LittleClickers » Art and Creativity

Cathedrals

buckleit — Sun, 05 May 2019 17:27:37 +0000

Do you like to build with blocks? If so, you would like how cathedrals are made. Imagine if your blocks were made of stone, and a king asked you to make the most beautiful cathedral in the world. What would it look like?

1. Why did people build cathedrals? To show off. At the Durham World Heritage Site you learn how the construction of a monumental cathedral helped to impress visitors. It also gave the town a place to bury important people, and pay respect to a religion. Learn more at http://bitly.com/2vvXAzl

2. What does Gothic mean? Why are cathedrals often called gothic? It’s another way to say “fancy.” The word originated from the Goths, a German tribe in Europe, who celebrated ornate, decorative design. Telltale signs of Gothic construction include statues, high ceilings, stained glass and pointed arches, all commonly used in cathedrals. Read more at http://bitly.com/2vFMnfT

3. What kind of stone are most cathedrals made of? Mostly limestone, which is easy to cut and carve, and can stand up to the weather. Most limestone was cut from ancient seabeds. Marble and other gemstones were used on the inside floor and for decorations. Read more at http://bitly.com/2PFromm

4. Because cathedrals are made of stone, they are fireproof, right? No. Wooden timbers are also often part of the construction, especially in the area above the dome. These huge wooden beams can burn quickly, which is why a terrible fire started in the Notre-Dame cathedral. See the results of the fire, at https://nyti.ms/2PJf8kL

5. Can cathedrals be digitized? Yes. A USA professor named Andrew Tallon used drones and lasers to make digital maps of the Notre Dame cathedral before the fire. Sadly he Dr. Tallon died last fall, making is work an important legacy to him, as it is used by the future builders who will try to restore the famous cathedral. Read more at http://bitly.com/2PHoxsY

APPLICATION

Can you build a model cathedral? You can with this $55 block set https://amzn.to/2PHmLrO or take a class from Thomas Davies Clay, who makes cathedral Models. See his site at http://www.cathedralquest.com/index.html

Cathedrals on YouTube

Want more? Here’s a video playlist

Download this month’s LittleClickers as a one page PDF –> Download

———————————————————————————————————————————————— LittleClickers.com (this page and the associated web site) is sponsored by Computer Explorers. Neither Children’s Technology Review (publisher of LittleClickers) or Computer Explorers has any vested interest in any of the sites listed on this page. Librarians and teachers are permitted to copy this page for non-profit use. To report a bad link, use this form, or contact us. Copyright 2018, Children's Technology Review.

Concrete

buckleit — Mon, 07 Jan 2019 02:59:53 +0000

Download this column as a one page PDF, at Jan 19-concrete

What can stop a river and hold up a skyscraper?

It’s not superman — it’s concrete — an ancient building material that’s easy to take for granted. So… how much do you know about concrete? Is it he same thing as cement? Do you know the where the world’s largest concrete structure is, or how much a bag of cement costs? Let’s find out…

1. How long has concrete been around? Various forms of concrete can be found in the Egyptian pyramids, as well as ancient Rome. The first concrete-like substance was found in the Middle East, used by builders in 1300 BC. Learn concrete’s history at http://www.rumford.com/articlemortar.html

2. Is “cement” the same as “concrete?” No. Concrete is a mixture of sand, crushed rocks and cement. Cement is a fine grey powder made up of calcium, silicon, iron, and aluminum. It reacts with water to bind sand and rocks together, into a single lump of hard rock. Learn about the chemistry of concrete, at http://bitly.com/2FbTOC7

3. How long does concrete last? At http://bitly.com/2F6DXE6 you can learn that the Hoover Dam will last 10,000 years. The Pantheon– a round building in Rome, has a concrete roof that is 2000 years old and is doing just fine.

4. Do artists use concrete? Yes! It can be molded, carved or cast, there are many fun project ideas. See https://www.etsy.com/market/concrete_art for example.

