FAMILY LITERACY
ACTIVITY CARDS
Workshop
Three
Florida Institute of Education at the University of North Florida ©2009
Fun Fact Cards
giraffe
ACTIVITY ROUTINE
1. Look through your Family Literacy Bag together with your child and
identify the books and materials included.
2. Follow the steps listed below when engaging in an activity with your
child:
a. Choose one activity to complete at a time (you do not need to do the
activities in any particular order).
b. Gather the book and necessary materials for completing the activity.
c. Allow your child to “play” with the items in the bag for a few moments
before expecting him/her to use the materials in a learning activity.
d. Read and talk about the chosen book with your child.
f. Engage in the chosen learning activity together.
g. Make note of yours and your child's reactions to the activity on your
at-home survey.
Florida Institute of Education at the University of North Florida
WHAT’S IN YOUR BAG? CHECKLIST
Materials included in this Family Literacy Bag
(Workshop Three) include:
Books:
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault
The Giraffe Made Her Laugh by Rozanne Lanzcak Williams
Materials:
Activity cards for Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and The Giraffe Made Her
Laugh
Two book tags
At-home survey
Coconut tree pen
Six coconut patterns
Coconut tree picture
Giraffe pointer
Giraffe toy
Fun fact cards (giraffe and cat)
Picture/word cards (giraffe, cat, sheep, cow, snake)
Materials from Previous Family Literacy Bag:
Uppercase and lowercase magnetic letters
(from Workshop Two)
Florida Institute of Education at the University of North Florida ©2009
Giraffes are the
tallest mammals in
the world.
Giraffes have great
vision and can spot
predators from
far away.
FAMILY LITERACY BAG
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
Author: Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault
As You Read
Activity Title: Let Me Ask You a Question
Standard: Your child will answer detailed who,
what, when, where, and why questions about a
story using complete sentences.
Materials: Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, coconut tree
pen
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Workshop Three
Florida Institute of Education at the University of North Florida ©2009
Directions: Ask your child the following questions before, during, and after reading the story
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. Use the coconut tree pen as a pointer to direct your child’s attention
to the items in the questions. Allow your child to look back through the book to help him/her
find the answer if needed.
Before Reading
1. Ask, “What type of tree do you see on the front cover of the book? What do you see on
the back of the book?”
2. Say, “The title of this book is Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. By hearing the title and looking at
the pictures, what do you think this book will be about?”
During Reading
3. Ask, “At the beginning of the book, what are the letters doing in the tree?”
4. Ask, “What happened when all of the letters made it to the top of the tree?”
5. Ask, “How would you feel if you fell out of a tree?”
After Reading
6. Ask, “Which letter got a black eye when it fell out of the tree?”
7. Ask, “What else happened to the letters?”
8. Ask, “What did the letter a do at the end of the story? What do you think would happen
next?”
Florida Institute of Education at the University of North Florida ©2009
cat
No two giraffes have
the same spots.
FAMILY LITERACY BAG
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
Conversations About Books
Activity Title: Friendship Fun
Standard: Your child will describe the thoughts and
feelings of one character in a book.
Materials: Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
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Workshop Three
Florida Institute of Education at the University of North Florida ©2009
Directions:
1. After reading the story, talk with your child about how the letters in the story were friends
that enjoyed doing things together.
2. Say to your child, “Tell me who your friends are.”
3. Ask your child, “Will you describe things that you enjoy doing with your friends?”
4. Provide feedback to your child that will encourage him/her to speak clearly and use
complete sentences.
5. For example, if your child responds with a one word answer such as “playing” when asked
what he/she enjoys doing with his/her friends, repeat the answer to your child in a
complete sentence by saying, “You like playing with your friends.”
6. Ask further prompting questions such as, “What do you like to play?” or “Where do you like
to play?” encouraging your child to answer in complete sentences each time.
7. Share with your child a story of things you enjoy doing with your friends.
Florida Institute of Education at the University of North Florida ©2009
Cats have over one
hundred vocal
sounds, while dogs
have only ten.
