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ORANGE Slime!-- Celebrating Unity Day 2016

10/18/2016

1 Comment

 
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As many of you know, October is National Bullying Prevention Month. This event was created by Pacer to help bring awareness to the issue of bullying and unite students and adults from all over the nation to work together to end bullying once and for all. One important part of National Bullying Prevention Month is Unity Day. Unity Day is a day on which Pacer encourages schools, communities, and individuals to show that they are united against bullying and united for acceptance and inclusion. A few ways they suggest doing this are by organizing assemblies, participating in walks or runs, and wearing ORANGE —the color of bullying prevention! 
To show our support of Unity Day, we decided to adapt our fun This is A. Blob Slime craft to be ORANGE!! This craft, designed to accompany the picture book, This is A. Blob, by L.A. Kefalos, is a fun way to begin the discussion about bullying with your younger children while joining in the Unity Day activities. As you mix your slime ingredients, talk about the “ingredients” that go into making a bully, such as insecurity and pain. As the mixture turns gooey, discuss how small words and actions can lead to a big sticky mess of bullying when they combine!
​Once the slime is finished, there are countless fun and educational ways to play with it! You can talk about how, just like the slime, words are sticky—for good or for bad. Have the children recall something kind someone said to them and something unkind. How does it feel to remember those words?
Wouldn’t they like to stick kind words in someone’s memory?

You can also use the slime to recreate scenes from This is A. Blob, by L.A. Kefalos or even to role play bullying or kindness moments your child has witnessed or experienced. 
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Picture via Pacer.org/bullying
Another fun idea is to give the slime away as a random act of kindness for your celebration of Unity Day! ​​

However you choose to play, the important thing is that you have fun and bring awareness to the importance of bullying prevention!!  

Here are the steps you'll need to create your own ORANGE A. Blob!

What You'll Need: ​

  • Copy of This is A. Blob, by L.A. Kefalos
  • 1tsp Borax
  • 1 ½ cups warm water
  • 1 8oz bottle of glue 
  • 2 nonstick mixing bowls
  • 2 spoons
  • Food coloring (Red and Yellow!) 
  • Plastic baggies (Makes enough for 3)
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​Step 1:
Read This is A. Blob, by L.A. Kefalos

​Step 2:
Discuss

Open discussion about the book: Were A. Blob’s actions acceptable? How do you think these actions made the other children feel? Why do you think A. Blob acted the way it did? What would/could you do if you were on the playground to stop bullying?

​Step 3:
Create!
​1. To make your own "A. Blob", begin by emptying 1 bottle of glue (or 1 cup) into your larger bowl
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2. Fill the empty glue bottle with warm water and add it to the glue, stirring completely. From experience I can tell you that the better you mix the glue and water, the smoother your slime will turn out. 

I've also found that the hotter the water, the "slimier" the slime will be. Cooler water will produce a firmer slime that resembles silly putty in texture.
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​3. Mix in food coloring until the desired color is achieved. I used 15 drops of red and yellow to get this particular shade of orange.
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4. In your smaller bowl, mix 1tsp of Borax with 1/2 cup of warm to hot water. Again, the hotter the water, the easier this step will be and the slimier your slime will turn out. Make sure to stir until the Borax is completely dissolved.

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​5.
Slowly add the Borax mixture to the glue mixture, mixing as you pour. When the mixture becomes too sticky to stir, use your hands to finish combining the ingredients. 

Just a note: The glue will come out of clothes, but the food coloring does stain, so be sure to wear old clothes when mixing!

6. Play!
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There are so many exciting ways to spread the message to stop bullying and start living with kindness. I hope you enjoy this little twist on our favorite craft. Let us know how YOU are celebrating Unity Day in the comments below!
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Fun with This is A. Blob Slime! Happy Unity Day 2016!!
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This is A. Blob, by L.A. Kefalos picture book cover
​Books are excellent tools for helping children build empathy and become upstanders! This is A. Blob is a masterfully illustrated picture book suitable for children ages 4-8. Written by Lori Kefalos, author of several award-nominated animated shorts, This is A. Blob is the first of a series following this bully. This first installment follows the antics of A. Blob, a slimy, purple, blob-like creature who wreaks havoc on the elementary school playground with its bullying ways. As the story progresses, however, readers learn that there might be more to A. Blob than meets the eye. Along with its powerful illustrations and rhymed verse for early readers, this story invites children to put themselves in the shoes of another. The book demonstrates that a bully can come in any shape, size, or color and encourages readers to consider why bullies behave the way they do – and start to consider what can be done to help.

