Hello Feet Hello Toes by Ann Whitford Paul
Cookie's Week by Cindy Ward
It’s Apple Picking Time by Steve Metzger
Franklin's Thanksgiving by Paulette Bourgeois
The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle
Trick or Treat Countdown by Patricia Hubbard
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. & John Archambault
Chicka Chicka 1 2 3 by Bill Martin Jr. & Michael Sampson
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer by
The Mitten by Jan Brett
The Hat by Jan Brett
Wake Up Mr. Groundhog by Susanna Leonard Hill
I Love You So Much by Carl Norac
Frog on a Log by Phil Roxbee Cox
St. Patrick’s Day in the Morning by Eve Bunting
Pooh's Easter Egg Hunt by Isabel Gaines
Town Mouse Country Mouse by Jan Brett
Come Along Daisy / Daisy and the Egg by Jane Simmons
The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and The Big Hungry Bear by Don and Audrey Wood
In Momma's Purse by Charlotte Hutchinson
The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss
If You Give A Mouse A Cookie by Laura Numeroff
If You Give A Pig A Pancake by Laura Numeroff
A Perfect Father's Day by Eve Bunting
Too Many Monsters by Eve Bunting
by Ann Whitford Paul
Hello Feet, Hello Toes
Crafts
Foot Painting
Using a roll of paper, have children dip their feet in paint and then walk across the paper.
Finger Painting
Using liquid and dry tempera paints, have children explore paint with their hands.
Activities
Counting to 10
Use various objects for counting to 10. Start with fingers and toes, then move to objects and then one to one correspondence.
Counting Strips
Print the Counting strips activity and place on a table for children to use during child directed play.
Explorations
Hands and Feet
Look at various things we can do with our hands and feet. Compare our hands/feet to animals and how they pickup items and walk.
Songs, Poems, Fingerplays
Head and Shoulders
Head and shoulders
Knees and toes, knees and toes, knees, and toes,
Head and shoulders
Knees and toes, eyes, ears, mouth, and nose.
Tête, Épaule
Tête, épaule
Genoux et pied, genoux et pied, genoux et pied,
Tête, épaule
genoux et pied, les yeux, l'oreille, bouche, et nez.
Printouts
Related Sites
by Cindy Ward
Cookie's Week
Crafts
Shape Cats
Provide shapes from construction paper for children to create a cat.
Cookie's Week Book
Cut and paste pictures of cookie's week onto paper. Children dictate the story. Staple to make a book.
Watercolour Pictures
Tomie dePaola creates the illustrations using watercolours. Discuss with the children; then provide watercolours for
them to create their own work of art.
Activities
Days of the Week Order Cards
Print the Days of the Week order cards and place on a table for children to use during child directed play.
Cookie's Week Sequence Cards
Print the Cookie's Week Sequence cards and matching mat; place on a table for children to use during child directed play.
Explorations
Days of the Week
Have children create the days of the week using the base word 'day'. Sing, chant, and clap the days in order. Discuss and
explore the room calendar.
Cats
Discuss and explore the care of cats and how they behave. Use articles, the internet, and Patches (our cat) to learn all about felines.
Songs, Poems, Fingerplays
I'm a Little Kitten
Sung to: "I'm a Little Teapot"
I'm a little kitten,
Soft and furry.
I'll be your friend,
So you don't worry.
Right up on your lap I like to hop,
Purr, purr, purr, and never stop.
Sweet Kitty, Soft Kitty
Sweet kitty, soft kitty
Little ball of fur
Sweet kitty, soft kitty
Purr, purr, purr.
(one child is the kitty, one the owner - they pat the kitty who lays in their laps for the song... switch places)
Printouts
Related Sites
by Steve Metzger
It's Apple Picking Time
Crafts
Apple Prints
Cut an apple to show the star. Dip in red, yellow, or green paint and stamp onto paper.
Apple Trees
Have children put together a tree by gluing the top and trunk onto a larger piece of paper. Have children cut and paste apples onto their tree.
Apple Shapes
Have children colour a pre-cut apple shape from their choice of red, yellow, or green markers or crayons.
Paper Plate Apples
Have children paint a paper plate in their choice of red, yellow, or green. When dry, add a funfoam stem and leaves.
Activities
Apple Game
Print the apple game; place on a table for children to use during child directed play.
Apple Sorting
Print the sorting apples; place on a table for children to use during child directed play.
Graphing Apples
Print the sorting apples and graph; Have children taste a variety of types of apples and graph which apple was their
favourite (red, yellow, or green). Discuss the results and the graph.
Apple Tree Alphabet Game
Print the apple tree alphabet matching game; place on a table for children to use during child directed play.
Apple Number Cards
Print the apple flashcards; place on a table for children to use during child directed play.
Apple Colours Matching Game
Print the apple colours matching game; place on a table for children to use during child directed play.
Apple Sauce
Make homemade applesauce and enjoy for dessert or snack.
Explorations
Apples
Learn all about apples - types, how they grow, and harvesting them. Visit our neighbour's apple tree and choose an apple from the tree.
Trees
Discuss the seasonal changes of an apple tree.
Songs, Poems, Fingerplays
The Apple Star
Take an apple round and red
Don't slice down
Slice through instead
Right inside it you will see
A star as pretty as can be!
10 Red Apples & Way Up High in An Apple Tree
Print for feltboard.
Printouts
Related Sites
My Apple theme page.
by Paulette Bourgeois
Franklin's Thanksgiving
Crafts
Cornucopia
Children roll a piece of brown construction paper into a cone shape. Fill with yellow construction paper cut into strips then fill with painted fruit and vegetables.
Handprint Turkey
Paint child's fingers and thumb with different coloured paints for the turkey's feathers then paint the palm brown.
Make a hand print on paper. Cut a circle and a 1" long strip from brown paper, draw eyes
and glue a beak and a wattle to the circle for the turkey's head. Bend the strip of paper
like a fan then attach one end of the strip to the circle and the other to the palm part
of the print. The turkey's head will wobble around because of the strip of paper.
Placemats
Children will decorate construction paper in fall colours and add their names and the lettering HAPPY THANKSGIVING. We will laminate to protect them.
Corn on the Cob Painting
Children roll corn on the cob in paint and then onto paper.
Activities
Food Group Matching Game
Print the Food Group Matching game and place on a table for children to use during child directed play.
Thanksgiving Dinner
Children will help in the preparation of our turkey lunch.
Explorations
Thanksgiving
Discuss why we celebrate Thanksgiving, farmers, and the harvest.
Nutrition
Discuss proper nutrition and the importance of healthy eating habits. Discuss the major food groups with the aid of pictures, play food, and the food group matching game.
Songs, Poems, Fingerplays
We Eat Turkey
(sung to: Frére Jacques)
We eat turkey, we eat turkey
Oh so good, Oh so good
Always on Thanksgiving, always on thanksgiving
Yum, yum, yum. Yum, yum, yum.
Mashed potatoes, etc.
Baked yams, etc.
Yellow corn, etc.
Apple pie, etc.
Thank-you
Thank-you for the world so sweet
Thank-you for the food we eat
Thank-you for the birds that sing
Thank-you for everything!
Turkey Talk
Gobble, gobble, gobble's
How I talk talk talk
Waddle, waddle, waddle's
How I walk, walk, walk
With feathrs on my wings
And my tail spread out
I gobble, gobble, waddle
Waddle all about!