Cats sleep 16-18
hours a day.
FAMILY LITERACY BAG
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
Vocabulary
Activity Title: Chicka Chicka Boo Boo
Standard: Your child will use speaking strategies
while talking about topics of personal interest.
Materials: Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
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Workshop Three
Florida Institute of Education at the University of North Florida ©2009
Directions:
1. After reading the story Chicka Chicka Boom Boom with your child discuss the letters that
were hurt and had a “boo boo” in the story.
2. For example, D skinned his knee, E stubbed his toe, H and I were tangled up with one
another, P had a black eye, and T had a loose tooth.
3. Invite your child to look back through the book and find the injured letters.
4. Ask your child to think of a time when he/she was hurt and had a “boo boo.”
5. Say the chant below with your child.
6. At the end of the chant, encourage your child to tell you about a time when he/she had a
“boo boo.”
7. Share a story with your child about a time when you had a “boo boo” as well.
8. Encourage your child to speak clearly and use complete sentences.
Chicka Chicka Boo Boo
Chicka chicka boom boom
I once had a boo boo.
I was hurt for a little bit.
Let me tell you how I did it.
Florida Institute of Education at the University of North Florida ©2009
Cats cannot see in
complete darkness but
they can get around by
sound and the sensitivity
of their whiskers.
sheep
FAMILY LITERACY BAG
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
Reading Aloud and Emergent Comprehension
Activity Title: Wiggle-Jiggle Free
Standard: Your child will identify the job of the
author and illustrator of a story.
Materials: Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, six coconut
patterns
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Workshop Three
Florida Institute of Education at the University of North Florida ©2009
Directions:
1.
After reading the story Chicka Chicka Boom Boom with your child, display the cover of the
book for your child to see.
2.
Together with your child, identify the words that are in the title of the book and then
identify the words that are in the names of the authors and illustrator.
3.
Take the six coconut patterns out of your Family Literacy Bag.
4.
Read the three names on the coconut patterns (Bill, John, and Lois) and show your child
that the other three coconuts are blank.
5.
Say to your child, “Bill and John are the two authors of the book and Lois is the illustrator
of the book.”
6.
Place the six coconut patterns on the floor or table in front of your child – with the front
of the coconuts facing down (words down).
7.
Say to your child, “Choose one coconut at a time to pick up.”
8.
Instruct your child that if the coconut is blank he/she should “wiggle-jiggle free” like the
letters in the story. If the coconut has a name on it, read the name together and identify
the job of that person (author or illustrator).
9.
Ask your child to describe what the author and/or illustrator does in a story.
10. Discuss the author and illustrator of other books you read with your child as well.
Florida Institute of Education at the University of North Florida ©2009
cow
giraffe
FAMILY LITERACY BAG
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
Letter and Sound Knowledge
Activity Title: Letters Running up the Coconut Tree
Standard: Your child will identify and manipulate
a variety of manipulative letters of the alphabet.
Materials: Chicka Chicka Boom Boom,
uppercase and lowercase magnetic letters (from
Workshop Two’s Family Literacy Bag), coconut
tree picture
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Workshop Three
Florida Institute of Education at the University of North Florida ©2009
Directions:
1.
After reading the story Chicka Chicka Boom Boom with your child, talk with him/her about
the letters in the story running up the tree.
2.
Take the coconut tree picture and magnetic letters out of your Family Literacy Bag.
3.
Together with your child choose five uppercase and five lowercase magnetic letters
(upper- and lowercase of the same five letters).
4.
Place the ten letters on the floor or table in front of your child.
5.
Call out one letter name at a time specifying uppercase or lowercase.
6.
Invite your child to find the letter, pick it up, and act out the story by having the letter run
up the coconut tree.
7.
If your child already recognizes most letters of the alphabet, challenge him/her to spell
words up the coconut tree. For example, call out the word sun and ask your child to make
the letters s, u, and n run up the coconut tree and stop at the top to spell the word.
