Ellie’s Dragon

Author: Bob Graham Illustrator: Bob Graham Publisher: Walker Books Australia, Australia, 2020

Make miniature furniture (couch and chairs)

What you need:

• Eggcarton• 12Beads(flatoneswithholesinthemiddle)• Paint• Paintbrush• Hotgluegun(tousewithadultsupervision)• Optional:yoghurtcontainer,feltfabricscraps,acamera

1. Tomakeaminicouch,cutofftheendofanemptyeggcarton

lid-about5cmfromtheend. 2. Nowcuttheotherendoftheeggcartonlidinhalf,sothatyou

havetwocorners.Youmayneedtotrimthemsotheyaremoresquareinshape.Thesewillbeyourchairs.

3. Usingathickpaintbrush,paintyourcouchandtwochairs.Makesureyoucovertheminpaintsononeoftheoriginalcartonisshowing.

4. Select4beadsandwiththehelpofanadultuseahotglueguntocarefullyattachthemtoeachcorneroftheundersideofyourcouchcarton.Makesureitistheflatsideofthebeadthatyougluetothecarton.Thiswillhelpyourcouchtositflatwhenyouplaceitonanevensurface.

Ellie’s Dragon

Themes: Friendship, Imagination, Change, Childhood, Transition Activity Age: All ages

5. Dothesamefortwochairs.Glueabeadontothecornerundertheflatsideofeachchair.

6. Whilstyou'rewaitingforthefurnituretodry,youmightliketo:• makeaminicoffeetableoutofyoghurt

containercutinhalf(andpaintit)• createarugforyourfurnitureoutofafelt

scrap,andaddsmalllittlecutsintoeachendtocreatearug-likefringe

• handsewminiaturecushionsoutoffabricscraps.

7. Onceyourfurnitureiscompletelydryyoucanenjoyarrangingitintoaminilivingarea.Invitesomeofyourfavouriteminiaturetoystorelaxonthecouchandchairs.

8. Youmightalsohavesomeofyourowncreativeideasformakingotherpiecesofminiaturefurnitureoutofoldcontainersandscrapmaterials.

Write a list of instruction for how to look after a special friend like 'Scratch' from the story. What do they need? How can you help care for them?

Author: Freya Blackwood Illustrator: Freya Blackwood Publisher: Harper Collins, 202o

Make an activity spinner

What you need:

• Bowltotracearound• Plainpaper• Cardboard(partofacerealboxorcardboardcarton)• Pencil• Colouredpensandpencils• Skewer(orsomethingtopokeaholewith)• Splitpin• PaperClip • Glueandtape

1. Tracearoundalargebowlontoapieceofpaperandthen

againontocardboard. 2. Cutoutthepaperandthecardboardcircle. 3. Foldthepapercircledownthemiddle.Thenfoldyourhalf

circleinhalfagain,tomakeaquarter.Foldthequarterinhalf. 4. Unfoldyourcircleandyoushouldnowseeeightequalparts. 5. Oneachoftheeighths,inpencilwritedownadifferent

activitythatyouenjoydoingwithafriend.Forexample,baking,playingLego,shootinghoopsetc.

The Unwilling Twin Themes:

Siblings, Childhood, Friendship, Beach, Summer, Conflict, Sharing, Individuality Activity Age: Lower & middle primary

6. Selectadifferentcolourforeachoftheactivityportionsofyourwheelanddecorateeachone.Youcoulddrawasmallpictureifthereisspacetoo.

7. Drawanarrowshapeontoathickpieceofpaperorcard.Thisshouldbeabouthalfaslongasoneoftheeighthsinyourwheel.Cutitout.

8. Glueyourpaperwheelontothecardboardcircle.Ifyouhaveaccesstoalaminator,youmayliketoalsolaminateyourwheeltomakeitstronger.

9. Pokeaholethroughthecentreofyourwheel(whereallthelinesmeet)withaskewercarefully.Thenpokeyoursplitpinthroughthehole,youmayneedtowriggleittohelpitfitthroughthehole.Don'tpushitallthewaydown.

10. Foldtheendsofthesplitpinacrossthebackofthewheel,firmly. 11. Nowslipapapercliparoundtheheadofthesplitpinandattachyourarrowtothepaperclip

usingtape.Thiswillcreateyourspinner. 12. Youcannowenjoyselectinganactivitytodowithafriend,bytakingturnstospinthespinnerand

seewhatactivityitlandson.

