Grid Drawing and Chalk Fun

 

 When I use the chalk board or the white board, I have to hide the chalk and markers, the same way I do at home. If I let the kids have them they get used up quickly and then I have nothing to teach with.
But, there is always a box of colored chalk for outdoor play, and yesterday I promised the kids that we would use it. They were so excited! But today, only the boys showed up (which was fine). I felt bad that the girls would be missing out.
Chalk drawings are a great opportunity to teach kids about grid drawing.
I found the image of this cool alligator on Pinterest: Cool Chalk Alligator 
The first thing I did was teach the boys how to draw this. It was difficult to teach drawing without Spanish.

There was a boy there who could speak English and I tried to get him to translate for me. But, every time I asked him to repeat something in Spanish, he would repeat it in English. It got sooo funny that even the other boys were smacking him on the shoulder. I could tell by my limited Spanish and by Jonathan's expression that he was saying something to the effect of, "You dummy, she can speak Americano, she wants you to repeat it in Spanish so we can understand her!!! What is wrong with you!!!!" So, with that, I stopped asking the boy, and used the translator on my phone.
After drawing the alligator on regular size paper, I put a grid on mine and labelled each square from 1-24


I cut out each square and then we went outside. The 'courtyard' of the Centre is fully enclosed and cemented. The perfect spot for chalk drawing.
Without the wi-fi, I can't use the translator app on my phone. So, there were a few trips back inside to explain things.
The boys were determined.
They all helped draw the grid much bigger. I passed out the small squares of paper and I did one square first. The kids get so determined, that they don't wait for any more instruction, they just jump on it.
I withheld all the small squares until they all competed one. Ok, they all did it right...vominos! I passed out the other squares. I withheld #'s 4, 7 and 12 just for the right moment of laughter. the boys would run with the square, then come back and say, "Nada!", and I'd say, "Oh, you're done!"

Then it was time for some photos. They had no idea that this part was happening. I hope to figure out where to get photos printed before I leave. Lots of laughter and giggles when they saw the photos:
Jonathan, Jorge and Ramses.