Magicalms.com ~ Magical Moments

Is your calendar marked with appointments, birthdays, holidays, and due dates?  Are your classroom themes based on seasons and on special events? If you are like me, the answer to both of these questions is YES.  Basing your teaching around the calendar is apropos; if you make certain that both you and your kids remain the most special and most important element to each and every day. Once again, I urge you to place a greater value on the process vs. the product and the child over the theme.

As we celebrate the beauty inherent in spring time, let’s remain focused about what our children need to sprout, to grow, to feel self confident and to be successful. I believe that boys and girls must be given TIME;  time to play, time to create, time to reflect, time to try, time to make mistakes, time to cry, time to laugh. Yes, the calendar keeps our lives organized and reminds us to fulfill obligations, but, let’s not allow it to infringe upon the time we give to our kids, to be, just kids!!

In this last week of April, enjoy your children as you help them to appreciate the simple joy of time. And, please remember that each and every moment shared is a treasured gift!!

Magical Educating!

Donna Mavrides
Magical Moments
www.magicalms.com

In honor of the 40th Earth Day Celebration, this Thursday, April 22nd, it would be timely to begin a unit on our earth’s precious water and land. Books to include within the unit are:

• “Margaret the Magnificent Visits the Everglades”, Mavrides
• “Be a Friend to a Tree”, Berger
• “The Giving Tree”, Silverstein
• “The Little Cloud”, Carle
• “Who Lives in a Tree?”, Berger
• “The Sun”, Asch
• “Trashy town”, “Zimmerman and Clemesha
• “The Earth and I”, Asch
• “Where Does All The Garbage G?” Berger
• “Kokopelli”, Sterns

In order to illustrate the difference between a lovely, clean world with one that is polluted and dirty, I would try the following exercise and follow up discussion with your children. Of course, the amount of detail and conversation will be determined by the developmental levels of your particular group of boys and girls.

Show the children two pictures of outdoor scenes. In one of the pictures, have the trees, water, flowers, etc. be colored with vibrant hues and in the other, paint over the picture with watered down black paint.  In order to exaggerate the difference in the two scenes, add trash and litter to both the land and the water in the polluted picture. Ask the boys and girls to tell you what they see and how the two scenes are alike and different. Ask the children where they would prefer to live and play. You may introduce the term “POLLUTION” as you listen to their ideas.

In order to reinforce the concept of clean vs. polluted, I would suggest doing the following experiment with your class. Begin by having two jars filled with clear water. Have the children toss flowers, shells, pebbles, foamie fish, etc. into each of the jars. After the objects are in the jars, add blue food coloring into one of the jars and black paint and small pieces of trash into the other. Have the children shake the jars and observe.  Continue your discussion on where the flowers, fish, etc, will be happier as you reinforce the concept of keeping our world clean and beautiful so that it remains pretty and healthy for all living creatures.

To end the discussion/circle time, it would be apropos to play the song “Take the Piece of Paper”.  After following the directives in the song, the children will take their crumbled paper to the art table where they can use it in lieu of a paint brush to create an earth friendly creation.  Have the boys and girls paint on newspaper with their unique paint (crushed paper) utensils.

Additional Earth Day activities:

• Have the children gather bottles, paper, etc. that have been scattered in the classroom into recycle containers.
• Have the children create “earths” by painting balloons in blues and greens or by using paper Mache on balloons.
• Have the children collage water bottles to make vases or fish.
• Have the children create earth friendly collages by utilizing recyclables.
• Plant a collective garden within an old tire.
• Have the children play with soil and water.
• Have the children decorate round cookies or crackers with blue and green icing.
• If the weather permits, it would be lovely to enjoy an outdoor snack or lunch.

Happy Earth Day to All!!
Let’s Preserve our Planet!!!!!

Magical Educating!

Donna Mavrides
Magical Moments
www.magicalms.com

Do you have days, weeks, and months where your actions are focused, determination energized and then without logic or reason, you experience periods where distractions interfere with your goals, where frustrations and disappointments supersede your ambitions? Well friends, if you get into a similar funk, take time to smell the roses, enjoy the sounds of children’s laughter, look ahead to future joys, reminisce about the past, and think about the beauty that surrounds you. I dedicate the following poem to all of us who need an occasional reminder to make each and every day a special one. 

Morning Coffee

As the scent of morning coffee fills the air,
One feels moments of tenderness, of precious memories that have been shared.

As you take a little sip, questions are asked, answers sought, and apprehensions weighed.

Will moms and dads treat their children with care?
Will couples speak respectfully, will they love and share?

Will teachers follow protocol or teach from their hearts?
Will protagonists take a break, work together, and ensure a better start?

As the coffee exerts its lightning power, do you wonder if time will be valued or simply squandered?

Will we make time for caring?
Will we make time for sharing?

Will we make time for sighing?
Will we notice if someone is crying?

Will we make time to be a trustworthy friend?
Will we help tender egos and bruises to mend?

Will we make time to gaze at the sunset and feel the morning’s dew?
Will we try to be more gracious, expect less from ourselves, others, from me and you?

Morning coffee gives us time to contemplate, to compromise, and to commit.
To make our own and others’ lives a bit lovelier and joyous, even if it is just inch by inch, bit by bit.

Enjoy your morning coffee!!

Magical Educating!

Donna Mavrides
Magical Moments
www.magicalms.com

“Margaret the Magnificent” is an extraordinary sheep dog who travels the globe creating magical moments for boys and girls.  In her first book, Margaret visits with a child who is feeling frightened about changing schools.  In the story, the lovable, shaggy dog empowers the child with the self confidence necessary for success. Margaret’s friendship, guidance and of course  extra love and doggy kisses help the child to  have a joyous first day at her new school.

In “Margaret the Magnificent Visits the Everglades”, the huge dog invites the reader to join her as she explores the Everglades National Park where she becomes friendly with its inhabitants.  Throughout this adventure, the super dog becomes aware of the dangers facing the Everglades’ ecosystem. In the story, Margaret is determined to help her friends, Ali the alligator and Crock the crocodile save their home while encouraging all of us to make “greener” choices.

The book, “Margaret the Magnificent visits the Everglades” is brought to life with Ann Pilicer’s illustrations and with Rodney Cammauf’s photographs.  The book is complete with a child friendly index that includes words used in the book that are associated with The Everglades National Park. The next book in the “Margaret the Magnificent “ series will take place in the rainforests of Africa and will  be released this summer.

Donna B. Mavrides is the author of the Margaret the Magnificent stories and owner of this website.

In order to purchase one of these two books, please visit her web site, www.magicalms.com or contact her at donnamavrides@yahoo.com

Magical Educating!

Donna Mavrides
Magical Moments
www.magicalms.com