Tutor and Teacher Educational Resources

Art is a great way for your children to express their creativity and have fun. However, you can also take the opportunity to turn a fun craft into an educational lesson. In this focused art lesson, we will be using jars, since they are usually easy to find around the house. Here are five fun educational jar crafts to get your kids’ creative juices flowing!

1) Make pencil holders out of jars

Teach your kids organizational skills by making pencil holders or other organizers with jars. To make a fun pencil holder jar craft, first paint the jar on the inside or outside. Then, use chalkboard paint to make a label on the glass. To personalize it, your kids can write their name on their pencil holder with chalk! This tutorial at thecountrychiccottage.net explains how to do this in detail, with pictures to follow along.

2) Bookend jar craft

This is another great organizational tool you can make out of jars. Simply have your kids decorate a mason jar however they desire, then fill them partway with rice or sand to weigh them down. As you are making this craft, you can teach your kids about important organizational skills they should have.

3) Educational snow globe

It doesn’t have to be winter to make a fun snow globe! Your child will love this simple educational jar craft. To make this, have your child take a figurine, small plastic toy, or whatever small item they desire and glue it to the lid of a jar. Then, put some water in the jar and add some glitter. Finally, glue the lid shut so that water won’t seep out. For more detailed instructions of this bottle craft, check out Kami Bigler’s article on babycenter.

This jar craft can easily be turned into either a Language Arts or Social Studies lesson. Reflect on the previous holiday or break by having your students pick one specific memory and putting in a souvenir that represents it. After they make their snow globe, have them do a little write-up explaining the significance of the scene. Or, have them choose an event from what they are learning in social studies, and create a scene from that using small plastic toys or decorations from the dollar store. This is a great creative way to represent their learning.

4) Herb jars

If you are looking for a fun science lesson, you may want to consider making herb jars or jar planters with your kids. You can follow the steps in this video by Budgetsavvydiva on youtube. If your kids are learning about the life cycle of plants, start with seeds so they can see the full cycle as they grow, through the transparent glass. If they are learning about photosynthesis, maybe buy an herb or flower to plant in the jar so they can directly see the work of photosynthesis as they water it and keep it in the sun.

5) Candle holder educational jar craft

To make a unique candle holder, glue flat-backed marbles to the outside of a jar. Or, paint glitter on the inside of the jar. This will make everything sparkle when a candle is lit inside! With this craft, you can teach your kids about the science of fire, how it produces energy and what causes it. To find information on this topic, visit an article on this topic at sciencelearn.org or check out some books from your local library.

Hopefully these educational jar crafts inspire you and your children to find a fun and creative way to express their learning. Have fun with these artistic lessons!

Last week we focused on how to write a good speech, and this week we want to focus on another aspect of public speaking: debates. A debate is different from a speech because its purpose is for two sides to compete to prove which point is more valid. Teaching kids how to debate is important because it not only teaches kids how to be good speakers, but also good listeners.

A debate is not just a speech where you can prepare word for word what you are going to say. Debates require their participants to actively listen to the other side, and to come up with a response, on the spot, to what the other has argued. So, here are some tips for your students to exercise good listening and speaking skills to become the best debaters!

Teach kids how to debate by making sure they know their facts, and know them well

In any form of public speaking, it is important to be well researched and know what you are talking about. Specifically, when you start teaching kids how to debate, it is important to make sure the student understands what their points are so they don’t contradict themselves. Just like a speech, have your students practice speaking their points out loud so that they can be confident in what they are saying.

Teach kids to know the other side of the story beforehand

Not only do students have to research their own topics, but they should also make sure they have an idea of what their opponent will be arguing before they go into the debate. While they are researching their topic, also have your student look up what the other side might say, so that they can have some rebuttal points ready. Knowing what the other side could say will allow your child to respond quickly, and they will have a lesser chance of being caught off guard.

When debating, think clearly and logically

When teaching kids how to debate, it’s important for them to know how to think clearly and logically to prove their point in a structured way. Have your students make a list of all their points, then prioritize which ones are most important. This way, they can clearly see in front of them what points they should focus on. It will also help them if their opponent says something they were not prepared for. They won’t forget what their main point is and can use that to find a way to bring it back to the importance of their main point. Also, this way their points will not be out of order or confusing. Having a clear and organized train of thought will add to their confidence in public speaking and make them appear more professional.

