Rhyming

Spring Things

Raczka, B.(2007).Spring Things.Illinois: Albert Whitman & Company

ISBN #: 978-0-8075-7596-3

This book is about spring. It includes the changes in nature, from snow melting to trees growing leaves, as well as animal activity changes: insects coming out, bird eggs hatching. It also touches on activities such as preparing the ground for sowing, and cutting the grass. Changes in weather: sun, warmth, and storms are also included. Children's activities such as hopping, skipping, kite flying, selling lemonade, and biking are not forgotten. This book is filled with the energy that spring brings not only in nature, but also in our lives.

I would use this book for the three to five age group because the book illustrates each verb. It is a great way for children to increase their vocabulary with verbs, ending in ING, just like the word sprING. In this way, when we go for walks, we can use new verbs to describe what we see, or want, for example: " The snow is melting. Can we go outside for throwing and catching the ball?"

The illustrations are very explicit and suggestive paintings, in the sense that they describe the verb below them. They are very colorful and cheerful to suggest that spring brings back colour, and life. Each page is filled with something new that happens during spring. Children would enjoy the paintings because they will remind them of activities they themselves do, or things that they observe when they go for walks. I was drawn to how alive each illustration is and how wonderfully the verb is made into a picture.

Provocations:

Place pictures describing spring activities around the classroom and allow room and time for discussions and questions around the pictures. In the spring time, I would place plants that are sprouting in the classroom so that children can observe them. In addition, if I present this book in the spring, the first thing that I would do is take the children for a walk, and talk about the changes that we see in the nature.

Presentations:

1) Coming back from our walk, I would tell the story, and pause after each page, and include our observations and questions. I would pause at verbs that children to do not understand. I would chunk the book after talking about 3-4 verbs so that children do not feel bombarded with new words. I would stop and wonder at each verb and picture: "I wonder how the snow is melting?"

2) Cardboard Slides: For each page of the book, I would find a different picture that represents the same verb, and tape it to a cardboard piece. I would then, proceed in using verbs to describe the picture, hoping that some children will remember the verbs and join me.

3) Magnet Board: Have pictures of the verbs and put them on a board. Then, have the verbs on a paper that has a magnet, and ask the children to help me match the verb with the correct picture.

Extensions:

1) Collage: Draw the shape of a tree and ask children to cut pictures of spring and glue them in.

2) Learn songs about spring and sing them on our walk.

3) Build a lemonade stand and use it as a fundraiser. Then, with the money, go and buy plants and seeds that children can place in the ground.