Create a Colorful Tray (pages 26 and 27)
- Have children tear or cut the tissue paper into small pieces before thinning or using the glue. Sticky fingers and tissue paper is a tricky combination!
- To help avoid sticky fingers, use a paintbrush to thin the glue and coat the tray.
- Encourage children to overlap the pieces of tissue paper and to cover the entire tray.
- Adding a final coat of glue will create a glossy surface.
Letting children decide how to cut the paper, what colors to use, and when the tray is done develops their artistic instincts. Instead of telling children the tray is beautiful, ask if they are pleased with how it looks. Help them learn to trust their own judgment about their work. If it pleases them—then it is most assuredly good!
Clap Your Hands (page 34)
- Chant this rhyme several times and encourage children to chime in on the parts they remember.
- Once they know the pattern, ask children to be the "leaders" and describe other actions that the group can do. For example, nod your head, tap your elbows, or touch your toes.
Recognizing a pattern in a story or a poem is an important early literacy skill. When children lead the group, their self-confidence grows. It also helps strengthen their ability to express themselves. And it's just fun to keep the chant going!
Match the Shells (bonus pages)
- As you play this matching game with the children, talk about how the shells are alike and different.
- If children are not sure if the cards they turn over are a direct match, point out that cards with the same shells also have the same colored border.
When children play matching games, they are developing their ability to notice small similarities and differences. Remembering what image was on a card helps develop visual memory—another important early literacy skills. If children enjoy this photo-matching game, make more! Use duplicate photos of children to make a very engaging matching game. If you want to support name recognition, add the child's name below each photo.