Apps on the News: Mekorama

Toddler Art Class: Crumpled paintings

Crumple, paint, unfold, repeat.  Or.... just paint some paper.

Art Project: Crumpled Paper Paintings
Supplies:
Liquid Watercolors
paper
paintbrushes

Book:  oh my goodness.  It's been too long since I actually did this class and now I can't remember what book I read.  If it comes back to me, I'll return and edit this post.  Sorry.  In the meantime, feel free to choose any book about painting, messiness or crumpling up paper.  The suggested title of Ish by Peter Reynolds was a little too long for this group.

The Supper Club Presents: Apps that are Out of the Ordinary

So many apps are often just the same old ideas re-hashed -- this batch of apps takes old standards to new heights!

There seem to be at least a kajillion kids apps that claim to teach kids their numbers, letters, colors and shapes.  They often do these with memory matching games, puzzles, coloring pages and other mostly uninspiring activities.  Here are a few apps that have incorporated those concepts and used those games in fresh, innovative and exceptional ways.

AZZL by Jutiful (best puzzle app) (iOS, $)

Sound memo by mixtvision (memory game for SOUND instead of images) (iOS, $)

Fiete match by Ahoiii (memory game with a cute incorporated opponent)(iOS/Android $)

Metamorphabet by vector park (best ABC’s) (iOS/Android, $)

Tayasui Sketches by Tayasui (excellent open-ended art) (iOS only, Free with IAP)

Sago Mini Doodlecast by Sago Mini (interactive drawing/coloring) (iOS only, $)

Color Vaccuum by Curious Hat (seek and find colors in the real world, steampunk vibe) (iOS, $)

Just Colors by Appracadabra (color identification in the real world) (iOS, $)

Endless Numbers by Originator (best numbers app) (iOS/Android, free w/IAP)

Fiete Math by Ahoiii (best basic math app) (iOS, $)

Dreii by Etter (excellent app about the physics of shapes) (iOS, Android, $)

 For this month's craft, we took a storytime standard (the stick puppet) and made it better with a mouth that opens and closes!  You can see the basic concept here, but I got the idea from the great book Make These Toys: 1-1 Clever Creations using everytday items by Heather Swain (p. 72)

Apps in the News: HangArt

Read my written review here

Toddler Art Class: Chalk + Sandpaper

Chalk and sandpaper is a very satisfying combination!

Art Project: Drawing with Chalk on Sandpaper
Supplies:
chalk
sandpaper

Book:  
Chalk / Thomson, Bill

WonderWorks: Wet vs. Dry

Let's talk about what things change when they get wet -- how do they change? Is the change permanent?  So many topics to explore!

Today's Topic: Wet vs. Dry
Supplies:
Things that DO change drastically (sometimes permanently) in water -- feathers, cornstarch-based packing pellets, tissue paper
Things that do NOT change in water -- coins, paper clips, bouncy balls, painted wooden blocks
Things that change a little bit in water -- popsicle sticks, pompoms, pipe cleaners
buckets or bowls
water
paper to chart your results on (optional)

Book:  
The wet dry book / Spohn, Kate
This is a GREAT book for the topic as the pages are alternately matte or shiny to mimic things that are wet or dry.

Apps in the News: Blue Hat, Green Hat

Here's my review of the Blue Hat, Green Hat app from Loud Crow!