100 Ways to Teach Your Kids with Fruit

By Suzanne Louis

Do you want to become more involved in your child's education, but aren't sure how? 100 Ways to Teach your Kids with Fruit provides a curriculum for you to work on together! Your child will be learning mathematics, chemistry, English, art, science, and so much more, using just fruit, and everyday materials! Every child is unique, and who knows your child better than you? Have fun being involved in their education! Discover their learning style, and how to transfer those skills into the classroom. Before you know it, your child will be ahead of their class!

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Apr 26, 2013
• ISBN: 9781626757684

Book preview

Acknowledgements

Preface

Hello there! Welcome to 100 Ways to Teach your Kids with Fruit!

I am Suzanne Louis – author, entrepreneur, and experienced teacher! I began my teaching career in Shenyang, China. My challenge was clear and daunting: Teach a group of students who speak little English, without a curriculum or resources. Go! This experience forced me to see beyond expensive or unusual resources, and go back to basics. My most extravagant personal resource was a computer, and an Internet connection!

Having no curriculum or textbook to guide me…

This assignment required some creativity! I had to go home, and develop a curriculum of my own. The questions circling my head included: What should I teach them? What is important to know? What resources can I find here? Will they understand? Thankfully, with time and experience, I found answers to all of these questions.

Ultimately, I needed nothing more than my computer for research, and resources found in a convenience store. Art, drama, and visuals surpass language.

They understood, learned a lot, and had a great time!

I have always had the drive to learn, teach, and above all, have fun! My goal is to pass that along to you. Schools are getting more students and less staff by the day. Extracurricular activities are being cut, and field trips are becoming a distant memory. This is why your child cannot afford to watch television in their spare time!

100 Ways to Teach your Kids with Fruit is really 100 ways you can have more fun with your child. Without buying any expensive materials, you will be helping them learn valuable skills like algebra, chemistry, mathematics, and English! The best part is that it will feel like you spent the afternoon enjoying yourselves and eating snacks!

I encourage you to look outside the box of learning, and see what is at home, outside, and down the street! Learning is not only found in the classroom, it is everywhere!

Have fun, and be sure to enjoy the sweetness of life! xo

Introduction

100 lessons - 4 units - 25 fun-filled lessons each!

Art and Drama – English and History – Mathematics – Nature and Science

- What to expect -

Would you like to work on English? Geometry? Philosophy? Each lesson begins with an outline of the skills and subjects being covered.

In this lesson, you will be working on…

Art - Biology - English - Science

- What you need -

Each lesson features a materials list.

There are both optional and required materials.

Tailor each lesson according to what you already own, and your child’s interests!

Apart from a computer, all materials used in this book are cheap and accessible. There is nothing you can’t find at a grocery or dollar store!

- A Beginner’s Kit -

To kick-start your learning, the following materials may act as a beginner’s kit:

A chalkboard or whiteboard

A variety of fruit

Art supplies: Glitter, glue, sidewalk chalk, popsicle sticks, crayons, markers, pens, pencils, magnetic tape, construction paper, white paper, watercolor paints, and paintbrushes.

*Fun tip*

In place of a small chalkboard, you could also purchase chalkboard paint! Your child can learn and have fun, while writing on the wall!

Each lesson features a fun fact or an interesting quote for you to discuss!

Did you know that kite flying was banned in Japan in 1760 because too many people preferred to fly kites than work?

- An Overview -

At the beginning of each lesson, you will find an overview of the topic, and easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions! How easy? To ensure comprehension, each lesson features an example of how the lesson should roughly play out.

- Variations -

Don’t have the materials? Want to customize your lesson? Never fear! Each lesson features ways in which you can tailor the lesson according to materials you own, your child’s interests, and just a different approach!

- Extension Activities -

Did you love a lesson so much that you want to see more of it?

Each lesson features opportunities to expand your knowledge, and have more fun!

* Remember to have fun and be creative *

Prepare to be amazed at what your child can learn with everyday objects!

Art and Drama

Colors

In this lesson, you will be working on…

Art - Shapes - Design - Colors

Materials required.

Water color paper, paint brushes

Water color paint set

Popsicle sticks (optional)

Coloring book (optional)

Fruit Salad (optional)

Creativity!

There are only 3 colors, 10 digits, and 7 notes; it’s what we do with them that’s important

–Jim Rohn

Colors

In this activity, you will be studying primary and complimentary color combinations, while creating a beautiful picture together!

Overview and Instructions:

To begin, let’s go over three kinds of colors!

Primary colors

Red, yellow, and blue. Mixing other colors cannot make them. By using different combinations of them, you can form new colors.

Secondary colors

Mixing two primary colors together makes these colors.

Yellow + red = orange, blue + yellow = green, and blue + red = purple.

Tertiary colors

Combining a primary color with a secondary color makes these colors. There are 6 tertiary colors: yellow-orange, red-orange, red-purple, blue-purple, blue-green, and yellow-green.