Printouts
Related Sites
by Eric Carle
The Very Busy Spider
Crafts
Marble Painting - Webs
Place a black piece of construction paper in the bottom of a cardboard box. Add some white paint and a marble. Children
tip the box back/forth and side to side until they are happy with the web they have created on the paper.
Stringing Webs
Cut a donut shape from a styrofoam tray. Snip around the circle to create little cuts on the outside of the 'donut'.
Children create a web by wrapping wool back and forth securing it into the cuts. Tie when done. Hang from the ceiling with a
spider attached to the web.
Handprint Spiders
Have children place their palm and 4 fingers (excluding thumb) into paint and stam onto a paper with the fingers stretched out for spider legs. Add paint
to the same 4 fingers on the other hand to stamp the other set of legs.
Paper Plate Spiders
Paint small paper plates black. When dry, have children fold, accordian style, 8 strips of black construction paper. Attach
the legs to the spider. Pom poms can be added for eyes.
Spider Glider
See Related Sites below for link to instructions.
Activities
Sequence Cards
Print the Very Busy Spider sequence cards and place on a table for children to use during child directed play.
Spider - Web Matching Game
Print the Spider - Web Matching Game and place on a table for children to use during child directed play.
Spiders - Bug Keepers
Set up various bug keepers with spiders. Observe the spiders and the webs they create. Place bugs in the keeper for food and a wet sponge for water.
Rice Krispie Spiders
Make rice krispie squares according to directions on the box. Have children butter their hands then give them each a blob of the mixture to create a spider body. Then
give each child 8 pretzel sticks (or licorice) for legs. Let set and enjoy for afternoon snack.
Explorations
Spiders
Through pictures, the internet, and observing the bug keepers, children will learn spider facts.
Webs
Through pictures, the internet, and observing the bug keepers, children will learn all about spider webs.
Farm Animals
Discuss and learn all about the animals on the farm that are in the story.
Songs, Poems, Fingerplays
There's A Spider on the Floor
There's a spider on the floor, on the floor.
There's a spider on the floor, on the floor.
Who could ask for any more,
There's a spider on the floor?
There's a spider on my leg, on my leg.
There's a spider on my leg, on my leg.
Oh it's really really big,
This old spider on my leg.
There's a spider on my leg, on my leg.
Now the spider's on my stomach, on my stomach.
Now the spider's on my stomach, on my stomach.
Oh he's just a silly lummock,
This old spider on my stomach.
There's a spider's on my stomach, on my stomach.
Now the spider's on my head, on my head.
Now the spider's on my head, on my head.
Oh my heart is filled with dread
I've got a spider on my head.
There's a spider's on my head, on my head.
And he jumps off!!!
There's a spider on the floor, on the floor.
There's a spider on the floor, on the floor.
Who could ask for any more,
There's a spider on the floor?
~Raffi~
The Eency Weency Spider
The eency weency spider
Went up the water spout
Down came the rain
And washed the spider out
Out came the sun
And dried up all the rain
So the eency weency spider
Went up the spout again.
The great big spider
Went up the water spout
Down came the rain
And washed the spider out
Out came the sun
And dried up all the rain
So the great big spider
Went up the spout again.
The teeny tiny spider
Went up the water spout
Down came the rain
And washed the spider out
Out came the sun
And dried up all the rain
So the teeny tiny spider
Went up the spout again.
Little Miss Muffet
Little Miss Muffet
Sat on a tuffet
Eating her curds and whey
Along came a spider
Who sat down beside her
And frightened Miss Muffet away.
The kids love taking turns being Miss (or Mr.) Muffet and acting out this rhyme!
Down on Grandpa's Farm
Adapted to fit the story
Down on Grandpa's farm there is a very busy spider
Down on Grandpa's farm there is a very busy spider
The horse, it makes a web like this spin, spin
The horse, it makes a web like this spin, spin.
Oh we're on our way we're on our way
On our way to Grandpa's farm
Oh we're on our way we're on our way
On our way to Grandpa's farm.
Down on Grandpa's farm there is a friendly brown horse
Down on Grandpa's farm there is a friendly brown horse
The horse, it makes a sound like this neigh neigh
The horse, it makes a sound like this neigh neigh.
Oh we're on our way we're on our way
On our way to Grandpa's farm
Oh we're on our way we're on our way
On our way to Grandpa's farm.
Down on Grandpa's farm there is a wooly white sheep
Down on Grandpa's farm there is a wooly white sheep
The sheep, it makes a sound like this baa baa
The sheep, it makes a sound like this baa baa.
Oh we're on our way we're on our way
On our way to Grandpa's farm
Oh we're on our way we're on our way
On our way to Grandpa's farm.
Down on Grandpa's farm there is a black and white cow.
Down on Grandpa's farm there is a black and white cow.
The cow, it makes a sound like this moo moo
The cow, it makes a sound like this moo moo
Oh we're on our way we're on our way
On our way to Grandpa's farm
Oh we're on our way we're on our way
On our way to Grandpa's farm.
Down on Grandpa's farm there is a little brown goat
Down on Grandpa's farm there is a little brown goat
The goat, it makes a sound like this maa maa
The goat, it makes a sound like this maa maa.
Oh we're on our way we're on our way
On our way to Grandpa's farm
Oh we're on our way we're on our way
On our way to Grandpa's farm.
Down on Grandpa's farm there is a chubby pink pig
Down on Grandpa's farm there is a chubby pink pig
The pig, it makes a sound like this oink oink
The pig, it makes a sound like this oink oink.
Oh we're on our way we're on our way
On our way to Grandpa's farm
Oh we're on our way we're on our way
On our way to Grandpa's farm.
Down on Grandpa's farm there is a little grey dog
Down on Grandpa's farm there is a little grey dog
The dog, it makes a sound like this woof woof
The dog, it makes a sound like this woof woof.
Oh we're on our way we're on our way
On our way to Grandpa's farm
Oh we're on our way we're on our way
On our way to Grandpa's farm.
Down on Grandpa's farm there is a little black cat
Down on Grandpa's farm there is a little black cat
The cat, it makes a sound like this meow meow
The cat, it makes a sound like this meow meow.
Oh we're on our way we're on our way
On our way to Grandpa's farm
Oh we're on our way we're on our way
On our way to Grandpa's farm.
Down on Grandpa's farm there is a little brown duck
Down on Grandpa's farm there is a little brown duck
The duck, it makes a sound like this quack quack
The duck, it makes a sound like this quack quack.
Oh we're on our way we're on our way
On our way to Grandpa's farm
Oh we're on our way we're on our way
On our way to Grandpa's farm.
Down on Grandpa's farm there is a very colourful rooster
Down on Grandpa's farm there is a very colourful rooster
The rooster, it makes a sound like this cock-a-doole-doo
The rooster, it makes a sound like this cock-a-doole-doo.
Oh we're on our way we're on our way
On our way to Grandpa's farm
Oh we're on our way we're on our way
On our way to Grandpa's farm.
Down on Grandpa's farm there is a very curious owl
Down on Grandpa's farm there is a very curious owl
The owl, it makes a sound like this whoo whoo
The owl, it makes a sound like this whoo whoo.
Oh we're on our way we're on our way
On our way to Grandpa's farm
Oh we're on our way we're on our way
On our way to Grandpa's farm.
