Train Story Time: May 31, 2016

Books:
All Aboard the Dinotrain by Deb Lund *
Clickety Clack by Amy & Rob Spence *
Freight Train by Donald Crews *
How to Train a Train by Jason Carter Eaton
Steam Train, Dream Train by Sherri Duskey Rinker
Whoosh and Chug! by Sebastien Braun

Craft: Name Train
This week's craft is pictured above.  The children were given a diecut train engine and then a train car for each letter of their name.  They colored the pieces and then glued them to a thin strip of card stock as a connector.

Literacy Extensions:
- Review different types of transportation.  See how many different types of vehicles your child can name.
- If you are in the St. Louis area, visit the Transportation Museum.  Check out the trains they have on display there.


Template for Train Car --

Boats Story Time: May 23-24, 2016

Books:
The Father Who Had 10 Children by Benedicte Guettier *
One-Dog Canoe by Mary Casanova *
Row, Row, Row Your Boat by Jane Cabrera *
Three Bears in a Boat by David Soman
Tugga-Tugga Tugboat by Kevin Lewis

Craft: Boat Picture
The children were given a sheet with the outline of a boat made out of shapes.  They were also given the shapes already pre-cut out to color.  They then matched the shapes to glue them on the paper to make a boat.

Literacy Extensions:
- Come up with additional verses to Row, Row, Row Your Boat adding in more animals.
- See how many different types of boats your child can name (i.e. canoe, yacht, submarine, etc.)


Notes:
The Father Who Had 10 Children by Benedicte Guettier has been re-released as The Dad With 10 Children.  The original translation of the French story is much better so try to find that version if possible.

Templates:

** Makes three boats

Truck & Tractor Story Time: May 16-17, 2016

Books:
20 Big Trucks in the Middle of the Street by Mark Lee *
Down by the Barn by Will Hillenbrand *
I'm Brave! by Kate McMullan
The Little Dump Truck by Margery Cuyler
McToad Mows Tiny Island by Tom Angleberger
Red Truck by K.R. Hamilton
Tip Tip Dig Dig by Emma Garcia *

Craft: T is for Tractor
The craft for this week is picture above.  The children were given a large T, small T, small L and two circles to color and then glue together into a tractor.

Literacy Extensions:
- Most children assume all tractors are green as John Deere tractors are very common.  Explore different color tractors and learn what companies use what colors.
- After reading I'm Brave, have your child "write" a similar book about another kind of truck or tractor.  Have them give characteristics and list what they do for their job.


Templates:

Bus Story Time: May 9-10, 2016

Books:
The Bus is for Us! by Michael Rosen
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems *
Don't Squish the Sasqutch! by Kent Redeker
The Little School Bus by Margery Cuyler *
Pete the Cat: The Wheels on the Bus by James Dean

Craft: Bus
Kids colored a bus cutout before gluing on wheels.



Literacy Extensions:
- After reading Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, have your child come up with more ways for pigeon to ask to drive the bus.
- If you live in an area that has bus service, go on a bus ride with your child.


Template --

Cars Story Time: May 2-3, 2016

Books:
And the Cars Go . . . by William Bee
Cars: Rushing! Honking! Zooming! by Patricia Hubbell
Five Little Monkeys Wash the Car by Eileen Christelow *
Moo! by David LaRochelle *
The Wheels on the Race Car by Alexander Zane *

Craft: Cars on Road Picture
Our craft this week was based on the picture at left.  The kids were given a coloring sheet with a large letter C on it to color.  They then glued short strips of yellow paper to make the car lanes.  They also had two cars to color and glue onto the road.

Literacy Extensions:
- We made a C-shaped road for a craft since "Car" starts with letter "C".  See how many different vehicles your child can list and what letters they start with.
- When in the car, play the alphabet game.  Ask your child to find things that start with specific letters.


Templates --