5. What is the world’s largest concrete structure? At http://bitly.com/2F9QtmU you can read about the Three Gorges Dam in China. It was made out of 21 million cubic yards of concrete — five times the size of the Hoover Dam. That’s enough concrete to build a five highways across the USA. Learn more about the concrete in the Hoover Dam at https://on.doi.gov/2F6uEVA

APPLICATION: Make a casting

Start with about $14 and a strong parent to take you to a building supply store.

Pick up a bag of pure Portland Cement (named after the Isle of Portland, in England) and store it in a dry place. It will weigh 94 pounds, so get some help, and remember that cement dust is bad for you. Mix the one part cement powder with about three parts sand, and some gravel (or marbles!); along with enough water so the goop can pour into a mold.

Make a handprint or drop in some coins, or scratch a design with a stick before your cement hardens. Here are more ideas http://bitly.com/2F7Zs8u. If you happen to own a kiln and a rock crusher, you can make your own concrete. Learn how at http://bitly.com/2F63NYG.

VIDEOS Here’s our YouTube playlist with select Concrete videos for this month.

Sketching

buckleit — Mon, 10 Dec 2018 20:27:42 +0000

Go Online and Make a

This is an update to the column from the September 2012 issue of Children’s Technology Review.

Download this column as a one page PDF –>Dec 18-lc-final

All links and videos have been refreshed. When Walt Disney a young he loved to draw. After studying at the Chicago Art Institute, he made drawings for newspapers before experimenting with animation. See one of his first drawings https://dailym.ai/2G8jl0i. Want to learn to draw like Walt? Here are some sites and videos to show you how.

1. How can a wire help you learn to draw? At Artsy you’ll learn how a 15 inch length of wire can help you pay attention to drawing lines. You can also try sketching something upside down. Here’s the link http://bitly.com/2rrWiU7z.

2. How do I draw a horse? There are a lot of sites dedicated to drawing creatures … birds, cats and dogs. If you like horses or ponies, visit http://bitly.com/2G783JJ for some good tips.

3. How do you make curly hair? At Creativebloq http://bitly.com/2rtmVYL you can discover some easy visual sketching tricks, like how to make any two lines look like curley hair.

4. How do I make a cartoon? Start with a sack of flour, and then start adding features. Learn more at http://bitly.com/2G5TQN6

5. Draw a cartoon of yourself At the Artist’s Network bitly.com/lc1218link1 you’ll learn how to turn a selfie into humorous cartoon. Once you learn this trick, you’ll have an endless supply of birthday gifts.

APPLICATION: Grab some oil paints (here’s an affordable kit for $30 from Amazon.com https://amzn.to/2rvOO2o, and follow along with artist Bob Ross. He’s the guy who appeared on the PBS television series “The Joy of Painting.” See http://bitly.com/lc1218link2. If you want to try a follow along with watercolors instead of oils, we found this winter scene https://youtu.be/VmHc3xbqcGA

———————————————————————————————————————————————— LittleClickers.com (this page and the associated web site) is sponsored by Computer Explorers. Neither Children’s Technology Review (publisher of LittleClickers) or Computer Explorers has any vested interest in any of the sites listed on this page. Librarians and teachers are permitted to copy this page for non-profit use. To report a bad link, use this form, or contact us. Copyright 2018, Children's Technology Review.

Fred Rogers

buckleit — Thu, 04 Oct 2018 16:56:11 +0000

Download this month’s LittleClickers as a one page, easy to print PDF –>Oct18-littleclickers

Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood was a popular children’s television program that ran from 1968 to 2001. It was designed by a soft spoken media pioneer named Fred Rogers.

Some of the children who liked his show grew up and went to work at Google, and they made this stop motion tribute to Mr. Rogers, at http://bit.ly/2QSwjk2 (note that this video is the source of the banner art for this page).

Want to learn more about the man behind the show? Here are five links plus a YouTube playlist with more neighborhood highlights.