Pick interesting debate topics that relate to your students’ studies

If you are looking for topics your students or tutoring subjects can debate about, just pull topics from whatever it is they are studying right now in school. If they are learning about the renaissance, have them debate about whether they would prefer to live then, or now in modern times. Or, if they are learning about the human body, have each child pick an organ or system in the body and argue that it is the most important, or does the most work.

Having your students do a debate is also a great way for them to learn about a totally new topic because it forces them to research and really get to know something they didn’t before. So, including a debate in your lesson plans can be a fun way to teach your students their next lesson.

Have fun picking interesting topics of debates for kids. Once you have a topic, help your students practice these tips. Then they will be great public speakers and listeners in no time!

Many students of all ages encounter situations in school where they have to practice giving speeches or presentations. Public speaking is a very important skill to learn, since good communication skills are essential in nearly all jobs today. Being able to communicate an idea or opinion clearly and efficiently is not an easy thing to do, especially for kids who are still learning basic reading and writing skills. Here are some tips for you to help your kids and students give an effective, attention-grabbing speech.

Get some inspiration before giving a speech

Before your child starts writing their speech, encourage them to get inspired to write it. The process can be much more enjoyable if they have a vision for how they want the end product to be. One way to find inspiration might be to see examples of what a good speech is. Some great sources for examples of good speeches are TED Talks, specifically ones by kids who have been trained in the art of giving speeches. On the TED Blog, an article was posted with 9 great talks from kids. This is a great starting point for when your kid is in need of some inspiration for a speech or presentation.

Tell a story while public speaking

Nick Morgan wrote a piece for Forbes.com, where he stresses the importance of emotion in a speech. He claims that the best speeches are emotional, causing them to affect the audience more. One great way to do this is by telling a story. Around 65% of TED Talks are stories, and these are seen as some of the most brilliant speeches of this day and age. So, once your child has chosen a topic encourage them to think of an experience or story that is personal to them that they can incorporate into their speech.

Stick to the rule of three’s while giving speeches

Encourage your child to try and choose 3 to 5 points and stick to them. Too many points can confuse their audience and the main point may not be as clear. By narrowing down the different parts of their speech, your child will be able to communicate their topic much more clearly and efficiently.

Practice, Practice, Practice

A lot of giving a good speech is the delivery. An article by Carmine Gallo, author of Talk like Ted, mentions that Dr. Jill Bolte-Taylor practiced her speech more than 200 times before she presented it. It has now been viewed over 15 million times. This just goes to show that no matter how experienced you are at public speaking, you can never practice enough!

Once your child picks a topic and does some research, have them follow these 4 tips. Then they will be a pro at giving speeches, ready to present in front of their class in no time!

Tea is something that has been around for centuries, and has many cultural ties. However, it also has quite a bit of science behind it and can be a great focused lesson for your kids! So, set up a little tea party with your kids, and turn in into a science and history lesson with these fun facts!

The history of tea

According to legend, tea was created in 2737 BC in China when a Chinese emperor drank boiled water that some leaves had blown into. It eventually became the national drink of china, and was also introduced to Japan. This led to the creation of tea ceremonies, and this part of the history of tea is still a big part of Asian culture.

Tea in different cultures

The tea spot has a detailed page that will help you and your children understand the history of tea. Tea is not only prominent in Chinese and Japanese cultures, but plays a part in cultures all over the world. The UK was introduced to tea by China, and they developed a part of the day specifically dedicated to drinking black tea: afternoon tea. The British in turn introduced India to tea, where they began to enjoy Chai, which is black tea full of spices, milk, and sugar. Russia also brought tea from China, and drink mostly black tea, sweetened with sugar, fruits, or jam.

Moving on from the history of tea: the science behind its different types

There are many different types of tea that you and your children may have heard of, but what makes them different besides their names? Chinalife tea house has a good video on this, but we will summarize here:

The main thing that differs between teas is how much oxidation they have been exposed to. White tea is the least processed- it is simply laid out in the sun to dry and is only oxidized 5-10%. Meanwhile, green tea is slightly more processed, but not oxidized at all. It is laid out in the sun to dry, then pan-baked to deactivate the enzyme in the leaf. Oolong tea is slightly oxidized, as the leaf is bruised a little before it is fried to stop the oxidization. Black tea (or red tea in China) is fully oxidized, since the leaf is rolled and bruised to make a stronger tea. Finally, there are scented teas, which take one of the main types of tea and infuse it with the scent of a flower, like Jasmine.

