Cartoon Dinosaurs

If you need to keep a child amused, introducing them to a cartoon dinosaur may be an option. There are many famous cartoon dinosaurs, including Barney and Friends as well as dinosaurs from the television show, The Flintstones. However, if you do not have access to a television, you can still amuse your children by teaching them how to draw a cartoon dinosaur, or give them a coloring book featuring cartoon dinosaurs.

When teaching a child how to draw a dinosaur, patience is key. At first, they may get frustrated or have a hard time understanding how to make the shapes that will form their own dinosaur. However, once you teach them the skill to draw the cartoon dinosaur, children will often keep themselves amused drawing and coloring for several hours.

Cartoon Network

Several ways that you can teach a child to draw a dinosaur is to use tracing paper and let them trace the shapes of the dinosaurs. This will help them learn the basic shapes. If tracing is going well, you can teach them how to draw by using big circles to make the shape of the dinosaur. This works well for slightly older children, as they will be able to understand how to connect their circles to make the shape of the dinosaur. If your child is not grasping the concept of drawing the shapes of dinosaurs in circles, give them references to draw from. Drawing a dinosaur is a lot easier if your child can view another dinosaur as they learn.

It is really important that as you teach your children to draw a cartoon dinosaur that you encourage them and compliment them. Children need to feel as though they are accomplishing something to have their attention remain on what they are working on. If a child receives praise for their attempts a drawing a dinosaur, they will be more inclined to continue trying to draw, which keeps them quiet for longer. You can also buy them dinosaurs toys and they can draw them.

If you want to keep them quiet without teaching them how to draw a cartoon dinosaur, you can download and print a wide variety of coloring books and story books on dinosaurs. Both of these types of books can keep your child amused while also teaching them about dinosaurs. These types of books can often be found in book stores and magazine shops. These dinosaurs may also be featured in children's magazines.

Cartoon Dinosaurs

My name is Marijan and I love dinosaurs! I am here to populate these beautiful creatures to children.

Cartooning Your Way to English or Foreign Language Learning Success

Cartoons vs. Comics

Who doesn't love cartoons and comics? Okay, so I'm no fan of the Simpsons, but even I enjoy Felix the Cat, the Pink Panther and a host of other Saturday morning offerings. If the cartoon network came on in English where I live, I'd record it for use in my English as a foreign language (EFL) classes (and a little personal humor and enjoyment). There are two venues which actually can be used in teaching English as a foreign language or in foreign language teaching and learning; cartoons and comics. What's the difference?

Cartoon Network

The Differences

What's the difference between a cartoon and a comic? Simply that a cartoon is an animated visual format with sound and a comic is a written, printed format in black and white or color. Some characters appear in multiple formats, having an animated series on TV, movie or comic strip. Characters from Peanuts, cats Felix and Garfield, Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and a host of Walt Disney and Walter Lantz characters are some examples. Other characters may appear in only one format such as in many video games which is yet another venue.

Who Do You Love?

Why don't you try asking your English or foreign language learners;

"Who's your favorite cartoon or comic character?"

"Why?"

Learners could then elaborate on their favorite character in addition to:

o describing the character's personality

o acting out a scene from a cartoon or comic

o white out dialogue bubbles and write in their own lines of dialogue

Adapting Comics and Cartoons for Classroom Teaching

How can these different formats be adapted for use in an EFL or foreign language learning classroom setting? Well, you've hit the jackpot here. Because the language in comics and cartoons is usually very simple, it can be used in a variety of ways, such as:

o to demonstrate high-frequency vocabulary in context

o to illustrate idioms and expressions

o to teach verbs and other parts of speech

o as examples of connected speech

o to simulate dialogues to inject humor into class sessions

o to provide a basis for oral discourse and writing activities

o to illustrate culture and values

Other Related Activity Possibilities

Numerous other related activity possibilities exist, which may be applied with just a bit of imagination. For example, have your English or foreign language learners relate:

o who the author or creator of the comic / cartoon series is

o a biography of the author with photos

o describe the setting and theme of the comic or cartoon series

o show examples of cartoons, comics and characters in class, then compare them

If you'd like even more focus, you could show a cartoon or comic strip series in class to familiarize everyone with the character(s). Then might discuss the character's personality and other elements and ask,

"Why is this cartoon or comic funny?"

Be sure to let the learners interact about their favorite comic strips and cartoon characters.

Take a Survey

Remember to take a survey of who the most popular cartoon and comic strip characters are among the learners. Better yet, have the learners design and conduct the survey themselves, presenting the results and reasons afterwards. By all means, do let Felix the Cat, the Pink Panther, the Simpsons, Garfield, the Power Puff Girls, Hagar the Horrible, the Wizard of Id, Peanuts and a generous host of English language cartoon and comic strip characters lend fun, flavor, magic and a whole new dimension to your English as a foreign language or foreign language learning classes.

Cartooning Your Way to English or Foreign Language Learning Success

Prof. Larry M. Lynch is an English language teaching and learning expert author and university professor in Cali, Colombia. Now YOU too can live your dreams in paradise, find romance, high adventure and get paid while travelling for free.

For more information on entering or advancing in the fascinating field of teaching English as a Foreign or Second Language send for his no-cost PDF Ebook, "If You Want to Teach English Abroad, Here's What You Need to Know", immediate delivery details and no-obligation information are available online now at: http://bettereflteacher.blogspot.com/

Need professional, original content or articles for your blog, newsletter or website? Have a question, request, or want to receive more information or to be added to his articles and teaching materials mailing list? Then contact the author at this website for a prompt response.

Myplate and You: Learning about Nutrition, Health and Exercise

Myplate and You: Learning about Nutrition, Health and Exercise Tube. Duration : 0.92 Mins.

This fast-paced and entertaining program conforms with the newest USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans, released in January, 2011. Viewers learn about MyPlate, the latest visual representation of what—and how much—we should eat at one sitting. Program identifies the five food groups (fruits, grains, vegetables, protein and dairy) and shares valuable details about how young students can make nutrient-rich choices for each food group. Aside from reviewing MyPlate strategies, the program shows elementary students tips for eating smarter, selecting smaller portions, exercising more and understanding basic information about nutrition and food labeling. This comprehensive program offers young viewers the basics for avoiding obesity and maintaining a healthy lifestyle in an age-appropriate, memorable fashion.

Keywords: Myplate, and, You, my, plate, health, nutrition, weight, loss, exercise, dieting, fitness, educational, workout, body, dietary, guidelines, food, pyramid, FDA, human, relations, media, hrm, video