  

Free Printable: Label the Parts of a Giant Panda by Green Tree Montessori School at Teachers Pay Teachers 

This can be a cut-and-paste activity or word tracing and writing activity. The control page is shown in the photo. I'm using the cut-and-paste page on a Multicraft tray. 

Heart Panda Paper Craft  

Free Printable: Heart Panda Paper Craft from DLTK’s Crafts for Kids 

Free Printable: How Many Hearts Do You Need to Make the Panda? (trace and color page with hearts) from Making Learning Fun 

I typically encourage process art activities, although it's fun to have a more structured craft sometimes for holidays or as an activity for following directions. As a child, I always loved making heart animals for Valentine's Day, so I couldn't resist this heart panda paper craft. It can be a simple cut-and-paste activity. 

Older kids can learn to cut out the hearts and create a panda without a printable. For young children who have difficulty cutting, you could have a pasting activity. The results wouldn't need to look like the model! The second free printable adds a math activity to making a heart panda. I have it on the same tray. 

Adding with Pandas Activity Free Printable: Adding with Pandas from China Printable Pack at Every Star Is Different 

This is a fun hands-on addition activity. It uses the Safari Ltd. Pandas TOOB. (Mine had 11 pandas when I got it a few years ago, but now there are 9 in the TOOB. Use whichever cards work best with your TOOB.) I also used Montessori Services baskets, whatever size of clothespin you prefer (I like small clothespins, such as 1" clothespins for interest and extra fine-motor work), and a small container for the clothespins. 

I use a small dot to mark the back of the correct number on each card. Then the child can turn the card over to check his or her answer as a control of error. 

Matching Teen Numerals with Miniature Pandas and Bead Bars Free Printable: Panda Numbers (part of my subscriber freebie pack, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password … or check the bottom of your latest newsletter if you’re already a subscriber) 

This activity uses a piece of felt for a table mat (I used the Montessori Services felt table mat) and bead bars from the decanomial box in a Multicraft tray and a Bambu condiment cup (what I used here) or  Montessori Services basket. (My bead bars, which I love, are from Alison’s Montessori. You can get bead bars on Amazon, although I haven’t personally used materials from those companies.) I also added 20 Safari Ltd. Good Luck Mini Pandas. A great place to get them for a reasonable price is Alison's Montessori. 

Admiring Her Panda Bear Teen Number Wor

For the activity, you could start with a column of 10 bears and then spin the spinner to find the units. Zoey loves the Safari Ltd. Good Luck Minis, and she enjoyed lining them up and counting them before adding the bead bars. 

In my Montessori-inspired bear activities, I had another way to do the activity if you don't use the spinner. 

More Free Panda Printables 

Go to my post at Living Montessori Now for links to free panda printables from around the blogosphere: Free Panda Printables and Montessori-Inspired Panda Activities. I also have printables for a general bear unit: Free Bear Printables and Montessori-Inspired Bear Activities. If you're looking for more activities for Chinese New Year, check out my roundup of Montessori-inspired Chinese New Year activities. And be sure to subscribe to my email list if you'd like to get an exclusive free printable each month (plus two more awesome freebies right away): Free Printables.

HELPFUL ANIMAL CLASSIFICATION POSTS

• Living and Non-Living
• Plant and Animal Sorting
• Montessori Animal Classification
• Free Zoo Printables and Montessori-Inspired Zoo Activities
• Montessori-Inspired Animal Units

If you'd like to focus on manners with children, please check out my eBook Montessori at Home or School: How to Teach Grace and Courtesy! It's written for anyone who'd like to feel comfortable teaching manners to children ages 2-12. I'm also one of the coauthors of the book Learn with Play – 150+ Activities for Year-round Fun & Learning!

Have a Happy Martin Luther King Day today and a Happy Chinese New Year in February!

Deb Chitwood is a certified Montessori teacher with a master’s degree in Early Childhood Studies from Sheffield Hallam University in Sheffield, England. Deb taught in Montessori schools in Iowa and Arizona before becoming owner/director/teacher of her own Montessori school in South Dakota. Later, she homeschooled her two children through high school. Deb is now a Montessori writer who lives in San Diego with her husband of 42 years (and lives in the city where her kids, kids-in-law, and 3-year-old granddaughter live). She blogs at Living Montessori Now.

Chinese New Year 2015 - Looking for Year of the Sheep & A Good Friend!

