Family and Pets Literature Selections

The books listed below are the suggested literature selections that could be used for the Family and Pets Theme. Click on the titles to obtain more information on each book.

1. The Perfect Pet by Margie Palatini
2 Oh,the Pets You Can Get! by Tish Rabe
3. The Best Pet of All by David Larochelle
4. Cats, Cats, Cats by Leslea Newman
5. Dogs, Dogs, Dogs by Leslea Newman
6. The Family Book by Todd Parr
7. The Mommy Book by Todd Parr
8. The Daddy Book by Todd Parr

Kindergarten and Preschool Activities for the Theme

Pumpkin Theme Activities

We just made a pumpkin vine/mobile that turned out super cute. Students cut out a seed on tag, colored a flower (coffee filter), cut a small green pumpkin, and a big orange pumpkin. Then after hole punching each they tied it on to green yarn, as the vine. You can also paint paper plates and staple together to use as a holer for the vine. Ashley Bigelow

More Pumpkin Theme Activities

Math Graphing Activity

For graphing activities, I have a photo of each child (passport size)which they place under the appropriate heading. This is a quick way to see who likes what or what the preferences are. The graphs can be set up in a pocket chart or on a magnetic board. Lee

More Kindergarten and Preschool Math Activities
More Kindergarten and Preschool Math Activities

Friendship Song

Dr. Jean has a song called Twinkle Twinkle Little Star What a Special Friend You Are. Children sit in pairs and sing/do motions to each other. Paula Arrorwood

Movement Activity

Well one movement activity is 'House to Let'. Here the kids make groups of 3, two of them hold hands and the third one stand in the middle of the house.As soon as the teacher says 'House to let' the kid in the middle has to run and search another house and enters it. This activity was very much enjoyed by the kids. by Meera Deebeely

Pumpkin Theme Literature Books

Recommended Pumpkin Theme Books
The books below are ones we recommend to use with the Pumpkin theme. Click on the title of the book to see reviews on them.

1. Pumpkin Faces by Judith Moffat - this is an excellent book to use in conjunction with the emergent reader "Carving Pumpkins." The reader is found on our sister site in the link below.
2. Pumpkin Circle by George Levenson is an excellent rhyming book about the growth of pumpkins. It has amzing pictures depicting this growth cycle.
3. The Biggest Pumpkin Ever by Seven Krill
4. Pumpkin Day by Anne Rockwell is a good book to read for both the Fall and Halloween themes.

In the link below you will find ideas to use with these books.

Pumpkin Theme Activities

Halloween and Pumpkin Activity

I just purchased several packs of Halloween related erasers from Dollar Tree. I made several patterns on the printer plate of the printer. The children will match the patterns created or complete the pattern on the mat. by Cheryl

More Halloween and Pumpkin Theme Activities

Circle Time Suggestions

I have incorportated a greeting circle to my classroom schedule, as I said I teacher children with special circumstances. I found that it has brought the children into the idea that we are in school, settles them down for the class, and I can explain what we are going to be learning about that day, and then dismiss them to centres or art. The day progresses smoothly after the greeting circle. by Laura Wright

I was using mini books to teach concepts such as "on", "behind", "over", "under" etc and the kids really enjoyed being given physical tasks eg: X to sit on the red table etc. They then started hiding all around the room when I entered and calling out where they were in terms of concepts. It was really effective. by Christine Partington