Discussion questions, craft activities, and poetry resources!
Itsy Bitsy Baby Mouse
Themes: mice, getting lost, fears, imagination, seeking help, rhymes/poetry
--Review with kids the importance of learning their address and phone number.
--Help kids make a mouse puppet with a paper bag.
--Ask kids to describe how Itsy Bitsy finds his way home.
--Review simple rules to prevent getting lost.
--Review what children should do if they get lost. Here are some suggestions from parents.com.
Traffic Pups
Themes: dogs, toys, transportation, motorcycles, imagination, traffic, rhymes/poetry
--Discuss red lights/green lights and basic traffic rules of the road.
--Help children make a traffic light bookmark.
--Ask children to describe the various activities of the Traffic Pups.
--Encourage children to draw a picture of their favorite character from Toy City.
--Have children discuss their favorite stuffed animals.
Pilot Pups
Themes: transportation, airplanes, helicopters, teamwork, helping others, toys, imagination, dogs, rhymes/poetry
--Discuss the difference between an airplane and a helicopter.
--Ask children to brainstorm about other types of transportation.
--Ask children why the Pilot Pups take flight? Who are they looking for?
--Tell children what a search and rescue mission is. Click here for the basics on search and rescue.
--Encourage children to write a story about their favorite stuffed animal.
--Have children draw a picture of the Pilot Pups flying.
--Show children how to make a dog card.
--Show children how to make a dog mask.
--Show them how to make paper airplanes with this step-by-step guide.
Piggies in the Kitchen
Themes:
pigs, family life,
mothers, cooking/baking, birthdays, rhymes/poetry
--Discuss kid-friendly recipes and ingredients used for baking.
--Have children write descriptions or poems about their favorite food.
--Talk to them about baking rules, such as not using the oven by themselves. In Piggies in the Kitchen, Papa turns the oven on!
--Teach children how to plan a party! Encourage them to make plans, assign tasks, and bring in decorations and treats for a piggie party in the classroom.
--Show children who are ages 6 and up how to make an egg carton pig or a cute CD pig.
Hibernation Station
Themes: hibernation, science, winter, animals, sleep, rhymes/poetry
Check out the Hibernation Station Post on the NC Teacher Stuff Blog
--Discuss what hibernation means. An Author’s Note in the book provides hibernation facts.
--Have children identify the different animals featured in Hibernation Station.
--Ask children to identify problems that some of the animals experience as they try to get to sleep.
--Ask children what they need to get to sleep. Lights on or off? Favorite pillow and pajamas?
--Have children draw a picture of their favorite animal character from Hibernation Station.
--Show children how to make a groundhog mask.
--Show children how to make a circle bear.
The Way the Storm Stops
Themes: weather, science & nature,
rain, thunderstorms, fear of storms, feelings, family, rhymes/poetry
--Discuss words that are associated with weather.
--Tell children why thunderstorms occur. Here's a good explanation of thunderstorms.
--Ask children what the mother does to help the little girl fall asleep.
--Ask children about the little girl’s pet. What does her cat think of the thunderstorm?
--Have children use musical instruments to create the sounds of a storm. Use drums, tambourines, shakers...
--Have children draw a picture of the little girl and her cat.
--Have children use weather coloring pages.
--Show children how to make an umbrella crafts picture.
Poetry Resources
April is National Poetry Month
Teaching with Rhyming Picture Books