1. Where was Mr. Rogers’ real neighborhood? And what famous golfer grew up there? You can find the answers to both questions at http://bitly.com/2QqZeL4

2. What was Fred Roger’s favorite musical instrument? Fred Rogers liked all musical instruments, but his favorite was probably the piano, according to Parade Magazine http://bit.ly/2N065Jr. When he was 13, his Grandmother purchased him a refurbished 1920 Steinway Concert Grand Model D — one of the finest pianos in the world. Today it is worth as much as a small house, and you can play it if you visit the Fred Rogers Center in Latrobe, PA. Here’s what it sounds like https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Es5uYYrlaQ

3. What did Fred Rogers do to relax? At the Neighborhood Archive http://bitly.com/2RnguSC you can learn about episode 1493 where Fred visits the pool to swim. He tried to do this every day.

4. What one of the following are true about Fred Rogers:

a) He was color blind.
b) He came from a wealthy family.
c) He weighed 143 pounds.
d) He was an ordained minister.
e) He could speak French.
f) All of the above.
The answer is f) all of the above. Here are more fun facts, at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Rogers

5. Where can I watch Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood? The shows are available on Amazon.com’s video streaming service, but if you don’t have a subscription you can find over 600 shows at www.archive.org. Here’s the link http://bitly.com/2IA1ehf

BONUS VIDEO THIS MONTH: EARTHRISE
Recommended for older children interested in space exploration.
If you could stand on the moon and look back at the Earth, you’d experience a powerful feeling. Only 24 people have been able to do it, and this 30 minute video documents what they felt. Watch Earthrise at https://nyti.ms/2P6T3LW

Exploring Scratch

buckleit — Sun, 03 Jun 2018 00:41:31 +0000

Teachers and librarians — Download this month’s topic as a one page PDF.

Scratch is a free, easy to learn computer language that is growing in popularity. Did you know there are six types of projects you can make? Can you name them? Let’s take a closer look, at https://scratch.mit.edu/explore/projects/all

1. Animations. Use the camera and timing features to make things move on the screen. https://scratch.mit.edu/explore/projects/animations/

2. Art. Scratch has built in drawing tools that make it possible draw in freestyle. You can also create interesting geometric patterns, like this one. https://scratch.mit.edu/explore/projects/art/

3. Games. From Pong to Pokémon, you can find all sorts of games in Scratch. Maze games are good to start with, because they introduce you to motion and collisions. https://scratch.mit.edu/explore/projects/games/

4. Music. Scratch gives you a library of sounds, or you can record your own. https://scratch.mit.edu/explore/projects/music/

5. Stories. You can mix your writing with pictures, videos or recordings. In fact, Scratch makes it easy to narrate your story. https://scratch.mit.edu/explore/projects/stories/

6. Tutorials. What to teach somebody how to train a puppy or build a treehouse? Make your own tutorial, at https://scratch.mit.edu/explore/projects/tutorials/

APPLICATION

How do I start with Scratch? Scratch won’t work with mobile devices, so you’ll need a Chromebook or Laptop (Windows or Mac) plus good internet access. A camera and microphone is recommended. Follow these three steps.

Step 1: Find Scratch. On your computer, type the word “Scratch” into any search engine, or go to http://mit.scratch.edu

Step 2: Register. Think up a screen name and password. You’ll also need an email address in order to confirm the account. Login, and choose “Create.”

Step 3: Take the tutorials. We’ve linked to some tutorials in this month’s YouTube playlist. It’s also smart to preview samples. https://scratch.mit.edu/starter_projects/

DIY

buckleit — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 02:35:26 +0000

Do-It-Yourself (which is also known as DIY) has extremely popular these days. But what does that mean, exactly? To some people it might involves electronics, to others it’s cookie dough. Here are some DIY activities that are great for kids of all ages.

—> DOWNLOAD THIS PAGE AS A PDF <—

1. Plant a pine tree. Few things can make a bigger mark on the world than the simple act of planting a seed, especially if it’s a tree. First find a pine cone. Next learn how to get the seeds from the cone. They’ll need to be stored until next January, when it is a good time to plant bitly.com/2zYC32k. Next review these nine steps bitly.com/2huXVLV. Once your tree has grown up, go to #2

2. Build a Treehouse. At https://www.wikihow.com/Build-a-Treehouse you can find step by step instructions for building a treehouse, from finding the right tree, to making the right plans.

