G is for Gingerbread

For the next 24 hours this monthly unit is FREE!

 Go download it to make your planning a little easier during this busy month! 

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Holiday-Literature-based-Units-Gingerbread-Man-Little-Engine-That-Could-174740 

Bushel Full of Apple Ideas

Apples For Teachers - No Time for Flash Cards

Paper Plate Apple -Ramblings of a Crazy Woman

"No Bake" Apple Pie - Chasing the Goose

Apple ABC Letter Match - Learning and Teaching with Preschoolers

Packed with Apple Ideas - Learning and Teaching with Preschoolers

Apple Play-Doh - Pink and Green Mama

A is for Apple vs. B is for Ball - Preschool Daze

Lots of apple links - Bo the Bookworm Resources

Apple Picking Time Ideas - Dr. Jean

The Star (an apple story) - Dr. Jean

The Itty-Bitty Bookworm has a "Ten Apples Up On Top" unit as part of their curriculum for October (Year 1).  They also have a "Apples and Pumpkins" unit as part of their curriculum for October (Year 3).

Chinese New Year: Books, Crafts, and Activities

We have decided to take the kids to the Chinese New Year celebration in Philadelphia's Chinatown.  The girls are very excited because they have learned about the Chinese New Year in school. They can't wait to see the traditional lion dance.  However, Wes does not have any background knowledge on any of this.  Therefore, I thought I would plan some activities and check out some books from the library to help him understand.  Here is what I have come up with.

Books

Toddlers

My First Chinese New Year - In this colorful picture book, a young girl prepares for and celebrates the Chinese New Year with her extended family, describing how she makes an altar to honor her ancestors, gets a haircut, feasts with her relatives, and attends a Chinatown parade. The tale radiates warmth and quietly builds up to the dramatic dragon dance and the traditional greeting of "Gung Hay Fat Choy!" The collage illustrations, cut from paper with colorful Asian designs, also include paint and other media to capture the joyful celebrants. ~ School Library Journal

Wes did not like this book as much as he liked Dragon Dance (see below).  It could have been because the main character is a little girl.  He is in this stage where he prefers to read books about boys.  I believe it is because it makes it easier for him to relate to the main character.  I, on the other hand, love Karen Katz, so I thought is was adorable.  The main character is extremely likable and very cute.  In addition, this book offers lots to learn.

Preschoolers

Dragon Dance: A Chinese New Year - This lift-the-flap book follows a family as they plan for the Chinese New Year and celebrate the traditions (red envelopes, p Garade).  This is a great book for preschoolers.  It is relatively short and the rhyming text is fluid and easy to understand.  Wes really enjoyed it.  He liked lifting the flaps (of course).  He also appreciated the detailed illustrations.  He spent a lot of time looking at them and asking questions.  Good Choice!

Lion Dancer -  In brief, simple sentences, Ernie Wan describes his Chinese -American family's celebration of the lunar New Year. Ernie lives in New York City's Chinatown, where traditions are rooted in the culture of southern China. Ernie's father, a kung fu master, choreographs The Lion Dance, the center of the community celebration and a major tourist attraction. This year, Ernie dances in the place of honor under the lion's head. Color photographs depict private and public festivities. ~ School Library Journal

Wes loved the photographs in this picture.  This book really got him excited about going to the Chinese New

Year Parade and celebration.

Happy Chinese New Year, Kai-Lan - Join Kai-lan for a Chinese New Year celebration! Kai-lan and her friends get to carry the dragon costume in the big parade - but can they work together to make the dragon dance? ~ Product Description

Wes loves Kai-Lan, so I have ordered this for him.  I will let you know what we think.

School-Age

Celebrating Chinese New Year - Readers follow 10-year-old Ryan Leong and his family as they celebrate the Chinese New Year in San Francisco. Through big, bright photographs and a clear, easy-to-follow text, readers see the preparations and festivities and learn about the history and traditions. The author includes the symbolic meanings of the foods eaten and other customs, an explanation of the Chinese Zodiac, and an in-depth look at the Lion Dance. ~ School Library Journal

Samantha and Gracen enjoyed this one.  They especially liked the photographs and the fact that it is non-fiction.

 

The Chinese New Year Mystery (A Nancy Drew Notebooks Mystery) - The third-grade classes at Nancy's school are learning about Chinese culture, and they'll celebrate the Chinese New Year with a special parade. The highlight of the parade will be a dragon costume. Nancy's class is making it out of feathers, sequins, gold tassels, and red silk. But right before the big day, the dragon disappears! ~ Product Description

Samantha loves this series, so I have ordered it for her to read.   I will let you know what she thinks.

Activities 

The actual date of the Chinese New Year for 2010 is February 14.   

