PAPER PLATE ANIMAL MASKS: Classroom Projects Inspired by My Books

Paper Plate Animal Masks

Paper plates are one of the most versatile household objects to use for craft projects. At one school I visited, fifth grade students had read many of my books about animals and then created wonderful animal masks using paper plates, construction paper, yarn, fabric, and markers. Every one was unique. I especially like the fuzzy mane on the lion and the long elephant trunk, projecting like a trumpet from the center of the mask! 

LION--available on Amazon as an ebook.

DRAWING DINOSAURS WITH GLUE: Projects and Activities Inspired by My Books

During my nearly fifty years as a published author I have visited hundreds of schools to talk about my books and what it is like to be an author. I am always impressed by the creative projects teachers have done with their students in connection with my books. When kids do these projects it reinforces the concepts of the book and expands their impact. Over the next few weeks/months I will share some of these projects on this blog.

Dinosaur projects never grow old. At one school I visited the students had used Elmer's Glue to draw the outline of their favorite dinosaurs on black paper. After the glue dried and became transparent, they filled in the rest of the drawing with pastel crayons. The bumpy glue outlines gave the dinosaurs a 3-D look and suggested their scaly bodies. And the dark background provided an eerie quality as if we were looking into the past.

The students had read my book Dinosaurs All Around, about an artist who creates dinosaur models for museums. Some of my other books about dinosaurs include Dinosaur Mountain and Dinosaurs Down Under. You can find all these books as e-books on Amazon.

LIFE-SIZE PAPIER MACHE SHARK: Projects and Activities Inspired by My Books

Paper Mache Model Shark.

During my nearly fifty years as a published author I have visited hundreds of schools to talk about my books and what it is like to be an author. I am always impressed by the creative projects teachers have done with their students in connection with my books. When kids do these projects it reinforces the concepts of the book and expands their impact. Over the next few weeks/months I will share some of these projects on this blog.

One of my all-time favorite projects inspired by my books is the life-size papier mache shark created by fourth graders at a school in California. Making a model like this requires close observation of the shark's body shape and characteristics. Sharkeel O'Neal remained in their classroom long after my visit, reminding the students of my author visit and all they had learned about sharks from my books.

My books about sharks include Watch Out for Sharks illustrated with photographs by Richard Hewett and Giant Shark: Megalodon, Prehistoric Super Predator  illustrated with beautiful watercolor paintings by Laurie Caple. Both books are available is e-books on Amazon.

FOSSILS FROM THE ICE AGE: Projects and Activities Inspired by My Books

Model tar pit with fossil bones made of clay.

During my nearly fifty years as a published author I have visited hundreds of schools to talk about my books and what it is like to be an author. I am always impressed by the creative projects teachers have done with their students in connection with my books. When kids do these projects it reinforces the concepts of the book and expands their impact. Over the next few weeks/months I will share some of these projects on this blog.

Model tar pit with Fossil "bones" made of clay:

One of my all-time favorite school projects is a model tar pit made by fourth grade students studying California history. After reading TRAPPED IN TAR: Fossils from the Ice Age, they created fossil bones of Ice Age animals--mammoths, sabertooth cats, camels, dire wolves and more. The teacher made a tar pit by slathering roofing tar on a piece of plywood. Then the students embedded their "fossils" in the tar for a realistic depiction of the La Brea Tar Pits in miniature. (The dinosaur on the edge is a mistake--dinosaurs lived millions of years earlier.) 

As part of the project each student wrote a poem. Here's a sample.

Trapped in tar,

Stuck in goo,

With bundles of others,

Sticky as glue.

Stuck as can be,

They try to get out,

Twisting and turning

Knowing they will die without a doubt.

You can learn more about the fossils of the La Brea Tar Pits and life in Southern California during the Ice Age in my book TRAPPED IN TAR: Fossils from the Ice Age, available in both paperback and as an ebook.

LIFE-SIZE CALIFORNIA CONDOR MODEL: Projects and Activities Inspired by My Books

Life-size California condor model.

During my nearly fifty years as a published author I have visited hundreds of schools to talk about my books and what it is like to be an author. I am always impressed by the creative projects teachers have done with their students in connection with my books. When kids do these projects it reinforces the concepts of the book and expands their impact. 

