When we think of at-home learning, we can’t forget the younger set.
Here’s a simple activity I did with kindergartners who were cracking up over my book TOO PICKLEY! You don’t need to have the book in front of you to do the activity, but it’s obviously more fun if you do. And you can buy it right here.
So, the number one question I get from kids who read TOO PICKLEY! is
At the end of the story, what had been on the little boy’s plate?
My illustrator, Genevieve Leloup, and I deliberately left that a mystery. We wanted to involve the reader in the story and get a discussion going. So we encourage the question:
What do YOU think was on his plate?
Really observant kids might look at the few crumbs remaining and guess a cookie, an orange and some peas.
Kids who have read my dedication page might guess hot dogs.
But then you’ll have those kids who fully immerse in the story and say, “Peanut butt
er and jelly. Because I love peanut butter and jelly.”
That’s when it’s time to invite kids to tell you what would be on their “So Yummy” plates. How about their “So Yucky” plates?
This would be a great time to talk about tastes, healthy eating and where foods come from, as well.
Finally, using grocery store ads, glue sticks and paper plates, have kids create their own “So Yummy” and “So Yucky” plates and present them to the family. This is a great sorting activity. Extend it to K-1 by involving the whole family and graphing their responses to common foods.
And speaking of sorting and graphing, this easy and fun activity meets Academic Standards for PreK, 1st Grade and Kindergarten in:
- Math
- Literacy
- Art
- Physical Education/Health and Wellness
- CCSS.Math.Content.K.MD.B.3 Classify objects into given categories; count the numbers of objects in each category and sort the categories by count.1
- CCSS.Math.Content.1.MD.C.4 Organize, represent, and interpret data with up to three categories; ask and answer questions about the total number of data points, how many in each category, and how many more or less are in one category than in another
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.K.1 With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
Yup! That’s my yummy plate above. And here’s my yukky plate!
How do yours compare?
Send me your Yucky and Yummy photos. I’ll be happy to post them on my blog.
For more ideas for Low-Tech, At-Home Learning check out my Curriculum and Activity Guides filled with fun projects and linked to learning standards.
And for a complete list of all of my low-tech, at-home learning activities so far, click on the #kidlitquarantine category. More coming soon!
Have fun. Stay safe. And stay well.
Jean
