Magical moving dots

I have had this book titled, “Mouse Magic” by Ellen Stoll Walsh for a very long time but if you don’t have this book, the idea I am about to share with you is still great fun and you can easily make your own mouse magic…

“Mouse Magic” by Ellen Stoll Walsh is about a magical crow that shows the mouse how shapes can move when they are close together (optical illusions).  It is wonderfully illustrated but just a bit over the head of my students, so we did more of a picture walk than a read-aloud…

As each optical illusion came up in the book, Mrs. Courtney invited the children to take a close look and stare at the shapes to see if the shapes were moving (just like the crow asks the mouse to do)…

But the children were not able to see the shapes moving. They loved the idea of magical moving shapes but Mrs. Courtney and I got a giggle out of the children as they stared at the book but didn’t quite get how the shapes were supposed to be moving on the page…

But we weren’t worried that the shapes didn’t move on the page because we could make our own magical shapes that moved. All that is needed are two clear plastic cups and some sticker dots…

The children put sticker dots on the outside of both of their clear plastic cups any where they desired…

Once they had a set of stickers on the outside of both cups, the children put one cup inside the other and then it was time to make our color dots move…

To make the dots move, the children had to figure out how to hold one cup still while moving the other cup. For some, it is easier to gently hold the outside cup and then turn the lip of the inside cup. For others, it was easier to hold the lip of the inside cup and turn the outside cup.  This is kind of hard to explain so I hope you get the idea. It takes a little practice and some fine motor skill concentration and wrist movements (which is an excellent part of this process) and then presto! The dots are moving across each other!

Super cool and super easy to make some mouse magic!

Want to see it in action?  Then take a look at the video below!  (You may need to come to the blog post to view this video if reading this post by email or a reader!

Available on Amazon

PS. I couldn’t find any new “Mouse Magic” books on Amazon to share a link with you today – but their are used versions.

Deborah J Stewart

Deborah J Stewart

Every time I think I know everything I need to know about teaching young children, God says, "Hold on a minute!" and gives me a new challenge.

Let me tell ya...

With each new challenge that you overcome, you will find yourself better equipped and more passionate about teaching young children.

God didn't call wimps to lead, teach, or care for His children. Nope, he has high expectations, so get ready. You will have to give your very best but after teaching for over 30 years, I can tell you that it is a wonderful and rewarding journey.

Whenever your calling feels hard, just remember, 'He who began a good work in you (and in the children you serve) will be faithful to complete it.'

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