Sparks Early Years

Rai’s Musical Moments: You Can Uke!

StepheCox2020-05-18T16:52:52+10:00

Grab a ukelele and strum along with Rai as he teaches us the three simple chords C, F, & G.

These chords pop up in so many songs that after learning them you will be nearly ready to put on your own concert!

Rai also shows us a strumming pattern that adds a nice rhythm to many songs. You can experiment with your own strumming pattern as you play songs you know – maybe you’ll find one you like even more!

To print your own copy of the chord chart and song sheet, click on the images below.

Rai’s Musical Moments: You Can Uke!StepheCox2020-05-18T16:52:52+10:00

Alices Animal Closeups: Feline Friends

StepheCox2020-05-12T21:42:55+10:00

Meet Jet and Ludo, two purring pals who love eating treats and climbing trees! Alice tells us a few little-known cat facts while playing with Jet and Ludo.

Do you have a cat at home? Have you ever been able to teach it any tricks? Let us know in the comments below, or through Facebook or Instagram!

Alices Animal Closeups: Feline FriendsStepheCox2020-05-12T21:42:55+10:00

Rai’s Musical Moments: One Person Band!

StepheCox2020-06-12T12:52:14+10:00

Although Rai is an incredible one-man-band, watch this video to find out we can all make music together – even while staying apart.

If you’ve been watching all of Rai’s Musical Moments, by now you’ll know how to make a beat using your body or items from around your house, how to make shakers, and how to make a xylophone using glass jars and water.

Now, put those skills and instruments to good use – we’re making a song!

In this video, Rai records a sound from each of the instruments we have seen in previous episodes. Then, he uses computer wizardry to combine all the sounds into a super groovy tune.

If you (with a parent’s help!) record a 5 second clip of some sounds YOU can make and email it to us, Rai will make a song we have all shared in creating!

Rai’s Musical Moments: One Person Band!StepheCox2020-06-12T12:52:14+10:00

The Tallest Tower with Max

StepheCox2020-05-12T13:23:39+10:00

We’ve all heard the legends about towers as tall as the sky…. but can Max, our tallest Aeonite, build a tower taller than he is? Are you able to make something as tall as yourself – or another family member?

After you’ve built your tower, of course, comes the fun of knocking it down and starting all over again!

The Tallest Tower with MaxStepheCox2020-05-12T13:23:39+10:00

Rai’s Musical Moments: Rainy Day Rainstick

StepheCox2020-05-11T17:02:31+10:00

Do you enjoy the peacefulness of a rainy day? The sound of raindrops falling on a window or roof can be magically soothing…

In this episode, Rai takes the opportunity of a rainy day inside to show us how to make a rainstick.

You will need:
– 1 medium to long sized cardboard tube
– small nails and a hammer (plus the help of an adult for nailing them in!)
– paper, scissors, and tape
– small grains or seeds, for example popcorn kernals
– things to decorate your rainstick – colourful tape, paper, or coloured textas

We’d love to see your best rain dance once you’re finished!

Rai’s Musical Moments: Rainy Day RainstickStepheCox2020-05-11T17:02:31+10:00

Rai’s Musical Moments Episode 4: Shake & Make

StepheCox2020-04-30T23:14:48+10:00

Rai brings us another groovy do-it-yourself instrument tutorial.

Shakers are easy to make using things you can find around your home – empty cardboard tubes or boxes, old spice or tea containers, plus a few teaspoons of rice or differently sized stones. You’ll also need some scissors, tape, and paper, plus anything you want to use to decorate your shakers.

And remember that 1, 2, 3, 4 beat from Rai’s first video? That will come in handy now, too! Use a strong shake on some beats and a weak shake on the other beats to create a funky rhythm.

Rai’s Musical Moments Episode 4: Shake & MakeStepheCox2020-04-30T23:14:48+10:00

Italiano con Anna (& Ciro!) Episode 2

StepheCox2020-05-01T16:24:26+10:00

It’s time to play Tombola (Italian Bingo) with Anna and Ciro! Before watching this video, print your Tombola cards and collect some small stones, buttons, or seeds. Then you’ll be ready to play along at home.

Every time Anna or Ciro draws an animal card from the bag, check to see if that animal is on your Tombola card. If you can see the same animal on your Tombola card, put one of your small stones or buttons on that square. When your card is full, you can yell out TOMBOLA! You have won!

While we’re playing, we’ll also learn the Italian names for lots of different animals – la balena, il cavallo, la rana…

Print at home Tombola cards

Italiano con Anna (& Ciro!) Episode 2StepheCox2020-05-01T16:24:26+10:00

Italiano con Anna (& Ciro!) Episode 1

StepheCox2020-05-01T16:11:26+10:00

Meet Ciro! He wants to play – but he only speaks Italian. We can learn some Italian while playing with him!

In this first episode, Anna and Ciro introduce themselves and teach us a song in Italian. And next time we’ll be playing the Italian game Tombola.

Bacini from Ciro!

Print at home Tombola cards

Italiano con Anna (& Ciro!) Episode 1StepheCox2020-05-01T16:11:26+10:00

Rai’s Musical Moments Episode 3: Glass Xylophone

StepheCox2020-04-28T17:56:49+10:00

Rai’s already shown us how to break out a beat – now make your own xylophone using a few things from around your home and you’ll be half way to a house band!

This fun activity will get you started experimenting with music. Why not try to come up with your own theme song?

You’ll need:
– some glass jars of various sizes
– water in a container
– something metal (like a kitchen spoon)

Rai’s Musical Moments Episode 3: Glass XylophoneStepheCox2020-04-28T17:56:49+10:00

Maxwell’s Scavenger Hunt at Home

StepheCox2020-04-29T15:29:37+10:00

Can you beat the Prince of the Aeon Academy Scavenger Hunt at his own game?

After you’ve beat Maxwell’s speedy Scavenger Hunt time, challenge a family member to do it even faster! Or write your own unique list of things to find around the home, and swap your list with a friend. What will you come up with?

Max’s Scavenger Hunt at Home List

Maxwell’s Scavenger Hunt at HomeStepheCox2020-04-29T15:29:37+10:00