Down on Grandpa's farm there is a very tired spider
Down on Grandpa's farm there is a very tired spider
The spider, it made its web like this spin, spin
The spider, it made its web like this spin, spin... shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Printouts
Related Sites
The Very Busy Spider - story templates
The Very Busy Spider in the Classroom
by Patricia Hubbard
Trick or Treat Countdown
Crafts
Orange and Black Pictures
Tape an orange and black marker together and have children draw on white paper.
Orange and Black Collage
Provide different craft materials that are orange and black for children to create a collage.
Trick or Treat Bags
Decorate orange felt with black shapes to create a pumpkin face. Add a felt handle.
Tissue Ghosts
Scrunch a piece of white tissue paper into a ball. Cover with another sheet and tape or close with an elastic. Use a
black marker to add facial features. Older children may like to create their ghost with a round lollipop!
Skeletons
Children use precut shapes to create a skeleton.
Pumpkin Stamping
Pumpkin shaped sponges are dipped in orange paint and stamped onto a large piece of paper.
Activities
Countdown Number Cards
Print the Countdown Number Cards and place on a table during child directed play.
Halloween Party
Children bring their costumes and celebrate with games which include, pumpkin carving, bean bag toss, witches' broom,
ball toss, reading Halloween stories and singing songs.
Explorations
Halloween
Discuss the traditions of Halloween - wearing costumes and trick or treating.
Numbers
Review and explore numbers and one-to-one correspondence.
Songs, Poems, Fingerplays
1 Little, 2 Little, 3 Little Witches
1 little, 2 little, 3 little witches
Fly over haystacks, fly over ditches
Over the moon without any hitches
Hi Ho Halloween's here.
It's Halloween At Last
Pumpkins have such happy grins, happy grins, happy grins
Pumpkins have such happy grins
It's Halloween at last.
Ghosts have come to school today, school today, school today
Ghosts have come to school today, school today, school today
Hi Ho Halloween's here.
Continue making verses up for other costumes.
Printouts
Related Sites
by Bill Martin Jr. & John Archambault
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
Crafts
Alphabet Stamping
Children dip sponge letters in paint and stamp onto paper.
Letter Crafts
Children use stickers and glue items onto large letter shapes...
A - apples
B - buttons
C - cars
D - dinosaurs
E - elephants
F - feathers
G - green glitter gli
H - hearts
I - ice-cream cones
J - jelly beans
K - keys
L - lace
M - monkeys
N - newspaper
O - owls
P - pigs
Q - q-tips
R - ribbon
S - stars
T - toothpicks
U - umbrellas
V - vest
W - whale
X - xylophone
Y - yarn
Z - zippers
Alphabet Book
Create an alphabet book from the Letter Crafts.
Activities
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Matching Games
Print out the Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Matching Games and place on a table during child directed play.
Alphabet Matching Games
Print and put out various alphabet matching games (see my alphabet theme page) on a table during child directed play.
Explorations
Alphabet
Explore the various sounds the letters make and how they blend together to create words.
Songs, Poems, Fingerplays
A B C D
A B C D E F G
H I J K L M N O P
Q R S
T U V
W X Y and Z
Now I know my ABC's
Next time won't you sing with me.
A You're Adorable
A - you're adorable
B - you're so beautiful
C - you're a cutie full of charms
D - you're delightful
E - you're exciteful
F - you're a feather in my arms
G - you're so good to me
H - you're so heavenly
I - you're the one I love
J - you're like Jack and Jill
K - you're so kissable
L - you're so loveable
M,N,O,P - I could go on all day
Q,R,S,T - alphabetically speaking, you're OK
U - make my life complete
V - you're so very sweet
W,X,Y,Z
It's so nice to travel through, the alphabet with you
To tell you what you mean to me!
Every Letter Makes a Sound
The A says aaa
The A says aaa
Every letter makes a sound
The A says aaa.
The B says buh
The B says buh
Every letter makes a sound
The B says buh.
Continue through all letters and sounds of the alphabet.
Printouts
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Alphabet Matching Game
Related Sites
Virtual Vine - Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
A to Z Teacher Stuff - Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom - You're Visiting the Alphabet Room
Hubbard's Cupboard - Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
A Book A Week - Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
by Bill Martin Jr. & Michael Sampson
Chicka Chicka 1 2 3
Crafts
Number Book
Children add stickers to number pages and create a book.
Activities
Number Matching Games
Print and put out various number matching games (see my numbers theme page) on a table during child directed play.
Explorations
Numbers
Explore numbers, counting, and one to one correspondence.
Songs, Poems, Fingerplays
Number Apple Tree
Way up high in an apple
So many numbers smiled at me
I tried to count as fast as I could
As they danced about
Boy, were they ever good!
Printouts
Chicka Chicka 123 Counting Mats/Book
Related Sites
by
Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
Crafts
Presents for parents
Each year we make a special gift for Mom and Dad - please visit my Christmas gift page for ideas.
Hand and Foot Rudolph
Paint each child's foot brown and use the foot print for Rudolph's face. Let dry completely. Remove child's shirt
and paint arm 1/2 way up to the elbow and the hand (do one hand at a time!) and press print down for reindeer's antlers.
Add sticker or googly eyes and red pompom for the nose.
Rudolph Head Bands
Trace children's hands and cut out of construction paper. Glue to card paper to create antlers. Measure child's head
and cut a band from brown paper to fit. Staple to create headband.
Paper Bag Rudolph Puppet
Print the paper bag puppet pages for the children to paint or colour. Glue onto a paper bag.
Magic Reindeer Food
Have children place rolled oats and coloured sugar sprinkles (the type you buy for decorating cookies) in a plastic bag. Print the
Magic Reindeer Food tags and attach to the bags for the children to take home and sprinkle on their lawn Christmas Eve.
Activities
Pin The Nose on Rudolph Game
Print the Pin the Nose on Rudolph Game. Use a blindfold and have children try to attach their nose as close as possible
to the correct position.
Reindeer Colours Matching Game
Print the Reindeer Colours Matching Game and place on a table during child directed play.
Explorations
Reindeer
Through the use of books and the internet, study facts about reindeer.
Songs, Poems, Fingerplays
Rudolph
Rudolf, the red-nosed reindeer
Had a very shiny nose
And if you ever saw it
You would even say it glows.
All of the other reindeer
Used to laugh and call him names
They never let poor Rudolf
Play in any reindeer games.
Then one foggy Christmas eve
Santa came to say:
"Rudolf with your nose so bright,
Won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"
Then all the reindeer loved him
As they shouted out with glee:
"Rudolf the red-nosed reindeer,
You'll go down in history!"
Jingle Bells
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way
Oh what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way
Oh what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh.
Dashing through the snow, in a one-horse open sleigh
Over the fields we go, laughing all the way - Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha
Bells on bob-tail ring, making spirits bright
Oh What fun it is to sing a sleighing song tonight.
Oh, Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way
Oh what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way
Oh what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh.
Must Be Santa
Who's got a beard that's long and white
Santa's got a beard that's long and white
Who comes around on a special night
Santa comes around on a special night.
Special Night, beard that's white
Must be Santa Must be Santa
Must be Santa, Santa Claus.
Who wears boots and a suit of red
Santa wears boots and a suit of red
Who wears a long cap on his head
Santa wears a long cap on his head.
