Reading stories aloud together builds vocabulary, improves comprehension, and promotes speech development. By adding a craft to the experience, you continue to build on story time learning; practicing motor skills and creativity, while reminding the child of themes and words from the story. It becomes active engagement, in the same way that adding the movement of Bendy Bookworm’s yoga poses do, in order to benefit the child’s optimal ability to learn through play.
Try this craft (Ideal for ages 6-9 years old). Pair it with “Some Bugs” by Angela DiTerlizzi for an At Home: Story Time and Craft Activity.
Cognitive Skills: vocabulary, prediction, and focus (learned from independent reading)
Motor Skills: tracing and cutting (practiced during the craft)
Emotional Skills: self expression, creativity, and self regulation (practiced during the craft)
Materials:
Construction Paper or White Paper
Pencil
Something Round For Tracing (jar, can, etc)
Scissors
String
Craft Glue
Optional: Black Washable Paint, Googley Eyes, Hot Glue Gun
Step One:
*Trace and Cut out two circles from a colored piece of construction paper or white paper.
**Make sure that both circles are the same size, you'll need two circles per ladybug**
Step Two:
* Stack the circles and cut a slit to the center.
Step Three:
* Color/Paint in your ladybug's face and spots.
**Color both sides of your circle.
**Make sure that one circle is colored on the slit and the second is colored opposite the slit.
Step Four:
*Slide the two circles together along the scissor cut.
Options:
* hot glue the slits to hold the ladybug open
*hot glue string inside one corner
*draw on eyes or glue on googley eyes
Pair With:
These titles can be found on overdrive/ hoopla, ebook catalogs
you may be able to access with your library card!
