Week Seventeen: The Runaway Bunny

The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown:

Yet another classic from Margaret Wise Brown, the kiddos loved this one, and were fascinated by this picture:

After reading the story, I got out these If, Then cards that I downloaded from Homeschool Share.  I am always amazed by these kids' ability to remember details, even after only reading the book once.

 I put a long piece of painters' tape on the carpet for us to practice "tightrope walking."  They had fun trying different things, like bouncing like a bunny and walking backwards.

I put together a garden sensory bin with brown colored rice, a plastic carrot, mini flower pots, two toy bunnies, a little tractor, a shovel, and a rake.  This was an instant favorite, and they loved making carrots grow.

One blogger suggested comparing pictures in "Runaway Bunny" with those from "Goodnight Moon," which has both the same author and illustrator.  I didn't even have to point out the similarities, they noticed right away that this picture looked like Goodnight Moon, which we had read months before (that post here):

I brought out Goodnight Moon for them and they were able to find many similarities (the fireplace, the boy's pajamas, the mother bunny on a rocking chair, the picture of the cow jumping over the moon, the list goes on).

I got out some cotton balls and straws and asked them to blow them like the mother bunny blows her little bunny where she wants him to go.  After they seemed to be getting bored with this, I put a bucket on the ground next to the table and made it a game of blowing the cotton balls into the bucket. This made it much more fun.

Alphabet Letter Crafts

(http://missmarensmonkeys.blogspot.com/2012/09/alligator-template.html)

(http://playinghouseinmaryland.blogspot.com/2011/02/toddler-crafts-week-in-review_11.html)

(http://www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com/blog/2010/10/letter-c-for-caterpillar.html)

(http://www.funwithmama.com/printable-letter-d-craft/)

(https://iwonderbee.wordpress.com/category/art-craft-educational/alphabet-wall-capital-letters/page/6/)

(http://missmarensmonkeys.blogspot.com/2012/10/fox-template.html)

(http://missmarensmonkeys.blogspot.com/2012/11/giraffe-template.html)

(http://missmarensmonkeys.blogspot.com/2012/11/horse-template_8.html)


(http://missmarensmonkeys.blogspot.com/2013/01/iguana-template.html)


(http://missmarensmonkeys.blogspot.com/2013/01/jaguar-template.html)

(http://thelionisabookworm.blogspot.com/2014/01/storytime-k-is-for-kangaroo.html)

 (http://jennicanknit.blogspot.ca/2013/05/preschool-alphabet-projects-letters-i-p.html)

 (http://www.mommynannyguru.com/2013/09/letter-m.html)

 (http://www.rockabyebutterfly.com/2011/02/letter-n.html)

(http://www.houseofbabypiranha.com/2010/05/o-is-for-owl.html)

 (http://funwithprek.blogspot.com/2013/02/p-is-for-pig.html)

 (http://www.rockabyebutterfly.com/2011/03/quick-q.html)

 (http://www.allkidsnetwork.com/crafts/alphabet/letter-r-rabbit.asp)

 (http://little-inspirations.blogspot.com/2012/11/letter-s-week.html)

 (http://imageshack.com/i/ipGKEfPij)

 (http://www.howtorunahomedaycare.com/articles/letter-u-letter-of-the-week-program/)

(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/93/d5/93/93d59329d550917da9962cb63bef3b49.jpg)

 (http://theprincessandthetot.blogspot.com/2011/08/letter-crafts.html)

(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/49/4b/eb/494beb6e33cd3b7057eb26af0e02aa7a.jpg)

(http://crystalandcomp.com/y-is-for-yak-a-letter-of-the-week-preschool-craft/)

(http://mommasfunworld.blogspot.com/2013/04/alphabet-crafts-for-each-letter.html?m=1)

Week Sixteen: The Three Little Pigs

This week we focused on the Three Little Pigs.

We read the Walt Disney version:

As well as two spoofs:

The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka:

And The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig by Eugene Trivizas. This was their favorite, they laughed and laughed.

For snack, I provided the kiddos with vanilla cupcakes, pink frosting, cut pink marshmallows, and chocolate chips and let them decorate away.

Some turned out better than others but they enjoyed making "piggies."

Next, I demonstrated some house building tactics for them.  I built a house out of straw, a house out of sticks (tooth picks), and a house out of bricks (Jenga).  Then I brought out a hair drier and they got quite excited as we reenacted the story, the drier being the big bad wolf.  They were also excited when the brick house didn't fall over, just like in the story.

Then, I posed a challenge.  I asked them if they thought they could build a house so strong that the Big Bad Wolf couldn't blow it down.  I let them be creative.  Lincoln Logs, Legos, Mega Blocks, Jenga, Play-Doh etc.

Then the Big Bad Wolf would come and try to blow it down.  They were so proud when it wouldn't.

Everyone crowding around to cheer on their classmates:

 I let them spend the whole morning on this because they were being so good and really enjoyed it.

On Friday we read the stories again, learned some pig facts, and made this adorable three pigs craft:

Back:

Week Fifteen: The ABC Bunny

The ABC Bunny by Wanda Gag

I used this book as our introduction to the alphabet.  While we've been touching on the alphabet all year, we are official starting it this week.

We sang and pointed along to Sing, Spell, Read, and Write's alphabet songs. (Phonics Song is our favorite.)

Then I set up multiple alphabet themed activities.  

1) I made this upper case/ lower case matching puzzle.  Just cut the pieces in half.

2) Salt letter tracing. (from https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2OiehkXyxeRN3FFRjhPUmVhM0k/view?usp=sharing)

3) We played "Five Letters In A Row" inspired by Mom Inspired Life.

4) Since the dot paint was out, they obviously wanted to use it more, so I drew circles for the first letter of their name for them to dot:

5) I brought out our Alphabet Sensory Bin-- always a favorite.