Ziploc bags glue cardboard scissors magazine/photographs of animals stickers markers 20″ shoelace, 25″ ribbon or cording Cut cardboard to fit inside Ziploc bag. Decorate cardboard with pictures, stickers, drawings and words. Put inside bag and “zip” closed. Repeat until 2-5 “pages” can be assembled. Punch holes along edge of pages and thread ribbon or cord […]
At this stage, your toddler learns about reading through everyday experiences with books. Simply through reading with adults, your toddler learns that books contain lots of interesting pictures and words and that stories show her worlds to explore. Â Toddlers who have been read to will invite others to read to them. When adults stop […]
From whimsical encounters with St. Nick to enthralling and enduring folktales, these books invite your students to celebrate diverse festivals of light. Â The Bells of Christmas by Virginia Hamilton Enjoy a season of love and anticipation with this 1890’s tale of an African-American family Christmas in Ohio. Â The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by […]
A secret ingredient makes letter play colorfully fun.  • White glue • Two cups of salt • Shallow pan • Watercolor paints, paintbrushes • Cardboard Your child can use glue as a writing instrument by squeezing it to draw a letter, word, or name on the cardboard. Encourage her to go slowly, making very thick lines of glue. Together, lay […]
Document family history with a home-made scrapbook.   • collected mementos • paper • writing materials • hole punch • ring binder 1. Invite your child to create a book about his memories. Together, look through photographs and mementos, such as postcards, greeting cards, vacation souvenirs, ticket stubs, and other items that your child connects […]
Make your baby the star of his own book for a personal introduction to reading.   • Photographs of your baby • Small cloth or plastic photo album Babies particularly enjoy viewing their daily activities. Search for colorful pictures that show scenes familiar and important to your baby, such as you dressing or feeding him; baby playing […]
Look at the differences between real and pretend animal behavior.   • construction paper • yarn • hole punch • crayons and/or markers • picture books with animals (fiction and nonfiction) To prepare for this activity, use construction paper to make a book. Punch holes along one side and use yarn to make a binding. Next, gather picture books that feature […]
A homemade picture book is a personal introduction to literacy.  • sturdy plastic photo album with plastic photo protectors • photographs, greeting cards, and pictures cut out of magazines • heavy card stock • nontoxic glue Gather materials to get started, then let your baby’s or toddler’s interest dictate the content.  Feature family photos. Glue photos to card […]