Gung Hay Fat Choy! Ms. Brigid here, from Merit School of Music  in Chicago, IL, wishing you a Happy New Year – again! Thank you for joining me!

Today is New Year’s Eve of the Spring Festival, also known as Chinese New Year. We’re leaving Year of the Horse and entering Year of the Sheep on Feb.19.

I wrote about customs associated with this 15-day celebration in last year’s post, Gung Hay Fat Choy! You’ll find a rich and colorful resource of song suggestions, favorite books, fireworks and Chinese instruments apps, and links to stories, a parade, lion dancers and dancing dragons.

Looking For A Good Friend

Dance into the new ear with How Pung Yo, a popular Chinese singing game. Full disclosure: I teach the game in English. The version you chose depends on the personality of your class and what level of movement you want to encourage, but the progression below is from the simplest to the most complicated and active. Those lucky enough to own I Will Be Your Friend or Roots & Branches can listen to lovely and distinctly different versions of the song on the accompanying CDs – but never fear! YouTube is here to help!

My kiddos delight in this YouTube video (“Looking For Friends”) of cheery animals dancing together. I share it on my iPad before introducing the singing game, and ask children to watch closely and imitate the animals’ movements. It is helpful to practice bowing and shaking hands with a partner before starting.

Please Note: YouTube links are subject to change, and sometimes material disappears. Download the video to your mobile device to circumvent any nasty surprises!

(1) Single player. One child changes place with another. All sing.

Teach the song to the children. Make a circle, with one child in the center of the ring. This child is “It,” and walks or skips inside the circle while children are singing. He/she stops in front of another child at the end of the line, “Now I find a good friend.”  On “Jeeng gah lee ah/ I bow to you” the two bow to each other, then shake hands on “Wah guh sho/ I shake your hand.” On the last line, they trade places, with the new friend going into the center.  Repeat. Continue until everyone has had a turn (no repeats!).  Teaching Tolerance: I Will Be Your Friend (Gao Hong - I Find a Good Friend)                                               

(2) Everyone looks for a new friend while singing.

 All the children play and look for a friend simultaneously. Everyone walks or skips for the first two lines of the song, then turns to the nearest friend, bows and shakes their hand. At the end of the song, dancers wave goodbye to each other. Repeat, finding a new friend. Chinese American Service League (CASL), Chicago

(3) Long dragon-dancer trains of new friends weave around the room while all sing.

Follow directions for #1 (above), but instead of trading places, the new friend holds gently on to the shoulder of the first child (“It”). Repeat the song, adding a new friend with each repetition.  New friends are added to the end of the train, until everyone is selected.

Note: Only the first child (the leader) shakes hands with children as they are added. 

Campbell, P.S. et al.  Roots & Branches. A Legacy of Multicultural Music for Children

(Hao Peng You - Looking For a Friend)

Music & Lyrics:

            Jow yah, jow yah, jow yah jow,                        Looking, looking, looking for,

            Jow do wee guh how pung yo.                         Now I find a good friend.

            Jeeng gah lee ah.                                             I bow to you.

            Wah guh sho.                                                   (I) shake your hand.

            Nee shur wah duh how pung yo.                     You are my good friend.

Den-Den Daiko Drums for the New Year!

Spin-drums, including one made by Briana a decade ago!

After dancing, it’s time to scare away any bad luck that may be lurking about! I bring double sided spin-drums from different parts of the world and let my kiddos explore the sonic difference between drums while madly twirling the drum’s spindle!  Things we find out: Big drums are lower in sound, small drums are high. Wood sounds different than hide or plastic or paper, etc. Speed of spinning alters the sound. We’re musical scientists!

Whether they’re called den- den (Japan), bolang jo (China), damru (Tibet, India), flip, spin or pellet drums, they are fun for one and all. I’ve made versions of spin-drums, mostly with paper plates and beads, but this year I’m going to try something new, inspired by a Learning 4 Kids post: Homemade Musical Instrument: Den Den Drum, which uses wooden spoons as the instrument base. Look out world!

Learning 4 Kids photo: Janice Davis

Keep your heart open to the wonders of the new year, and banish your preconceived notions of what it means to be a sheep on this turn of the zodiac. Life is full of surprises!

I am continually inspired by The Children’s Music Network (CMN) community. an international group of socially conscious musicians, educators, librarians, families, songwriters and good people, who “celebrate the positive power of music in the lives of children by sharing songs, exchanging ideas, and creating community.” Please visit CMN, and find a gathering in your region.

