Fun But Quiet Activity for 11 Kids
December 30, 2015 3:32 PM Subscribe
My daughter goes to a homeschooling co-op. I'm looking for activities for my volunteer hour where I keep eleven kids, ages six to sixteen, entertained/learning in a quiet environment.
It's not library quiet, but it's not play your banjo loud. My focus is on the younger kids and it doesn't have to be educational. The older kids can help me, but I'd like to keep them interested as well. This is something I have to do regularly.
I teach sociology so next week I'm bringing in books that show pictures of what families all over the world eat in a week and one that shows families from all over the world with their positions in front of their house. I'm also thinking about How to Make a 3D Book.
It's Waldorf, so I can't do anything involving a computer, a phone or any kind of screen. Many of them can't read (in Waldorf you learn to read in your early thirties), so I can't do anything where everyone has to read on their own.
Any suggestions? Pintrest just blows my mind.
I'm happy to buy supplies.
Thanks!
It's not library quiet, but it's not play your banjo loud. My focus is on the younger kids and it doesn't have to be educational. The older kids can help me, but I'd like to keep them interested as well. This is something I have to do regularly.
I teach sociology so next week I'm bringing in books that show pictures of what families all over the world eat in a week and one that shows families from all over the world with their positions in front of their house. I'm also thinking about How to Make a 3D Book.
It's Waldorf, so I can't do anything involving a computer, a phone or any kind of screen. Many of them can't read (in Waldorf you learn to read in your early thirties), so I can't do anything where everyone has to read on their own.
Any suggestions? Pintrest just blows my mind.
I'm happy to buy supplies.
Thanks!
Learn to read in their early thirties? Can you clarify that?
The older kids can read? Helpful to know.
posted by taff at 3:46 PM on December 30, 2015 [10 favorites]
The older kids can read? Helpful to know.
posted by taff at 3:46 PM on December 30, 2015 [10 favorites]
Teach them to count in binary on their fingers?
Binary only uses 1s and 0s, so each finger can keep track of a single space. I learned this at age 14 from some computer nerd and I taught it once to kids at a conference.
For my conference presentation, I made outlines of my two hands with a black marker and labeled each finger with the value it had (1, 2, 4, 8, 16 etc). Draw the hands with thumbs facing out because this is how you will actually count. So, right hand thumb is the 1 place, right hand index finger is 2, next finger is 4, ring finger is 8 and pinkie is 16. Pinkie on the left hand is 32, ring finger is 64, etc. Then make photocopies of the hand drawings with numbered fingers.
You can count up to 1023 and keep track of it this way. It's a neat trick and, if necessary, the younger kids can be taught just one handed binary to keep the numbers smaller. Or you can talk about place value and things like that if it just way over their heads.
posted by Michele in California at 4:01 PM on December 30, 2015 [2 favorites]
Binary only uses 1s and 0s, so each finger can keep track of a single space. I learned this at age 14 from some computer nerd and I taught it once to kids at a conference.
For my conference presentation, I made outlines of my two hands with a black marker and labeled each finger with the value it had (1, 2, 4, 8, 16 etc). Draw the hands with thumbs facing out because this is how you will actually count. So, right hand thumb is the 1 place, right hand index finger is 2, next finger is 4, ring finger is 8 and pinkie is 16. Pinkie on the left hand is 32, ring finger is 64, etc. Then make photocopies of the hand drawings with numbered fingers.
You can count up to 1023 and keep track of it this way. It's a neat trick and, if necessary, the younger kids can be taught just one handed binary to keep the numbers smaller. Or you can talk about place value and things like that if it just way over their heads.
posted by Michele in California at 4:01 PM on December 30, 2015 [2 favorites]
In Waldorf they start (formally) to learn to read in second grade, so 7 years old or so.
I second the owl pellets, I do that with my first graders, but older kids are fascinated by it, too. Carolina.com has kits, including a regional variation kit that the older kids might enjoy.
You might also do some engineering challenges... there are 5 to get you started, but there are TONS of resources out there.
