Things That Make Me GLOW - Activity Instructions

Tune In

While reading Charlie's Tales: Sylvie and the Star Tree, invite a discussion around the difference between the gnomes in the illustrations.

What makes each of these gnomes different from each other?
What is the same about these gnomes?

Children may be quick to identify the physical differences between the gnomes and may need some prompting to look beyond the appearances.

Are some gnomes showing different feelings or emotions?
Are the gnomes doing different things?

Turn the conversation to reflect the differences between the group of children in your class, “How are you the same or different to your friends?”

As a group, think of ways in which these differences create benefit, for the individual or for others. For example, if a child highlights that they are taller than their peers, ask them, “How does being tall help you or your friends/family?”

Find Out

Move the discussion towards other ways we might be different and how they may just be the things that help us to ‘glow’.

Can you think of something about you that makes you happy or proud?
What is something you do that makes other people feel happy?

Children might suggest things they have previously been told about themselves, at home or at kinder such as

I am helpful.
I am a good friend.
I am a wonderful listener.
I am strong.

Encourage children to think of things specific to them!

“It is what makes each of us ‘glow like a star’ individually that create a ‘sky full of shimmering stars’ that light up the sky’”

Take Action

It’s time to put all of the children’s glowing qualities and their creativity to create a masterpiece!

Working individually with children or in small groups, have them begin to draw a sky full of stars using oil pastels on white paper.

The below page may be used as inspiration.

Here is an opportunity to explore early mark-making. Some children may draw stars like asterisks *, some may replicate triangles, and others may draw dots or lines across the page. All these marks improve children’s fine motor skills, strengthen their hand muscles, and improve their hand-eye coordination.

Once the stars have been drawn, invite children to paint over their whole page with watercolour paints (or watered-down poster paint). The oil of the pastels will resist the paint, creating a glowing effect!

Once each masterpiece is dry, it can be individualised with the child’s whole-body photo (either black and white or colour) and statements about things that make them ‘GLOW’!

Ask children firstly what they love about themselves:

What are you really good at that makes you feel happy and proud? (focusing on the feeling rather than the outcome)
What’s something about you that makes other people feel happy? (Focusing on how they make other people feel with their actions/characteristics)

If working in a small group, peers may have suggestions for each others ‘glowing’ characteristics, which can be a confidence boost for children as they start to see their shining qualities through the eyes of others.

Once they are all complete and on display, draw attention to the ‘sky full of shimmering shooting stars that light up the sky’ and how we all have different things that make us ‘glow’.

Listen to all of the different ways we glow.
Look at this beautiful sky of shining stars and all of the things we can do that make us all feel happy and proud and glowing!

Things That Make Me GLOW

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