Cap on head, suit that's red
Special night, beard that's white
Must be Santa Must be Santa
Must be Santa, Santa Claus.
Who's got a big red cherry nose
Santa's got a big red cherry nose
Who laughs this way Ho Ho Ho
Santa laughs this way Ho Ho Ho.
Ho Ho Ho, cherry nose
Cap on head, suit that's red
Special night, beard that's white
Must be Santa Must be Santa
Must be Santa, Santa Claus.
Who very soon will come our way
Santa very soon will come our way
Eight little reindeer pull his sleigh
Santa's little reindeer pull his sleigh.
Reindeer sleigh, come our way
Ho Ho Ho, cherry nose
Cap on head, suit that's red
Special night, beard that's white
Must be Santa Must be Santa
Must be Santa, Santa Claus.
Up On The Housetop
Up on the housetop the reindeer pause
Out jumps good old Santa Claus
Down through the chimney with lots of toys
All for the little ones
Christmas joys
Ho, Ho, Ho
Who wouldn't go
Ho, ho, ho
Who wouldn't go
Up on the housetop
Click, click, click
Down through the chimney with
Good Saint Nick
First comes the stocking
Of little Nell
Oh, dear Santa
Fill it well
Give her a dolly
That laughs and cries
One that will open
And shut her eyes
Ho, Ho, Ho
Who wouldn't go
Ho, ho, ho
Who wouldn't go
Up on the housetop
Click, click, click
Down through the chimney with
Good Saint Nick
Next comes the stocking
Of little Will
Oh, just see what
A glorious fill
Here is a hammer
And lots of tacks
Also a ball
And a whip that cracks.
Ho, Ho, Ho
Who wouldn't go
Ho, ho, ho
Who wouldn't go
Up on the housetop
Click, click, click
Down through the chimney with
Good Saint Nick
We Wish You A Merry Christmas
We wish you a Merry Christmas
We wish you a Merry Christmas
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Good tidings we bring to you and your kin
Good tidings for Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Jolly Old St. Nicholas
Jolly old Saint Nicholas,
Lean your ear this way
Don't you tell a single soul
What I'm going to say
Christmas Eve is coming soon
Now, you dear old man,
Whisper what you'll bring to me
Tell me if you can.
When the clock is striking twelve
And I'm fast asleep,
Down the chimney broad and black
With your sack you'll creep
All the stockings you will find
Hanging in a row
Mine will be the shortest one
You'll be sure to know.
Printouts
Related Sites
by Jan Brett
The Mitten
Crafts
Mittens
Have children decorate a paper mitten with sticker shapes.
Winter Snow Scene
Children will create a winter scene on blue paper using white items such as cotton, styrofoam shapes, stickers, and paper.
Snowflakes
Fold and cut a 6 sided snowflake.
Wool Pictures
Glue wool onto a mitten shape.
Activities
Story Secquence Cards
Print the Story Sequence cards and place on a table during child directed play.
Mitten Match
Print the Mitten Match game and place on a table during child directed play.
Number Mittens
Print the Number Mittens game and place on a table during child directed play.
Mitten Pattern Strips
Print the Mitten Pattern Strips and place on a table during child directed play.
Feely Mitten
Place some objects in a large mitten for children to feel and guess what the items are. Change items daily.
Explorations
Animals of the Mitten
Learn facts about the various animals in the story with the aid of pictures, books and the internet.
Winter
Discuss the seasonal changes that occur in Winter.
Songs, Poems, Fingerplays
The Mitten in the Snow
The mitten in the snow
The mitten in the snow
Help us please so we won't freeze
The mitten in the snow.
A mole squeezes in
A mole squeezes in
Help me please so I won't freeze
The mitten in the snow.
A rabbit squeezes in
A rabbit squeezes in
Help me please so I won't freeze
The mitten in the snow.
A hedgehog squeezes in
A hedgehog squeezes in
Help me please so I won't freeze
The mitten in the snow.
A owl squeezes in
A owl squeezes in
Help me please so I won't freeze
The mitten in the snow.
A badger squeezes in
A badger squeezes in
Help me please so I won't freeze
The mitten in the snow.
A fox squeezes in
A fox squeezes in
Help me please so I won't freeze
The mitten in the snow.
A bear squeezes in
A bear squeezes in
Help me please so I won't freeze
The mitten in the snow.
A mouse squeezes in
A mouse squeezes in
Help me please so I won't freeze
The mitten in the snow.
Aaaaa-aaaaa-aaaaa-ca-chew!
10 Mittens
1 mitten
2 mittens
3 mittens 4
How many mittens are on the floor?
5 mittens
6 mittens
7 mittens 8
Now we need to lay them straight
9 mittens
10 mittens
Oh lets see
Just how many there will be.
Mitten Song
Thumb's in the thumb hole
Fingers all together
This is the song we sing
In Mitten weather
It doesn't matter
If they're made of wool or leather
Thumb's in the thumb hole
And fingers go together!
Mitten Song
Lost Mittens
I have three pairs of mittens
Yellow, red, and blue
If I ever lose a pair
I will still have two
But it never works that way
That's not the way it's done
I never seem to lose the pair
All I lose is one!
And at the end of winter
I have three mittens there
One blue, one red, one yellow
But not a single pair!
Printouts
Related Sites
The Site Word Book printout was found on Hubbard's Cupboard website.
Put the Animals in the Mitten printouts were found on Jan Brett's website.
by Jan Brett
The Hat
Crafts
Hats
Precut paper plates to fit a paper bowl and hot glue. Have children paint their hats colour of choice. When dry, provide ribbons,
paper, felt, buttons, etc. for decorating. Add a ribbon to either side for tying.
Paper Plate Hedgehog
Cut a hedgehog shape from a paper plate. Have children cut the 'spikes' and add features.
Shape Pigs
Cut 3 sized circles out of pink paper - one for the body, one for the head, and one for the snout. Have children glue together. Add triangle ears and a curly tail.
Hobby Horse
Stuff a worksock with batting or newspaper. Attach to a large tube from wrapping paper with an elastic. Glue on ears, wool for a mane, and eyes. Children will have
fun galloping with their very own hobby horse.
Newspaper Hats
Fold sheets of newspaper to create hats.
Activities
Story Sequence Cards
Print the story sequence cards and place on a table during child directed play.
Sorting Hats
Have children sort a variety of hats in different ways - ie by colour, type, and size.
Hat Day
Have children wear their favourite hat to school. Activities for this day include - sharing about your hat at circle time, bean bag toss
(have children toss bean bags into hats placed upside down on the floor), and a Hat Parade.
Explorations
Winter
Continue discussing the seasonal changes that occur in Winter.
Farm
Learn facts about the various farm animals in the story with the aid of pictures, books and the internet.
Songs, Poems, Fingerplays
My Hat
My Hat it has three corners
Three corners has my hat
If it didn't have three corners
It wouldn't be my hat!
Printouts
Related Sites
The Hat colouring page was found on Jan Brett's website.
by Susanna Leonard Hill
Wake Up Mr. Groundhog
Crafts
Pop Up Groundhog
Have children colour a picture of a groundhog and glue to a popsicle stick. Poke a hole in the bottom of the cup for the
stick to fit through. Children can hide the groundhog in the cup (burrow) and pop him up to see his shadow.
Groundhog Paper Bag Puppet
Print the paper bag puppet pattern and colour. Cut out and paste onto a lunchbag.
