For our stART (story + ART) project this week, I read the younger children Marcus Pfister's The Rainbow Fish. It fits nicely with the ocean theme of our impending birthday party, and is a good reminder about sharing, which can't hurt. After we read the story, I gave the girls small, cardboard, fish cutouts to decorate. I punched eye holes in the fish, to be filled with paper fasteners later, and spread them with glue, so the girls could stick on pre-cut, tissue paper, "scales". Each fish got one silvery scale, for a rainbow fish effect. I happened to have some left over, silvery, tissue paper to use, but tinfoil would work as well. When they were decorated, I added the metal, paper fastener eyes, and drew numbers on the back, so we can use them in a magnetic fishing game during the party. Each player will catch two fish with their fishing poles (refrigerator magnets tied with ribbons, to wood dowels). They will add up the numbers on the back of their fish, and the highest total wins the round. A tie will result in a "fish off" between the players with same total. Then later, after the party, we'll have a math game, to use for number sequencing (catching the fish, and placing them in order on a number line), addition, and multiplication practice, and just general fun. For more story themed arts and crafts, check out this week's stART (story + ART) link-up, at A Mommy's Adventures. It's great to be a homeschooler.
