Fletcher and the Springtime Blossoms by Julia Rawlinson
Another one of the Fletcher and seasons stories comes to life transitioning from winter to spring. Fletcher loves spring. He loves listening to birds and smelling new blooms of flowers and chasing the butterflies and new bugs that emerge after the quiet winter. But when Fletcher sees something he never expected to see in spring he begins to panic. Why is there snow in spring? Find out what surprises spring has in store for Fletcher and jump into all the excitement spring brings with Fletcher and his friends.
Activity: A great way to engage with students after reading Fletcher and the Springtime Blossoms is to plant flowers and create blossoms of your own. I love planting with students because they love playing in the dirt and they are so excited to see the seeds grow and take responsibility for watering and caring for the plant. It's a great follow up activity that exposes students to the life cycle of plants and their growth. Enjoy planting with students and getting your hands dirty with them!
Love Makes a Family by Sophie Beer
A story of love and family, Love Makes a Family explores the special ways love shows up in our lives and no matter what our families look like or don't look like there is love. Love is like baking a special cake or lending a helping hand. Love is reading one more book or page together. Families of all different structures are shown being a family and sharing love with one another from early morning wake-ups to story times and kisses before bed there are no bounds when it comes to love no matter if a child has a mom and a dad, two moms, two dads, one parent, or lives with grandparents, aunts, uncles, or trusted adults. There is love and that is what makes a family. Read this great book for Mother's days to explore the many family structures and that Mother's day is a celebration of not just moms but any trusted women in a child's life.
Activity: This book allows great conversations to happen with students about who lives in their homes and what their families are like. I always enjoyed learning more about my students and their families when the school year began or when holidays were coming up. I have created a resource in my TpT store the includes a family tree activity, interview a family member, and a draw and count activity that all relate to this great book. Click here to get yours!
Heads and Tails: Insects by John Canty
A fun book to guess which insects will be on the next page! Clues are given throughout the book with simple cues to help young readers predict what bug will be on the next page! Explore insects from tail to head and see if children's guesses are right! See mosquitos, dragonflies, ants, grasshoppers, stick insects and praying mantis'. Let your childs curiosity about insects soar!
Activity: I always love using sensory bins with students and I find this book to be a great resource for inspiring an insect and spring themed sensory bin. This sensory bin uses dried black beans and dried split peas with plastic insects and printed picture cards of each insect. Students use tongs to practice fine motor skills while picking up each plastic insect out of the sensory bin and matching them with the pictures. Once students match them with the pictures they can either use the word bank to write what insect it is, particularly for older students who are able to write and match well. If students are younger you can just have students practice matching the plastic bugs to the printed cards. Click here to get the directions and resources to make this sensory bin!
Bloom by Ruth Forman
A story of self-love and acceptance, Bloom introduces readers about each little girl (and boy) being beautiful and unique and blossoming like a beautiful new flower just the way they are. This story focuses on loving yourself no matter what your hair, color, shape, or size is and is great book to discuss loving yourself and loving one another through our beautiful and unique differences just as we love each flower for its unique and beautiful shape, size and color.
Activity: A great story about self-esteem and ways to engage students in loving themselves. I have found a great way to do this is having students reflect on ways they have grown and what is beautiful abut themselves. Head over to my TpT store and get a Ways I've Grown This Year freebie writing activity for students to reflect on their growth! Click Here!
Outside In by Deborah Underwood
Outside In explores the ways nature intertwines in our lives from the great outdoors into our homes, cars and communities. The story reminds us of the worlds connectedness and our powerful connection with nature. An encouragement to get outdoors and play outside to engage all of natures wonders for children is splashed throughout the entire book. A great book to engage in conversations of respecting nature and connecting mindfully with the earth.
Activity: A great way to get children excited about the outdoors is a Nature scavenger hunt. This helps children to notice and enjoy the world around them in a new way as they look for the items on their hunt. Grab this free scavenger hunt on my TpT store by clicking here!
The Invisible String by Patrice Karst
A great tool for coping with separation anxiety, loss and grief. The mother and her children talk about their invisible string that they are always connected with. The children question how it's possible and the mom reminds them that the string is made of love no matter where children are and mom is, they are always connected by love. This story explores the unbreakable connections we have between us and conversations about love.
Activity: I love reading the invisible string, especially with my younger students and students who struggle with separation anxiety. The awesome thing about this book is the author has a whole host of follow up ideas on her website that you can use to discuss, create, and follow up with this great book. Click here to see the many activities that Patrice Karst has on her website to go with her great book!
The Wall by Eve Bunting
A story of a boy visiting the Vietnam memorial wall in Washington, D.C and seeing the 58,000 names written on the wall. As the boy is visiting he meets a wheel-chair bound Veteran and has many questions. The boy and his father remember and honor veterans and those who have lost their lives while the boy learns with his curios questions. A great read for Memorial day and to explore children's curiosities about Memorial day and American Service members. A great story for children 5 and up.
Activity: A great way to engage kids who may not know much about the Wall or Memorial day is through videos and virtual field trips. Below are links to an informational Memorial day video and a virtual field trip to the Vietnam War Memorial Wall in Washington D.C.
Vietnam War Memorial Wall Virtual Trip - Click Here!
Memorial Day Video- Click Here!
Cinco De Mayo Emma Bernay
A story about Cinco de Mayo, tells the story of an important battle fought by the Mexican army. People celebrate with Mexican food, music and dancing. Explore Cinco de Mayo and celebrate with Rhythm and Rhyme.
Activity: Cinco De Mayo is a celebratory holiday that is great fun to celebrate with students or a family. Some fun activities may include listening to authentic Mexican music like Juan Gabriel, making Paper Picado which means punched paper (watch a video with the directions here), making authentic Mexican food such as Tacos al pastor, Flan, or Pico de Gallo, and watching the Disney movie Coco.
More of my May favorites will be shared throughout the month on blogs about Mother's Day and Memorial Day so stay tuned for more fun! Have a great time reading and enjoying some fun with your students and kiddos.
Happy Reading!
Comments