Activities
Shadow Fun
Experiment with light and shadows.
Groundhog Addition Game
Print the Groundhog Addition Game and place on a table during child directed play.
Explorations
Groundhogs
Visit the websites of Punxsutawney Phil and Wiarton Willy. Learn all about groundhogs and their special day through
books, the internet, pictures, and discussions.
Shadows
Explore how shadows are created.
Songs, Poems, Fingerplays
Wake up, Groundhog
Wake up, Groundhog,
Time to see
What the weather's going to be
Time to stretch, time to think
Time to eat, and time to drink.
Wake up Groundhog
Time to see
What the weather's going to be!
Two Little Groundhogs
Two little groundhogs in a burrow so deep
Stick out their heads to take a peek.
They look to the left.
They look to the right.
They hide from their shadows in the bright sunlight!
Making Shadows
(Sung to: Twinkle, Twinkle)
Shadows big and shadows small
I see shadows on the wall
Shadows here and shadows there
Lots of shadows everywhere
All the shadows that I see
Big or small, they don't scare me.
Shadows, shadows - oh what fun
I can make them in the sun
I will make some big and tall
I will make some short and small
I make shadows by the light
In my room so late at night
Printouts
Related Sites
The Wake Up Groundhog book was found on Little Giraffes.
by Carl Norac
I Love You So Much
Crafts
Love Bugs
Fold the small pipecleaner in half - if using a large,
cut in half first, then fold. Glue the on the top of the large pipecleaner in the center for antenna. Fold the tips down
so there are no pointy tips and glue fun foam hearts to top. Glue on googly eyes. Cut a heart shape from the sheet of fun
foam. Glue your bug onto the heart for feet of the bug. Glue the small pom pom on your bug for a nose.
Valentine Holders
Decoupage hearts cut from wrapping paper onto a tissue box. Add a ribbon handle for carrying.
Heart Flowers
Glue four hears in a circle (tip in) for the petals, cut a small yellow or purple heart for the
center of the flower then add a green pipecleaner for the stem and construction paper leaves.
Paint Hearts
Cut large heart shapes from white paper; children paint with red and white paint.
Lacing Hearts
Cut heart shapes from card paper. Use a hole punch to create holes around the outside of the heart.
Children lace through the holes using pink or red wool.
Heart Crowns
Cut the construction paper into quarters
(4 strips) lengthwise. Staple two of the pieces together and add your stickers. This will be the band of the hat.
Measure the band to fit around your head and staple. Add one strip across the band - it should loop up.
Center the last strip crossways onto the loop and staple. Attach the last strip to the crown band.
Add a large heart to the front if you wish.
ActivitiesHeart Shaped Cupcakes
Colour Heart Bears
Print the Colour Heart Bears and place on a table during child directed play.
Valentine's Day Party
*Wear Red or Pink today.
*Have a valentine card exchange. Children exchange cards with their friends. Cards can be placed in their holders to take home.
*Play Musical Coloured Hearts. Cut out hearts of different colours and place on the floor in a walking pattern around the room. Save one heart of
each colour and place in a box to keep beside the music player. As the music plays, children move from
heart to heart - when the music stops, the children stop on the heart they are on. Pull a heart of a box and see who is on the same coloured heart.
*Make King/Queen of Hearts crowns. Measure a strip of red or pink construction paper around each child's head and staple. Create a t with two other
strips and attach to the headband. Have children decorate with precut hearts.
*Play Cupid's Surprise. Choose a valentine surprise for each child. Place in a box and tape closed. Wrap the box. Place this box in another and wrap... and so on so that you have enough boxes/layers for
each child to unwrap the gift once or twice. When the final box is revealed, the children can open the box and see what is inside. The last child to open the box can distribute the gifts to his/her friends.
ExplorationsHeart
Songs, Poems, Fingerplays
I Love You
I love you
You love me
We're a happy family
Here's a great big hug
And a kiss from me to you
Won't you say you love me too.
I love you
You love me
We're best friends
As friends should be
Here's a great big hug
And a kiss from me to you
Won't you say you love me too.
Love is Nothing
Love is nothing 'til you give it away, give it away, give it away
Love is nothing 'til you give it away
And you end up having more.
Love is like a magic penny
Hold on tight and you won't have any
Lend it, spend it
You'll have so many
They'll be rolling all over the floor.
Love is nothing 'til you give it away, give it away, give it away
Love is nothing 'til you give it away
And you end up having more.
Skinnamarink
I love you
Skinnamarinkydinkydink, skinnamarinkydoo
I love you
Skinnamarinkydinkydink, skinnamarinkydoo.
I love you
I love you in the morning and in the afternoon
I love you in the evening, underneath the moon
Skinnamarinkydinkydink, skinnamarinkydoo.
I love you, too, boo-boop-dee-doo!
Printouts
Related Sites
by Phil Roxbee Cox
Frog on a Log
Crafts
Shape Frog
Have children create a frog using a triangle and circle shape. Older children can cut smaller triangles for feet to glue
on the two tips of the larger triangle. Use egg cups for bulging eyes; glue a small black pompom in the center of each egg cup.
Paper Plate Frog
Have children paint a paper plate green; let dry. Fold plate in half and staple closed. Glue legs to the bottom cut from construction paper or fun foam. Add
large googly eyes to the plate.
Pom Pom Frog
Glue a large green pompom onto a funfoam foot base. Add smaller pompoms for eyes.
Activities
Life Cycle of a Frog
Print out the Life Cycle of a Frog cards and place on a table during child directed play.
Frog Matching Game
Print out the Frog Matching Game and place on a table during child directed play.
Rhyme Game
Print out the Rhyme Game and place on a table during child directed play.
Leap Frog
Play leap frog during outside play time or gross motor play.
Explorations
Frogs
Learn all about frogs using books, pictures, and the internet.
Leap Year
Discuss what a leap year is.
Songs, Poems, Fingerplays
5 Green and Speckled Frogs
5 green and speckled frogs
Sat on a speckled log
Eating some most delicious bugs - yum, yum
One jumped into the pool
Where it was nice and cool
Now there are 4 green, speckled frogs - glub, glub
4 green and speckled frogs... etc
3 green and speckled frogs... etc
2 green and speckled frogs... etc
1 green and speckled frog
Sat on a speckled log
Eating some most delicious bugs - yum, yum
He jumped into the pool
Where it was nice and cool
Now there are no green, speckled frogs - glub, glub!
There Once Was a Little Green Frog
There once was a little green frog, frog, frog
Who sat in the woods on a log, log, log
A screech owl sitting in a tree, tree, tree
Came after the frog with a scree, scree, screech
When the frog heard the owl in a flash, flash, flash
He leaped in the pond with a splash, splash, splash!
I Have a Little Frog
I have a little frog
His name is Tiny Tim
I put him in the bathtub
To see if he could swim
He drank up all the water
And ate up all the soap
And when he tried to talk
He had a BUBBLE in his throat!
