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Hoppers Movie Review & Learning Activities

We recently saw an early release of the Disney & Pixar'd movie, Hoppers. Some kids’ movies are made to distract. Others quietly invite children to think more deeply about the world around them. Hoppers lands firmly in the second category. At first glance, it looks like a fast-paced animated adventure. But beneath the humor and movement is a story that challenges kids to consider perspective, responsibility, and what it really means to interact with nature rather than simply observe it. Animation Review: Visual Storytelling That Serves the Message The animation in Hoppers does far more than entertain. Because the story centers on a human consciousness transferred into a robotic animal body, the film relies heavily on movement, sensory cues, and point-of-view shifts to communicate meaning. The camera drops low to the ground. Sounds feel sharper. Reactions are instinctual rather than verbal. Animals move like animals, not humans in costumes. For children, this makes the...
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Calendar Time: Learning Fun!

Why Calendars Matter

In our fast-paced world, it's easy to overlook the simple act of looking at a calendar. Yet, this seemingly mundane tool plays a vital role in our lives, helping us:

Organize our days: From school schedules to doctor's appointments, calendars keep us on track.

Understand the passage of time: They visually represent the sequence of days, weeks, and months, fostering a sense of time and anticipation.

Plan for the future: Birthdays, holidays, and special events are marked on calendars, creating excitement and a sense of purpose.

A Brief History of Our Calendar

The calendar we use today, the Gregorian calendar, has a fascinating history. It evolved over centuries, influenced by astronomical observations and religious practices.

A. Ancient Roots: Early calendars were often lunar-based, tracking the cycles of the moon.

B. The Julian Calendar: Introduced by Julius Caesar, it was a significant step forward, introducing a leap year to account for the Earth's slightly longer than 365-day orbit.

C. The Gregorian Calendar: Pope Gregory XIII refined the Julian calendar in 1582, resulting in the system we use today.

Calendar Time in the Elementary Classroom

Calendar time is a valuable learning experience for young children. Through interactive activities, they can:

1. Develop number sense: Counting days, weeks, and months reinforces number recognition and sequencing skills.

2. Learn about patterns: Identifying repeating patterns in the calendar (weekends, months) helps develop critical thinking and observation skills.

3. Build vocabulary: Exploring concepts like "yesterday," "today," "tomorrow," "past," and "future" enriches their language development.

4. Understand the concept of time: Calendar time helps children grasp the passage of time and its impact on their daily lives.

5. Develop social skills: Participating in calendar activities fosters teamwork, cooperation, and a sense of community within the classroom.

Making Calendar Time Engaging

To make calendar time more interactive and fun:

Use colorful and engaging visuals: Incorporate pictures, manipulatives, and hands-on activities.

Involve children in the process: Let them help mark special events, count the days, and even create their own mini-calendars.

Relate calendar concepts to real-life experiences: Discuss upcoming events, plan class outings, and talk about how time affects their daily routines.

Try out kid-friendly calendars, planners or journals. Introduce older children to a child focused planner so they can plan aspects of their day and 

Take Away

By incorporating calendar time into their daily routine, elementary students gain a valuable understanding of time, develop essential skills, and build a foundation for future learning. So, let's make the most of this simple yet powerful tool!



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