They love illusions. Get an illusion book and think of ways to make simple projects for them to do.

For example, the Mach illusion has two a large white square next to a large black one. Two smaller same gray squares are placed in the middle of the larger ones. The grays suddenly seem quite different.

Etoy version can use copying. Start with a rectangle, make it into a large square, copy it and then use the color tool to make one white and one black. Copy another one, make it smaller, and color it gray. Copy it. Put the small squares in the middle of the large ones and you will see the perceptual difference even though the two gray squares were copies. Now write a script for one of the gray squares to move horizontally at some speed and use "bounce" to reflect. Make a similar script for the other gray square with a different speed. Start them moving. They will intersect with each other and prove they are the same color, and they will move into the larger squares and seem to be different colors.

Another one for 6 year olds is the camouflage one that is on squeakland, with a grasshopper and grass. Make the hopper and grass the same color and the grasshopper will be hard to see unless it is moved. This works for fish, etc.

Cheers,

Alan

At 06:18 AM 8/31/2005, Mark Kesling wrote:

I am teaching 60 1st graders in 6 40 minute periods with 10 in each period per week. This means I have contact with all the 1st graders once a week. I started using Squeak with them yesterday and it was an overwhelming success. Does anyone else work with this age group? Any tips anyone has?

Thanks,

Mark

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