According to the Chinese Zodiac, 2010 is the year of the tiger.  Make a tiger paper bag puppet.

Chinese New Year paper dolls and clothes and more clothes.

Color the Chinese Flag.

Make a dancing lion or dragon toy.

How to make a Chinese lantern.

Practice using chopsticks.  Children can practice picking up food, craft pompoms, marshmallows, cotton balls, and small toys.  For young children - tie a rubber band around the chopsticks to make them easier to use.   Great fine motor practice.

Make a parade dragon puppet.

Lots of Printables for School-agers.

Activities and Printables for Preschoolers.

Countdown to New Year - On-line game

Musical Lanterns - On-line game

On-line Tangram (originated in China) Puzzles

Cook some traditional Chinese New Year's Eve foods.

Do you have any fun Chinese New Year activities planned?  If so, I would love to hear about them.

C is for Cookie

This week Wes and I read Mmm, Cookies! He thought this book was hilarious and asked me to read it over and over again. If you aren't familiar with Robert Munsch, you have to check out some of his books. Kids think that they are so funny. Here are my children's Munsch favorites.

Mmm, Cookies!
A boy tricks his family with play dough cookies.

Stephanie's Ponytail (Annikins)
A little girl tries to be original by wearing unique hairstyles.


Alligator Baby
Kristen's parents just can't seem to do anything right. First they have their baby at the zoo, not in a hospital. Then, they accidentally bring home an baby alligator instead!

Here are some of the activities we did to go along with Mmm, Cookies:

1. A Cookie Jar Game - I printed the cookie jar blackline and chocolate chip cookie printables. Then I made a set of number flash cards. Wes would pull a card, identify the number, and place that amount of cookies in the cookie jar.



When Wes was finished with the game he chose a final flash card, identified the number on it, and glued that amount of cookies onto the cookie jar.


2. Play Dough Cookies - Wes made a big, huge play dough cookie and tricked his sisters with it!


3. Letter "C" Collage -Wes cut pictures of cookies out of grocery store circulars and glued them to the large "C".

Printables for C is for Cookie

*The entire Mmm, Cookies unit is part of Bo's Curriculum for December (Year 1). The download can be purchased here.

For more What My Child is Reading visit Mouse Grows Mouse Learns.
For more Learning Through Love visit My Family My Forever.

What We are Reading

Family Reading

In Anticipation of the Movie ~ Where the Wild Things Are- One of my all time favorites and my children love it, too! A perfect Halloween read because it isn't too scary.

Activities
Cute Art Activity Using Textures and Patterns
Watercolor Drawing and Paintings






















Kindergarten Lesson Plans
Monster Songs
Laptime and Story Circle Activities
Preschool Unit from The Itty-Bitty Bookworm
Monsters ~ Little Reader Booklet

Wes's Picks

Wes is going to the Fire Station with his nursery school class, so this week we have been reading these books about fire trucks.















Big Frank's Fire Truck (Pictureback(R))











Flashing Fire Engines - When I taught preschool this was one of my student's favorite books.

Activities
Sparky the Fire Dog Games and Activities
Smokey Bear
Dog With Spots

Gracen's Picks

Fancy Nancy: Halloween...or Bust! - This book comes with stickers so that you can design a Halloween costume for Fancy Nancy.

Activities

Printable Fancy Nancy Paper Dolls
Fancy Nancy Stickers
Printable Activities for Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy
Printable Activities for Fancy Nancy: Bonjour, Butterfly
Reading Together Activities
Website

Samantha's Picks

Ivy & Bean (Book 1) (Bk. 1) - Ivy has just moved in across the street from Bean, who wants no part of her. She thinks Ivy looks dull, always with her nose in a book. Bean, on the other hand, is a spark plug; she's full of tricks, especially ones that can be played on her older sister, Nancy. But the day Bean pulls a trick that goes wrong and Ivy comes to her rescue, a friendship is born. The deliciousness here is in the details, with both girls drawn distinctly and with flair. Ivy, who at first seems to be a dud, has aspirations to being a witch, which is dangerously intriguing; Bean's spunky way of talking and acting (there's a classic moment when she wiggles her butt at Nancy) will make readers giggle. Even with all the text's strong points, what takes the book to a higher level is Blackall's artwork, which captures the girls' spirit. A chapter from the second book in the series, to be published in this fall, will whet readers' appetites for more Ivy and Bean. Ilene Cooper, American Library Association

Samantha started reading this book at school and is completely "hooked"! She loves the author's website, as well. Check it out!

To see what other children are reading, visit Mouse Grows Mouse Learns.