Finally, to go with the awesome binary suggestion, you can totally teach coding without 'screens'... check it out! And here.
And you're awesome for volunteering, big high five!
posted by Huck500 at 4:19 PM on December 30, 2015
I second the owl pellets, I do that with my first graders, but older kids are fascinated by it, too. Carolina.com has kits, including a regional variation kit that the older kids might enjoy.
You might also do some engineering challenges... there are 5 to get you started, but there are TONS of resources out there.
Finally, to go with the awesome binary suggestion, you can totally teach coding without 'screens'... check it out! And here.
And you're awesome for volunteering, big high five!
posted by Huck500 at 4:19 PM on December 30, 2015
Response by poster: I was (mostly kidding) about the thirties comment. Waldorf teaches reading later than most schools and some people who send their kids to Waldorf are really, um, invested in the Waldorf approach. My daughter did three years of Waldorf kindergarten. She's eight and in second grade. She can't read. But she can finger knit!
posted by orsonet at 4:22 PM on December 30, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by orsonet at 4:22 PM on December 30, 2015 [5 favorites]
Building things with popsicle sticks and glue? Little kids can experiment with the obvious, but older kids can definitely do engineering challenges for building the strongest bridge with the fewest popsicle sticks.
posted by jillithd at 4:37 PM on December 30, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by jillithd at 4:37 PM on December 30, 2015 [1 favorite]
Along the lines of the Popsicle engineering - challenges with marshmallows and dry spaghetti are fun. Younger kids can just play around, but older kids can try to build a structure to support a golf ball the longest or build the longest bridge or whatever.
posted by bluefly at 4:42 PM on December 30, 2015
posted by bluefly at 4:42 PM on December 30, 2015
Make & decorate flextangles and hexaflexagons 1, 2
posted by belladonna at 5:12 PM on December 30, 2015
posted by belladonna at 5:12 PM on December 30, 2015
What about getting them some of those super elaborate new coloring books that are meant for adults? This and its cohorts might fit the bill... (Though I admit they're more Montessori than Waldorf given how much more structured they are but it's been a while since I was a Waldorf student so maybe I'm mistaken.)
posted by Hermione Granger at 5:29 PM on December 30, 2015
posted by Hermione Granger at 5:29 PM on December 30, 2015
Origami can range from very easy to very difficult. You can buy paper online, and there are many websites with instructions.
Also, when I was a child and we had "free choice" classes, the ones related to cooking filled up immediately. If it's allowed, maybe some healthy food creation projects like these.
posted by FencingGal at 5:31 PM on December 30, 2015 [3 favorites]
Also, when I was a child and we had "free choice" classes, the ones related to cooking filled up immediately. If it's allowed, maybe some healthy food creation projects like these.
posted by FencingGal at 5:31 PM on December 30, 2015 [3 favorites]
Drawing exercises based on Drawing on the right side of the brain.
I'm not a scholar in the field, but even reading the first couple chapters was inspiring and enlightening. The book is a number of "lessons" that boil down to "draw what you see, not what you think you see", but walk through and build up the concept in a reasonable way.
The structure of each session can allow for age and ability of each kid.
posted by itesser at 7:46 PM on December 30, 2015
I'm not a scholar in the field, but even reading the first couple chapters was inspiring and enlightening. The book is a number of "lessons" that boil down to "draw what you see, not what you think you see", but walk through and build up the concept in a reasonable way.
The structure of each session can allow for age and ability of each kid.
posted by itesser at 7:46 PM on December 30, 2015
I'm guessing projects of length are ideal, so you're not having to plan new things often. Here's what came to mind:
Hand sewing. You'll need a box full of fabrics needle and thread minimum, but you could also add zippers, buttons and more. Actually, a machine for the older students could be good too. Make purses, pouches, pillows, teddybears. Costumes for plays maybe.
Puzzles. Little trick metal ones, floor ones, 3D ones, kids-make-their-own puzzles, 2000 piece ones. Rubik's cubes, tangrams etc. Mazes.