Over the next several weeks I will share some of my all-time favorite book related projects on this blog.

Life-size condor model:

The California condor is the largest flying bird in North America and has a wingspan of more than 11 feet. A third-grade class made this impressive life-size model with construction paper. Every single feather was cut out separately and glued on. Condor facts are displayed above. I'm sure that the students will remember creating the condor, long after my visit to their classroom. 

You can learn about the California condor and the efforts being made to save it from extinction in my book ON THE BRINK OF EXTINCTION: The California Condor, available as an ebook on Amazon.

READING WIGGLE AND WAGGLE: “BOOKS AND BAGELS” at Apricot Lane Farms, Moorpark, CA

Signing books at Apricot Lane Farms "Books and Bagels" event.

I spent last Saturday morning at Apricot Lane Farms in Moorpark, California, sharing my books at an event for children and parents called “Books and Bagels”. While seated on blankets on a grassy lawn and munching on breakfast, they listened to me talk about being an author and about my books. 

We were in the midst of a thriving organic farm, so it was fitting for me to share my Room 6 books, HATCHING CHICKS IN ROOM 6, BUTTERFLIES IN ROOM 6 and PLANTING A GARDEN IN ROOM 6 and also WIGGLE AND WAGGLE. At the end of the program I signed copies of WIGGLE AND WAGGLE and PLANTING A GARDEN IN ROOM 6, which were for sale in the Garden Shop.

Note: Directions for making stick puppets, singing the Wiggle and Waggle song, and other wormy activities are downloadable HERE.

I thank Liz Davis, Tours and Events Manager, for inviting me to share my books at Books and Bagels and who coordinated all the details of my visit. It was a pleasure to read my books and I was pleased that so many people bought them afterward. I also thank Kristen Nordstrom, who put on my Wiggle and Waggle sock puppets and acted out the story as I read aloud. She also was a great help handing out materials at the end of the program. (Everyone took home supplies to make their own Wiggle and Waggle stick puppets.) Kristen is a teacher at the school on the Apricot Lane Farms campus. She is also a children’s book author and shared her book Mimic Makers at a previous Books and Bagels program.

Kristen Nordstrom with my Wiggle and Waggle puppets.

The Books and Bagels program is a great way to celebrate books and reading and for families to discover the amazing plants and animals of Apricot Lane Farms. You can go to their website to find out more about it and how to visit.

Entrance to the Garden Area of Apricot Lane Farms

WIGGLE AND WAGGLE ACTIVITIES: Teachers' Tuesdays Educator Guide by Christine Van Zandt

Thanks so much to Christine Van Zandt for promoting my book Wiggle and Waggle and its wonderful activity guide on her Teacher Tuesday posts for this week. She has posted it on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. You can click on THIS LINK for the guide. 

To purchase a paperback copy of the book click HERE. 

ROCK ART BY ANCIENT AMERICANS: Activities for the Classroom

Rock art (petroglyphs) at Red Rock Canyon, Las Vegas, Nevada.

At Red Rock Canyon near Las Vegas, Nevada, and at many other places in the American West, ancient Americans created images on rocks.  Some are engraved on the rock surfaces. They are called petroglyphs. Others are "painted" on the rocks and are called pictographs. I saw both on my recent visit to Red Rock Canyon. Some of them are believed to be as much as 800 years old.

Hand prints at Red Rock Canyon.

Here is the link to activities to do with students to learn about rock art and gain appreciation of the rock art at Red Rock Canyon.

https://www.blm.gov/sites/blm.gov/files/uploads/Nevada-Red%20Rock%20Canyon-Rock%20Art.pdf

You can learn more about rock art of the American West in my book STORIES IN STONE: Rock Art Pictures by Early Americans.  

THINK OUTSIDE THE BOOK: Presentation to Teachers at the Southern Nevada Early Childhood Conference

My exhibit table at the Southern Nevada Early Childhood Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada.

I spent an enjoyable day last Saturday with Pre-K, Kindergarten and First Grade teachers at the Southern Nevada Early Childhood Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, an annual meeting attended by teachers from all over the state. This year’s theme was “Growing Young Learners.” I gave a presentation called “Think Outside the Book: Projects and Activities Reinforce Reading” to an enthusiastic audience, sharing many of the projects inspired by my books that have been used in classrooms over the years, ranging from songs, art projects, science experiments, hands-on activities, and much more. I also had a table with the other conference vendors where I could chat with teachers during their breaks between sessions and where they could buy my books. 

I thank Suzie Hindrichson of the Southern Nevada Professional Development Program and her volunteer staff for inviting me and for doing an excellent job of organizing the conference. I don’t get to Nevada very often, and it was a pleasure to be able to connect with so many educators at the conference. A bonus of the trip was the opportunity to visit Red Rock Canyon, a magnificent conservation area just outside Las Vegas, which I did on the day before the conference. Look for my report about that soon on my travel blog, The Intrepid Tourist.

One of the many hiking trails at Red Rock Canyon.

Caroline at Red Rock Canyon

16th BLOG ANNIVERSARY: Time to Celebrate!

Sixteen years ago, in November 2008, I launched this blog. At first my plan was to use it to feature my art, which is why the link is carolinearnoldart. But a little more than a year later I decided to expand the blog to include my writing as well and changed the name to Caroline Arnold Art and Books (the link is still carolinearnoldart) with the plan of putting up a new post once a week--sometimes two. 

For me, this blog is a way to keep track of my book and art related activities, including school and library visits, publishing, reviews, activities for children and teachers, announcements of prizes and awards and more.  Since launching the blog I have posted more than 900 items that have been viewed by more than 470,000 visitors!
Thanks to all of you who have been following this blog either on Google or by email. I appreciate your support.

(Note: The Comments section is no longer active. If you would like to comment you can reach me at Facebook or by email.)

 

SUN FUN: GET READY FOR THE ECLIPSE Coming On APRIL 8, 2024! 10 Projects for Kids

On Monday, April 8, 2024, a solar eclipse will be seen over North America. The path of the full eclipse will pass over 13 states and a partial eclipse will be seen in many more.

It is never safe to look at the sun directly. Here's how you can experience an eclipse safely. This project is in my book Sun Fun, originally published in 1981 by Franklin Watts, and now available as an e-book on Amazon or downloadable on Epic at your school or library.

Sun Fun includes 10  projects for primary school age children to learn about the sun-- a paper plate clock to tell time by the sun, how to make shadow puppets and solar art, creating a pin-hole card for watching an eclipse, and much more. You can preview the book in this video on YouTube about how to make a sun clock. (The illustrations in the book are my own, created in the days of pre-separated art. I had to make a separate drawing for each printed color!)

Enjoy learning about the sun and  watching the eclipse safely!

I LOVE THANK YOU NOTES!

Thank You card from student at Esperanza School, Los Angeles, CA

A wonderful package arrived in the mail the other day, filled with thank you notes from the students at Esperanza School, where I had visited 3rd and 4th graders about a month ago. 

In this card I am depicted in front of the giant TV screen I used to present my slides.

During my visit I gave a slide presentation showing my books, my life as an author, and a little bit about me growing up.

Another student created an illustrated book with chapters.

I then showed them how books are made and we did a short exercise in which they folded a sheet of paper to make a tiny blank book. I discovered that after my visit they had turned their little blank books into thank you notes. Each one was different and delightful. I was thrilled to see how much the students had absorbed from my presentation.

Many wrote about their favorite book.

One student made a wonderful illustrated guide for making a tiny book! Get a paper. Fold paper. Fold paper again. Finished!

When I was growing up I never had the opportunity to meet a real live author at school. Cards like these show me what an impact a visit from an author can have on students. I thank teacher Elizabeth Williams for sharing the students' cards with me. They are all wonderful. These are just a few samples. 

 

MY FRIEND FROM OUTER SPACE: Fun Activities for Kids

MY FRIEND FROM OUTER SPACE. In this new graphic picture book Sherry tries to convince her friend that she comes from outer space. But does she? Join Sherry and her friend as they zoom through space at a zillion miles an hour. Here are some activities you can do after reading the book.

ACTIVITIES

1. Let’s pretend. Pretending is a good way to get an idea for a story. Write or tell your own story.

2. Make up your own language. What do you think Glug, flug, Tinbambam means in the story?

3. Make your own space ship with a cardboard box.

4. Create your own outer space costume. Do you look like a monster from outer space?

5. Design a quilt square from a scene in the book. Make a class quilt.

6. Create a comic strip. Put the words in speech balloons.

7. Make a model of the planetary system. What planets did Sherry and her friend see in outer space?

8. Perform a puppet play of the story. Make stick puppets or paper bag puppets.

MY FRIEND FROM OUTER SPACE

By Caroline Arnold Illustrations by Paige Arnold

ISBN 9798399935614 Paperback $9.99

ASIN B0CB9BXWLC Kindle ebook $6.99

Available at Amazon or to order at your favorite book store.

The book is also available in Spanish as MI AMIGA DEL ESPACIO. ISBN 9798870320717

For more about the book go to www.carolinearnoldbooks.com/myfriendfromouterspace.html

15th BLOG ANNIVERSARY: Time to Celebrate!

Fifteen years ago, in November 2008, I launched this blog. At first my plan was to use it to feature my art, which is why the link is carolinearnoldart. But a little more than a year later I decided to expand the blog to include my writing as well and changed the name to Caroline Arnold Art and Books (the link is still carolinearnoldart) with the plan of putting up a new post once a week. (Typically the posts go up on a Wednesday or Saturday--some weeks there are two.) 
For me, this blog is a way to keep track of my book and art related activities, including school and library visits, publishing, reviews, activities for children and teachers, announcements of prizes and awards and more.  Since launching the blog I have posted more than 800 items that have been viewed by more than 330,000 visitors!
Thanks to all of you who have been following this blog either on Google or by email. I appreciate your support.

(Note: The Comments section is no longer active. If you would like to comment you can reach me at Facebook or by email.)

 

A DINOSAUR IN THE LIBRARY! Art and Writing Projects Make Books Come Alive

Papier Mache Stegosaurus model in school library.

In the good old days of my author visits to schools (the 1990s), everyone had read at least one of my books before my visit, and every classroom had done some kind of project inspired by a book. By the day of my visit the excitement was palpable and the hallways, auditorium, and library were filled with student projects—ranging from poems, songs and stories, to paintings, drawings and scale models. I always brought my camera. Recently, while cleaning out I found some of those photos.

Dinosaurs are always a favorite with kids and my book DINOSAURS ALL AROUND (Clarion, 1992) inspired many projects. One of my favorites was the papier mache stegosaurus mounted in the school library. While not as large as a real stegosaurus, it certainly brought a Jurassic atmosphere to the library and for the students, helped bring the content of the book to life. Just ike Steven Czerkas, the dinosaur artist portrayed in the book, they had created a dinosaur model.

Dinosaurs All Around (Clarion, paperback 1997; hardback 1993.) Out of Print. Available digitally at Amazon.

Stephen Czerkas's dinosaur models, ranging from the largest carnivores to hatching babies, are widely exhibited in museums. This book is based on a traveling exhibit, "Dinosaurs: A Global View," organized by the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and a visit to the artist's studio.

Note: Many schools still do wonderful projects as preparation for my author visits and I am always impressed by the creativity of teachers and students. But there seems to be less time now in the school day for extra projects than there once was, and I don't see as many as I used to.

CURLICUE SNAKES, CUT PAPER AND MORE, Art Projects Inspired by My Books

On my recent trip to the Humboldt County Children's Author Festival, I was delighted to discover how my books had inspired art in the classroom. At Ambrosini School in Fortuna, California, I saw that each class had chosen a different book. Their artwork was displayed in the multipurpose room where I gave my presentation. One child even made a portrait of me!  Here are some of the projects:

WIGGLE AND WAGGLE

One class made colorful Wiggle and Waggle worms.

A DAY AND NIGHT IN THE FOREST

Several classes used cut paper to create day and night scenes.

A DAY AND NIGHT ON THE PRAIRIE

A row of paper curlicue snakes, inspired by the garter snake in the book, hung from a ledge. Click for directions to make curlicue snakes. 

A ZEBRA'S WORLD

Watercolor paintings depicted zebras on the African plain. 

KEEPER OF THE LIGHT: Juliet Fish Nichols Fights the San Francisco Fog

A first grade class drew pictures and assembled them to make a mural of Juliet Nichols ringing the giant lighthouse bell in the fog.

For more ideas for projects to do in connection with my books go to the Fifty Nifty Projects and Activities page at my website.