The Five Chinese Brothers / by Claire Huchet Bishop and Kurt Wiese

"The first chinese brother swallowed the sea."

The Five Chinese Brothers
by Claire Huchet Bishop and Kurt Wiese

Another favorite book of mine, and highly approved by 7 of my preschool boys!  The 'powers' these 5 chinese brothers possess save them from certain death!  The activities, I will share in this blog, are so much fun to participate in WHILE reading the story!  I will walk you through it…but it's pretty easy to figure out!

Supplies needed:

water balloons 

thick stick (hard to break)

measuring tape or ruler

tea or votive candle

small glass jar

marshmallow's (I recommend the big ones)

Sit down in a circle, so you can see everyones face.  Ask a couple questions…."If you had a special power, what would it be and why?" "What special abilities do you use each and every day that make you unique?" Begin to read the story.  

Read until you arrive at page 15.

Have your child pick a water balloon.  Attach it to the end of the kitchen faucet or outside hose and fill it full of water until it bursts!   (This activity can obviously be messy…you have been warned!)  Ask your child, "How big did your balloon get before it exploded?" "Why did it explode?"  Discuss that the similarities between the balloon and the First Chinese Brother.

Read on….to page 26 and stop there.

  

Have the children grab their heavy sticks.  Ask them to break it in half.  Can they do it?  Some might and some might not, that's OK.   Ask some obvious questions, "Was it hard to break the strong stick?" "How hard did you work your muscles to break that stick?" Explain that iron is a strong material that doesn't break (or cut)!

Read on…to page 32.

Tell the children to lay on the ground and stretch!  Remind them to feel the stretching from the tips of their fingers to the end of their little toes!  Measure how long each child can stretch…reveal the "longest" stretcher and ask all, "How long did your stretch measure?" "What is something you are taller than?" (*great little math activity*)

Read on…stop on page 36.

Perform the little science experiment below…I provided a video for this one, just so you can see how it works!  Then ask, "How long did it take for the flame to go out?" "What are the rules about playing with fire?"

Read through page 41.

OK, you will need to get out your bag of marshmallows.  Stuff your mouth full of marshmallows.  "How many did you fit in there?" "Could you hold those in your mouth until tomorrow morning?" Of coarse not!  That's a super power only Chinese Brother number Five has!

Go ahead and finish the story…while munching on marshmallows and M&M's, pretzels or crackers (whatever you have in the pantry).  "What did you think about this Chinese tale?" "Which brother had the very best 'power', do you think?" This story creates a lot of discussion.  So go ahead and dig into all those curious little thoughts and questions.  

**When I have used this book for activities, in both preschool and book club, I have made sure to emphasize the importance of knowing the difference between "REAL" and "PRETEND".  Stories, like this one, are derived from old ancient tales, these are called Fable's (explain what a fable is).  Focus more on the moral of this story so that the children understand the meaning of it**

Peace as always!

Lisa

Elmer / David McKee

*Elmer was not elephant color.  He was patchwork.*

The story about Elmer can be understood by just about each and every human being.  Ask your children some questions about how they see themselves and how they feel others see them.  "What makes you different from other kids?"  What would you change about yourself, if you could?"  "Would it make you happier?"

Self confidence is a touchy subject with some children.  The story about Elmer can help a child know that it is OK to be different, unique from others.  It's what makes them special!  Explain you love your child/children and the little things you find so special about them.

Read "Elmer" by David McKee….

ACTIVITY:

supplies you will need:

art apron & plastic gloves

paper towel

2 white pieces of paper

small water dropper (or a straw)

small cup of water

food coloring

(optional: a cookie sheet - for working surface)

Run water onto a paper towel until it is nice and wet.  Ring out the paper towel just enough so it's not dripping but still quite damp.  Lay the paper towel onto the cookie sheet.

i like cookie sheets because the have an edge to catch messy messes
*and they are non porous!
*and you can get them at the dollar store!