A. Blob on a Bus, by L.A. Kefalos picture book cover
​BOOK 2 NOW AVAILABLE!​
A. Blob is back, and this time it's on a bus! As the slimy bully pokes and pesters the children of Lincoln Elementary School, it seems like they will never be able to ride the bus in peace. That is, until one brave girl takes stand. 


Can one act of bravery change everything--including A. Blob? Find out in this second installment of The Blob Series!
1 Comment

Exercise Your Mind—Read!                                                             5 book-based outdoor activities to build social/emotional skills

7/11/2016

0 Comments

 
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Ahh summer!
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​The sun is shining and it’s finally warm enough to get outside and move those muscles!  With options like biking, swimming, and walking, there are countless ways for everyone to get out and get moving! Just as important as physical health, is mental health—something often overlooked during summer vacation. Thankfully, summer is also the perfect time to exercise your mind. 
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​That is the theme for 2016’s National Summer Reading Program: Exercise Your Mind…READ! If you’ve never participated in a summer reading program, I would encourage you to do so (many libraries have programs for adults, as well as children!). Typically, patrons are awarded prizes, or the chance to win prizes, according to the number of books they read. Depending on the library, themed games, speakers, and activities are included, as well, all with the goal of encouraging people to continue the important activity of reading over the summer months.
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​And it is IMPORTANT activity. Did you know, studies show that reading is one of the greatest activities you can do for both your mental health AND your physical health. Reading can increase intelligence, improve memory, lower heart rate and stress, enhance communication skills, increase empathy, and even improve sleep. Spring-boarding off of this knowledge, many libraries have begun incorporating physical challenges, such as hiking a park trail after reading a book on nature, recognizing the importance of total body health and the need to get kids moving in an increasingly screen-driven world. 
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​​There are number of fun activities children can do throughout the summer to exercise their minds and build vital social/emotional skills that will prepare them for the upcoming school year. In light of this, and in keeping with this year’s summer reading theme, we’ve created 5 fun, outdoor activities designed to exercise your body as well as your mind! Each activity is based on a book that discusses important topics such as bullying and kindness so you can reach your reading goal while also building social/emotional skills! Each activity can be done at home or in a group. All you need is a little outdoor space and a cozy spot to read!

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​1. Kindness Scavenger Hunt

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Based on the book What if Everybody Did That, by Ellen Javernick
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In this book, a young boy commits a number of thoughtless acts, such as littering and interrupting. Each time, he is asked “what if everybody did that?” Illustrations work with the narrative to show the reader what such a world would be like. The story goes on to ask “what if everyone chose to make the world better?” This story helps children learn the power that their actions can have on others. 
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​A kindness scavenger hunt is the perfect activity to help drive home the lessons of Javernick’s story! Begin the activity by giving everyone a list of random acts of kindness to complete. Depending on how many adults you have, these can be acts throughout the city, such as picking up trash in the park, or acts around the home, such as writing a kind note and leaving it for someone to find or completing someone else’s chore for them.  If you have enough people, split into two teams and see who can complete their list first. 
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​Once each team has finished their list, ask the children how they felt completing their acts of kindness. Did it change the way the viewed the world and the people around them? What do they think the world would look like if everyone did just one item on the list every single day?

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​2. Giant Dominoes

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​Based on the book Because Amelia Smiled, by David Stein 

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This book beautifully demonstrates the power of something as simple as a smile. A fun way to provide a visual of this ripple effect is to build a domino chain! If you want to add a fun summer touch, try using these giant yard dominos. 


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​With your children, imagine a scenario such as “A girl trips in the middle of soccer practice”. Have the kids think of a mean response to the incident and a kind response. These become the two domino branches. On a sticky note, write how the reaction would make the girl feel. From here, continue to imagine scenarios that are connected to one another, like in the book, occasionally branching off to portray opposite reactions. Then comes the fun part—knocking the dominos down! At the end, read the very first scenario and the very last outcome for each path and discuss how small, seemingly isolated actions can have powerful and far reaching reactions—for good or bad. 
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​3. Slime Search

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​Based on This is A. Blob, by L.A. Kefalos
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​This activity is a fun, outdoor twist on the This is A. Blob Slime Craft we have posted about in the past. In This is A. Blob, by L.A. Kefalos, readers are introduced to a unique character named A. Blob that wreaks havoc on the playground with its bullying ways. As the story progresses, however, we learn that there may be more to A. Blob than meets the eye. 
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​To begin the activity, mix up two tubs of slime (Depending on how large your group is, I would recommend making 3-5 times more that this recipe suggests since this activity is a little different than the one for which the original recipe was created). I would also recommend using hot water and slightly less borax to help make the slime softer and slimier.
​

