Embedded Files
The Very Hungry Caterpillar- Eric Carle
Before or after reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar, take the kids outside to look for caterpillars, butterflies, or other bugs.
Bring a magnifying glass to observe them up close.
If you don’t find real bugs, gather leaves, flowers, or sticks and pretend to make a "caterpillar snack."
Encourage the kids to count how many leaves or flowers they find, just like the caterpillar eats different amounts of food in the story.
Over in the Meadow- Ezra Jack Keats
Before or after reading Over in the Meadow, explore an outdoor area like a park, field, or backyard.
Look for animals or signs of them, like birds, insects, or frogs.
Count how many you see, just like in the book (e.g., “How many birds are in that tree?”).
Sing or chant verses from the book while clapping or hopping like the animals mentioned.
The Wind Blew- Pat Hutchins
Before or after reading The Wind Blew, head outside on a windy day (or bring a fan if it’s calm).
Bring lightweight items like leaves, feathers, paper, or scarves and let the kids toss them into the air to see how the wind moves them.
Guess which items will blow the farthest and test it out!
Collect natural items like leaves or sticks and pretend the wind is "carrying them away," just like in the story.
End with a fun game where kids run and "chase" the imaginary wind, pretending to catch the items it’s blowing.
Brown Bear, Brown Bear- Bill Martin Jr/Eric Carle
Before or after reading Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? go outside for a "color walk."
Look for objects in nature that match the colors of the animals in the book (e.g., find something red for the red bird, green for the frog).
Collect small items like leaves, flowers, or rocks, or just point them out.
As you find each color, say, “(Color) (Animal), (Color) (Animal), what do you see?” and let the kids respond with their own ideas.
Finish by arranging the collected items into a rainbow or nature collage.
The Curious Garden- Peter Brown
Encourage kids to find “wild” plants growing in unexpected places, like cracks in the sidewalk or along fences, just like in the book.
Collect small, safe items like leaves, seeds, or flowers to create a "mini garden" in a small container or patch of dirt.
Talk about how they can care for plants, like watering or making sure they get sunlight.
If possible, plant seeds or a small plant together and check on it regularly to watch it grow like Liam’s garden.
The Gruffalo- Julia Donaldson
Before or after reading The Gruffalo, take the kids on a woodland walk or to a park with trees and bushes.
Pretend to look for the Gruffalo and the animals in the story (mouse, fox, owl, snake).
Use clues from the book to imagine where the Gruffalo might live—look for logs, holes, or dark shady spots.
Collect natural items like sticks, leaves, or rocks to build a "Gruffalo den" together.
Act out the story by pretending to be the Gruffalo or the clever little mouse!
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse