Mr. Hamburger and the Ants
Have you ever heard the story about the hamburger with eyeballs that loves to frighten ants? Or the ants that build their houses from chicken eggs? Or about the majestic castle for ants that is guarded by eagles? These are all the comical, brilliant ideas that our little kiddos dreamed up when challenged with the task of creating a home for ants! The best thing about seeing them share their creations is that all the kids become so curious about the big-picture story. Many will begin to ask questions: Why does the hamburger have eyeballs and a mustache? How do you get from inside one egg to the other? What kind of eagles are keeping guard over the ants? Sometimes the answers are quite silly, but exploring their imaginations allows them to think more critically not only as an individual but as an entire group. And plus, they love to make their friends laugh!
Many other kids scavenged around their homes for scrap materials to create everything from cozy camping cars and jet-pack superhero suits to smiling robots and entire villages! You may catch some glimpses of pizza boxes, lego remnants, or soda cans that were engineered to serve a new purpose. Through discussions about their projects, the kids are not only thinking about what is right in front of them but also about how such things came to be. How did you create that tube from cardboard? What tools did you use to attach the tube to the base? These kinds of questions and conversations encourage the kids to find interesting solutions for their own future projects.
In addition to thinking of material and process, many of our students share thoughts about others. Sometimes it’s about their siblings, parents, or pets and other times about people in their communities. As a reflection on the California wildfires, Yuju’s “Dog Robot” invention, decked out with an alarm and water hose, acts as a solution to help relieve the firefighters in dangerous situations. We love to see that our Tale Tree camp members are not only creative but also deeply thoughtful in how they express their creativity. Check out their beautiful artwork below!
Challenge 1
Design a transportation vehicle only using recycled materials from in and around your home.
Challenge 2
Decorations can be found on anything from buildings to clothing to jewelry. Make a collage using mixed materials, of a decorative object of your choice. What is the story behind this object?
Challenge 2
There is so much smoke in CA due to the fires. What would you recommend people do to prevent more natural disasters from happening?
Special Challenge
Draw an image of the Emerald Forest, Crystal Lake, and/or the Tale Tree Village!
Kids’ own challenges
Little Ones
Imagine you are as tiny as an ant. Illustrate, build, or design what your environment would look like.
2. Make a collage of your most favorite meal.