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Image via tpcraft.blogspot.com
​Inside each tub, hide a few small items, toys, or even laminated words that together could provide a bit of insight into someone’s personality. For example, hide a Polly Pocket doll, a toy cake, a toy soccer ball, a pencil, a heart, and a puppy toy. Once found, the children will write a short description of the character: “A girl who loves to play soccer, bake, and write. She is kind hearted and loves puppies.” Let the kids get as creative as they want. What do they think the girl might want to be when she grows up? What does she like to write about? You can have teams race against one another, or simply have them complete the activity.
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​Next, ask the children if the slime made it easier or more difficult to find out about the character. Explain that the slime represents all the assumptions, insecurities, and hardships that people carry around. These things can often hide who we truly are. That’s why it’s so important to take the time to look past our assumptions and take the time to really get to know people, just like we got to know A. Blob in the story. 
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​4. Walk In My Shoes

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​Based on the book Stand in My Shoes, by Bob Sornson
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​In Stand In My Shoes, readers follow Emily as she learns the importance of empathy and seeing life through the eyes of others. In this activity, children have the opportunity to practice empathy through silly role play.
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​Gather several pairs of shoes that will be big enough for everyone to put on. Assign a character to each pair of shoes. The characters can be made up, people in the group, or even favorite characters from T.V. or a movie. Write these names on pieces of paper and then put the papers in a hat or some other container. Next, create several scenarios that the children might experience in real life, such as getting ready for school, going to a new place with new people, or going shopping. Write these scenarios down and put them in a separate container. Now comes the fun part!


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​Each person will now choose a character to play. Next, choose a scenario from the second container. Now, everyone puts on the shoes of their character and acts out the scenario as their character. Play out the scene for about 5 minutes, then have everyone switch roles, making sure that they stay true to the character the first person created. After everyone has had the opportunity to play several characters, take some time to discuss what happened. How did changing shoes change the way they reacted to the situation? Did it change how they reacted to the first character they played? Did this activity make them think about situations in their own life any differently? What will they do the next time they are having a difficult interaction with someone, or see someone having a difficult time?
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5. Fill Your Bucket Race

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Based on the book Have You Filled a Bucket Today?, by Carol McCloud
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​Have You Filled a Bucket Today? has inspired countless games and activities to help children learn the powerful impact our words and actions have on others. This activity takes it up a notch by adding a fun water element! In this game, children are divided into two groups. Each group has a bucket of water, Dixie cups, a chair, and a second, smaller bucket. One child on each team is chosen to sit in the chair. Next, the child’s team mates must say something kind about the child in the chair. Encourage them to choose specific compliments and encouragements that go deeper than “you have nice shoes”. With each compliment, they are allowed to put one cupful of water into the smaller bucket. The goal is to see which team can fill their bucket the fastest. Whichever team wins gets to dump the buckets of water on the other team. Do this several times so that every child has the opportunity to “get their bucket filled”. 

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Image found on FamilyCorner.com
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​After the activity, talk about how the compliments made each child feel, as well as how they felt giving the compliments. How can they fill the buckets of others each day in the future?
***


What books and activities will keep you busy this summer? Let us know in the comments!
​


Do bullies take a summer vacation? Blog cover
Beating the Summer Slide, blog cover
The Case for Curiosity, blog cover

This is A. Blob, by L.A. Kefalos picture book cover
​This is A. Blob is a masterfully illustrated picture book suitable for children ages 4-8. Written by Lori Kefalos, author of several animated shorts, including “Who’s that Knocking,” “Chug,” and “Croc, Pots and Wildebeests,” which was nominated for Best Independent Short Short, Ages 5-8, at the 2009 Kid’s First Film Festival and for best short at The Los Angeles Women’s International Film Festival, This is A. Blob is the first of a series following this bully.

This first installment follows the antics of A. Blob, a slimy, purple, blob-like creature who wreaks havoc on the elementary school playground with its bullying ways. As the story progresses, however, readers learn that A. Blob may have more than meets the eye.

Along with its powerful illustrations and rhymed verse for early readers, this story invites children to put themselves in the shoes of another. The book encourages readers to consider why bullies behave the way they do – and start to consider what can be done to help.

