Learning at Home: Pinocchio

Disney's second animated feature was Pinocchio.  Does anyone else love the attraction at Disneyland where the Blue Fairy appears?  I always want that moment to last a bit longer.  Here are some things you can do at home with the Disney twist!

Decor for day: Add this Wish Upon a Star Garland to your designated ‘At Home Learning’ space. Sure to add some sparkle!

https://family.disney.com/craft/wish-upon-a-star-garland-pinocchio-movie-night/

Imagineering: I'm pretty sure us adults are going to be having just as much fun as the kids.

Exercise 2 theme: https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/hass-storytelling/imagineering-in-a-box

Art/Crafts: Of course we have to make a puppet! I would even make more characters and put on a show! https://family.disney.com/craft/pinocchio-lunch-bag-puppet/

Math: Disney Family has this idea to have a Pinocchio Pizza party.  What if he did have one? Which Disney friends would he invite? How much pizza is needed?  How much would it cost if you ordered from all sorts of different pizza places?  What if there was a 10% off discount? https://family.disney.com/recipe/pinocchio-party-pizza/

Writing: What would happen if the Blue Fairy came to visit you?  What wish would she grant you?

Reading: Has your child ever used Epic?  It is a great online library! Right now it is free to use as long as your child’s teacher sets up an account. It has a version of Pinocchio and after reading and watching the movie, your child could write a compare and contrast between the two versions.  https://www.getepic.com/app/read/61097

Science: I don’t know about you, but the plot point that always bothered me as a child was how do they survive being eaten by a whale?  It’s a great time to learn about whales: http://wonderopolis.org/wonder/why-are-they-called-killer-whales

Engineering: Can you design a raft for Pinocchio to use? Fill the tub with water and test it out!

They Made the Magic: Leigh Harline

Leigh Harline was born March 16, 1907.  In 1928 he came to California from Utah and started working in radio.  By 1932 he had joined Disney and wrote song for shorts.  He was responsible for writing the score for Snow White ad the Seven Dwarfs.  His most well known work was "When you Wish Upon a Star" from Pinocchio.  He left Disney in 1941 and worked for a variety of studios. Harline died December 10, 1969 and became a Disney legend in 2001.

Jiminy Crickets!

When we Disney fans hear this we think of that little green guy that helped Pinocchio find his way.  Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was released before Pinocchio and Doc utters the phrase "Jiminy Crickets!"  In fact, Dorothy in Wizard of Oz and Mickey in Brave Little Taylor both used this expression too.  So where did this come from?  Dave Smith addressed this in his ask Dave column on the D23 website:



Dave Smith: The slang expression, Jiminy Cricket, existed long before it became the name of the cricket in Pinocchio. According to the Partridge Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English: "Jiminy Cricket! used as a mild expletive. Extended from obsolete 'jiminy!'; 'gemini!', etc., which may derive from Jesu domine; modern use is probably intended to be a euphemism for JESUS CHRIST! US, 1848." Since the character was a cricket and needed a name, it is likely that some story man (or perhaps even Walt himself) suggested using Jiminy as his first name since it was a common expression (as opposed to using the more typical alliteration in naming animated characters and calling him Charlie Cricket or something with a C).