Tinfoil Tumblers #2
Note : This lesson
was adapted from an activity submitted by Jeanne Fifer called Tinfoil
Tumblers ( View for directions on how to make them ). I enjoyed and
had more fun with this lesson than I have had with my students in a long
time. The teachers in the school who happened in and the principal were
in total awe and enjoyed watching the children doing the lesson almost
as much as the children had doing it. From the children and myself, thank
you Jeanne.
John Williams
Objective :
Students will find and imitate points of balance.
Symmetrical and asymmetrical shapes.
Integration of curriculum.
Grade Level : K-5
Materials : 20 - 30 Tinfoil Tumblers and mats
Prerequisite : Some knowledge of points of balance, symmetrical and asymmetrical shapes.
Background : Approaching my art teacher
who happened to be working on figurines and sculpting, I asked if she would
be interested in combining our curriculum for a lesson I had in mind. My
physical education classes had been working with points of balance.
I bought 3 rolls of tinfoil ( 75 yds total ). She and the fourth grade
students tore the tinfoil into one foot sheets, made bases for the figures,
and formed the tinfoil tumblers in the shapes we
had discussed in physed and using the points of balance we had gone over.
They also formed symmetrical and asymmetrical figures.
Set-up : 6 to 8 folding mats set up around the room, with the tinfoil tumblers set on the outside of the mats and the children on the inside.
Lesson : Have children sit at the edge
of the mat facing the tinfoil tumblers. On your signal they are allowed
to approach halfway on the mat to get a better view. They are not allowed
to touch.
When the children think they can do the balance, they can try it. (view
picture)
Walk around the room to monitor and help the children with their balances.
Ask questions of the children and their balances.
Examples:
After you have walked around the room and viewed all of the students ask them to stop and get off of the mat. On your signal they all move down to the next figure. Repeat until the end of class.
Enjoy this lesson it's wonderful.