Bears, Bugs & Dinosaurs

Presented byJulie Quast

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

Why Theme Units?

Image from: middleburghlibrarykids.blogspot.com

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

Daily Literacy Activities

“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).

Reread, Reread, Reread

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

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

Read Where's My Teddy? By Jez Alborough

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 outTo get some fresh air.(Pop out thumb.)

He stays out all summerIn sunshine and heat.He hunts in the forest For berries to eat.(Move thumb in a circle.)

When snow starts to fall.He hurries insideHis warm little cave And there he will hide.(Put thumb inside fingers.)

Snow covers the caveLike a fluffy white rug.Inside the bear sleepsAll cozy and snug. (Place one hand over the other.)Author Unknown

Bugs

BugsInsect Anatomy – discuss the three body

parts of an insect (head, thorax, abdomen)

Model how to label the parts by looking at the

first letter.

BugsCompare 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 BugsPowerPoint 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 by Anne Rockwell

What is an Insect? by Lola M. Schaefer

Big Bugs by Seymour Simon

Ladybugs by Mia Posada

The Icky Sticky Frog

The Ladybug Girl and Bumblebee Boyby David Soman and Jacky Davis

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

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.”

DinosaursRead Dinosaur Story Big Book (in packet

for you)

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.

Dinosaurs

Read Bones, Bones, Dinosaur Bones

by Byron BartonDinosaur 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!

DinosaursDig for dinosaur bones using a chocolate chip

cookie! Excavate the bones with a

toothpick or age appropriate tool, while

looking through a microscope.

Find a Dinosaur Egg

Paint a watermelon white with washable, ACMI paint. Hide the dino-egg on the playground and go on a

dino-egg hunt. Wash the watermelon for a snack.

Read Dinosaur BabiesBy Lucille Recht Penner

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 treeUsing your claws, grumble and growl Just like Tyrannosaurus on the prowl.

Dinosaurs

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!

Print Materials at:

thereadinglady.wikispaces.com

Email me with questions or ideas:

juliequast@hotmail.com