3. Make Chocolate Chip Cookies. First lets visit a cookbook and get a recipe bitly.com/2ymzdIe. Next watch a YouTube video and hit pause for each step. Here are two kids who are good to follow www.youtube.com/watch?v=T71NlacyVp0

4. Make a holiday decoration First lets get some ideas from Pintrest bitly.com/2zZljbh. Next let’s visit Parents magazine to see some step-by-step ornament ideas http://www.parents.com/holiday/christmas/crafts/

5. Decorate a plate Start with a white ceramic plate, and then find some special markers. We found a site with step-by-step instructions for making https://www.homedit.com/diy-baked-sharpie-plates/

This month’s YouTube Playlist

Stop Motion

buckleit — Wed, 05 Jul 2017 13:25:25 +0000

Download this page as an easy-to-print PDF

Last month we talked about how to flip a water bottle. This month we’re going to show you how to make it appear as if it is alive, with Stop Motion animation. That’s when you put something on a stage and photograph small movements.

Here are three common types of stop motion animation, and some tips for success.

1. Dry Erase Markers and a White Boards. Meet Jonny Lawrence, an artist who uses a white board and markers to huge money make commercials. Visit http://vimedy.com to see some of his work.

2. Clay or (or Play Doh). “Clay is the basic medium for creative conception of new forms. It’s malleable, and it changes every time you touch it. You push and mash it, and a lump turns into something, just like magic.” Art Clokey, creator of Gumby. Gumby was one of the first stars of Clay-mation. He paved the way for other stop motion classics, including Wallace and Gromit https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wallace_and_Gromit and Fantastic Mr. Fox https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fantastic_Mr._Fox_(film). We have samples of both in the YouTube playlist, below.

3. Paper cut outs. Some famous cartoons are made with little more than paper and scissors. Paper makes it easy to change expressions and lip syncing. See bitly.com/2unDWUe or — if your advanced, https://youtu.be/iVg8n7jmndQ

Three Tips For Beginning Stop Motion Artists

1. Make a plan. Figure out your story, and let it guide you as you make your shopping list of materials. Make a short storyboard by putting each narrative element on a small card, and putting the cards in order, with a list of the materials you’ll need. Collect the materials you’ll need. Read more at http://nofilmschool.com/2016/06/stop-motion-animation-tips.

2. Don’t bump the camera (or change the lights) between shots. It’s best to use some kind of remote to take the pictures.

3. Remember your sound! The right sound effects can make bad graphics look much better, according to designer Mark Schlichting. Visit http://magnemation.com/original/tools.php for a set of royalty free sounds.

APPLICATION: Create a Stop Motion Studio You’ll need a tripod, a single color backdrop some lights, markers, and materials like clay or a white board. Here’s a tutorial wi.st/2uGzrDB. We use iStopMotion running on an iPad bitly.com/2tHzh1R and also like Zing’s Stikbot bitly.com/2sBoSp8. Here’s how you set up a home made studio on a budget bitly.com/2tfjo1X.

Stop Motion on YouTube

Here’s a video playlist that go along with this column http://bitly.com/lcstopmotionvids

Ice Sculptures

Megan Billitti — Mon, 28 Nov 2016 12:03:03 +0000

Download this column as a one page, easy to print and distribute PDF

Winter is nearly here. What could be better than making a giant ice sculpture? Here’s what you need to know to start carving.

1. Start with snow! Snow is a lot easier to carve, and find than ice. All you need is some the right weather conditions, and a small shovel. Here’s a guide to getting started http://bitly.com/2fTiCkr

2. I’m ready for ice. Creative ice carvers use all sorts of common tools, like saws, hairdryers, irons and chisels. They work in the cold — usually large walk-in freezers. Here’s a site that sells everything you’ll need from hoodies to torches. It’s free to browse, and it’s where the real ice carvers shop http://bitly.com/2gHXnTR .