©2014 Brigid Finucane  * 847-213-0713 * gardengoddess1@comcast.net

http://prekandksharing.blogspot.com

http://brigidfinucane.blogspot.com

@booksinger1

Jan.2015. Multicultural Children’s Book Day - The Lions of Gir

Dec.2014. Singing a Storybook – Wintertime / A Winter’s Tale

Nov. 2014. Singing a Story – The Magic of Musical Books: Part II

Oct.2104. Singing a Story – The Magic of Musical Books: Part I

Sept. 2014. Educators Who Care, Share. Singers, Sites & Songs from the Heartland Part III: From the Midwest & Great Lakes Regions (Listening Locally)

Aug. 2014. Educators Who Care, Share. Singers, Sites & Songs – Part II: Midwest & Great Lakes (Listening Locally)          

July 2014. Educators Who Care, Share. Singers, Sites & Songs Part I: Midwest & Ontario (Listening Locally)

June 2014. Garden Lessons, Typographic Art Apps and Thank You Notes

May 2014. Spring! Songs, Chants & Apps to Welcome the Season

April 2014. Part II. Dancing, Singing & Drawing Legato and Staccato

March 2014. Part I. From “Hush Little Baby” to Yo-Yo Ma – Using Books, Apps and YouTube Videos to Introduce Legato and Staccato

Feb.2014. Pete Seeger – A Time to Thank

Jan.2014. Gung Hay Fat Choy! Stories, Books & Apps to Celebrate the Chinese New Year

Dec.2013. Singing Time! Embracing Appadiction

Making Music with Child-Crafted Instruments!

Children take great pride in their own creations! Often they use something more carefully when they’ve made it themselves. 

   Miss Carole of Macaroni Soup here - gettin' crafty! This month I’ll show you how we made bolang gu – pellet drums for celebrating Chinese New Year, and claves, for tapping out rhythms and using as manipulatives.  I have offered posts on songs to use with both of these instruments – be sure to take a look at the original blogs to go with these instruments.

CLAVES (CLAH-vays) are percussive sticks of the same size that can be tapped together rhythmically.  I use 1” dowels cut in 8” lengths. You can make 6 claves out of a 48” dowel rod – and if you ask really really nicely, the guy at the lumberyard may cut them on the circular saw for you! Use your “teacher card” – smile and say “it’s for little kids!”  Works every time!

CUT medium and fine grade sandpaper into 3” squares – each child will need one square of each.  Have your students sit on newspaper – less clean-up later.  They should sand each end of each stick (they’ll each need 2 sticks) until they are smooth and there are no splinters.  Put the child’s initials on the end of each stick with marker if you intend for them to take their claves home eventually.

Paint!  I use washable acrylics – but we still wear cover-ups, just in case.  Put out about 4-6 colors.  Some helpful hints for your artists:

    1.   Try not to mix paint colors on your stick – it will look muddy.
     2.   Drain the brush of excess paint each time you dip to prevent globs of paint, which won’t dry properly.           

   I stand the painted claves upright in a shoebox to dry.

When claves are totally dry (at least overnight), a light sanding by the kids will bring up the colors. Towel off all debris. I spray claves with glossy polyurethane for protection.  Voila – colorful child-made claves!

For song ideas to use with your claves, check out my Dec 16, 2013 blog: “Tap It Out!”  You’ll find “I Can Hammer”, “My Grandfather’s Clock” and “The Red Red Robin Stick Dance” – the latter with a FREE DOWNLOAD!

CHINESE DRUMS are percussive instruments that can be used to accent a song OR story!  This year, the lunar new year begins on February 19 – and you’ve got 15 days of celebration to enjoy learning about a beautiful and intriguing holiday observance. It's the year of the goat/sheep!

    Check out my January 2013 blog “Chinese New Year – Sing, Dance, Create!” for the Nancy Stewart’s beautiful FREE DOWNLOAD “Gung Hay Fat Choy” – which means Happy New Year in Chinese.  You’ll also find a quick recap of some traditions – from red envelopes to cleaning the kitchen.  There are also great read-able book suggestions.

    This year my 4 -5 year olds made Bolang Gu – Chinese drums – from paper plates, a dowel, some ribbon and beads.  They really enjoyed the process AND the firecracker-y sound they made when played.

Supplies:  white glue, a stapler, a hole punch. 

