LaDiva project 2014

Created by Dace Brinka Maria Theodoridou Rita Laurikietyte Gokcenur Inan

Who does this project adress to?

Age of the children: 5-7 years Number of children: 8-12 Time of project: 4 days

Materials

• • cards that depict an item, with the item’s name at the back of the card 2 balls thet represent Sun • • and Earth Puppet doll Fairytale book

Aims

• • • • • • Our presentations’ teaching aims are; Language Development Learning about seasons Improving gross motors skills Learning about other cultures Learning about the Earth’s rotation Artistic epression

Project Day One

Reading a fairytale about the four seasons to the children with the use of a puppet. The seasons are not described in a precise way, but the children are allowed to bring into class their experience on how seasons are in their countries.

Project Day One (2)

The children can contribute to the book’s illustration by drawing the seasons themselves. After reading the book the children discuss a bit about the differences between the different seasons and draw them.

Project Day Two (2)

In the second day the puppet explains to the children why and how the seasons phenomenon occurs (after asking them if they have any idea on that).

We use two balls made of newspaper, one of them is the sun and the other is the Earth, so it is easier for them to understand the Earth’s rotation.

Project Day Two(3)

After that, the children play a game about the Earth’s rotation. They all stand in a circle, and one child stands in the middle holding the sun ball. The Earth ball is passed from hand to hand to all the children who are in the circle, and the teacher explains that the Earth rotates around the sun.

Project Day Two (4)

After that, she marks on the floor the area of each season. The ball circulates again, but this time, the children have to say the name of the season where the Earth ball is.

In the end of the day there is a small talk about clothing in different seasons. To explain the clothing, the teacher uses the cards.

Project Day Three

On Day three we are playing a card game. Many cards are put on a table (which cards depict an item, with the item’s name at the back of the card).

Depending on the difficulty level, the cards are put on the table with the side of the letters visible, or the side of the pictures visible (for younger children).

Project Day Three (2)

Four by four, the children come to the table and chose the pictures that depict what comes in their minds when they hear the name of a season.

After that, they stick these cards on a prepared space (in our case, a window, they create the window’s view) and they explain why they chose these cards, what food, items, clothing, celebrations are connected to each season for them.

(Day four)

If possible, on the fourth day of this project, we can invite parents to the kindergarten and ask them speak about celebration that are connected to a special season in their countries, bring traditional food, music, clothing about these celebrations.

4 seasons

Once upon a time there was a happy family. The farhers’s name was Yearand the mother’s name was Earth. They had for lovely children, two of them were boys and two were girls. The girls were beautiful and kind. Their names were Summer and Spring. The boys were nice, and they loved adventures. Their names were Winter and Autumn. One day Eutumn said to the other children: «Would you like us to go to the woods and play ‘’hide and seek’’?» «Of corse!» His siblings replied.

«But we need to tell father before we go into the woods,» Spring said. Father Year told them: «you can go to the woods, my children, and have fun. But do not go too far and be back beforesunset!» So, Autumn, Winter, Spring and Summer set off to go to the woods.

They were all having a great time playing. So, they all forgot what father Year had told them and they moved too far from home. Soon, they were lost into the woods.

«Oh, no! What are we going to do now? We are lost!» Winter said. «Dont worry, brother, we will find a solution,» Summer replied.

«Bit it is getting dark!» Spring said, «I am scared!» «Hey! I think i can see the path!» Autum said, «Let’s follow it!» «Well, I can see another path, I belive this is the path we should take,» Said Winter.

«Boys! I can see another path behind thet rock!» Summer said, «Let’s go there!» «No! It is too dangerous! I am not coming!» Spring said, « thet path beside the river seems safer! » So, the children desided to fallow different paths. They all walked and walked, until they reached four different valleys.

It was getting late and father Year was very worried. «Where are my children? Are they lost and frightened?» he sad to mother Earth, «I am ging to the woods to find them all!» First, he found Winter. «Come back home, my son,» he told him . «No, father,» Winter replied, «I like this vally too much, i do not want to go back.» Then, father Year found Spring. «Come back home, my daughter,» he told here. «No, father,» Spring replied, «It is so beautiful, this vally, i do not want to go back.» Afther thet, father Year found Summer. «Come back home, Summer,» he told her. «Oh, no! This valley is so beautiful! I am not coming back, father!» father said.

In the end, father Year found Autumn. «Come back home, son,» he told him. «Why, father?» Autumn replied, «It is so nice in this valley! I do not want to go back!»

So, father year come back home, but none of his children followed him. He was really sad, becuse he missed his boys and girls very much. «Do not be sad! Mother Earth said. If the children won’t come back, you can go and spend time whith them. So, we will all be happy!» This is Why, even today, season change one after the other, every time father Year visits one of his children; Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn.