Transcript Bears Bugs and Dinosaurs - TheReadingLady

Bears, Bugs &
Dinosaurs
Presented by
Julie Quast
Why Theme Units?
 Creates a language-rich learning
environment
 Increases vocabulary
 Allows for experiences across the
curriculum
 Integrated learning is more meaningful,
because it connects learning to real life
Image from: middleburghlibrarykids.blogspot.com
Daily Literacy Activities
Combination of both fiction and nonfiction
A variety of types of literature available and
model reading of varied materials (books, notes,
recipes, newspapers, magazines, mail,
dictionary, phone book, online)
Songs
Poems
Alphabet Chart
Names of Students
Image from: justincaseyouwerewondering.com
Reread, Reread, Reread
“Brain connections are strengthened through
repetition of experiences” (Creating
Readers, 2001, p. 47).
Vocabulary, understanding of plot and story
language increases with each reading.
Some students will ask the same questions
with each reading, because children
acquire language in “increments—not all at
once” (p.47).
Books about Bears
Fiction
Blueberries for Sal
by Robert McCloskey
Big Smelly Bear
by Britta Teckentrup
Corduroy
by Don Freeman
Ask Mr. Bear
by Marjorie Flack
Non-fiction
Bears by Alice Twine
Watch Me Grow Bear
by DK Books
Bears by Emily Green
Bears and Their Dens
by Linda Tagliaferro
Compare fiction and nonfiction books about bears
Bears
Create a journal to draw and write
new facts learned about bears
each day.
Bear and Teddy Bear Venn
Diagram or Comparison Chart
Read Where's My Teddy?
By Jez Alborough
Invite children to bring a bear from home.
– Provide an opportunity to share their
Bear! Speaking is part of Literacy!
– Graph teddy bears from home according
to size, color, and/or other attributes
(bows and without bows)
– Let the bear stay all week and join in the
bear picnic on the last day
– Have extra bears in case someone
forgets
Blueberries for Sal
by Robert McCloskey
Make connections with the book
Art activity response:
fingerprint blueberries in the
Kuplink, Kuplank, Kuplunk bucket
(This will help them retell
the story at home.)
We're Going on a Bear Hunt
Action Story and Book
Teddy Bear Picnic
wear teddy bear headband and
take binoculars on bear hunt
through trees—you may have to
pretend!
Bear Finger Play
Here is a cave.
(Bend fingers on one hand)
Inside is a bear.
(Put thumb inside fingers.)
Now he comes out
To get some fresh air.
(Pop out thumb.)
He stays out all summer
In sunshine and heat.
He hunts in the forest
For berries to eat.
(Move thumb in a circle.)
When snow starts to fall.
He hurries inside
His warm little cave
And there he will hide.
(Put thumb inside fingers.)
Snow covers the cave
Like a fluffy white rug.
Inside the bear sleeps
All cozy and snug.
(Place one hand over the
other.)
Author Unknown
Bugs
Bugs
Insect Anatomy – discuss the three body parts
of an insect (head, thorax, abdomen)
Model how to label the parts by looking at the
first letter.
Bugs
Compare Bugs and Spiders
Sorting Bugs
Bug Color Power Point AND
Bug Jars for sorting by color or by insect at:
http://prekinders.com/bugs-theme/
Color Bugs
PowerPoint by Karen Cox
Five Busy Bees
(Finger play)
Five little bees on a day so sunny;
First one said, “I'd like to make some honey.”
Second one said, “Tell me, where shall it be?”
Third one said, “In the old honey tree.”
Fourth one said, “Let's gather pollen sweet.”
Fifth one said, “Let's take it on our feet.”
Humming t heir busy little honeybee song,
Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!
Helpful or Harmful?
Read and identify how insects help us and how
some are harmful. Then classify them into
categories.
Helpful
Both
Harmful
Bugs
Which are Insects???
On card stock print pictures of insects
and other animals with labels.
Have children sort which are insects
and which are not while describing
why and/or why not.
mouse
Bugs
Riddles
What am I?
I am an insect.
I can hop.
I make music with my wings.
What am I?
Books about Bugs
Bugs are Insects
What is an Insect?
by Anne Rockwell
by Lola M. Schaefer
Big Bugs
by Seymour Simon
Ladybugs
by Mia Posada
The Icky Sticky Frog
The Ladybug Girl and Bumblebee Boy
by David Soman and Jacky Davis
Dinosaurs
Movement Poem
The dinosaurs lived long ago, when life on earth began.
Some were tall, (stretch up hands)
Some were small, (crouch down low)
Some liked water, (make a swimming motion)
Some liked land, (stomp feet)
Peteranodons had leathery wings (fly with arms)
Appatosaurus had long necks; (show long neck)
And the meanest of all
Was the Tyrannosaurus Rex! (mean face and claws!)
Dinosaurs
Read Dinosaur Story Big Book (in packet for you)
Poem for Pocket Chart or Poster
Herbivore, herbivore, what do you munch?
“I enjoy plants and leaves for lunch.”
Carnivore, carnivore, what do you eat?
“I am a hunter, I only eat meat.”
Omnivore, omnivore, how about you?
“I like meat and plants to chew.”
Dinosaurs
Creative Response
Create your own dinosaur by tracing your foot print
on construction paper, cutout to use as the body,
and then add parts with scraps of construction
paper.
Dinosaur Memory
–
I purchased cards, but you could use pictures
printed on card stock. This is a great activity for
identifying similarities and differences. Tip:
Begin with a small number of cards. 
Dinosaurs
Estimate how many shoes will fit on our
dinosaur foot print.
Measure dinosaurs and compare using terms
of measurement.
Read Bones, Bones, Dinosaur Bones
by Byron Barton
Dinosaur Dig
Add dinosaurs and small
dinosaurs in eggs to your sand
table. Have a chart of the
types of dinosaurs nearby, so
they can locate which dino
they found!
Dinosaurs
Dig for dinosaur bones using a
chocolate chip cookie!
Excavate the bones with a
toothpick or age appropriate
tool, while looking through a
microscope.
Read Dinosaur Babies
By Lucille Recht Penner
Find a Dinosaur Egg
Paint a watermelon white with
washable, ACMI paint.
Hide the dino-egg on the
playground and go on a dinoegg hunt. Wash the
watermelon for a snack.
Dinosaurs
Movement Poem
Spread your arms way out wide,
Fly like a Pteranodon, soar and glide.
Bend to the floor, head down low,
Move like a Stegasaurus, long ago.
Reach up tall, try to be as tall as
An Apatosaurus eating on a tree
Using your claws, grumble and growl
Just like Tyrannosaurus on the prowl.
Books about Dinosaurs
I Like Dinosaurs
by Angela Aylmore
Dinosaur Bones
by Bob Barner
The Dinosaur Who Lived In My Backyard
by B.G. Hennessy
Usborne First Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs
–
GREAT pictures for browsing and discussing
How do Dinosaurs...
by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague
Questions???
Have a great year!
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thereadinglady.wikispaces.com
Email me with questions or ideas:
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