June - Forky

Anticipating the latest Toy Story franchise, today the class created their version of Forky; using the same materials as Bonnie in the kindergarten scene (‘spork’, googly eyes, pipe cleaners, ice cream sticks and clay). Class started with a short introduction to Forky from the Toy Story 4’s movie trailer.

Next, without guide or instructions, they had to recreate and improvise Forky using the materials given.

Today’s activity encouraged the process and idea of replicating a cartoon character, creatively improvising a subject matter and promoting ‘make instead of buy’.

Learning outcome: Puppet/ Toy making, Recycling, Problem Solving (model making) and Creativity

June - Dream Catcher

The Dream Catcher was the Bugs' project this week.

Portrayed as the symbol to 'catch' and a hold on to your dreams, the wire and colourful rope craft can double up to catch the sun's rays in your window or as a hanging mobile in the home.

Our bugs were guided through the process of first making a frame of their choice. Thereafter they were shown how to secure lengths of various coloured knitting wool on to the frame, weaving them into a kaleidoscope of colours with a peek-a-boo effect.

Learning outcome: Dream catcher- its symbol and use, working and experimenting new materials; wire frames, shapes and sizes, securing lengths of wools, and the weaving process, and knowing the centre of gravity and balance

June – Spinning Top Colour Mixer

After 2 weeks hiatus, the Bugs were back with another fun Kraftee Bugs’ Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths (STEAM) - themed activity; A Spinning Top Colour Mixer!

This week’s ‘challenge’ required our Bugs to design their own patterns with minimum usage of 2 colours onto a paper plate. Once completed, a short bamboo stick was sent through the centre-point ...and viola! each had a spinning top! Our Bugs then experienced and observed the wonderful effect of their design and the mixture of colours when their 'tops' spin!

Learning outcome: An art-science activity showing the effect of colour mixing using motion (spinning), toy making and creative learning.

May - 3D Handprint

3D Handprint is a fun art exercise to understand the basic elements of design such as lines, contours and colours.

You cannot imagine how much fun one can get out of just turning hands themselves into a work of art!

Its easy yet an awesome project and good activity to while away time. The finished work can be turned into a greeting card, a wall art, a hanging mobile, a place-mat, a book cover....the ideas are infinite and all up to one's creativity!

Learning outcome: fun, elements of basic art, imagination, colour choices

May - Aidil Fitri Greetings!

In this age of digital technology, nothing beats the warmth of receiving a handmade greeting card! With the festivities and holidays that come soon with Hari Raya, we took the Bugs through creating their very own greeting card - a window pop-up card!

The project generated several interesting ideas and inspired our little ones to 'make   instead of buy’, showing how a touch of creativity can spice up an otherwise common greeting card.

For added excitement and anticipation, the cards will be posted this year to revive the experience of traditional mail - a soon to be forgotten practice....

Learning Outcome: Raya thematic expressions, window Pop-up card making, understanding motifs, exercise in composition, show of creativity and self-expression, and receipt of mail.

May - What’s the time now?

A study in 2017 finds most children in this digital age struggling to read analog clocks. Knowing how to tell time is a very important skill. Being able to tell time by looking at a traditional clock is essential to understanding other things like time zones and international times as well. Learning how to tell time can also help kids with their motor and cognitive skills as well as mathematical skills.

Today our students were taught the basics of reading an analog clock.To reiterate the topic, a wide range of materials available in the class were given to our Bugs to design their own clock face type, complete with the hour and minute hands. They came up with their very own unique version of the analog clock to proudly call their own

Learning outcome: Reading analog clocks, cognitive skills and individual creativity

May - Do Not Litter!

Save the Environment!!!Pollution of the air, pollution of water and pollution of the soil - our Bugs were given a lesson on how they can in their small way keep our environment clean by first adopting ....'Do not litter'

To help our little ones understand better about pollution, they were first shown a video on what is pollution, the 3 types of pollution and how it deprives the environment of life forms and living organisms. Encouraging our little Bugs to embark on their first initiative of protecting the environment, we taught them poster art to build awareness.  They were given the choice to select their subject matter and use the medium of water colours or crayons to bring out the message.

The class ended with each of them championing the cause and speaking up for it. 

Learning Outcome: Pollution, the types and outcome; 'Do not litter as a first initiative through poster art; building self-confidence to speak up for what they champion.