By Gigi on February 2nd, 2019
This giraffe craft is an engaging extension to Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae and Guy Parker-Rees, a beautifully illustrated rhyming tale about a giraffe named Gerald. Gerald is clumsy with spindly legs and crooked knees.
At the Jungle Dance, the warthogs start to waltz, the rhinos rock ‘n’ roll, and the lions dance a tango that is elegant and bold. As Gerald approaches the dance floor, he is teased and laughed at by the other animals. They tell him, “Giraffes can’t dance!”
Humiliated, Gerald creeps off toward home. Along the way, he meets a wise and gentle cricket who encourages him to listen to the music around him: the swaying grass and trees and the branches in the breeze. Suddenly, the giraffe begins to dance the most beautiful dance. The other animals quickly gather around him, entranced by his moves. Gerald proves that it’s okay to be different, and that anybody can dance – they just need their own sweet tune.
MATERIALS USED:
– Construction paper
– Our giraffe template
– Scissors
– Yarn
– Googly eyes
– Pipe cleaners/fuzzy sticks
– Crayons and/or markers
– Glue
Provide each child with a giraffe (older students should be encouraged to cut out there own). Learners will uses their fine motor skills to tear small pieces of brown construction paper, and to cut small pieces of yarn and pipe cleaner. Children will then practice their spatial reasoning skills by placing the torn paper within the allotted space on their giraffes. Finally, they will glue the spots, eyes, tail, and horns. Supply crayons and/or markers, so extra details may be added.
During this activity, make it a point to facilitate discussion about the book’s message, and to have some fun with rhyming (e.g. What rhymes with giraffe?).
By Gigi on April 21st, 2018
This engaging and free printable Mother’s Day questionnaire is the perfect addition to any Mother’s Day gift or card. Moms will be sure to get a kick out of their children’s endearing responses.
Younger learners will dictate their responses to teachers. Older students may copy their answers onto their papers, while some may even be able to write some of their own words.
Two versions are included in the download: one featuring a boy and one featuring a girl.
DOWNLOAD THE MOTHER’S DAY QUESTIONNAIRE.
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By Gigi on April 12th, 2018
Spring is here and what better way to welcome the season than with kites? This colorful kite craft is a delightful extension to the book Kite Day: A Bear and Mole Story by Will Hillenbrand.
Bear looked at the sky. Could it be? he wondered. He tilted his head up. WHIFF. WHIFF. WHIFF. He smiled and then shouted, “Kite Day!”
Bear and his best friend Mole passionately work together to make a kite for this very special occasion. Finally, the kite is soaring up, up, up! But when a storm rolls in…SNAP! The kite string breaks and Bear and Mole run after it. They find it resting in a tree protecting a nest of baby birds from the pelting rain, and are subsequently greeted by a very thankful mama bird.
Hillenbrand does a wonderful job of emphasizing the pro-social themes of friendship, cooperation, and sharing. Children enjoy the adorable characters and the way the golden kite, with its vibrant rainbow tail, stands out against Hillenbrand’s classic, muted watercolor illustrations. This darling tale makes a perfect read-aloud for preschoolers.
So what are you waiting for? Grab the book, download our kite template, gather up some collage materials, and join in on the fun. We used crepe paper for the tails, but yarn will work as well. Be sure to discuss the order of the rainbow with your learners, and to encourage older children to cut out their own kites and to tie their own bows (just a starting knot).
MATERIAL USED:
– Construction paper
– Our kite template
– Scissors
– Buttons
– Acrylic jewels
– Foam stickers
– Ribbon
– Sequins
– Pom poms
– Tacky Glue
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