::: little purple aliens – part #1
We have been sooooo busy this week having a blast learning about space that we need to break this post up or you’ll need a Nana nap before you get to the end!
If you read about our pendulum play you will have noticed the gorgeous patterns the children created with the painting pendulum.
One child thought that hers looked like outer space. “It’s a planet!” Funnily enough we thought so too.
She then started to tell us about a movie she saw recently called “Alien 51″ and said how much she enjoyed it.
Coincidently another child mentioned the rocket ship, and alien swing tag on his bag and another one showed us a story she had written at home about a giant who was bombed and was shot off into outer space.
Well we just had to pick up on the new interest, so blasted off to have some intergalactic adventures!
We have a great song which the children love called “Little Purple Alien” and we thought that it would be a good starting off point.
After dancing and singing this great song we talked about what an alien would actually look like.
The children were very definite on their ideas … hmmm, how does a five year old know?
Then we whipped up some good old salt ceramic in different colours and let the children go wild!
This proved to be another great fine motor exercise!
What an interesting bunch of aliens that visited our centre this week. Some even had their own spaceships …
made from yoghurt and fruit containers sourced from the invention table.
Children also made space rocket out of tubes.
Each one was unique …
and this one had it’s very own planet!
We taught the children how to cut and fold cones …
as some wanted a pointy nose on their rocket.
By adding coloured celephane for flames …
they came up with some incredible looking space rockets!
This one even came with …
it’s own capsule … FAN-TAS-TIC!
Binoculars and telescopes were also being created …
after all how would we be able to avoid all those pesty meteorites the children made with out them!
With all our rocket ships and meteorites hanging below our fairy light stars, the room is looking out of this world!
Keep posted as we create more space equipment, meet some very friendly aliens, make delicious space food, create the most colourful planets and add an irresistible twist to our “Little Purple Alien” song!
Tags: aliens, binoculrs, cardboard tubes, celephane, masks, meteorites, rocket ships, salt ceramics, space, telescopes
What wonderful creations! I love how you followed the children’s interests, too, and “launched” into these fun experiences.
Indeed! All preschoolers, all over the world, know exactly what an alien looks like. =) I particularly like the ones with lots of googly eyes, because I’m pretty sure those are the most realistic.
It’s cool how the project just kept going. Way to let it emerge!
I’ve never made salt ceramic. Does it take a long time to form into a ball? I’m just wondering if I would be better off just cooking it for the kids on an as-need basis, but only if it doesn’t suck a bunch of time.
Tom, your right about the children knowing exactly what aliens look like. They did look at us in an odd way when we asked them how they knew. It was a look of … well how come you don’t know!
… and NO it doesn’t suck a bunch of time! 
Salt ceramic MUST be made on an as-need basis. (We divide our recipe mixture between 4 or 5 children). It takes only a couple of minutes to cook and while it is till warm you can mould it. Once it cools down it becomes difficult to mould and stick things into it so you have to work with it warm. This is not something you make at home and bring to pre-school I’m afraid. You will have to make it on the spot.
Scott we follow a “flow program’ so where ever the children’s interests go, we go along with them … it can be quite a journey of discovery for us too!
I too love how you follow the kids interests – this is my favorite part of teaching! You never know where the day is going to take you – and from the look of the photos your day took you into a hive of creative and imaginative activity! Also loving the look of those pendulum paintings. Oh, and I love the term “invention table”. We call ours the craft table, but I always feel that “craft” sounds more teacher directed. Invention is exactly the right word.
fa.tas.tic. is right!
Hi, Who sings the song you mentioned ‘Little Purple Alien’?
::: Kath, I will look up the CD and get back to you.
