Taken from http://www.kinderplans.com/content.cfm?pageid=143
Introduce Weather Words by Using A Predictable Chart
Using a predictable chart is a good introduction to using weather words. This would be used to model the reading process.
The chart could use the following predictable text line: What’s the weather like?
It is hot. It is cold. It is cloudy. It is windy. It is raining. It is snowing. It is stormy. It is a blizzard. We like it when it is sunny.
Only a portion of the chart is shown.
Follow-up Craft Activity
The craft displayed to the right could be used as a follow-up activity. It could also be used as an introduction to colors and color words or as a review. There are two different versions of the craft, one with words on the rainbow and another without the words. The templates to complete the craft are found in the member’s area or theme book.
Preschool and Kindergarten Activity
Another Follow-up Activity
Weather Sorting
Children can sort pictures according to if they are representative of the cold/cool category or hot/warm category. Discussion on appropriate clothing and terms used for different weather conditions could be discussed in relation to the craft activity. Pictures could be found in catalogs. Color or black white pictures are also found in the members’ area and theme unit.
Connection to Literature
“It Looked Like Spilt Milk” by Charles G. Shaw is a favorite book to read to young children. The simple story line and pictures are very appealing to this age group. The follow-up activities outlined below really bring this book and the learning opportunities related to it a valuable teaching and learning tool.
Follow-up to Reading the Book “It Looked Like Spilt Milk” Activities
Accompanying Emergent Reader – Introduces Letter “Cc”
The printable emergent reader “Cool Clouds” is offered in both color and black white versions. It is used to introduce the letter “Cc” and its accompanying sound. A sample of the big book page is displayed to the right. The story line reads as follows:
Cool Clouds
Clouds that look like an ice cream cone.
Clouds that look like a candy cane.
Clouds that look like a castle.
Clouds that look like a car.
Clouds that look like a cat.
Cool clouds are everywhere.
Note: Every cloud begins with the letter “c” sound.
Letter “Cc” Recognition – Picture Mnemonic
This craft activity involves children being actively involved in associating the picture to the letter sound. The purpose is to have them associate the letter “c” to the initial sound heard in “cloud”. This is a great activity to use in conjunction with the emergent reader “Cool Clouds”. The children would be introduced to the letter and the corresponding sound within the context of the reader. After they would complete the activity displayed to the left. The children would paint or use another method to color the “c”blue for the sky. Cotton balls would be added to represent clouds.
Literacy and Craft Follow-up
In the member’s area you will find templates of the shapes used in the reader. These can be traced on cardstock or a plastic lid of an ice cream pail (to be reused every year). The children would pick their favorite cloud and make a scene displaying this page. They would place the outline tracer on paper and sponge-paint blue around the outline to make a silhouette of the cloud. The shape can be secured by tape or sticky tac. The words representing the page would be given to each child in a mixed-up order and they would cut, arrange and paste the words to the page in the correct order. Younger children can just cut and paste the sentence representing the page.
Literacy Center Ideas
1. The above project.
2. The picture mnemonic activity displayed above would be used. Practice printing the letter “c” in salt trays, painting it, using wikki stix, using playdough or using bingo markers are just a few ways that could be implemented. Prior to doing this the children should have practice printing the name in the air, on each others backs, on on the palm of their hand, draw it with their foot. Use your imagination in this area. A printing book can be found in the link below:
3. Sorting through the alphabet pictures and determining which ones begin with the initial sound heard in the word “cloud”. These pictures can be found in the member’s area in both color and black and white.
Math Center Ideas
1. Place a number of cotton balls in a container (representing clouds). Have children predict how many there are. The children count each one to determine how close their prediction was. Pretend they are the wind and blow on the cotton ball clouds. Introduce the concept of furthest and closest. Ask: Who blew the cloud the furthest ? Who blew the cloud the closest? Integrate measurement into this activity by using snap cubes, paper clips or craft sticks. Ask the children to predict how many snap cubes or another unit of measurement a certain cloud was blown. This can be predicted and measured.
