The Game of Line

Tried something new this year to help my littlest ones retain the names of the 4 basic types of line. Last class we did the outdoor water painting so we needed a refresher since that was a whole WEEK ago...

I had a shoebox full of these business card-size pieces of printed tagboard. Another great find at Treasures 4 Teachers. So anyway...I drew 5 examples of straight, curve, angle and broken lines - I have 4 kids at each table so wanted one extra. I did 7 sets - a different color of marker for each set, 1 set per table.

First, the students lay out the cards face up in the middle of the table. I review on the board and then have the kids sort the cards into the 4 groups.

Next, mix the cards up again. Now I ask each student to hold up one card of the type I mention. I count to 10 slowly and each table where everyone is holding up the correct card gets a point. After doing each type of line, the group(s) with 4 points get to 'kiss' their brains (kiss your fingertips, touch the top of your head). They thought that was great. Some classes played the game twice - they really liked it and if they didn't do so well the first time they did much better the second time around. Of course you can vary directions to suit your audience...

Student Name Challenge

Well I've been doing this (teaching Art) since the '76-'77 school year (PLEASE don't do the math...) with a few years off here and there due to re-location or leave of absence for birth of 2nd baby but I am STILL learning new names every year. We're talking names I have never SEEN or HEARD of before - AMAZING!

So I counted them up and so far I have 48 names that are new to me this school year. Apostrophes in the middle of a name appear to be a new trend. To be fair, some new monikers are spelled like a name I've seen before but it's pronounced a WHOLE new way...

Here's the challenge: Add the number of years you've spent in our humble, underpaid profession. Take that number and add to it the number of your student names as of today you have never SEEN or HEARD of before this school year and send it in as a comment.

We will all ooh and ahh over the results!!

So here's my numbers: 32 + 48 = 80. Try 'n beat that!