3. When did ice sculpting start? In the coldest parts of China and Russia. The BBC offers an overview on the history of ice carving http://bbc.in/2gHPRZa

4. Are there ice sculpting contests? Yes! Here’s a list of ten of the most impressive ice sculpting competitions http://bit.ly/2fWAIQd .

5. What do Hollywood and ice sculpting have in common? Building a tall ice structure is pretty impressive. In fact it can end up in the movies. Learn more at http://bit.ly/2fIkCMh.

6. What happens when an ice sculpture collapses? To read about the collapse of one of the tallest ice sculptures, and see it fall, see http://nyti.ms/1DFSJrq.

Applications:

1. Find an ice carving event near you. http://bit.ly/2gBIArz.

2 How to make your own ice sculpture. http://bit.ly/19YLs9P.

New Years Tech Traditions

Megan Billitti — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 14:55:48 +0000

All around the world people love to celebrate the moment in time when the old year ends and the new one begins. It’s like a birthday party for everyone. New technologies can come into play, alongside some age-old traditions like baking a coin into a loaf of bread. Here’s a look some New Year’s traditions from around the world.

1. How many LEDs are there in the Times Square ball? At the Times Square web site http://bit.ly/1QX1mrJ you can learn about the history and technology behind this famous ball. The first ball, made in 1927, only had 100 white bulbs. Today’s fourth edition has 32,256 LEDs (light emitting diodes) grouped in 672 triangles of 48 bulbs each. Each contains 12 red, 12 blue, 12 green, and 12 white LED bulbs that work together to make 16 million colors.

2. Denmark, Greece and Canada each have some unique low tech New Year’s traditions. Can you match the country with the tradition?
a) Who bakes a coin into a loaf of bread? __________________
b) Who throws porcelain plates into the street? _____________
c) Who jumps into a frozen lake? ________________
ANSWERS: At Travel Smarter http://bit.ly/1OU9CCB you learn that people in Greece wrap a coin in tin foil and drop it randomly into some bread dough before it is baked. Whoever gets the lucky piece will have good luck for the next year. In Canada and the USA, some people jump into a frozen lakes http://bit.ly/1N3TpKM. And in Denmark http://bit.ly/1OgYlA6 they toss fancy plates into the street to symbolize a fresh start to a new year.

3. What does “Auld Lang Syne” mean? The famous New Year’s song was popularized by big band leader Guy Lombardo. It comes from Scotland, and is about the joy of getting together with old friends. Here’s the complete story http://bitly.com/1R3NyM2.

Megan’s Videos About New Year’s Tech Traditions
Here’s a set of hand picked videos from YouTube:

Marching Bands

Megan Billitti — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 13:27:20 +0000

Fall means changing leaves and football. But for some, the main event is when the marching band takes the field. The shows take months to design and it requires getting hundreds of people to work in perfect unison to make giant moving images that are set to music. Let’s learn more about the wonders of Marching Bands.

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1. Who has the most famous drum? At http://bitly.com/1JviT22 you can learn all the facts about Purdue’s monster-sized drum. It’s 10 feet tall and it takes four marchers to move it.

2. How many apples can a marching band eat? We’re not sure, but at http://bit.ly/1gXiCNu you learn that the Fighting Irish Marching Band ate 2,742 apples during home games last year. This band is noteworthy for another reason: it was founded in 1846, making it the oldest marching band.

3. What is the “Skeeter Rabbit,” and who does it? That’s one of the dance moves that belongs to the Grambling Marching Tigers, one of the funkiest marching bands in the world. Learn more at http://bitly.com/1LRpGZQ

4. Which band is the the biggest? According to Wonderopolis http://bit.ly/1EClh52, the Allen High School marching band in Texas puts up to 800 people on the field at the same time.

5. Which band has the most famous dot? At http://bitly.com/1FgcJky you learn how one lucky tuba player gets to be the dot of the Script “i” in the world Ohio. Watch CNN tell the story, at http://bitly.com/1L0OlFn