A. Blob on a Bus, by L.A. Kefalos picture book cover
​BOOK 2 NOW AVAILABLE!​
A. Blob is back, and this time it's on a bus! As the slimy bully pokes and pesters the children of Lincoln Elementary School, it seems like they will never be able to ride the bus in peace. That is, until one brave girl takes stand. 


Can one act of bravery change everything--including A. Blob? Find out in this second installment of The Blob Series!
0 Comments

Too Old For Picture Books? Part II

6/1/2016

0 Comments

 

Making A. Blob Slime!

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​Last week, I shared about my visit to an elementary school and the incredible conversations that were sparked by reading the picture book, This is A. Blob, by L.A. Kefalos. This week, I will be sharing about the slime craft we did and the lessons we were able to learn as we created.
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I have posted about the A. Blob Slime Craft in previous blogs. It’s such a fun craft with a perfect connection to the slimy A. Blob of the book that I knew I just had to do the craft with the students.

​​First, I brought out all the slime-making materials, set them in front of the students, and asked if we had slime yet. After looking at me like I was a crazy person, they gave a puzzled “no”. Of course we didn’t have slime yet. The ingredients need to be mixed together and then they will become slime.
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​Similarly, a mean word here or an exclusion there doesn’t,at first, seem like that big of a deal. However, those words, like the slime ingredients, add up and react with one another. They stick with people and burden them down, staying in hearts and minds long after they’ve been said.
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​I asked the students if they remembered something kind someone had said to them. A simple “yes” or a “no” was all I expected, but the students' faces lit up immediately as they raised their hands, dying to tell the class the compliment or act of kindness they had received. The answers ranged far and wide, from physical compliments, to befriending someone on their first day at a new school, to a simple “I love you” from a parent. Even children who had been moody or had come in with a bad attitude softened as they remembered a kind word and shared that bit of confidence with the class.
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The first time I did this lesson with students, I asked them to recall something mean someone had said or done to illustrate how those unkind actions can stick with us. However, I found that asking them to remember words of kindness had a far greater impact. Not only did it open the students up, it provided a good example of why and how we should act with kindness. Children are told over and over to not be mean, but how often are they reminded to be kind? Sometimes, showing kids what to do is just as important as telling them what not to do.



​​Next, we mixed the ingredients. The students LOVED watching the purple water/glue mixture magically become a blob as the borax was added. Once the blob was mixed up, the librarian and I divided it into equal parts and allowed the students to take it back to their tables to play. It was such fun watching them get creative with their slime! In this day and age, children spend so much of their time behind computers, taking tests, or filling out worksheets. Giving them the opportunity to use their imaginations, get a little messy, and have fun was a true joy.
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In more than one class, one student would try to snag another student’s slime or would say something unkind to another as they played. Just as I or the librarian would be about to step in, another student would say “We JUST talked about being kind and not bullying! Be kind!” Through a picture book and a simple craft, these children were learning the importance of kindness.
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​Before the students left, I sent them home with a simple reminder “Like A. Blob, your words will stick—kind or mean. Chose them wisely!”  I also challenged each of them to do one extra thing that day to show kindness.
 
​I leave you now with the same challenge.
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Do you have a fun way of teaching kids about kindness? Let us know about it in the comments below!
For full directions on how to make your own A. Blob Slime, check out our previous post, This is A. Blob SLIME Craft! Kids learn how bullying can become a big, slimy blob!

This is A. Blob Slime Craft blog cover
Too old for picture books? Part 1. blog cover
Chocolate Covered Bullying blog cover

This is A. Blob, by L.A. Kefalos picture book cover
​This is A. Blob is a masterfully illustrated picture book suitable for children ages 4-8. Written by Lori Kefalos, author of several animated shorts, including “Who’s that Knocking,” “Chug,” and “Croc, Pots and Wildebeests,” which was nominated for Best Independent Short Short, Ages 5-8, at the 2009 Kid’s First Film Festival and for best short at The Los Angeles Women’s International Film Festival, This is A. Blob is the first of a series following this bully.

This first installment follows the antics of A. Blob, a slimy, purple, blob-like creature who wreaks havoc on the elementary school playground with its bullying ways. As the story progresses, however, readers learn that A. Blob may have more than meets the eye.

Along with its powerful illustrations and rhymed verse for early readers, this story invites children to put themselves in the shoes of another. The book encourages readers to consider why bullies behave the way they do – and start to consider what can be done to help.

