Showing posts with label castles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label castles. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Archery

While we were learning about castles the children were quite interested in
defending it with axes, swords and bows and arrows.
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I found a couple of plastic bows and arrows at a dollar store and we created
a target for practice.   During that time I learned that our local Fish and Game
Club has an archery range.  I arranged for a tour.
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The members set up a few extra targets for us at the archery range.
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Our guide for the morning, Larry, talked to us about how the bows and arrows
were made.  He explained that the feathers help the arrow fly straight and why
they are two different colours.
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Larry demonstrated how to nock the arrow and the correct standing position. 
When he said “course open” no one was allowed to go on the other side of the
wooden plank.
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                  Then it was our turn to give it a try.
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After a bit of instruction and a lot of practice some of the children were
getting the hang of it and trying it on their own.
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        I think she would have stayed all afternoon if allowed.
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Not all the children could use the real bows at the same time so those
that were waiting made their own bow with a stick and string.
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The trick was to tie the string tight enough to make the stick
bend (they were fresh cut sticks).
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               They took these home to keep practicing.

And finally the adults had a turn at using the bows.
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Archery is a challenge but a lot of fun and another great activity to get us outdoors.

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Catapults–Castle Defense

The children have been defending the castle by hand to hand combat with swords and shields, arrows and axes.  Last week I set materials and a few pictures of catapults on the art table to inspire them to think of a new way.
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        The families were busy everyday creating new designs.
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Here are a few samples of what they created.
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Wood block, tongue depressor on a clothespin.
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Tube, sponge, tongue depressor and egg cup.
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Tube, elastics and plasticspoon.
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Straws, tape, spoon and elastics.
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Tissue box, chop sticks, elastics and milk jug lid.
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I’m not sure what they used to build this catapult but it was amazing.

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We used the shelf beside the art table as the shooting area. 
          Pom poms were used for the ammunition.
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Although many were tried right at the table to see if they functioned.
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It was very exciting to watch the failures and successes.
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The children carried the idea of catapults over to this week at one
                             of our play trays.
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             I set up a tray with a scale and little dinosaurs.
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Each child that played with it placed a dinosaur on one side and hit the other side.  Not what I intended but was thrilled to see the follow thru of what we learned the previous week.

Monday, February 17, 2014

Castles – Block Building

After drawing designs we put them in to practice. 
I borrowed wooden castle toys from the kindergarten
teacher and put them out with some of our wooden
blocks.
          This is what I observed.
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Castle building started to happen in other parts of the room
with different blocks and toys.
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By Thursday of last week I got word that big cardboard 
boxes were going to be delivered to the school.  We were 
ready to start to build our large play castle.