Now that you know the differences of these main kinds of teas, get your hands on some of each type and see if your kids can tell the differences! Have them make observations on the different flavours, aromas, and colours of the teas.

How to make tea like a science pro

British scientists did an experiment to find out how to make the perfect cup of black tea, and found that the ideal brew time was two minutes. Then, adding 10 ml of milk and waiting six minutes before drinking it will bring it to the perfect temperature for sipping and enjoying the flavour. Teasource.com gives ideal brewing temperatures for other types of tea. For white teas, they suggest brewing when the water has a “very light steam,” while oolong tea should be steaming rapidly with little bubbles, and green tea should have a gentle steam with no bubbles.

These are just guidelines though, to make sure your tea doesn’t become bitter. Run your own experiment with your kids to figure out the best way to brew whatever tea you have on hand! See if you can use thermometers to gauge the temperatures you like best, and whether they change the flavour at all.

There is such a rich history of tea and a fascinating science behind it; this is just the beginning. However, this is also a good start and a simple, fun lesson for your kids. Enjoy your tea time!

You may have been saving up a collection of bottles to bring to an appropriate recycling location, but here’s an even better idea: reuse them for an art craft! In this focused art lesson, learn about some things you and your kids can make out of reused materials with these glass bottle crafts.

1.  Vases: simple glass bottle crafts

A vase is a great thing to make out of a bottle with a smaller neck. Make sure your bottle is clean and label-free, then, start decorating! Try painting the outside, then wrapping twine around the bottom and neck of the bottle. This will make it look a little more artsy than just plain painted. If your kids want to personalize it, they can paint a flower or their name on the side. Or, they could even wrap the vase completely with twine and then glue on decorations of their choice. If you don’t have twine, try yarn, as used by this Pinterest craft idea.

Another vase design idea is for your kids to make a design with tape on a bottle, then paint over it. When your kids take the tape off, their design will stand out among the colour! Use a Q-Tip dipped in nail polish remover to clean up the edges if the paint seeps under the tape at all. Here is a sample on Pinterest.

2.  Decorative bottle crafts

You can really get creative with making decorations out of bottles. A lot of decorative bottles could double as vases, but not all! Try pouring paint into a bottle, then pour the excess out. Here is a slideshow on how to paint glass.

This is something you would not want to keep a living plant in, but it makes a pretty decoration! You could even try marbling the paint by pouring two colours into the bottom, then slowly tilting and rotating it to get a multi-coloured design.

3. Nightlight bottle craft

Paint noctilucent (glow-in-the-dark) powder mixed with a little bit of water on the inside of your bottle. This will turn it into a fun night light for your kids! You can also put lights inside bottles as another idea. Here is a sample.

4. Practical dish soap dispenser

This glass bottle craft is fun for your kids, and you get something useful out of it too! The best kind of bottle for this is a clear, empty wine bottle. You will have to purchase a bottle pourer or soap dispenser pump for this one, but it will still be cheaper than purchasing a brand new dish soap dispenser (plus it will be more unique and personalized!). You can either make a stencil so that your bottle will have a “dish soap” label, or your kids can decorate it any way they want. Here is how one home crafter did it.

5. Terrarium

This fun glass bottle craft can also be turned into a science lesson. You will need to find some plants, soil, charcoal, and rocks to put inside. Then, have your kids follow these steps as created by www.thenotepasser.com . They will have a really cool, educational decoration! Have your kids research about the different plants they are using, or tell them interesting facts as they work. For example, tell them the charcoal is necessary so mold doesn’t grow. This could lead to a discussion on what mould is, or on different plant environments.

Have fun reusing and recycling with these fun glass bottle crafts. Don’t be afraid to get creative and add your own touch to these suggestions!

For extra credits!

Here are more bottle crafts we found on Pinterest for you to try! Many of these will require adult supervision or teacher prep time, so be careful kids!

Make hanging lamps out of bottles:

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/17521886025058067/

Make a shelf out of bottles:

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/17521886020361295/

Make candle lights out of bottles:

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/17521886020263937/

Make lamp stands out of bottles:

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/17521886020242024/

Collect bottles to make a glass Christmas tree next year:

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/17521886020142391/

Make centerpiece designs out of bottles:

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/17521886020097415/