A. Blob on a Bus, by L.A. Kefalos picture book cover
​BOOK 2 NOW AVAILABLE!​
A. Blob is back, and this time it's on a bus! As the slimy bully pokes and pesters the children of Lincoln Elementary School, it seems like they will never be able to ride the bus in peace. That is, until one brave girl takes stand. 

Can one act of bravery change everything--including A. Blob? Find out in this second installment of The Blob Series!
0 Comments

Beyond Bullying Prevention Month: Integrating bullying prevention throughout the classroom, all year long!

10/22/2015

0 Comments

 
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Picturephoto credit:Jerry Lai

​October is National Bullying Prevention Month, which means that bullying is a topic T.V shows, magazines, and organizations will be talking about regularly. Schools will have units on bullying prevention and people will participate in runs and walks to raise awareness about the issue. All October, bullying will be on everyone’s minds. This is wonderful! But what happens when October comes to an end?

​When the organized festivities stop, does bullying also stop? Sadly, this is not the case. Yet, too often, we hold our bullying prevention assemblies and then move on to math classes, vocabulary tests, and science experiments while the topic of bullying is pushed to the back burner. Many teachers recognize this problem, but are unsure of a solution when there is so much other material that must be covered throughout the school year. But what makes us think we have to choose one or the other? The truth is there are myriad ways to integrate lessons on bullying and bullying prevention directly into other academic lessons already being taught. With a bit of creativity, in fact, this integration can even improve those lessons!

 Integrating bullying prevention into other subject matter helps students to see the real-world application of the lessons they are learning.

Math may seem intangible, but the idea of 1 in 3 students being bullied daily is a reality that children can see.

This integration also helps children to see that bullying prevention isn’t just a slogan or something trite they are forced to listen to in school. Bullying is about human relations and this does not end in school, nor do the effects of bullying. By integrating these lessons throughout the classroom, we show that this is a vital topic that can affect every part of life.

​To give you some inspiration, here are some ideas for integrating bullying prevention education throughout the classroom. These ideas can be scaled up or down to work with children of all ages:
 

​Art

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photo credit: Ruth Hartnup
Art is probably one of the first subjects that comes to mind when trying to integrate bullying prevention. Art can be expressive, therapeutic, or socially active, and from painting to acting to drawing, there is something for everyone. Here are a few ideas for integrating bullying prevention into your art class:
  • Have students draw or paint various bullying situations. The situations can be real or imagined. Encourage the use of colors to represent feelings and tone. Later, discuss what is happening in each picture, why it might be happening, and what can be done to ensure it doesn’t happen again.
  • Have students draw or paint how bullying makes them feel. Again, encourage the use of colors to help represent those feelings.
  •  Create visual representations of the words spoken in bullying situations and words that can combat bullying. Help students see that words can be just as powerful as physical actions.
  • Draw or paint what might be going on inside the mind of the bully or the bullied. Discuss what can be done to change the picture.
  • Create bullying awareness posters. The posters can have statistics, words of encouragement, drawings, etc. Have students discuss what they want their posters to accomplish and how they think the words and pictures in the posters will help them to accomplish this goal.
  • As a class, make a video to educate others on bullying and bullying prevention.
  • Make a video celebrating the differences of individuals in the class.
  • Tie-dye orange shirts for Unity Day.
  • Recreate famous works of art that have helped people be more understanding and tolerant or made a difference.

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Language Arts

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photo credit: Kamilla Oliveira
Words have such incredible power for expression, making Language Arts another perfect subject for integration. Here are some ideas to get you started:
  • Practice creative writing by having students create stories centered around bullying and bullying prevention. Encourage them to explore what it is like to be a bully, to be bullied, what it might be like to live in a different culture, and different ways to combat bullying.
  • Read books that explore bullying and have students write extensions of the story, such as writing from the perspective of another character or creating an alternate ending.
  • Introduce and discuss vocabulary words like norms, bully, stereotype, prejudice, discrimination, tolerance, empathy.
  • Have students write reports on one another to help them see what life is like from the perspective of another. As students hear reports about their own classmates, they will learn that they have more commonalities than differences.
  • Write and act out various bullying situations. Go all out and make a full production with props, backdrops, and an audience to teach about bullying prevention.
  • Act out scenes from a book that deals with bullying

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​Math

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photo credit: Gil Abrantes
Math may seem far removed from bullying, however it is a very helpful tool to help us understand the true effects of bullying. Here are some ways to integrate math and bullying prevention:
  • Gather and report statistics on bullying.
  • Plot out your findings.
  • Create diagrams on what type of people are bullied, who bullies, and how bullying has changed throughout the years.

