FOR KIDS — ReadPlay — INDOORS AT HOME OR IN YOUR BACK YARD: story 3 of 10

ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN AT HOME — PLAY TIME WITH PARENTS

I BELIEVE is a journey of discovery and gratitude with two amazing horses Carlo and Teddy and the other Animal Beings and Human Beings they meet along the way.

I BELIEVE I can learn to draw and paint, just like Sara, the golden mare

“Lets take out our map and decide where we want to go,” said Carlo.

“Great idea,” said Teddy. Teddy rolled open the map and placed it on a flat stone.

“We are here,” said Carlo. “We have been traveling west for three weeks. We can either go east or west or continue south. Which way would you like to go?”

“We are close to the desert. Lets continue into the desert,” said Teddy.

“The desert it is. Lets go!” Carlo and Teddy galloped into the sunset.

It was nighttime when they reached the desert. Stars lit up the sky.

A big round full moon shone bright.

They had never seen a sky like that before.

The sky was big. The moon was so bright it lit the way forward as far as they could see.

That night they slept peacefully beneath a starry sky.

The next morning they woke up very early. It was very quiet. The sun had just begun to rise over the horizon. Tumble weeds rustled about in the desert.

“Who is that?” pointed Teddy. He looked into the sunrise.

“Where?” asked Carlo.

“Over there, coming out of the sun,” said Teddy.

“Look at her run. She is as wild as they come. I have never seen one so majestic!” said Carlo. “She is all by herself.”

A cloud of dust rose bigger and darker the faster she galloped. It seemed as though she was charging right for them.

They did not know if they should move or stay right where they stood. Once their eyes focused they saw running behind this great beauty several more horses.

The team of horses thundered towards them. Carlo and Teddy did not move a hair. They had never seen anything like it in their life. It was breathtaking.

The beauty slowed to a trot when she reached them. Those behind her slowed their pace as well as they reached the campsite.

“Welcome to the desert. My name is Sara. They are the Mustangs.”

Carlo and Teddy gawked at Sara. Teddy finally spoke and made the introductions.

“Where are you headed?” asked Sara.

“We are explorers. We go here and there,” said Carlo.

“Do you live here together all the time?” asked Teddy.

“Yes, we live here all the time.”

“What do you do here?” asked Carlo. “The desert seemed big under the starry sky. But now in the day light it looks even bigger.”

“We are artists. We paint.”

“Are those your natural colours or did you paint your hair this way?” said Teddy.

“This is our natural colour. We are made of all that is bright and beautiful. Silver, gold and all the colours of a rainbow.”

“You are very beautiful. I have never seen a horse with gold hair and a silver mane before.”

“Thank you.”

“What else do you do in the desert?” said Teddy.

“We look after the desert. We are its companions. Like the others that live here with us.”

“Who else lives here?” said Carlo.

“We live amongst the mountain lions, wolves, coyotes, the red-tailed hawk, the Western diamondback rattlesnake, and many other species of birds, reptiles and amphibians.”

“Have you ever drawn or painted before,” asked Sara.

“No, neither of us have ever done anything like that before. I do not know if I can draw or paint,” said Teddy.

“You will not know if you can or not until you try. We can teach you if you desire to learn,” said Sara.

“Yes, please. I want to learn how to draw and paint,” said Teddy.

“Me too,” said Carlo. “We will not know if we can do it until we try it ourselves.”

Carlo and Teddy were very excited. They trotted around their new friends. They ate breakfast together and shared their stories.

“Now that our bellies are full lets begin with the drawing,” said Sara.

“Before we begin Sara I have a question,” said Carlo.

“Yes, what is your question.”

“Did you always know how to draw and paint?”

“No. I was running wild in the desert for a long time before I met the Mustangs. Together we taught each other different things. One of them was drawing and painting. I never believed a wild running horse like me could learn what these fine Mustangs had been doing for many years in the desert.

Each day I did my lessons. I applied myself to my craft. I only became the artist I am today through hard work, repeating everything I was learning, drawing and painting every day and most importantly I believed in myself. I believed I could become the artist I desired to be.”

“Let’s begin,” said Sara

Play around with the different colours and see what you get.

What colour do you get when you mix red and yellow?

What colour do you get when you mix blue and yellow?

What colour do you get when you mix red and blue?

What colour do you get when you mix red and green?

What colour do you get when you mix yellow and orange?

Play around with all the different colours. It is lots of fun.

Before I met the Mustangs I did not know how to run with a team of horses. I did not know how to do many things that other horses knew how to do. But I learned. I learned because I believed I could learn anything I wanted to learn. I believed in myself.

Your second drawing will be your own creation. Draw a mountain lion. Draw the mountain lion the same way you see it in your mind. Let your imagination flow. Let your pencil flow with your imagination. Use all of your crayons. Play with all the colours.

Now we will go on to painting. Painting is lots of fun. You can even use your fingers. Look around at the scenery where you are. With your fingers or using a paintbrush, paint what you see around you. Try everything that is in your imagination. Your imagination is also a great teacher. Play with the colours. Have lots of fun! Laugh when you are painting!

This page is your painting page. It is for you. Have fun!

“This was lots of fun Sara,” said Teddy. “We can’t thank you enough for everything you have taught us today.”

“Did you have fun?” said Sara.

“Yes, lots of fun!” said Carlo.

“Oh yes, lots of fun!” said Teddy.

“That’s what counts. Keep learning through play and laughter. Your journey to becoming an artist or whatever else you desire will continue to be fulfilling no matter the challenges you face throughout your adventures.”

But the fun does not end here. For the next 30 days draw and paint a different animal from anywhere in the world. Each day you will draw or paint an animal you want to learn more about. Your drawing or painting will also have a person, any person you imagine, helping an animal. Show how people can help animals

Lets begin.

Have fun!

Remember to smile.

Remember to laugh.

Remember to be curious and ask questions.

Remember to Believe in yourself.

Say out loud 10 times. I Believe in myself.

WOW! YOU ARE AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YOU DID ALL THOSE WONDERFUL PAINTINGS AND DRAWINGS!

YOU PARTICIPATED IN 30 DAYS OF FUN!

KEEP GOING!

EXPLORE YOUR IMAGINATION!

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF ALWAYS!

SHARE YOUR DRAWINGS, PAINTINGS AND THE EXPLORATION OF YOUR IMAGINATION WITH A FRIEND!

THANK YOU FOR BEING GOOD AND KIND TO EVERY ANIMAL.

On behalf of all the ANIMALS — thank you for making this a better world for ALL OF US!