Additional Ideas Theme 8
Exploring and enjoying nature
Use these ideas to enhance the “Splish! Splash!” Storytime Plan.
Children love to explore the natural world, especially water. Splashing in water, digging in sand and dirt, and collecting shells, rocks, leaves, and other pieces of nature can keep children happy and busy for hours. Children love to explore their classrooms, too. As children learn about nature in and out of the classroom, they begin to understand how their actions affect their friends and the world around them.
At a Glance
• Vocabulary: Naming & Describing Words • Comprehension: Relate to Own Experience • Print Awareness: Distinguish Words & Numbers • Social & Emotional: Sharing • Curriculum Link: The World Around Us
Getting Started Creating a Positive Environment
To introduce the theme, provide tubs of water, sand, large seashells, bath toys, buckets, cups, and any other theme-related materials. Encourage experimentation and assure children it’s okay to splash. Engage children by asking about prior personal experiences and preferences. Inquire about what children like to do in the water and what types of bodies of water have they seen or been in. You may also choose to discuss water safety or water conservation. Engaging Families The Cozy Corner Family Time page provides grown-ups with an opportunity to model the joy of reading, writing, drawing, and talking. Make enough copies of the page so that each child can take one home to make a “My Nature Book.” Meeting Individual Needs Use the additional curriculum connections and center activities in this guide to customize learning experiences for children who need additional motivation, challenge, or support. See the “Splish! Splash!” Storytime Plan for specific support for English learners.
Resources
• • Big Book: My River by Shari Halpern • • Read-Aloud: Ten Little Fish by Audrey Wood • • Read-Aloud: One Nighttime Sea by Deborah Lee Rose • • Storytime Plan: Theme 8 • • Music: Brazilian Playground • • Character Cards: Ten Little Fish • • Poster: Splish! Splash!
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