October’s theme for www.readingtokids.org “Halloween, Magic & Monsters. The books “Monster Trouble!” by Lane Fredrickson – Kindergarten; “There was an Old Mummy who swallowed a Spider” by Jennifer Ward – 1st grade; “Frankestein: a Monstrous Parody” by Rick Walton – 2nd grade; “Zen Ghosts” by Jon J. Muth -3rd grade; “Lulu’s Mysterious Mission” by Judith Viorst – 4th grade; and “Howliday Inn (Bunnicula & Friends)” by James Howe – 5th grade.
I read to the 3rd grade. Zen Ghosts is a great story and wonderfully illustrated. I brought battery powered tea candles and pen flashlights for our 3 grade teams of readers. The tea candles were our campfires and the pen lights let us read with the classroom lights off. The kids loved the feel of reading ghost stories around a campfire. The kids also enjoyed holding the lights for the readers. The 3rd graders had a lot of fun making Haunted Houses too. Check out www.readingtokids.org They are having their annual fun raising drive help if you can.
Last time I showed you step by step how to make Haunted Houses & Castles. Fairy Tale Castles are the same process just use White Cardstock instead of Black. Fold the paper in half and the outer edges of the halves back to center. Draw your design keeping in mind each of the four sections are your walls. I used an artist pen to finalize the details and watercolors to finish. I colored both sides of the cardstock for the Fairy Tale Castles. Markers, colored pencils and crayons will work just fine too! For a Larger Castle use to pieces of Black or White Cardstock for the Haunted or Fairy Tale Style. Fold each piece in Half. Draw your Castle Design. If Haunted Type use white crayons or gellyroll pens to complete the details. For Fairy Tale bright Colors with Markers, Pencils or Crayons. Add Bats, Ghosts, the Moon and/or Stars taped to wires that you tape to the inner walls before connecting the walls with tape.
Did you know there are many Dinosaur Halloween themed books? Here are a few I found:
Syd Hoff’s “Danny and the Dinosaur Happy Halloween”, “Mama Rex & T Halloween Night” by Rachel Vail, “How Do Dinosaurs Say Trick or Treat?” by Jane Yolen, “Dinosaurs Halloween” by Liza Donnelly, “My First Dino-Halloween” and “Dino-Halloween” by Lisa Wheeler, “T-Rex Trick-Or-Treats” by Lois G. Grambling, “Tiny T. Rex and the Tricks of Treating” by Jonathan Stutzman, “The Tinysaurs Trick-or-Treat” by Patricia Hegarty, “Duck, Duck Dinosaur Perfect Pumpkin” by Kallie George and “The Dinosaurs Halloween Adventures” by Jessica Brady. Check Out your local Library for these and other books on Dinosaur Adventures.
These I have read:
These I haven’t yet:
Even simple Brown Paper Bags can make Fun Halloween Crafts. First draw your image Pumpkin, Spider, Haunted House, Ghost or Hatching Dinosaur! Color with markers, crayons, pencils or watercolors. Make a few cut-outs to let the light shine through. Set a battery powered tea candle inside the bag and enjoy day & night.
Join Me & Delores del Rio Dilophosaurus at
The E. P. Foster Library in Ventura
on Saturday November 23rd at 11:00 am
for a Presentation of
Dinosaur Fun Facts & Fiction followed by a
How to Draw Dinosaurs Activity!
Stay Tuned for More Dinosaur Fun Facts, Fiction & Crafts!
Consider a Membership with the Museum. In addition to Supporting Their Valuable Work there are Benefits to You. Special Preview Events for Members Only as well as Virtual Access Exclusive for Members. Below are 3 of my favorites Museums. For more information and access to general public eLearning check out the links below.
The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County www.nhm.org under Research & Collections / Digitized Collections will allow you to browse their Collections. Check out the latest Activities on their site. October 3rd – 31st Boney Island – an interactive Halloween light-up experience. Look for Gnatalie the Green Dinosaur as early as November 17th.
The American Natural History Museum www.amnh.org You will find eLearning for Families, Students & Educators. Explore the Museum Virtually. Check Out SciCafe: Video Talks and Meet the Icons: Stories behind the Exhibits! There are Video Series covering Behind the Scenes at the Museum with Space & Dinosaur Explainers.
Chicago’s Field Museum www.fieldmuseum.org You can talk to “Maximo the Titanosaur” online, Yes Really! Visit Sue the largest T-Rex discovered! Check Out “Brain Scoop” and the Learning Resources – many are also in Spanish.
Check Out Your Libraries eBooks. My local Library has over 900 eBooks on Dinosaurs! Here are four books for Drawing Dinosaurs that you might find at your Library. Ask your Librarian about others.
1-2-3 Draw Dinosaurs and other Prehistoric Animals A step by step guide by Freddie Levin (2001)
Draw 50 Dinosaurs and other Prehistoric Animals by Lee J. Ames (1977)
Draw it Dinosaurs by Patricia Walsh (2006)
I Can Draw Dinosaurs by Terry Longhurst (2003)
Stay Safe & Well
“Encouraging the Appreciation of Art and Education through the Inspiration of Dinosaurs”
Paul & Prehistoric Pals
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Thank you!