F is for Flag

Shannon, from Teaching My Little Bookworm, has compiled a unit based on the book F is for Flag. She has been generous enough to allow me to share it with you.

Have a wonderful Fourth of July!

Click on the book to order from
The Reading Warehouse (only $2.77)!

Summary:

Perfect for reading aloud and together, this book shows in simple terms how one flag can mean so many things to so many different people.

Celebrate the origin, symbolism, and power of the banner that represents the United States of America.
====================================================================================
Workboxes:

1: Sensory Table:

Red, White and Blue -Dye rice Red, White and Blue and add to your Sensory Tub add 4th of july confetti


2: Playdoh Table:

Red, White and Blue -Make Strawberry, Blueberry and Coconut scented play-doh and add Star Cookie Cutters.

3: Discovery Bottles:

4th of July Bottles - Add corn syrup and 4th of July confetti to empty water bottles add a little water to thin so your confetti moves. Can make several with different amounts of water to make the confetti move from Slow to Fast.

=====================================================================================
Day 1:

Read book and show flag

Say Pledge of Allegiance

Talk about the flag is made up of 3 shapes (Stars, Rectangle and Square) and 3 colors (Red, White and Blue)

Art:

Paint with Red and Blue paint on White Paper

Math:

Make patterns with Red, White and Blue Star

Gross Motor:

Star Jumping - Draw stars with sidewalk chalk and have your LO jump from one to the other. Could make a bunch of Red, White and Blue ones and call out a color to jump to for more learning fun.

====================================================================================

Day 2:

Read Book

Talk about how the Flag has 13 Stripes

Say Pledge of Allegiance

Count the Strips on the flag

Art:

Painters Tape Flag - Place painters tape lines on white poster board to make strips paint the poster board with red paint. When dry remove the painters tape and you have the start of the flag. (will be finished tomorrow)

Patterning:

Lay out 13 strips of white and red paper and have your LO line them up

Fine Motor:

Glitter Fireworks - On a piece of black construction paper make chalk lines for fireworks and have your LO squeeze glitter glue on the chalk lines to make fireworks in the sky

==================================================================================

Day 3:

Read Book

Talk about how the flag has 50 stars

Say Pledge of Allegiance

Count the stars on the flag

Art:

Cut out a Blue Square and have LO place silver stars on it, then glue to your poster board stripes you painted yesterday ( if you can get 50 that is great if not just have LO put as many as they want). Staple a paint stick behind her flag and now you have a homemade flag

Snack:

4th of July Yogurt - Vanilla Yogurt with Strawberries and Blueberries

Gross Motor:

Play some patriotic music and have LO march around with their homemade flag

=================================================================================

Day 4:

Read book

Say Pledge of Allegiance

Talk about how the 4th of July is America's Birthday

Sing Happy Birthday to America


Star Birdfeeder - Cut a piece of bread with a star cookie cutter and punch a hole in it with a straw. Let it dry out overnight (or you can make several), spread with Peanut Butter and press birdseed into it. String with yarn and hang from a tree.

Sequence and Sorting:

Print off the Flag Printable and let your LO place them in size order from smallest to biggest. Can also set out 3 pieces of paper and have them sort them according to size.

Gross Motor:

Bean Bag Toss -Make 3 stars with sidewalk chalk outside and let your LO toss beanbags on to them. Count how many land in the stars

====================================================================================

Day 5

Read Book

Say Pledge of Allegiance

Tlk about what all you can do to celebrate the 4th of July

Talk about Fireworks and Fireworks Safety

Art:

4th of July Streamer - Paint a paper towel tube or toilet paper tube with red, white and blue paint and roll in glitter. When dry tape some red, white and blue crepe paper streamers inside both ends. Staple one end shut and add rice or beans staple the open end shut and now your LO has their very own noisemaker

Gross Motor:

Fireworks -Lay out some bubble wrap and let your LO run on it and pop the bubbles making their own fireworks sounds

Fine Motor:

Puffy Paint Squeeze - Make up a batch of puffy paint in Red, White and Blue and give your LO a piece of cardboard covered in foil and let them squeeze all over the cardboard. Set aside to dry, when dry is it raised and sparkly!

Snack:

4th of July Sundae - Vanilla Ice Cream with Blueberries and Strawberries and Whip Cream you could even use Strawberry Whip Cream
==================================================================================
Ideas gathered from:

Activity Village
Perpetual Preschool
Step by Step CC
Preschool Express
Hummingbird Educational

New Review of The Itty-Bitty Bookworm

I am blushing! Shera from A Frog in My Soup just posted a wonderful review of our curriculum.

Check out the review here and enter to win a year of curriculum on CD. There are also some great promo codes available.

Thanks so much, Shera!