Place the white piece of paper onto the wet paper towel.  Press the paper into the paper towel until you see the water marks seeping through.  (if you are making a frame, like I did, make sure to press the sides of the paper a little harder)

the reason we get the paper towel wet and not the paper itself
is because we don't want the paper soaked.

see the water marks?
that's where i pressed down the hardest to get the most moisture

Gloves!  Open the food colors your child likes the most.  Help them line the edge of the paper with little color dots (shown).  If you are weary about allowing your child to use food coloring, you drip it onto the paper…have your child show you exactly where he/she wants each color dropped! 

Fill a small cup half full of water.  Take the small dropper, or straw, collect enough water into the tube for a few drops of water.  Have your child give each color drop one or two droplets of water.  More than 2 and the colors will start to bleed together and look like mud…trust me.  

The water will run a bit and spread out the colors.  Take the paper off the cookie sheet and place it in a safe place to dry.  Remember, the food coloring will dye any porous surface it comes in contact with…So, I suggest letting it dry outside on the grass or inside on a granite or stainless surface.

see how the colors start to spread out?

While this project is drying, have your child create a self portrait on a slightly smaller piece of white paper. (I usually cut an inch off all 4 sides of the paper)  Or, you can spend some time taking "selfy" pictures….funny, serious and crazy faces are all acceptable!!  When the portrait is finished, or the pictures are ready, paste them into the middle of the dried colored paper…creating a frame! (shown below!)  Hang it on the fridge and celebrate your child's uniqueness each time you look at it.  You could also laminate it or put it in a real frame for a more permanent display.

Little Miss S never looked to bright and cheerful!

Encourage your child to admire their work!!  Ask some questions: "Tell me about your portrait?" "What's the most beautiful part of this work of art?"  "Can you tell me what you like the most about YOU?" 

I REALLY hope the story of Elmer and this beautiful activity encourages feelings of self confidence and self worth within your child's little spirit!  Tell them you love them EVERYDAY!  Compliments can't ever be given too often!

Peace!

Lisa

Are You Ready to Play Outside? / Mo Williams

I'll tell you right now that Mo Williams is one of my most favorite children's authors!  I recommend you visit his website www.mowilliams.com.  He has written a few series of children's books that are so adorable, humorous and simply illustrated;  Elephant and Piggie series, Pigeon! series and Knuffle Bunny series.   There are many more books written by this fabulously talented author!  All equally as great as the next.

Here in my little spot of the Salt Lake Valley, it has been cold and raining for days.  Since I'm a sunshine kind of girl, I have been desiring to see the sun and feel the warmth of it on my face.  I WANT TO PLAY OUTSIDE!  So, it only seemed natural to pick a book (for today's book review) that seemed completely understandable to me!  A selfish move…but it's been made, so bear with me.  Have fun reading "Are You Ready to Play Outside" by Mo Williams….after all it's a Theodore Seuss Geisel Award winner, that's the best award (in my opinion) that could ever be given!

"It's raining."  "It's pouring."  "…it's really pouring!"

First: Prepare a snack!  Hot chocolate and warm muffins, maybe?  Nothing helps lighten the mood on a dark day more than some 'comfort food'!

Second: Read the book while feasting on your warm treats!  Discuss Elephant and Piggies situation.  "Why didn't play time work out the way Elephant and Pig wanted it to?"  "What kind of feelings did the friends have when it started to rain?"  "Who helped them see that playing in the rain can be fun?" 

Third: Activities (i'm posting a few…you make the choice!)

Art: make a rainbow…"You can't have a rainbow without a little rain." 

Simple!  All you need is scratch paper, a set of (*cheap*) watercolors & water!
Painting with watercolors has be proven (for real!!!) to calm the spirit and open the mind!

Easy!  You only need scratch paper!
Find white and all sorts of other colors, then grab some scissors and glue!
We have also done this with ribbon, pattern paper and yarn.
Be creative!

Indoor play: hopscotch inside (obstacle course, dance competition or Twister! …anything to get the wiggles out!)  A hopscotch can be made by outlining the shape and squares, on the floor with, masking/painting tape!

We made it fun by holding a competition!
Make it exciting…
1. count out loud, how long doest it take?
2. who threw the bean bag on the highest number?
3. who's hit the lowest number?
etc….winner choses next activity or gets first in line!