Optional: stickers, or construction paper “good luck” in English & Chinese characters.

For each drum you will need:

two 6-8” paper plate (red or multi-colored)

two 8” pieces of ribbon, string or cord

4 small plastic beads

1 3/8” dowel, 10 – 12” long (I got pre-cut dowels at the craft store)

To make (highlighted steps were done by me – use judgement as to what your students can safely handle):

1. if using colored plates, press plates inside out so that color is on outside

2. staple 2 plates together around the edges, leaving a place to insert the dowel

3. punch hole at 3 & 9 o’clock

4. decorate plates – stickers, “good luck”- whatever you choose

5. put ribbon through hole on each side, thread bead, tie knot at end of ribbon

6. insert dowel, drip a little glue into each side of dowel, turn it once to spread

When glue is dry, hold dowel between flat hands and rub hands together to turn the dowel.  The beads will swing back and forth, hitting the drum faces – pop pop pop!

    Katie at Gift of Curiosity has a nice blog on this project.  Check it out!

    As I told my class the story of Nian (n’YEN) – the sea creature who ate whole villages – and the old man who scared Nian away forever by putting up lanterns, red banners and firecrackers – they used their drums, scarves and voices, too!  Great fun!  We also used our drums in “Gung Hay Fat Choy” – during the final verse, I dance the dragon/monster – they make loud noise to scare me away!

    I wish I had pictures of this final verse – but I was IN IT!  Try it yourself – if you can’t make drums, the children can clap their hands loudly.

Yes, there is preparation when making instruments. I have found it worth it – students and their parents tell me repeatedly how their child played with the instruments they made many times at home, and that these are treasures and memories that are valued.

    Hooked?  Make rainsticks! Check out my May 2012 blog: Rainsticks to Sing With!

       Yours for a TapTap and PopPop Song!       

       “Miss Carole” Stephens

       Macaroni Soup! Active Music for Active Learners!

Gung Hay Fat Choy!

Gung Hay Fat Choy!

Singing Time: Songs, Stories, Books, & Apps to Celebrate the

Chinese New Year

Hello everyone! Ms. Brigid here, from Merit School of Music  in Chicago, IL. Happy Year of the Horse! This week we’re exploring resources for the Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival. Over a billion people observe Chinese New Year – in fact during the two weeks it’s celebrated, from the new moon to the full moon, the largest human migration on earth takes place as family members travel to be with each other for New Years Eve on January 30^th. 

 ©2014 Brigid Finucane. Irresistible Good Luck Candy!

I have been celebrating the lunar festival for over a decade in my classrooms, each year adding new layers. My observance stems from the good fortune of being placed at the Chinese American Service League (CASL) as the Pre-K music teacher through Bridges, Merit’s outreach program.  CASL was my first Merit teaching site, and one I’ll forever cherish. To have a window into such a rich culture and community is a gift.

Chinese New Year, as with other holidays celebrated this time of year, centers on Family, Feasts, Light (fireworks, lanterns), and Community (parties, parades, visiting). Specific songs are associated with the holiday and similar preparations take place – cleaning and decorating the home, shopping, preparing symbolic food, wearing special (new) clothes, and making arrangements to host or travel. My students, families and teachers explore these similarities in class, and talk about the differences - like Lion Dancers and Dancing Dragons! Happy memories of holiday gatherings are still fresh in the kiddos’ minds, and connections are easily made!

©2014 Brigid Finucane. Oranges and flowers and lanterns, oh my!

SONGS

My favorite Chinese New Song is Gung Hay Fat Choy by Nancy Stewart, a Children’s Music Network (CMN) member living in Seattle. Sheet music, an mp3 and an instrumental version are available.

Nancy Stewart's Song of the Month, January 2003

In a few perfectly crafted verses the song chronicles the key features – starting with preparations and ending with dragons dancing and a nod to the Lantern Festival, which concludes the holiday on the 15^th day (full moon). The song even notes how the starting date is determined: 

    “The new moon tells us exactly when

     We celebrate with family and friends.”

The hauntingly beautiful chorus is one that all, even the youngest, can sing:

“Gung Hay Fat Choy!  Gung Hay Fat Choy!

Sing Happy New Year!  Gung Hay Fat Choy!

Feng Yang Hua Gu or Flower Drum Song is a popular traditional song associated with the New Year. The end of the song mimics the sound of the drum.  There are many YouTube versions, ranging from dance troupes to instrumental ensembles.

