Forest Story Time: November 25-26, 2013

Books:
At the Edge of the Woods: A Counting Book by Cynthia Cotten *
Bear Says Thank You by Karma Wilson
Bear Wants More by Karma Wilson
It's the Bear! by Jez Alborough *
The Wonderful Book by Leonid Gore *

Craft: Circles Bear
Children glued various sized circles together to make a bear.  Circles - one 4" body, one 3" head, four 1-1/2" paws, one 1-1/2" snout, and two 1" ears

Literacy Extensions:
- Discuss how animals prepare and spend the winter (i.e. foraging, migration, hibernation, etc.)
- Talk about how to take care of books based on The Wonderful Book.

Ocean Story Time: November 18-19, 2013

Books:
I'm the Best Artist in the Ocean by Kevin Sherry *
I'm the Biggest Thing in the Ocean by Kevin Sherry *
Pigs Ahoy! by David McPhail
The Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen
Scuba Bunnies by Christine Loomis *
Secret Seahorse by Stella Blackstone *

Craft: Squid
This week we made the squid from I'm the Biggest Thing in the Ocean.  A bullet-shaped squid body was cut out from card stock. Then crepe paper cut in half longways was glued to the bottom for the tentacles.  Two longer strips were glued in the middle with two shorter pieces glued on each side.

Literacy Extensions:
- With your child try to determine the size of sea creatures such as shrimp, jellyfish, sharks, etc. from smallest to largest to go with I'm the Biggest Thing in the Ocean.
- Talk about emotions and how different people make you feel (i.e. The Pout-Pout Fish)

City Story Time: November 12, 2013

Books:
All Through My Town by Jean Reidy
Bear About Town by Stella Blackstone *
Blackout by John Rocco
Old MacDonald in the City by Suzanne Williams *
Trashy Town by Andrea Zimmerman & David Clemesha *

Craft: Paper City
The children colored a city scene and two people.  The template was found on Made by Joel - http://madebyjoel.com/paper-city.  We did not do the folding to make the city stand.  Instead, they can be leaned against a wall or other object.  The site also has various other city scenes, people and vehicles that can be printed out. 

Literacy Extensions:
- Read Aesop's fable County Mouse, City Mouse.  Then list the differences between the city and the country.
- With your child, try to list all the different buildings in your town (i.e. doctor's office, store, library, etc.)

Farm Story Time: November 4-5, 2013

Books:
Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown
Chicken, Chicken, Duck! by Nadia Krilanovich
Chickens to the Rescue by John Himmelman *
Farmer Duck by Martin Waddell
Farmyard Beat by Lindsey Craig *
I Spy on the Farm by Edward Gibbs *

Craft: Barn with Animals
Each child was given a barn coloring sheet where slits had been cut on the sides of the barn doors.  Inserted was a strip of paper with four animals on it.  Although not the exact graphics I used, this example can be found at http://www.123learncurriculum.com/freedownloads_files/Barn%20Animals.pdf. 

Literacy Extensions:
- Go over animal sounds (i.e. Chicken, Chicken Duck! or I Spy on the Farm)
- Make your own Animals to the Rescue story (i.e. Chickens to the Rescue and other books by John Himmelman)