Florida Institute of Education at the University of North Florida ©2009
cat
FAMILY LITERACY BAG
The Giraffe Made Her Laugh
Author: Rozanne Lanzcak Williams
As You Read
Activity Title: If I Ask You a Question
Standard: Your child will answer detailed who,
what, when, where, and why questions about a
story using complete sentences.
Materials: The Giraffe Made Her Laugh, giraffe
pointer
6
Workshop Three
Florida Institute of Education at the University of North Florida ©2009
Directions: Ask your child the following questions before, during, and after reading the story
The Giraffe Made Her Laugh. Use the giraffe pointer to direct your child’s attention to the items in
the questions. Allow your child to look back through the book to help him/her find the answer if
needed.
Before Reading
1. Ask, “Who is laughing at the giraffe on the cover of the book? What picture clues help
you know she is a queen?”
2. Ask, “Why do you think the queen is laughing at the giraffe?”
3. Ask, “What has happened in your life that has made you laugh?”
During Reading
4. Ask, “What is the cat doing throughout this story?”
5. Say, “Each time we see the sheep we also see zzzzz’s near his head. What do the zzzzz’s
mean?”
6. Read, “The snake baked a (cake). The cow took a (bow). The sheep went to (sleep). The cat
just (sat). But the giraffe made her (laugh).” (Allow your child to fill in the blanks.)
7. Ask, “Would you like to have a snake bake you a cake? Why or why not?”
After Reading
8. Ask, “What did the giraffe do to make the queen laugh?”
9. Ask, “Which one of the animals from this story would you want to be? Why?”
10. Ask, “What happened on the very last page of the story?”
Florida Institute of Education at the University of North Florida ©2009
FAMILY LITERACY BAG
The Giraffe Made Her Laugh
Conversations About Books
Activity Title: What Is So Funny?
Standard: Your child will describe the thoughts
and feelings of one character in a book and relate
it to his/her own life.
Materials: The Giraffe Made Her Laugh, giraffe toy
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Workshop Three
Florida Institute of Education at the University of North Florida ©2009
Directions:
1.
Read the book The Giraffe Made Her Laugh with your child.
2.
As you read through the book, pause on each page where the queen is laughing.
3.
Ask your child, “What do you think is making the queen laugh?”
4.
Encourage your child to speak clearly and use complete sentences.
5.
After discussing what makes the queen laugh, give your child the giraffe toy from
your Family Literacy Bag.
6.
Invite your child to tell the giraffe stories about what makes him/her laugh.
7.
Model for your child by telling the giraffe something that makes you laugh.
Florida Institute of Education at the University of North Florida ©2009
FAMILY LITERACY BAG
The Giraffe Made Her Laugh
Vocabulary
Activity Title: Find the Animal
Standard: Your child will identify unfamiliar
words and discuss possible definitions for the
words.
Materials: The Giraffe Made Her Laugh, fun fact
cards (giraffe and cat), animal picture/word
cards (giraffe, cat, sheep, cow, and snake)
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Workshop Three
Florida Institute of Education at the University of North Florida ©2009
Directions:
1. After reading the book with your child, hide it behind your back and ask your child to name
the animals in the story.
2. After your child has listed the animals he/she remembers, turn back through the pages of the
story and identify the five animals – giraffe, cat, sheep, cow, and snake.
3. Lay out the five animal picture/word cards for your child to see. (Scaffold this activity by
showing the pictures to make it easier and the words to make it more challenging.)
4. Say, “I am going to tell you something about an animal and you need to point to the animal I
am describing.”
5. Read the giraffe and cat fun facts listed on the fun fact cards one at a time in random order
without naming the animal (for example, “This animal is the world’s tallest mammal.”).
6. Challenge your child to point to the animal he/she thinks is being described by the fun fact.
7. Discuss each of your child’s responses.
8. Point out to your child that all of the fun facts described the giraffe and the cat. Encourage your
child to describe facts about the other three animals as well.