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​Science

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photo credit: incidencematrix
Science helps us make sense of the world around us, making it a perfect subject to integrate with bullying prevention education.
  • Mix up some slime to demonstrate how bullying can stick with people while also teaching about chemical reactions, principles of matter, and color mixing.  Our slime craft was created to accompany the reading of the picture book This is A. Blob and actually teaches several scientific principles. Read the full blog to learn how you can use this craft in your classroom.
  • Research and discuss the effects of bullying on the body. This can also be used in a health lesson.
  • Practice conducting research by studying where bullying occurs in the school, who it happens to, and who bullies.

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​Music

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photo credit: Kiera Chan
 Music is a powerful tool for expression and change:
  • Listen to songs that express what it’s like to be bullied or to be a bully
  • Listen to songs that are encouraging and uplifting
  • Talk about songs that have changed the world for the better and have students write their own songs to encourage others, raise awareness about bullying, or help bring bullying to an end.
  • Have students use instruments to express how bullying makes them feel or how they think the bully may be feeling on the inside.
  • Explore the music of different cultures and explain how these varieties influence one another and make the world of music more exciting.

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​Community and Leadership

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Photo found on Pacer.org/bullying
Civil engagement is important and should be taught at an early age. Here are some ways to build leadership skills and teach about community involvement while also teaching bullying prevention:
  • Guide students in organizing a bullying prevention assembly or awareness day.
  • Guide students in organizing a fundraiser to raise money for bullying prevention organizations. Research and choose a worthwhile organization as a class.
  • Create a bullying prevention policy as a class. Meet with other classes to discuss their policies and note any differences. Discuss how different cultures may have different standards and perspectives. Together with other classes, come up with some universal standards. Allowing students to play an active role in bullying prevention is crucial. Not only do they know best what they are dealing with and what they are feeling, they are more likely to follow standards they had a hand in creating.



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Social Studies/History

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Photo credit: Sarah Joy, joybot
 This is another subject with nearly endless possibilities. Below are just a few ideas of many:
  • As the class learns about stereotypes and prejudices in history, make the connection to stereotypes and prejudices in school. Remind students that bullying behavior can occur outside of the classroom and such mindsets have led to world wars and tragedies. From the arrival of the Puritans to the Civil Rights Movement, there are countless opportunities to show children what can happen when bullying and prejudice is allowed to continue.
  • Discuss how our biases and prejudices changed over the years and why those changes have occurred.
  • Discuss people in history who could be called upstanders, such as Martin Luther King Jr. Talk about why we admire them, where they drew their courage, and how we can follow their example today.
  • Highlight historic figures that used their differences to make a difference in the world (this can also be in every subject-mathematicians, programmers, artists, etc). 


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Research

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photo credit: Frederick Lang Jr.
Investigate and report on different types of bullying, causes, effects, etc, and report it to the class. This can be used in any subject. Take this opportunity to highlight the importance of seeking out information for one’s self rather than simply believing what one hears or is told. Encourage students to seek out the truth rather than spreading rumors. 


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Lunch and Recess

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photo credit: Heather Temske
Extend the lessons beyond the regular classroom and encourage students to sit with someone new at lunch or learn someone else’s game at recess. Learn games from other cultures and show students how different can be fun and make life more interesting.
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​I hope these ideas inspired you to integrate bullying prevention education throughout your classroom all year long! Bullying isn’t just something that happens in school and it isn’t something that just happens to children. Bullying can happen anywhere at any time and at any age. By boxing bullying prevention into a single day or a single lesson, we are being unrealistic and doing our children a disservice. Instead, let’s continue this vital lesson throughout the year and connect it to real people and experiences. Rather than just teaching our children about the world, let’s also teach them to change it. 

Which of these ideas do you like the most? Do you have any special ways of integrating bullying prevention into your classroom this year? Let us know in the comments!

