Clutterbugs by Maura Pierlot and Maya Bora is a neat tale of waste mindfulness wrapped in the gift of creativity, friendship and play, fashioned with whimsy, lively action and heart. This playful and vibrant book is also a valuable resource for introducing young readers to and empowering their positive sustainability practices, personal responsibility and thoughtfulness for others and the world around us. With mountain loads of teaching and learning potential, enjoy a select few activities to choose from following your reading with your young environmental warriors!
For ages 3 – 8.
Discussion
Tuning in:
Show students some used, clean household items (or pictures of items) that could be sorted into categories; KEEP, TOSS, REUSE or RECYCLE. Use separate tubs, or draw a table for students to decide which category each item fits in. Some items might include: old socks or shoes, paper rolls/tubes, a vase or gardening pot, picture frame, various toys, sporting equipment, clothing/towels, etc.
Ask students to discuss their reasoning behind their choices. Discuss the difference between ‘wants’ and ‘needs’.
Is it important to own a lot of things? Why or why not?
Did the activity prompt students to think about: Being more creative? Being more mindful of their shopping habits? Their responsibility for their belongings? Their responsibility for the environment? Why are these important?
Look at the cover of ‘Clutterbugs‘. What do you notice about the cover that might tell you about the characters’ problem? What inferences can you make from the title? How do you think the characters might feel in the story? Why? How does this cover make you feel?
After Reading:
How does this story empower us to consider being more responsible for the ways we manage our belongings and how we can be more mindful of how much we buy and its effects on the environment?
Find out the meaning of the term ‘sustainability’.
In what ways can we reduce the amount of rubbish being wasted?
Activities
ENGLISH: Creative / Narrative Writing
AC9EFLE01 AC9EFLE05 AC9E1LE05 AC9E2LE05 AC9EFLY06 AC9E1LY06 AC9E2LY06
Students can write short stories, poems or lists about the following line with their own innovative descriptions about what happens next. Include interesting or funny words or phrases to add humour / emotion and ‘SHOW not TELL’ strategies.
Students write an innovative piece using the line, ‘I love mess …’. Illustrate.
Sustainability and STEAM Challenge: Design and Build Your Own Sustainable Toys
Science – Physical sciences: AC9SFU02 AC9S1U03
Design and Technologies: AC9TDEFP01 AC9TDE2K01 AC9TDE2K02 AC9TDE2K03 AC9TDE2P01 AC9TDE2P02 AC9TDE2P03 AC9TDE2P04
Visual Arts: AC9AVA2E01 AC9AVAFD01 AC9AVA2D01 AC9AVAFC01 AC9AVA2C01 AC9AVAFP01 AC9AVA2P01
Discuss the term ‘sustainability’ and its importance in protecting our environment. Why should we not be ‘wasteful’? What can we do to manage the amount of waste in our own households? Encourage students to think about and use the terms, ‘Recycle’, ‘Reduce’, ‘Reuse’, ‘Repurpose’ and ‘Donate’.
Students can design, create and evaluate their own handmade toys from re-useable or recyclable materials, including cereal boxes, bottles, lids, repurposed household items, old fabrics, paper products, etc.
Evaluate its function, stability, durability, and aesthetic appeal. Communicate the results. Ideas for DIY toys include:
- Rocket or Clutterbug Climber (example instructions can be found at Buggy and Buddy)
- DIY Kites
- Balloon-powered Rocket
- Paper Roll Toys or Puppets
Visual Arts / Crafts: Woolly Clutterbug Creatures
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Students could use wool to make their own clutterbug pom poms. Use fabric glue to stick on eyes. Arms, legs, antennae and wings could be tied on with string or pipe cleaners. An easy instructional video can be found at: DIY Pom Poms – Super FAST Pom Poms with Your Hand
See how Maura’s reading and craft event turned out!
Recycled Paper Collage Art
Use a range of recycled paper and materials to create a ‘mountainous heap’ collage, including magazine or catalogue clippings, newspaper, coloured and patterned paper, cardboard, and so on. Students could add further details with paint or black markers. They might like to recreate a page from the book, or design their own scene of a ‘messy’ or ‘tidy’ room.
BONUS!
Find these activities and more via Maura’s website at the link below.
Comprehensive teacher notes and more activities can be found at Maura Pierlot’s website here.
*Teaching notes prepared by Romi Sharp. Clutterbugs is written by Maura Pierlot, illustrated by Maya Bora, published by Big Ideas Press.
#literacy #science #STEAM #sustainability #visualarts
Please find Maura Pierlot at her website: https://maurapierlot.com/ and on Instagram and Facebook.
Please find Maya Bora on Instagram, Facebook and Behance.
Clutterbugs is available for pre-order purchase through Big Ideas Press and The Book Cow.
Join in the fun antics with Maura Pierlot and her animated Clutterbugs, sharing a mountain of goodness with readers across the blogosphere!
#thequicksixinterview #clutterbugs #sustainability #giftgiving #friendship #picturebook #justkidslit
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