Florida Institute of Education at the University of North Florida ©2009
FAMILY LITERACY BAG
The Giraffe Made Her Laugh
Reading Aloud and
Emergent Comprehension
Activity Title: Laugh Out Loud
Standard: Your child will identify the front,
back, and title page of a book and will know to
read from left to right.
Materials: The Giraffe Made Her Laugh, giraffe
pointer
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Workshop Three
Florida Institute of Education at the University of North Florida ©2009
Directions:
1.
Display the book The Giraffe Made Her Laugh for your child to see.
2.
Discuss with your child how the story is about a queen laughing at a giraffe.
3.
Tell your child, “ I will hold up the book for you to see. If it is the front of the book, you
should laugh. If it is the back of the book, you should sit quietly.”
4.
Show your child either the front or the back of the book and discuss his/her reaction.
5.
Take the giraffe pointer out of your Family Literacy Bag.
6.
Say to your child, “I want you to laugh out loud until I point to the title page.”
7.
Turn through a few pages of the book while your child is laughing and then turn to the title
page and point to it with the giraffe pointer.
8.
Talk with your child about what information is included on the title page.
9.
Turn to the first page of the story and ask your child to point to the first word you should
read (The).
10. Ask your child to point to the words as you read the first two pages.
11. Discuss how readers start with the first word on the page and read from left to right.
Florida Institute of Education at the University of North Florida ©2009
FAMILY LITERACY BAG
The Giraffe Made Her Laugh
Print Concepts
Activity Title: Show Me Where to Start!
Standard: Your child will show where to begin
reading a story by pointing to the first word on
a page.
Materials: The Giraffe Made Her Laugh, giraffe
pointer
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Workshop Three
Florida Institute of Education at the University of North Florida ©2009
Directions:
1. Place the book The Giraffe Made Her Laugh and the giraffe pointer on the table
in front of your child.
2. Open the book to the first page and say to your child, “Show me where to start!”
3. Allow your child to take the giraffe pointer and point to the place where he/she thinks you
should begin reading.
4. If your child points to the first word on the page say, “That’s right. We begin reading with the
first word on the page.”
5. If your child points to a word other than the first word on the page say, “You found a word in
the middle of the sentence. We start reading with the first word on the page.”
6. Take your child’s hand along with the pointer and point to the first word on the page.
7. Repeat the process on other pages in the story.
Florida Institute of Education at the University of North Florida ©2009
The modules presented here were funded in part by the Office of Postsecondary Education, U.S. Department of Education as part of the
Virtual School Readiness Incubator Project, the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Children, Youth and
Families as part of the Early Learning Opportunities Act/Bringing Education and Support to Teachers, Parents and Children
(ELOA/BEST) Project, and the Florida Institute of Education at the University of North Florida. These prototype materials are still in
development and refinement and should be used with this caution in mind. The content of these modules does not necessarily reflect
the views or policies or imply endorsement by the U.S. Department of Education, the Department of Health and
Human Services, and/or the University of North Florida.
FAMILY LITERACY BAG SONGS, POEMS, AND NURSERY RHYMES
Who Took the Letters Off?
Silly Giraffe
Sung to the tune of
“The Addams Family”
Chorus: Silly giraffe, (clap, clap)
Silly giraffe, (clap, clap)
Silly giraffe, silly giraffe, silly giraffe.
(clap, clap)
Sung to the tune of
“Who Let the Dogs Out?”
Who took the A off?
Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom.
Who took the B off?
Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom.
There once was a giraffe
Who made the queen laugh.
All he did was play
Each and every day.
(Repeat for other letters of the alphabet –
do not feel as though you must repeat the song for
all 26 letters of the alphabet)
(Repeat chorus)
After each line of the song, invite your child
to find the chosen letter
somewhere in your home.
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Workshop Three
Florida Institute of Education at the University of North Florida ©2009