Video by Red Taurus:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8blxd_sQBnI

STORIES

Storynory is an online storytelling site. Stories can be listened to or read.

Chinese Years of the Animals. “In Chinese astrology, each year is named after an animal, and if you are born in that year, you take some of that animal’s characteristics. This is the story of how each year go its name,…”

Chinese Year of the Horse – The Horse That Ran Away. This story  "...shows that you can never tell if an event will turn out to be good or bad luck in the long term. The idea is part of Taoist philosophy, which teaches that you must live  in harmony with nature and what it brings you, good or bad."

Fun With Mandarin’s vibrantly illustrated Story of Nian is suitable for younger viewers, and tells the origination of New Year traditions. YouTube.

BOOKS

In the not so distant past, information was harder to unearth about Chinese New Year. The internet has changed that, and numerous books written specifically for young children have added greatly to understanding the holiday. First, the internet!

-Chinese New Year Traditions, created by Chinese Childbook, is a short family-friendly video created for Year of the Tiger (2010).

-Chinese New Year  –  the Brooklyn Children’s Museum’s remarkable repository of information about Chinese New Year includes worksheets and visuals of objects associated with the holiday, ranging from ornaments to kumquat trees to Fu symbols!

Now the books!

©2014 Brigid Finucane.
Music Masters I kiddos - who aren't afraid of dragons!

-The Dancing Dragon perfectly captures the excitement of the New Year parade. The book’s unique accordion format unfolds to reveal the dragon!

-This Next New Year is a book about the promise of the new year and a Chinese-Korean boy who has big dreams. It captures the heart completely.  Unfortunately, it is hard to purchase – but available in many libraries.

-Rabbit’s Gift, based on a Chinese fable, is a gentle tale of a turnip (!) and the power of sharing and caring for others. Margaret Hooton from the Children’s Music Network (CMN), introduced the book to me, and we both wrote verses to go with the story. 
Margaret:                                                            Brigid:          

Turnips are so sweet,                           La, la, la, la, la. 
And they’re good to eat!                      La, la, la, la, la.
On a cold winter day                            Sharing with friends

Turnips are a treat!                              Is a gift from the heart.

Listen below, in the Chinese New Year Card video greeting! We've "piggybacked" our lyrics onto the first four measures of Feng Yang Hua Gu or Flower Drum Song!

APPS

The apps below are all free versions – which mean there are ads, alas. Even so, they’re worthwhile, and if you’re so inclined, an “In-App” purchase will take care of the annoyances!

1. Chinese New Year Video Greeting Cards. Send  video greetings with this app. Two card styles are available, with options to buy more music and backgrounds. Ads are intrusive!

Brigid's song.
 http://get-puppet.com/s/G90n1LSRnOk?autoplay

Margaret's song.
http://get-puppet.com/s/5PicxJZLl-o?autoplay

2. Learn about and listen to traditional Chinese Instruments, created by The United Academy of Music in Wanchi Hong Kong – a truly impressive  and generous app. Wish List: A pronunciation guide and more clearly written song and instrument information.

©2014 Brigid Finucane. Year of the Metal Horse.

3. No New Year festival is complete without fireworks!  Make your own fireworks with Fireworks Arcade.

AROUND THE WEB - JUST FOR FUN

If you’re wondering about the installation photos, they were inspired by Liz Hannan from CMN who contributed a hilarious story to the CMN list-serve about toy dinosaurs in the home environment. I thought, “Why not substitute a toy horse for the dinosaurs?”  Join me, and get creative in your classroom over the 15 days of the festival! Your kiddos will love it. Please share pictures! 

    

©2014 Brigid Finucane. Lucky horses!

Thank you so much for joining me! It’s wonderful to be part of this new community.

 Please feel free to contact me with any questions you have. I’m here to help!

I hope you’ll visit me next month, when I’ll be sharing more apps and musical ideas.

             

I am continually inspired by the Children’s Music Network (CMN) community. an international group of socially conscious musicians, educators, librarians, families, songwriters and good people, who “celebrate the positive power of music in the lives of children by sharing songs, exchanging ideas, and creating community.” Please visit CMN, and find a gathering in your region.

©2014 Brigid Finucane  * 847-213-0713 * gardengoddess1@comcast.net

http://prekandksharing.blogspot.com 

http://brigidfinucane.blogspot.com

@booksinger1

Blog History

Dec.2013. Singing Time! Embracing Appadiction