2. The literacy and craft follow-up displayed above could use shape clouds instead of the shapes used in the reader.
Connection to Literature
Prior to reading the emergent reader you might want to read the book “The Umbrella Party” by Janet Lunn.
Introducing the Letter “Uu”
Under the Umbrella Reader
After reading the story “Under the Umbrella” emergent reader printable from the theme unit or revised edition on the supplementary resources page, the children can do a scene depicting the story. The reader introduces how the main character is under the umbrella when it is raining and she describes how she uses her five senses to enjoy the experience. It also introduces the letter ‘Uu’ within its story context. Interactive component – children can draw, trace or cut the umbrella provided in the theme unit to complete the reader. Photograph from the big book page can be seen to the right.
Under the Umbrella Sample Page
Under the Umbrella – The Predictable Version – Introduces Five Senses.
Under the umbrella I can hear. (a boy jumping in the puddles)
Under the umbrella I can taste. (the raindrops)
Under the umbrella I can feel. (her dog shaking water on her).
Under the umbrella I can see. (rainbow)
Under the umbrella I can smell. (fresh air)
Under the umbrella I can use my senses.
Now I don’t need my umbrella!
These emergent readers are excellent for a preschool or kindergarten take home activity. Parents are thrilled to have a resource that can assist in giving their child an early start to reading.
Picture Mnemonic for Letter “Uu”
The children children will cut, color, paint and cut the letter “Uu” shaped umbrella as shown in the photograph above.
Follow-up Craft Activity
The craft shown in the photo and outlined below is an excellent follow-up to reading the printable emergent reader. The children complete the project by adding their own facial features.
Instructions for the Craft (illustrates concept of under)
1. The children can paint or color the spring clothes
2. Cut the clothes and glue them on the child outline
3. Add facial features.
4. Color and cut the umbrella and add it
Simple Version
Another version is included in the members’ area. The children just color or paint the spring clothes and just add facial features and the umbrella.
Duck Under the Umbrella Craft
The duck and umbrella craft shown in the photograph could also be a great follow-up to reading the emergent reader ‘Under the Umbrella‘. It offers a variation.
More Kindergarten and Preschool Activities
Wind Art Craft
Children pretend they are the wind and blow on the paint with a straw to make a unique design!
Materials Required
paint, containers (plastic cups) paint brushes and straws.
Instructions for the Craft
1. Pour different colors of paint in containers
2. Add water to make the paint thinner
3. Stir the paint with a paint brush
4. The children dab the paint on a paper with the paint brush
5. They blow on the paint with a straw to make it flow into a design
6. Dab lightly with a tissue to spread and dry the remaining paint
Preschool and Kindergarten Activity – Another Emergent Reader
After reading the story Rolling, Rolling emergent reader printable book in the theme unit, have children experience this concept by doing the craft below. This reader introduces the letter ‘Rr’ within its story context. It also introduces the concept of how the wind makes things move or roll. The story line is repetitive and predictable so that young children can read the story on their own after it has been introduced as a shared reading experience. Interactive component – the children are required to cut and paste the picture of the wind as shown above. The text reads: Rolling, rolling, the wind makes things roll. Seeds can roll.
Rolling Marble Craft – Materials for the Craft
Paper, container, marbles and paint brushes
Instructions for the Craft
1. Place a paper into a pie plate or other container
2. Pour paint into containers
3. Add water to the paint to make it thinner
5. Children dab the paint onto different spots on the paper (dab with a small spoonful)
6. The children are to maneuver the plate to make a marble roll onto the paint and spread it.
The children love this craft!
Connect the Dots Weather Number Picture
The children can make an umbrella by connecting the numbers in the link below:
Visual Discrimination Activity Integrated With Connect the Dots
The children cut and paste the words in the links below to match the sentences on the connect the dots picture.
