Moon Books!

MOON BOOKS!

Supplies Needed: Paper, scissors, paint (blue, teal, purple, white), tooth brush, and glue

This week we made moon books! Before I came my teacher Mrs. Mortensen had the children with sturdy paper make abstract sky like painting on one side. The colors were blue, teal, and purple. With mixing the colors they created the night sky. Then because they were learning about teeth she had them to use tooth brushes to add white flecks that looked like stars on the paper! What a great idea!

She also had the phases of the moon on a piece of paper and had the children color in the dark parts of the moon.

When I arrived for class we talked about the moon. I talked more about how to make the book and how they can make their own books with the fold that I was going to teach them. Here is the instructions for the book.

I showed them how to fold first by telling them to fold with the color on the outside. As I did the steps with the class I constantly reminded them of "kissing corners" to match each corner and to "iron" out the sides to make the creases. The great wording was developed by my teacher.

When it came to the cutting in the middle of the paper, I came around with an exacto knife and a self healing pad and cut a little slit so that the children could cut along the line. However, it looks like we could have just folded the paper in half and had them cut the paper. Anyways, at that point I made sure they understood where to stop cutting. It worked well.

 Then next was the hard part. Folding it. It was hard to explain to pop out the paper to fold but most of them got it. Then I went around to those who needed up.

Next we talked about how we need to have a title of the book pasted on (talked what a title was) and then to put New Moon on the front page. I think by this point it would have been good to discuss which page would be the front page. Some made the back as the front. I didn't realize that something so simple of which way a book opens is not apparent for a first grader. We learn something new everyday. 

Then the children cut out their moon phases and put them in their book!

***To keep the class under control during the steps I had them put their hands on their heads or do something else when they were done. It helped me know which students needed more time or help.