Frogs Grow And Change
Sung to: Froggie Went A Courtin
Did you know frogs grow and change
Uh-huh, uh-huh
Did you know frogs grow and change
Uh-huh, uh-huh
A tadpole is a baby frog; it moves its tail to swim along
Uh-huh, uh-huh
The back legs are the first to grow
Uh-huh, uh-huh
The back legs are the first to grow
Uh-huh, uh-huh
The back legs are the first to grow; then its front legs start to show
Uh-huh, uh-huh
It climbs onto the land that's near
Uh-huh, uh-huh
It climbs onto the land that's near
Uh-huh, uh-huh
It climbs onto the land that's near; now its tail can disappear
Uh-huh, uh-huh
The frog's legs grow big and strong
Uh-huh, uh-huh
The frog's legs grow big and strong
Uh-huh, uh-huh
The frog's legs grow big and strong; it uses them to hop along
Uh-huh, uh-huh.
Printouts
Related Sites
by Eve Bunting
St. Patrick’s Day in the Morning
Crafts
Glittery Shamrocks
Cut shamrocks shapes from card paper. Decorate with squeeze bottle paint.
Squeeze Bottle Paint
1 part flour
1 part salt
1 part water
powdered green tempera paint
Mix together the flour, salt, and water; stir in green tempera paint. Pour into a squeeze container (such as mustard) Attach lid to squeeze bottle and squeeze paint onto shamrock shape. It will glitter when dry.
Rainbows
Print the rainbow pattern on card paper. Children match squares of tissue paper to the correct sections of the rainbow - decoupage when the tissue paper is in place.
Shamrock People
Using a large green shamrock for the person, have the children add arms, legs, and facial features.
Shamrock Necklaces
Have children thread green pasta onto a string. Add a funfoam shamrock to the center. Tie to create a necklace. Adding a glitter shamrock sticker to the center
of the funfoam shamrock will add sparkle!
Green Fingerpainting
Provide yellow and blue fingerpaint for children to create/discover how green is made.
Potato Prints
Cut shapes into potatoes and have children dip into paint and stamp onto paper.
St. Pats Hats
Use funfoam or green construction paper to create this St. Patrick's Day hat with the kids.
Activities
Shamrock Sequencing
Print the shamrock size sequencing page and cut out shamrocks from felt. Place on the feltboard during child directed play.
Pot of Gold Game
Print the Pot of Gold Game and place on a table during child directed play.
Pot of Gold Counting Game
Print the Pot of Gold Counting Game and place on a table during child directed play.
St. Patrick's Day Memory Game
Print the St. Patrick's Day Memory Game and place on a table during child directed play.
St. Patrick's Day Party
*Wear green today.
*Leprechaun Dance - dance to music; sit on a shamrock shape when the music stops.
*Pot of Gold Craft - decorate small containers for a pot of gold.
*Leprechaun Gold Hunt - have children hunt for chocolate gold coins to place one large pot.
*Shawn, Shawn, the Leprechaun - create a story about Shawn the Leprechaun misplacing his pot of gold. Have a bag with items in it that the
children can pull out during the story... Shawn looked behind the tree, was that his pot of gold? NO... it was (whatever child pulls out of the bag. Continue with
other areas Shawn might look. End the story with the pot of gold (coins the kids found) at the end of the rainbow set up in the room. Divide the gold evenly for the
children to take home in the pots they made for craft.
Explorations
St. Patrick's Day
Learn about the history and traditions of St. Patrick's Day.
Ireland
Explore Ireland through the use of books, pictures, and the internet.
Songs, Poems, Fingerplays
I'm a Little Leprechaun
Sung to "I'm a Little Teapot"
I'm a little Leprechaun
Quick as can be
I hide my gold
Under a tree
If you see a rainbow
You may find
Where I left
My gold behind.
I Can Sing A Rainbow
Red and yellow and blue and green,
Purple and orange and pink,
I can sing a rainbow,
Sing a rainbow,
Sing a rainbow too!
Listen to your heart,
Listen to your heart,
And sing everything you feel,
I can sing a rainbow,
Sing a rainbow,
Sing a rainbow too
Leprechauns Are Dancing
Sung to: Sing a Song of Sixpence
Leprechauns are dancing,
How they love to play.
Running in the fields and ~
Playing tricks all day!
You will never catch one,
No matter what you do.
They sing and dance and play their games,
And run away from you!
Songs for Teachers
Printouts
Related Sites
by Isabel Gaines
Pooh's Easter Egg Hunt
Crafts
Easter Baskets
Paper maché a large balloon. Have children work in pairs. When dry, cut the basket in half. Each child paints their half. Let dry. Add a ribbon for a handle.
Tissue Paper Eggs
Have children cover an egg shape with tissue paper (make sure it is the kind that 'bleeds'. Using a water sprayer, mist water on the paper until wet. Let dry. The
tissue paper will fall off leaving a beautiful pattern of colours behind.
Wooden Eggs
Purchase wooden egg shapes from a craft store; paint with acrylic paint and shellac when dry.
ActivitiesEgg Matching Games
Easter Party
After hunting for eggs, have an Easter party:
*Dye real eggs to take home in their baskets
*Play musical eggs by placing precut eggs
of different colours on the floor - when the music stops, call out a colour and children must sit on that coloured egg.
*Make matching sound shakers from plastic eggs. Add pairs of items to the eggs for children to match the sounds
*Egg and Spoon Race - place plastic eggs on a spoon and children race to a finish line - if they drop their egg, they must start over.
Explorations
Eggs
Discuss and view pictures of different kinds of eggs. Examine raw cooked, and hard boiled eggs. Explore the different eggs laid by various wildlife.
Songs, Poems, Fingerplays
Oh See the Baskets
Oh see the baskets of Easter Eggs
Pink and blue, purple too
With chocolate bunnies
And jelly beans
I'll share my basket with you.
5 Little Easter Eggs
Five little Easter eggs, lovely colors wore,
Mother ate the blue one, then there were four.
Four little Easter eggs, two and two you see,
Daddy ate the red one, then there were three.
Three little Easter eggs, before I knew,
Sister ate the yellow one, then there were two.
Two little Easter eggs, oh what fun,
Brother ate the purple one, then there was one.
One little Easter egg, see me run,
I ate the green one, then there were none.
Printouts
Related Sites
by Jan Brett
Town Mouse, Country Mouse
Crafts
City Pictures
Provide shapes for children to glue a city landscape onto construction paper.
Country Pictures
Provide construction paper and cut outs for children to glue a country landscape onto construction paper.
Stuffed Owl
Cut an owl shape out of brown kraft roll paper. Have children stuff with newspapers, staple closed, and add features.
Stuffed Cat
Cut a cat shape out of brown kraft roll paper. Have children paint their cat. When dry, stuff with newspapers and staple closed then add features.
Activities
Print the Town/Country Sorting Game and plce on a table during child directed play.
Explorations
Explore the similiarities and differences between living in a town and living in the country using pictures, books, and the internet.
Songs, Poems, Fingerplays
The Mouse
Nibble, nibble, nibble,
Yellow cheese is good.
I like cheese
Like a little mouse should.
My ears are trained
To listen for a snap.
I don't get caught
In someone's mousetrap.
~Gail Nettles~
Mr. Owl
Said Mr. Owl, sitting in a tree,
"How would you like
To be like me?
I sleep all day
In the bright sunlight,
And look for my dinner
In the middle of the night!"
My Kitten
I have a little kitten,
She's black and white and gray.
When I try to cuddle her,
She always wants to play,
So I drag a piece of yarn
Across the kitchen floor.
She thinks it is a little mouse
To chase right out the door.
