Monday, July 29, 2013

Free e-books and audiobooks!

Did you know you can borrow FREE e-books and audiobooks from the public library? It's easy! Just go to:

KCLS > Books & Reading > Download Books 

There you can choose from books (text and audio), magazines, music and video in a variety of formats. Some require downloading free apps, such as Overdrive. There are plenty of instructions - in written and video form - on the site, but you can also ask a KCLS librarian for help.

Happy reading/listening!

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Great art websites and books!

This week in Creation Station summer camp we're exploring various elements of art - line, shape, texture, color, etc. - and exercising our imaginations, concentration and fine motor skills.

When we resurface and need a little break, we've been exploring some cool interactive art sites hosted by museums around the world. They give you a chance to explore different artists and artistic styles in a playful way.
NGAkids Art Zone
Art Games
Art Safari
Tate Kids

Check out my Goodreads "art" shelf which has books
for elementary through high school!

Added July 26th: here is the information from today's art show, as requested by some parents!

Welcome to our art show! Please enjoy our beautiful projects!

Day One: Line
  • Teddy bear line designs
  • Visual music: left to right, A la claire fontaine (traditional French song), Hoodoo Voodoo (Wilco/Woody Guthrie), and the Ode to Joy from Beethoven’s Symphony no. 9
Day Two: Shape
  • Positive & negative shapes
  • Tangram designs

Day Three: Texture
  • Texture rubbings
  • Tissue paper suncatchers

Day Four: Color
  • Complementary color designs
  • Warm/cool color fish

Day Five: Shape
  • Sculpey sculptures

Monday, July 15, 2013

Bug books - and art!

We had a great time in the Bug out with Bug Art camp last week! Incoming kindergartners enjoyed a lot of great books about bugs, but were especially wild about Honey-- Honey-- Lion! : A Story from Africa by Jan Brett, Beetle McGrady Eats Bugs! by Megan McDonald, Hey, Little Ant by Phillip Hoose and Bug Butts by Dawn Cusick.  We also did some fun art projects - check them out! 

Clothespin ants



Butterfly wings



Fireflies in a jar



Close-up of the fireflies



Ladybug rocks 



Dragonfly magnets



Butterfly life cycle collage (close-up)



Beehive



Look at these happy bees!



Scarab beetles