From Big to Little, From Little to Big

Art Activity

Children will increase their awareness of how things in their environment change in size and what causes these changes.

WHAT YOU NEED

• Crayons, colored pencils, or markers
• Large, light-colored construction paper
• Pencils
• Paper for taking notes

WHAT TO DO

1. Briefly discuss with children different things that are big and little. Have them suggest some things that are big and some things that are little. After children have made a few suggestions, point out that not all big things stay big and some little things may become big. Give them some examples, such as a little acorn becomes a big oak tree, and a big balloon can become little when it loses air.

2. Divide the class into groups of four or five and give each group time to brainstorm a list of big things that become little or little things that become big. You may want to assign one or two people in each group to record the group's ideas. As children are working, remind them that the change in size can occur slowly over time or suddenly as the result of some event, such as a balloon popping.

3. After each group has recorded several ideas, tell children that they are each going to choose one idea to illustrate. Pass out a large piece of construction paper to each child. Have children fold their paper twice to create four sections. Then tell children to illustrate the idea they have chosen. Explain that they should show the change from big to little or little to big by using the sections of the paper. For instance, if they are drawing something that is big and becomes little, they should use the first section to show the object when it is big and the last section to show when it is little. The sections in between should show the gradual change in size.

4. Have children label their drawings with the words big and little in the appropriate sections. Then encourage children to share their drawings with the class. As children show their pictures, encourage them to explain why the object they drew changes size.

TEACHING OPTIONS

• To help children focus, you may want to assign each group a topic. For example, you may want to have two groups that think of and illustrate big things that become little and two other groups that think of and illustrate little things that become big.

• You may want to suggest charades as a way for children to share their finished drawings. When everyone is done, children can take turns acting out how the object they drew changes size. Children can then show their pictures.

• If children are having trouble thinking of things that change size, you may want to make some suggestions such as, a little snowball rolling down a snowy hill becomes a big snowball, an umbrella can be little when closed and big when opened, a new pencil is big but becomes little with use, and the moon looks big when it's full and little as it wanes.