Search This Blog

Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Every Day Heroes - Drivers: June 29-30, 2015

Books:
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems *
The Little School Bus by Margery Cuyler *
My Big Rig by Jonathan London
The Wheels on the Race Car by Alexander Zane *

Craft: Semi-Truck
Kids colored a cab and wheels before gluing them to a rectangle truck.



Literacy Extensions:
- After reading Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! ask your child to come up with the reasons why Pigeon shouldn't be allowed to drive a vehicle.
- The Wheels on the Race Car is a variation on the song "The Wheels on the Bus".  See if your child can come up with verses to fit other types of vehicles.

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Everyday Heroes - Teachers: June 22-23, 2015

Books:
My Creature Teacher by Laura Leuck
My Teacher Is A Monster!  No I Am Not! by Peter Brown *
Oopsy, Teacher! by Stephanie Calmenson *
What Teachers Can't Do by Douglas Wood *

Craft: Schoolhouse
This week's activity was a schoolhouse that when colored and folded formed the outside of a school and the inside of a classroom.



Literacy Extensions:
- After reading What Teachers Can't Do discuss how the teachers in the book are similar and different from their teachers. (i.e. use chalkboards vs. dry erase boards, play during recess, etc.)
- My Teacher Is a Monster! uses speech bubbles to tell parts of the story.  Find more stories that use the same format such as the Elephant and Piggie books by Mo Willems.

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Everyday Heroes - Police: June 15-16, 2015

Books:
Bug Patrol by Denise Dowling Mortenson *
The Police Cloud by Christoph Niemann *
Police: Hurrying! Helping! Saving! by Patricia Hubbell
Police Officers on Patrol by Kersten Hamilton
Traffic Pups by Michelle Meadows *

Craft: Police Car
Our craft was based on the picture at left.  A paper plate was chopped in half and then triangles cut out to make into the shape of a car.  The kids colored the car and wheels before gluing the wheels, star, windows, and light to the car.

Literacy Extensions:
- Talk with your child about stranger danger -- who is it safe to ask for help from?
- Discuss all the ways that police help people.

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

Everyday Heroes - Astronauts: June 8-9, 2015

Books:
Astro Bunnies by Christine Loomis
Astronaut Handbook by Meghan McCarthy *
I Want to Go to the Moon by Tom Saunders
If I Were an Astronaut by Eric Braun
Mousetronaut by Mark Kelly *
Zoom, Rocket, Zoom! by Margaret Mayo

Craft: Floating Astronaut
Our craft was based on the picture above.  The kids colored a paper plate to make it into a planet or a moon.  They then colored an astronaut cutout.  The astronaut was attached to the plate by a piece of yarn.

Literacy Extensions:
- Learn more about the different astronauts and animals that have been to space.  There are many books at the library that will give information on the space program and its participants.
- After reading the Astronaut Handbook, have your child attempt some of the activities the astronauts must do (i.e. survival training, swimming, freeze-dried food, etc.)

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Everyday Heroes - Parents: June 1-2, 2015

Books:
Meet the Parents by Peter Bently *
My Dad Is Big and Strong, But . . . by Coralie Saudo
My Father the Dog by Elizabeth Bluemle *
My Mom by Anthony Browne
Ol' Mama Squirrel by David Ezra Stein *

Craft: Superhero Mom and Dad
Kids were each given two small gingerbread person cutouts to color and glue on capes to make into a superhero mom and superhero dad.


Literacy Extensions:
- Talk with your child about heroes.  What makes someone a hero?  Superpowers?  Bravery?  Who are their heroes?
- After reading My Father the Dog pick a different animal and have your child find ways that animal is like mom.