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.
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?).
A young boy named Jack verbally designs his ultimate dream car.
Inspired by zeppelins, Cadillacs, trains, old planes, and the infamous Weinermobile, Jack crafts a spiffy sedan of the future. Composed of shiny chrome and vibrant colors, no detail or amenity has been forgotten; the car has a snack bar, a fish tank, a fireplace, and even a pool!
With Robert the Robot at the controls, it’s time for a test drive! This whimsical creation of the future has the capability of traveling on land, in the air, and on and under the sea.
If I Built a Car car, with it’s 50s retro style illustrations and concepts of science fiction/fantasy, rhyming, and new vocabulary, fosters imagination.
After reading the story, have your students brainstorm some design ideas of their own. Provide learners with this writing prompt and ask them what they would do if they built a car. Older children may want to copy and/or write their own words. Have younger learners dictate to you, and repeat each word slowly as they watch you write it out onto the sheet. Encourage all students to draw a picture of their story in the space provided.
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).
We're Gigi and Zoey. We teach a two-year program (preschool and pre-k), and we're passionate about Early Childhood Education and the philosophy that children learn through play. Our goal is to prepare children for kindergarten while making learning fun.
We hope that our resources inspire you, and that you will share them with your little ones.
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by Chris Van Dusen.
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