Science: (this one can be done outside if it's actually raining!)

This activity comes from the book 365 Science Experiments (Hinkler Books), again, and I do not have photo's to give you the visual.  I apologize.  However, the paper looks so beautiful when it's all dry, so many watercolors to gaze at.  Trust me on this one!

Outdoor play: Why don't you do what Elephant and Piggie did?  Make the most of the rain!  Take a nature walk, look at how bright the colors of the grass, flowers and even rocks are when it rains.  Splash in puddles, catch drops in your mouth….play!

Little Miss A and Miss K drawn to the colors of the flowers!
Each yard we passed involved a 'new' search for  even brighter flowers!

rocks are pretty!!!!  who knew???

Enjoying time with our kids is the greatest thing and a treasured blessing.  Memories don't take outstanding moments or great amounts of time…they just take a second.  Make those seconds good ones!!  Read, play, laugh and hug!

Peace and Rain!

Lisa

The Red Hen / by Rebecca and Ed Emberley

Who will help Red Hen bake a cake?

The Red Hen  by Rebecca and Ed Emberley

A little work never hurt anyone…especially when it comes to getting something we REALLY want!  Talk about this with your children.  "Is it fun to work hard?" "How do you feel when you make something and it turns out awesome!?"  "What would you do if someone took something that you made?"

This particular take, on the classic story of The Red Hen, is my favorite.  I love the bold & abstract illustrations.  I particularly like the recipe for 'Red Hen's Simply Splendid Cake' at the back of the book!  A simple recipe children can easily help with…IF they decide to?!?  So, now the only question is…"Who want's to help me bake a cake?"…but, don't read the book yet!

We are cooking today, so you will need:

1.  medium mixing bowl

2.  9 inch pan or muffin pan

3.  sugar, butter, eggs, vanilla extract, flour, baking powder and milk (or a boxed cake mix)

4.  food coloring *optional*

My favorite part of the book!
Pictures help children easily determine which ingredient comes next.
Large text makes it easy for beginning readers to follow.

This step is completely optional (& NOT in the book)!
I only added the food coloring because today is April Fools Day!
I know my kids won't be expecting a BLUE cake underneath the frosting!

If your children choose, have them help you with each step of making the cake.  Have fun together by licking the beaters, choosing a food color, or maybe even a little bit of a flour fight?  While the cake is baking READ THE BOOK!  Ask the obvious questions after…"Who made the cake?"  "Who chose NOT to help make the cake?"  "Do you think it's fair that Cat, Rat and Frog were not allowed to help Hen eat the cake?"  "Why?"

When the cake is done baking you may choose to frost and decorate it.  That is up to you.  However, it is definitely time to EAT IT!  Invite all children who helped make the cake to come and enjoy eating it.  Have those who declined to help stand by to watch the others take their first couple bites…this is really hard to do, but if you want to prove a point it really works!  Then ask them if they would like to join you?  When they say yes, let them…BUT…ask them how they felt when they were not allowed to enjoy in something they didn't work to accomplish?  This is a great moment to discuss the importance of hard work and its benefits!  It is also a good time to discuss the importance of sharing and showing compassion.

Any questions?  As usual, PLEASE ask!

Peace, love and happiness!

Lisa

paper clip bracelets/necklaces

Fun project for indoor play days!

PAPER CLIP BRACELETS

What do you need?  Well, look around, you probably have the supplies at home!

1.  Paper clips

2.  beads, sequins, plastic flowers…. (anything with a small hole in the middle)

this is what I found in my craft drawer
what's in yours?  use it!

Start by threading beads (or whatever you're using) through the end of a paper clip.  Push them around the first bend.  Repeat with a second paper clip.  Hook the second paper clip onto the first paper clip.  Squeeze the first paper clip closed (so the beads don't fall off).  Repeat this process until the bracelet fits!  You can also make beautiful necklaces.  Remember, I'm just sharing the guidelines…your creativity may take you in a different direction.  HAVE FUN!

my finished bracelet!

Questions?  I'll answer them!

Peace!

Lisa