Author: Anna McGregor Illustrator: Anna McGregor Publisher: Scribe Publishing, Australia, 2020

Make your own tidal rockpool

What you need:

• Largeplasticcontainer• Rocksandstonesofdifferentsizes• Cup• Water• Optional:plasticseacreatures(oryoucanmaketheseoutofclay

orplaydough)• Optional:sand

1. Placestonesandrocksaroundthebottomofyourcontainer.

Arrangethemsotheyareinvaryinglevelstocreateyourrockpool.Youcanalsoaddsomesandtoo.

2. Addminiseacreaturestoyourpool. 3. Discusswhichseacreatureswillbeunderwaterfirstwhen

youaddthewater. 4. Fillupthecupwithwaterandpouritintotherockpool. 5. Observewhichseacreaturesarecoveredfirst.Whathappens

tothestonesandsandthatarecoveredwithwater?

Anemone is Not the Enemy

Themes: Oceans, Habitats, Natural World, Marine Life, Friendship, Inclusion, Exclusion, Humour Activity Age: Early years, Lower primary

6. Continuetofillupyourrockpooltocreateahightideandpointouthowtheseacreaturesarenowunderthewater.

7. Tocreatelowtide,scoopoutthewaterwiththejugorcup.8. Photosoftherockpoolsinlowandhightidecouldbetakenandthenlaminatedto

createabackdropforfutureimaginaryplayusingseacreaturesandotherobjects.

Sketch your rock pool during high tide and low tide. Enjoy some sensory play with your rock pool. Discuss how sea creatures found in rock pools have to adapt to survive in the fluctuating tides. They are sometimes exposed to air, and at other times submerged under water. They have special features to help them survive in this environment. For example, some suction on to rocks, others have hard shells to protect and hide them, and some have tentacles to catch passing prey.

Author: Maggie Hutchings Illustrator: Felicita Sala Publisher: Affirm Press, 2020

Code the Cockroach

What you need:

• Maskingtapeorsheetsofpaper• Scissors • Printablepictureandarrowcards(seeattached)

1. Createa4x4squarecodingmatonthefloorusingmaskingtape

orsheetsofpaper.2. Printandcuteachofthepicturecardsprovidedandplacethem

intosquaresonthemat(start,pinata,cake,vacuum,binandhome)

3. Printandcutthearrowcardsprovided.4. Writethecodeforthecockroachusingthesearrowcardsto

showhimthepathtowalkthroughoutthecodingmat,passingeachobjectastheyappearinthestorybeforefinishingatthehome(start>partygames>birthdaycake>vacuum>bin>home).

5. Onceyouhavecreatedthecode(path),imagineyouarethecockroachfromthestoryandfollowyourowninstructionstomovethroughthecodingmat...oraskafriendtofollowyourinstructions.Trycreatingdifferentpathsforthecockroach.

6.

Your Birthday was the BEST! Themes:

Celebrations, Birthdays, Party, Humour Activity Age: Middle and Upper Primary

6. Askafriendtocreateapathforyoutofollow.

Going further by creating an online version of this game using a simple coding software program or app.

r cB CA B�ok of _�he -Year: f ;f li C� ldhood ac�;v{�J _s�;� . · . . �/ ·. ¾�'Ii

Scan the QR code to view each story on Stor{Box Library and complete the act1v1ty. There 1s a ch-allenge for each story as well - see if you can use your eagle eyes to find all the answers! After watching each story, colour in the stars to rate each book. Once you've watched all six stories there is a space to choose your favourite one!

Flap those wings! You've landed in [!]�1S[!]..,.:;J.�the world of BIRDS! 1�· · t::1r-.�

Scan the QR code to watch [!)fi■,.-.,p;:Busy Beaks, by Sarah Allen.

After watching the story draw your favourite bird from the book.

How many pelicans are fishing for their breakfast?

Snuggle up with the ones you love - you've landed in the world of FAMILIES!

Scan the QR code to watch Who's Your Real Mum? by Bernadette Green.

After watching the story, write or draw one thing your parent does that makes you feel special.

How many polar bears can you spot in the story?

WOOF WOOF! You've landed in the world of DOGS!

Scan the QR code to watch We Love You Magoo, by Briony Stewart.

After watching the story, put these events from the story in order by numbering them 1-5.

D Magoo drinks from the toilet

D Magoo scratches the door

D Magoo eats the teddy

D Magoo jumps in the car

D Magoo eats the breakfast

� What colour is the stripe on w Magoo's food bowl?

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