Looking for a good book to integrate bullying prevention into your classroom? Check out This is A. BlobThis is A. Blob, by L.A. Kefalos! 
Bullying Prevention Across 5 Subjects, blog cover
I Can be an Upstander, blog cover
4 FREE tools for your author marketing toolkit, blog cover

This is A. Blob, by L.A. Kefalos picture book cover
This is A. Blob is a masterfully illustrated picture book suitable for children ages 4-8. Written by L.A. Kefalos, author of several animated shorts, including “Who’s that Knocking,” “Chug,” and “Croc, Pots and Wildebeests,” which was nominated for Best Independent Short Short, Ages 5-8, at the 2009 Kid’s First Film Festival and for best short at The Los Angeles Women’s International Film Festival, This is A. Blob is the first of a series following this bully. This first installment follows the antics of A. Blob, a slimy, purple, blob-like creature who wreaks havoc on the elementary school playground with its bullying ways. As the story progresses, however, readers learn that A. Blob may have more to it than meets the eye. Along with its powerful illustrations and rhymed verse for early readers, this story invites children to put themselves in the shoes of another. The book encourages readers to consider why bullies behave the way they do – and start to consider what can be done to help

A. Blob on a Bus, by L.A. Kefalos picture book cover
​​BOOK 2 NOW AVAILABLE!​
A. Blob is back, and this time it's on a bus! As the slimy bully pokes and pesters the children of Lincoln Elementary School, it seems like they will never be able to ride the bus in peace. That is, until one brave girl takes stand. 


Can one act of bravery change everything--including A. Blob? Find out in this second installment of The Blob Series!
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This is A. Blob SLIME Craft! Kids learn how bullying can become a big, slimy blob!

8/11/2015

1 Comment

 
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Books are a fantastic way to learn.


As we read, we begin to see ourselves and our own situations through those occurring on the page. Diving into adventures and immersing ourselves into created worlds, we hardly notice that lessons are being taught. Yes, books are an incredible teaching tool, and, as many parents and teachers have learned, the impact books have is compounded exponentially when combined with discussion and/or hands-on connective activities. We know this, so we bring you:
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For those who may not know, This is A. Blob is a 20 page illustrated children’s book that explores the topic of bullying. Written by Lori Kefalos, author of several award-nominated animated shorts, This is A. Blob is the first of a series following the antics of A. Blob, a slimy, purple, blob-like creature who wreaks havoc on the elementary school playground with its bullying ways. As the story progresses, however, readers learn that there might be more to A. Blob than meets the eye. Along with its powerful illustrations and rhymed verse for early readers, this story invites children to put themselves in the shoes of another and encourages readers to consider why bullies behave the way they do – and start to consider what can be done to help.


This is A. Blob Slime is a craft designed to help kids make connections with the story, inspire conversations, and internalize the message of the book. With school just around the corner, this is the perfect craft to begin discussions about the bullying that children will often face as they walk the halls.


We did this craft with 3 different children: One boy, J, age 4, and two girls, S, age 7, and N, age 5.



​First, we sat down and read the book together
​

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As we read, we let the children make their own comments, prompting them occasionally with questions such as “How do you think A. Blob is making the children feel?” or “What would you do if you were on the playground?” This started the girls thinking more deeply about the story. After the story was finished, we talked a bit more about bullying and standing up to bullies. It was interesting to see the different personalities of the kids shine through in their reactions—a good reminder that all children view the world differently and as caretakers we must be sensitive to their unique needs as we teach and equip them to face that world.

Both S and N responded right way that A. Blob was a “big meany”. They quickly recognized that this was why it had no friends. S said she would befriend A. Blob because it was lonely and that’s why it was being mean. This is how she would help it to be nice and how she would stop the bullying. N took a more direct approach and stated she would tell A. Blob to “Stop! Just stop being mean!” With the book and conversations fresh in their minds, we moved into the kitchen to begin the craft. They were very excited to make A. Blob!


Step 1: Gather your materials

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You will need: 1tsp Borax, ½ C warm water, 1 8oz bottle of glue, 2 nonstick mixing bowls, 2 spoons, food coloring, plastic baggies (This made enough goo for 3 people to have decent sized globs to play with)


Step 2: Mix your ingredients! ​

Mixing Steps:

-Empty entire bottle of glue into mixing bowl

-Fill empty glue bottle with warm water and pour into bowl with glue; mix

-Add desired color to glue/water mixture

-In the second bowl, mix 1tsp Borax with ½ C warm water

-Slowly add the Borax mixture to the glue mixture. Use hands to finish mixing for best results


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As we added our ingredients, we talked about the ingredients that make up a bully. What makes people act mean? I pointed out how, on their own, the ingredients were not sticky, but as they mixed, they created a big gooey blob, like A. Blob. In real life, our harsh words and mean actions mix together and add up to a big, sticky, mean mess that can hurt others badly. This seemed to make sense to them.
We also talked about how the goo was sticky and sliming all over our hands and made the connection to how mean words can stick with us. N’s mom reminded N of a time when a girl was mean to her for no reason and how they still talk about that time. She reminded N of how those words stuck with her and that helped N make the connection. We made the point that this is why we need to be nice to one another.