Printouts
Related Sites
Town Mouse Country Mouse Finger Puppets
by Jane Simmons
Come Along Daisy / Daisy and the Egg
Crafts
Shape Duck
Print the shape duck template and cut out of yellow and orange paper for children to create a duck.
Pond Collage
Paint water on a large piece of paper and let dry. Use construction paper to add long grass and bullrushes. Add duck stickers or create ducks with construction paper.
Activities
Waterplay
Set up floating ducks in the waterplay table.
Observe Ducks
Walk to the lake and observe the ducks in their natural habitat.
Explorations
Pond Life
Explore pond life using books, pictures, and the internet.
Ducks Don't Get Wet
Experiment with feathers spread with oil and spray bottles. Have children place the oil on the feathers, spray with water, and observe the results. Discuss
how ducks have oil glands that they activate while preening - spreading the oil on their feathers - to prevent getting wet.
Songs, Poems, Fingerplays
Little Yellow Duck
Adapted for story by changing 'White' to 'Yellow'
Little Yellow Duck
There's a little yellow duck
Swimming in the water
A little yellow duck
Doing what he ought-a
He took a bite of a lily pad
Flapped his wings and he said, "I'm glad
I'm a little yellow duck swimming in the water.
Quack, quack, quack!"
There's a little green frog
Swimming in the water
A little green frog
Doing what he ought-er
He jumped right off of the lily pad
That the little duck bit and he said, "I’m glad
I’m a little green frog
Swimming in the water.
Ribbet, ribbet, ribbet!"
There's a little black bug
Swimming in the water
A little black bug
Doing what he ought-er
He tickled the frog on the lily pad
vThat the little duck bit and he said, "I’m glad
I’m a little black bug
Swimming in the water
Blug, blug, blug!"
There's a little red snake
Sneaking through the water
A little red snake
Doing what he ought-er
He frightened the duck and the frog so bad
He ate up the the bug and he said, "I’m glad
I’m a little red snake
Sneaking through the water
Ssss, Ssss, Ssss!"
Now there’s nobody left
Swimming in the water,
Nobody left doing what they ought-er
There’s nothing left but the lily pad
The duck and the frog swam away
I’m sad
Now there’s nobody left
Swimming in the water.
"Boo, hoo, hoo!"
Little Duck
Sung to: Yankee Doodle
Once there was a little duck who lived down by the lake.
His mother had to quack for him
Cause he was always late.
Quack, quack , quack, quack, quack, quack , quack!
Hurry don’t be late!
Quack, quack, quack, quack, quack, quack, quack!
Don’t make your mother wait!
Printouts
Related Sites
The Shape Duck template was found on First School's website.
A Colour Shape Duck template is also available on First School's website.
Everything Preschool Duck Theme
by Don and Audrey Wood
The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and The Big Hungry Bear
Crafts
Q-Tip Strawberries
Have children dip a q-tip into black paint and dab onto a large strawberry cut from red
construction paper. Add a green leaf top when finished.
Stuffed Felt Strawberry
Cut the strawberry template from red felt. Fold in half (see template) and stitch the one
side closed or use a glue gun. Stuff with batting and fold felt in and glue. Cutt a leaf top from
green felt and glue to the top of the stuffed strawberry. If you wanted to make large strawberry pillows, use flannel and stuff.
Strawberry Necklaces
Cut a strawberry shape from fun foam and lace onto a string. Have children alternate green and red beads to either side to create a necklace. Knot and wear.
Activities
Strawberry Matching Game
Print the strawberry Matching Game and place on a table during child directed play.
Strawberry Cakes
Whip cream and place in refridgerator until ready to assemble the cakes. Wash and cut strawberries. Set aside. Cut a pound cake in chunks and place in bowls. Have children place the pound
cake chunks in a bowl then place a dollop of whip cream on top of the cake. Top with fresh strawberries. Enjoy for snack!
Explorations
Strawberries
Learn about strawberries through books, the internet and photos.
Songs, Poems, Fingerplays
Picked a Strawberry
Sung to "Clementine"
Picked a strawberry,
Picked a strawberry
That was growing
In the sun.
Then I washed it,
And I ate it,
And I picked another one.
Strawberry, Strawberry
Strawberry, strawberry, how do you grow?
With sun and water, don't you know.
First blooms a flower that smells so sweet.
Then grows a strawberry; a tasty treat!
Printouts
Related Sites
by Charlotte Hutchinson
In Momma's Purse
Crafts
Mother's Day Gifts and Cards
Each year we make a special gift for Mom - please visit my Mother's Day gift page for ideas.
Activities
Momma's Purse Matching Game
Print the Momma's Purse Matching Game and place on a table during child directed play.
Explorations
The Alphabet
Explore letter names and sounds.
Songs, Poems, Fingerplays
I Love My Mother
Every mouse
and bumblebee,
Every bird
up in a tree,
Every caterpillar
and ladybug,
Loves to feel
his mother's hug.
Every bear
so fat and funny,
Loves his mother
more than honey.
Just as woodland
creatures do...
I love my mother
That is true!
Printouts
Related Sites
by Ruth Krauss
The Carrot Seed
Crafts
Carrot Top Painting
Use the tops of fresh carrots to create a brush for painting.
Carrots
Have children create carrots with orange and green construction paper.
Stuffed Carrots
Cut a carrot shape from orange felt. Sew (or glue gun) 3/4 the way up from tip to base.
Have children stuff with batting. add a green carrot top into the opening before sealing shut.
Activities
Carrot Cake
Ingredients
2 cups (500 mL) All-purpose flour
2 tsp (10 mL) Baking powder
2 tsp (10 mL) Cinnamon
1 tsp (5 mL) Baking soda
3/4 tsp (4 mL) Salt
1/2 tsp (2 mL) Nutmeg
3/4 cup (175 mL) Each granulated and packed brown sugar
3 Eggs
3/4 cup (175 mL) Vegetable oil
1 tsp (5 mL) Vanilla
2 cups (500 mL) Grated carrots
1 cup (250 mL) Drained canned crushed pineapple
1/2 cup (125 mL) Chopped pecans
ICING:
1 Pkg (8 oz/250 g) cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup (50 mL) Butter, softened
1/2 tsp (2 mL) Vanilla
1 cup (250 mL) Icing sugar
Preparation
Grease and flour 13- x 9-inch (3.5 L) metal cake pan; set aside.
In large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, salt and nutmeg. In separate bowl, beat together granulated and brown sugars, eggs, oil and vanilla until smooth; pour over flour mixture and stir just until moistened. Stir in carrots, pineapple and pecans. Spread in prepared pan.
Bake in centre of 350°F (180°C) oven for 40 minutes or until cake tester inserted in centre comes out clean. Let cool in pan on rack. (Make-ahead: Cover with plastic wrap and store at room temperature for up to 2 days. Or ovenwrap with heavy duty foil and freeze for up to 2 weeks; let thaw before continuing.)
ICING:
In bowl, beat cream cheese with butter until smooth. Beat in vanilla. Beat in icing sugar, one-third at a time, until smooth. Spread over top of cake. (Make-ahead: Cover loosely and refrigerate for up to I day.)
Set timer for 5 minutes less than the time specified in recipe, check cake then for the following signs. If the cake is not done, return it to the oven to finish baking.
