Friday, August 5, 2011

Balloons!

Welcome Song: Welcome Everyone
(Tune: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star)
Welcome, welcome everyone
Now you’re here
We’ll have some fun.
First we’ll clap our hands just so,
Then we’ll bend
And touch our toes.
Welcome, welcome everyone
Now you’re here
We’ll have some fun.

Early Literacy Skill: Today’s early literacy skill is Print Motivation, a child’s interest in and enjoyment of books.  The best way to encourage your child to love books is to read them books you love.  Children pick up on our emotions and when we’re excited about a book, they become excited too.

Book: A Balloon for Isabel by Deborah Underwood
As graduation day approaches, Isabel tries to convince her teacher that she and Walter, both porcupines, should receive balloons on the big day just like the other children.

Action Song: If You’re Happy and You Know It
v. 1 Clap your hands
v. 2 Stomp your feet
v. 3 Turn around
v. 4 Jump up and down
v. 5 Shout hooray

Book: Balloons Balloons Balloons by Dee Lillegard
Rhyming text follows balloons of many colors as they float and bounce throughout an entire town.

Literacy Aside:  As adults, we can help develop print motivation in lots of ways. Having kids choose which book to read is one way; another is to have books on hand about something your child really loves, like trains or dinosaurs or princesses. If there is a repeating phrase in a book encourage your child to “read” it along with you. The sooner kids get the idea that books are great fun the easier it is for them to start to be readers.

Action Rhyme: Ten Fingers
I have ten fingers.
They all belong to me.
I can make them do things.
Would you like to see?
I can shut them up tight.
I can open them wide.
I can put them on my head.
I can put them at my side.
I can raise them up high.
I can put them down low.
I can set them in my lap,
And fold them just so.

Book: emily’s balloon by Komako Sakai
A little girl's new friend is round, lighter than air, and looks like the moon at night.

Flannel Rhyme: Balloons for a Party
Here are balloons for a party
For it is my birthday today
I have balloons for all of my friends
Who are coming over to play.

Here is a pretty round blue balloon
Blue as my kitten’s eyes.
Here is a flaming round red balloon
Just about your size.

Here is a happy round yellow balloon
Yellow as bright sunshine.
Here is a lovely round purple balloon
Like purple grapes from the vine.

Here is a little round orange balloon
Like oranges from the store.
And now there are no more.

Book: A Rainbow Balloon:  A Book of Concepts by Ann Lenssen
Introduces basic concepts such as rise and fall and one and many while following "Tickled Pink," a rainbow colored hot-air balloon, on a flight.

Art:
Each child receives one hot air balloon sheet.  On each table are scraps of tissue paper and containers of watered down Elmer’s glue and one paintbrush per balloon sheet.  Children spread glue on the balloon sheet and stick scraps of tissue paper on to decorate the balloon.

Attendance: 9, 22
Evaluation: This was a FUN program to do.  The topic was a hit with all ages and the stories were fun to read.  A Balloon for Isabel was a little long and really worked best with the older participants, but the colors and illustrations helped keep the younger children focused.  The art project helped even the littlest with their fine motor skills (important for future writing) and learning their colors.