J was a bit too young to fully grasp the concept of bullying and, being a young energetic boy, he was far more interested in the slime than talking about feelings=) However, he really liked mixing all the ingredients together and seeing how the ingredients changed into a new form. He also liked to mix the colors in the goo, making it change colors, which we said was how people can change. He liked that idea and could visually see the differences. 


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Step 3: Play and learn with your slime!

One interesting thing happened that I didn’t expect while we were making the slime and that was role playing. Once the goo was mixed, N picked it up and said “I’m a big mean blob! I’m going to throw punches and be mean!” We didn’t have too much time and the kids were very energetic, but I can see doing this again and having N play out a situation similar to when the girl was mean to her and using the role play to try to understand why she (or the blob) was being mean and what could be done to help the situation.


S made a connection to the book when I didn’t expect it, too. She picked up the goo and let it fall down and said “It has no form or shape”, quoting from the book. This allowed me to mention how liquids will take the shape of whatever container they’re in. Not only is this a scientific principle, it can be connected to the story by saying that maybe if the container is love and friendship, the blob will take on that shape and stop bullying. Isn’t it cool how kids will make their own learning connections that we never even thought of??



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Another fun addition N and S thought of was to put faces on the plastic baggies (We put the goo in baggies after we were done playing with it, but if you have a kid who can never keep his craft on the table, putting it in a baggie from the get-go might be helpful!). This way, they could show how the blob was feeling. Neat! You could even have a “before” and “after” blob to show how A. Blob felt and acted before intervention and after.
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Always looking for a teaching opportunity, I tried to sneak some science into the craft, too. Because we only had red and blue dye, we were able to reinforce that blue and red make purple. We also talked about how the Borax would react with the glue to make a new substance. We hypothesized about what would happen if we added more water or more Borax. N thought more water would make the mixture “purpler” =)

Overall, all three kids loved doing the craft. It was such a cool way to mix science, literature, and feelings. Reading the story opened up the discussion on bullying and the process of making the craft and playing with the tactile goo was a fun and useful tool to keep that discussion going. We were able to talk about the mean girl, how her actions made N feel, what we can do when we see someone being bullied, different reasons why people bully, and how even mean people (and blobs!) can change. The book and the craft ended up being great, nonthreatening ice breakers for a very difficult topic.

Bonus- the goo wipes off of surfaces very easily

Caution: It will stick to clothes. Make sure the kids are wearing something durable. The glue will wash out, but the food coloring might stain lighter clothing. I would recommend plastic aprons for more energetic children, just to be on the safe side.



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As the school year draws near, consider picking up a copy of This is A. Blob and trying the craft out for yourself as a way to prepare your children for the bullying they may confront in class. Get creative and experiment, adding bits to the goo to represent different parts of the bully or writing a storyline for your blob. Share your results with us on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest and let us know in the comments what books or activities you’ve used to introduce and discuss bullying with your kids!

Purchase This is A. Blob from our website or Amazon

Chocolate covered bullying, easy to make chocolate pretzel treat blog cover
The Me Inside blog cover
Is it Bullying cut and sort activity blog cover
A. Blob on a Bus, by L.A. Kefalos picture book cover
​BOOK 2 NOW AVAILABLE!​
A. Blob is back, and this time it's on a bus! As the slimy bully pokes and pesters the children of Lincoln Elementary School, it seems like they will never be able to ride the bus in peace. That is, until one brave girl takes stand. 


Can one act of bravery change everything--including A. Blob? Find out in this second installment of The Blob Series!

1 Comment

    About Laughing Leopard Press

    Hello! We are Laughing Leopard Press, an independent book publisher from Akron, Ohio. At Laughing Leopard Press, we’re interested in publishing works that contribute to our understanding of this wonderful world. Through this blog, we hope to add to that understanding with commentary on life, literature, and a few things in between. We hope you enjoy the blog and take some time to talk with us in the comments or on our social media sites. Happy reading! 

    For some more great reading, check out our latest release, This is A. Blob by L. A Kefalos. This is A. Blob  is a picture book that deals with the sticky issue of bullying through an unlikely character that is a bit sticky itself! As readers follow the antics of A. Blob, they learn to put themselves in the shoes of another and discover there may be more to this bully than meets the eye…

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    This is A. Blob by L. A Kefalos. $14.95


    $1.00 is donated to charity for each book sold on this site--half to St. Jude's and the other half to PetFix Northeast Ohio.

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