Try to make a fruit salad containing all of these colors to eat during the lesson!

Using watercolor paints and a large sheet of paper, practice making each of these colors!

Once complete, you will be making paintings together! One will feature primary colors, one featuring secondary, and one featuring tertiary colors.

Be creative, and try to fit in every color! Be sure to clean the paintbrush often.

Example:

Primary colors picture: Your child could paint a yellow banana, blueberries, and a red apple!

Secondary colors picture: Your child could draw patterns; such as, stripes or polka dots.

Tertiary colors picture: Your child could draw a beautiful rainbow, or a fruit salad!

Variations:

Once children are older, they can advance to different kinds of paints.

You could give also your child a coloring book, and have them color the picture only using a certain group of colors.

Extension Activities:

Together, you could make a frame for one of the paintings, by gluing popsicle sticks together, and then placing plastic wrap tightly under them. This will protect the painting. Using glitter or markers, you can decorate the popsicle sticks together!

Papier-mâché

In this lesson, you will be working on…

Art - Molding - Creativity - Culinary Arts

Materials required

A balloon and newspaper

All purpose flour and water

A shallow container

Paint brush and paint

Construction paper and grapes (optional)

Markers, cotton balls, and glue (optional)

Creativity!

If you hear a voice within you saying, you are not a painter, then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced – Vincent Van Gogh

Papier-mâché

In this activity, you will be creating something out of papier-mâché together!

Overview and Instructions:

Grapes are very popular in France As papier-mâché is a French term, you can get in touch with your French side, and eat some grapes during this lesson!

Begin by pouring 1 cup of all-purpose flour into a bowl.

Gradually add water to it, and stir. You do not want your paste to be too thick, or too thin.

Similar to a cake batter consistency. Transfer the paste into a shallow container.

The easiest way to begin papier-mâché is by using a balloon.

Blow up a balloon, tie a knot in it, and rest it in a shallow bowl.

Find a newspaper, and cut it up into small strips.

Dip one of the strips into the paste, and then place it on the balloon. Use a paintbrush or your hands to smooth it on. Continue until the balloon is covered. Allow it to dry before adding another layer. Cover up the paste container, and add more water later, if necessary.

After adding one more layer, and allowing it to dry, you can now decide what to turn this into! You could make an orange, an apple, animal heads, or your child’s face!

Example:

To make a bunny, begin by painting the newspaper-covered balloon with whatever color you would like the bunny to be, and allow it to dry.

Using construction paper, cut out ears, a nose, mouth, and eyes.

Using a marker, add details to the body parts, and then glue them onto the head.

Cut out very small strips of construction paper to act as whiskers.

There you have it, a bunny! You could even glue on cotton balls for fur!

Variations:

You can vary this project by using different sizes or shapes of balloons.

Colored tissue paper can be substituted for newspaper.

You could make multiple ones, and give the bunny a whole body!

Extension Activities:

Your child can use papier-mâché for gifts, ornaments, or even Halloween costumes! Once it is dry, you can pop the balloon and remove it. Then you are free to form a specific shape.

Musical Instruments

In this lesson, you will be working on…

Songs - Instruments - Sound - Rhythm

Materials required

1 small plastic container with a lid

Glue, a stapler, scissors, dried beans or macaroni

Construction paper, markers, and sparkles (optional)

Toilet paper rolls and paper plates

Wax paper and elastic bands

Fruit salad (optional)

Creativity!

Everything in the universe has rhythm, everything dances – Maya Angelou

Musical Instruments

In this activity, you will be making musical instruments together, and learn how subtle details can change the sound of an instrument!

Overview and Instructions:

Fruits have different tastes, shapes, and textures. Like music, each brings something unique, and, they can join together in harmony. During this lesson, enjoy a bowl of fruit salad.

Begin with a plastic container from the kitchen. Fill it with items; such as, dried beans, raisins, or rice. Seal the container, and shake away!

You can decorate the container with construction paper, glue, and sparkles!

Create stapling the edges of two paper plates together. Leave an opening to pour something in it, like dried beans or macaroni. Staple, shake, and decorate!

Lastly, you can create a kazoo by using a paper towel, a toilet paper roll, scissors, wax paper, and an elastic band! Cut out a small piece of wax paper, and cover one end of the roll with it.

Wrap the elastic band around the paper, and cut a few small holes into the tube.

Your child can then begin to make noises with the tube.

Decorate the kazoo! You can color it, glue on tissue paper, or add sparkles!

Example:

Your child might choose to make a shaker with the paper plates. After you have glued the paper plates mostly together, they can add some macaroni, and then seal it!

You can create an instrument for yourself as well, and then play music together!

Practice making songs and patterns!

Variations:

You can vary this activity with the materials you choose! If you would like to make a tambourine, you only need to staple paper plates together, and attach jingle bells!

Extension Activities:

If your child enjoys music, perhaps they could join a class, or invite