Make a weekly/ monthly zine or newsletter. Not-yet-readers can provide images (drawn, collage, polaroid photos), those who can can write poetry, instructions/how-tos, stories etc. You can give them a theme each time, choose one together or have a free theme. Older children can write for younger ones , or children can record themselves in a tape recorder and you can type it up for use next time. Teach simple book binding or just glue everything to a spiral bound book. A stapler would do too.
Create a play or radio show together.
Make a model of something - the school, the block, a rocket.
Beading.
Lego.
Card games.
Team building activities.
Do you have a regular space? Can you leave things there? Could you set up, say, 3 different activities each week as stations. Then you could have a lego area, a games and puzzles area, a craft area. Maybe change it up once in awhile. You can teach the kids how to keep things organised. If you set up stations leave examples of projects, at their level and more ambitious examples also. Pictures and magazines too if appropriate.
Personally, I'd set up a few activities and let the kids gravitate towards their preferences. After some time, I would ask them to contribute towards thinking of activities that they'd like to do (including thinking about necessary materials and other logistics).
posted by eisforcool at 9:35 PM on December 30, 2015 [3 favorites]
Hand sewing. You'll need a box full of fabrics needle and thread minimum, but you could also add zippers, buttons and more. Actually, a machine for the older students could be good too. Make purses, pouches, pillows, teddybears. Costumes for plays maybe.
Puzzles. Little trick metal ones, floor ones, 3D ones, kids-make-their-own puzzles, 2000 piece ones. Rubik's cubes, tangrams etc. Mazes.
Make a weekly/ monthly zine or newsletter. Not-yet-readers can provide images (drawn, collage, polaroid photos), those who can can write poetry, instructions/how-tos, stories etc. You can give them a theme each time, choose one together or have a free theme. Older children can write for younger ones , or children can record themselves in a tape recorder and you can type it up for use next time. Teach simple book binding or just glue everything to a spiral bound book. A stapler would do too.
Create a play or radio show together.
Make a model of something - the school, the block, a rocket.
Beading.
Lego.
Card games.
Team building activities.
Do you have a regular space? Can you leave things there? Could you set up, say, 3 different activities each week as stations. Then you could have a lego area, a games and puzzles area, a craft area. Maybe change it up once in awhile. You can teach the kids how to keep things organised. If you set up stations leave examples of projects, at their level and more ambitious examples also. Pictures and magazines too if appropriate.
Personally, I'd set up a few activities and let the kids gravitate towards their preferences. After some time, I would ask them to contribute towards thinking of activities that they'd like to do (including thinking about necessary materials and other logistics).
posted by eisforcool at 9:35 PM on December 30, 2015 [3 favorites]
Monoprints? Plexiglass (or glass) sheets, acrylic paint, a brayer to roll it evenly over the plexi, draw with a popsicle stick or other implement (feather, finger, nail), lay a blank sheet of paper over it and burnish the back (with clean brayer or back of spoon). The design transfers to the paper, making a one-off print.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 9:37 PM on December 30, 2015
posted by TWinbrook8 at 9:37 PM on December 30, 2015
She can't read. But she can finger knit!
I was just going to suggest textile stuff! I first learned to knit when I was younger than eight, and I was probably ten when I learned to crochet. Tapestry weaving on a cardboard box would work for ages six and up with varying degrees of help, and depending on how much you want to spend on supplies you can also get small tapestry looms, or big ones.
posted by clavicle at 8:48 AM on December 31, 2015
I was just going to suggest textile stuff! I first learned to knit when I was younger than eight, and I was probably ten when I learned to crochet. Tapestry weaving on a cardboard box would work for ages six and up with varying degrees of help, and depending on how much you want to spend on supplies you can also get small tapestry looms, or big ones.
posted by clavicle at 8:48 AM on December 31, 2015
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Littlest kids can have a print out about owls to color.
I think you can get enough pellets for about 25 bucks.
posted by ReluctantViking at 3:40 PM on December 30, 2015