WHEN IS THE CAKE DONE:
A fully baked cake will spring back when touched in the center. The cake also draws away from the side of the pan, and a cake tester (a toothpick of skewer works well) inserted in the center comes out clean. Also trust your sense of smell: the fresh aroma of butter and sugar wafting out of the oven can be the signal to check the cake.
When cakes emerge from the oven, their structure is set, but the set is still fragile. Let cakes stand in pans on rack for time specified in each recipe, usually 15 to 20 minutes. Run knife around edge of cake, then place rack over pan and invert cake onto rack to cool completely.
Recipe from Canadian Living
Carrot Graph
Have children taste carrots and graph who liked and disliked them.
Grow Carrot Tops
Place carrot tops in water after removing the green and observe for new growth.
Crazy Carrots Matching Game
Print the Crazy Carrots Matching Game and place on a table during child directed play.
Explorations
Carrots
Through the use of the internet, pictures, and carrots, discuss the parts of a carrot and how they grow.
Plants
Through the use of the internet, pictures, and real plants, discuss and discover what plants need to grow.
Songs, Poems, Fingerplays
10 Crunchy Carrots
10 crunchy carrots, all yours and mine
My gerbils ate one and now there's just 9
9 crunchy carrots, let's bake them in a cake
Sasquatch ate one and now there's just 8
8 crunchy carrots, delicious to munch
Your hamster ate one now there's 7 in the bunch
7 crunchy carrots, let's make some sticks
My sister ate one and now there's just 6
6 crunchy carrots, sweet as honey from the hive
The bees ate one and now there's just 5
5 crunchy carrots, a scratch at the door
The imp wants one and now there's just 4
4 crunchy carrots, a treat for you and me
But the worms ate one and now there's just 3
3 crunchy carrots, what can we do?
Your brother took one and now there's just 2
2 crunchy carrots, a knock at the door
Dracula wants one now there's just one more
1 crunchy carrot, broken in two
Gives a piece for me and a piece for you. Crunch!!
Mm, mm, mm, mm! Crunch!! Delicious!!
~Charlotte Diamond~
I have 3 of Charlotte Diamond's cds and they are AWESOME... I highly recommend adding them to your collection!
Printouts
Related Sites
The Carrot Seed - story templates
The Carrot Seed - A Language Experience and Personal Reader Activity
by Laura Joffe Numeroff
If You Give A Mouse A Cookie
Crafts
Triangle Mice
Have children add eyes, ears and a woolen tail to a construction paper triangle shape. Add a small pom pom nose and whiskers.
Mouse Head Bands
Have children glue a pink circle onto a grey (or brown) larger circle. Attach to a strip of construction paper and staple to fit child's head.
Activities
Cookie Jar Counting Game
Print out the Cookie Jar Counting Game and put out on a table during child directed play.
Bake Cookies
Children will learn many math skills while baking cookies with you. Here is my favourite chocolate chip cookie recipe.
Chocolate Chip Cookies
2 1/2 cups rolled oats (ground in blender)
2 cups flour
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup butter, softened
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
chocolate chips (indulge as you wish… I use Hershey Kisses, milk chocolate chips and milk chocolate chips)
milk chocolate bar – chopped (optional)
Cream together butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla and beat until well combined.
Add all dry ingredients. Add Chocolate Chips. Bake @ 375 for 10 minutes.
The baking is exactly 10 minutes. Don’t leave them longer. They may look a little undercooked when you take them out, but they should be brown and that’s what you’re looking for. Once they sit on the cookie sheet for a few minutes they’ll firm up.
Sequence Cards
Print out the Sequence Cards and put out on a table during child directed play.
Explorations
Mice
Learn all about mice using the internet, books, and pictures.
Songs, Poems, Fingerplays
C is for Cookie
C is for cookie
That's good enough for me
C is for cookie
That's good enough for me
C is for cookie
That's good enough for me
Oh cookie, cookie, cookie
Starts with C!
Who Stole the Cookies from the Cookie Jar?
Who Stole the cookies from the cookie jar?
(child's name) stole the cookies from the cookie jar
Who me?
Yes you!
Couldn't be.
Then who?
(names another child) stole the cookies from the cookie jar
Who me?
Continue 'til everyone has a turn.
Mice
I think mice
Are rather nice
There tails are long
Their faces small
They haven't any
Chins at all
Their ears are pink
Their teeth are white
They run about
The house at night
They nibble things
They shouldn`t touch
And no one seems
To like them much
But I think mice
Are nice!
~Rose Fyleman~
Printouts
Related Sites
The Mouse with crayons picture was found on the Family Education website.
The Mouse with milk picture was found on the Family Education website.
DLTK - If You Give A Mouse A Cookie
Virtual Vine - If You Give A...
by Laura Numeroff
If You Give A Pig A Pancake
Crafts
Circle Pig
Provide circles of varying sizes cut from pink construction paper for children to create a pig. Add triangle ears.
Sponge Paint Pigs
Dip a pig shaped sponge into paint and stamp onto paper.
Pig Tails
Draw a spiral onto a circle of pink paper. Children follow the line to cut out a pig tail.
Pig Puppet
Print the pig puppet template and have children create a paper bag puppet with the pieces.
Activities
Flipping Pancakes
Create pancakes using funfoam. Add concepts to the pancakes - match numerals to dots, rhyming words, alphabet letters, etc. Provide a toy spatula for
children to flip the pancake pairs onto a paper plate.
Explorations
Pigs
Study pigs using books, pictures, and the internet.
Songs, Poems, Fingerplays
Pigs
Pigs are playful. Pigs are pink.
Pigs are smarter than you think.
Pigs are pudgy. Pigs are plump.
Pigs can run but never jump.
Pigs are loyal. Pigs are true.
Pigs don’t care for barbecue.
~Charles Ghigna~
Mix A Pancake
Mix a pancake,
Stir a pancake,
Pop it in the pan;
Fry the pancake;
Toss the pancake,
Catch it if you can.
~Christina G. Rossetti~
Pancakes
Pancakes are sticky.
Pancakes are sweet.
Pancakes are yummy.
Good to eat!
Yummy in the morning.
Yummy at night.
Open your mouth and
Take a bite.
Printouts
Related Sites
The story templates were found on the Arkansas Government website.
by Eve Bunting
A Perfect Father's Day
Crafts
Activities
Explorations
Songs, Poems, Fingerplays
Printouts
Related Sites
by Audrey Wood
Too Many Monsters
Crafts
Monster Masks
Cut a mask shape from fun foam. Have children add features to create their own monster face. Add string for wearing.
Make Your Own Monster
Provide shapes and materials for children to create their very own monster.
My Own Monster
Provide shapes and materials for children to create their very own monster.
Activities
Monster Match
Print the Monster Match game and place on a table during child directed play.
Monster Math
Print the monster counters and have children create adding and subtracting problems to solve.
Explorations
Fears
Discuss fears and how to deal with them. How did the boy deal with his fear of monsters?
Songs, Poems, Fingerplays
If You Ever See A Monster
Sung To "Did You Ever See a Lassie"
If you ever see a monster, a monster, a monster
If you ever see a monster
Here's what you do
Stomp this way
And that way
Stomp this way
And that way
If you ever see a monster
That's what you do!
Have children add other verses by coming up with other ways to get rid of monsters.
Little Monster, Little Monster
Little monster, little monster
That I dread
Are you under
The (colour) bed?
Printouts
Related Sites
