BOOKS Off for Books

Materials Bag Assorted hats Ho for a ! by William Smith

What to do 1. Bring in several different hats from your home, such as a baseball , hard- hat, hat, or summer . Put them into a bag. 2. Before the children arrive, put on one of the hats. Without mentioning what you are doing, change into different hats throughout the day. These hat tricks will grab the children’s attention! 3. When you gather the children for story time, ask if they have noticed anything different about you that day. They will undoubtedly point out your varied ! 4. Explain that people wear different hats for different reasons. Ask the children to name different hats and why they are worn. 5. Show them the book Ho for a Hat! Tell them that this book celebrates the fun of wearing hats! Point out the author and illustrator, and the twenty different hats picturedDownloaded on the by cover. [email protected] from 6. Ask the children to helpProFilePlanner.com you read the book out loud. Explain that “Ho for a hat!” means “Hurray for hats!” or “Hats are great!” or “I love hats!” Explain that when you point to this sentence, they should all say “Ho for a hat!” together. Practice several times. 7. Read Ho for a Hat! with enthusiasm, remembering to pause to cue your audi- ence for their response.

More to do Dramatic Play: Place different hats in the -up center. The children can pre- tend to have various careers and cultures as they wear the different hats. Language: Make a special bulletin board display of the children’s artwork. Ask them to draw a picture of their face and top it with a fantastic original hat. Encourage them to dictate a sentence to you explaining what they do in their hats.

Nancy Dentler, Mobile, AL

148 The GIANT Encyclopedia of Preschool Activities for Four-Year-Olds Downloaded by [email protected] from ProFilePlanner.com BOOKS Let Me Hear You Whistle

Materials Whistle for Willie by Ezra Jack Keats

What to do 1. Begin story time by whistling for a dog and looking around. Ask the children if they know what you are doing. Can they guess that you are calling a dog? 2. Explain that in the book you will be reading, young Peter wants to learn how to whistle so he can call for his dog Willie. 3. Show the children the cover of the book. Read the title, the author, and the illustrator. 4. Ask the children if they can tell what breed of dog Willie is from the cover illustration (dachshund). 5. Read the book with enthusiasm. Remember to whistle when Peter whistles in the book.

More to do Gross Motor: With the children, draw your way from the outside school door to the gym, lunchroom, or playground along the sidewalk using colored chalk. Music: Practice whistlingDownloaded (or trying by [email protected] to whistle) together asfrom a class. Explain that it takes a lot of practice, but that ProFilePlanner.comthey will all be able to whistle someday. More Music: Find an adult or two who are skilled whistlers. Have them perform a whistling concert in your class. They could perform well-known songs such as “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” and “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” Ask the adults to explain how they have used whistling, such as to call a dog, to find a friend in a crowd, or just when they’re happy. Outdoors: Draw an interesting path on a sidewalk or outside walkway the same way Peter did.

Nancy Dentler, Mobile, AL

The GIANT Encyclopedia of Preschool Activities for Four-Year-Olds 149 Downloaded by [email protected] from ProFilePlanner.com