Carle , E. (2001) . Little cloud. New York: Puffin Books.
ISBN 978-0-698-11830-0
This book is about the journey of a little cloud that drifts along the sky. This cloud changes into the shapes of many things it saw throughout this journey. There is time of solitude in this adventure but when little cloud joins the other clouds again it begins to rain.
The main reason I would use this book with three to five- year old children is because the story invites both children and teacher to observe the creativity of nature and together enjoy the responses of our imagination. It is a captivating story since it provokes wonder in several parts of the book. The text is age appropriate and not too lengthy.
The illustrations are beautifully, brightly and artistically made. There are textured collages that bring out the beautiful colors and a mix of crayons that was used to represent the rain in the end of the story. The children would be drawn to the illustrations because they invite curiosity by the shapes they form. The illustrations also evoke a harmonious yet shifting mood... one travels with the cloud. I was personally drawn to this book because of its aesthetic aspect and the content of the story itself that allows interaction and imagination. It invites us to observe nature which I believe to be very important for us as educators and for the children. The cover “spoke” to me as I noticed a smile on Little Cloud.
To build the background (create a provocation) for the children, I would stick a “cloud” on to the window. This cloud would be made out of cotton balls glued on to a cloud shaped paper(representing Little Cloud). Once the children begin a conversation I would invite them to sit by the window and observe the sky. Throughout the day I would exchange the shapes( with the felt figures) of the clouds, as mentioned in the story, on the window. The next day I would read the book and observe the children’s observations and connections.
Four ways to present the book: Little Cloud by Eric Carle
1) Drama ( audience participation)
Material:
- 8 ponchos( made of white fleece or other fabric, white towel,sheet) for children
- 1 poncho for teacher
- Little Cloud ( the one used for provocation)
- rain stick
Presentation:
- Teacher invites children to sit in a circle. ( Choose best hour of the day for your class).
- Give an introduction of what will happen, that we are going to act out the story as the teacher tells it.
- Offer a poncho for each child and have them put it on. If a child doesn’t want to wear it, just leave the poncho available for possible future interest of child in participating as the story commences. Teacher wears her poncho too.
- Teacher begins telling the story by presenting Little Cloud and making movements that represents the drifting across the blue sky to begin the journey! Little Cloud goes down and touches the house and tree tops and the other clouds move upwards to the sky. Little Cloud invites us all to travel together and change into the shapes of the things that it sees.
- Teacher continues the story and in every new shape, allow children to use their bodies and form the shapes of the cloud.
- As teachers tells the story, invite wondering time...”I wonder what shape Little Cloud will change into?”
- At the end, teacher says that the other clouds are coming back and invite Little cloud to join them. Have all children stand up and hold hands together to form a huge cloud, move in a circle as if the wind was blowing and then using the rain stick make the sound of rain...children gently fall down as if they were rain.
2) Nature Walk (or outside area of school)& Reading Story
Material:
- Little Cloud (from provocation)
- Book
Presentation:
- Teacher invites children to go outside on a cloudy day ( park or outside area of school).
- Find a nice place to sit. If in the park, begin the story in one location then get up and walk a little to find a new spot to sit and observe the clouds from another position.
- Teacher begins reading the story using Little Cloud as a prop.
- As story flows have children observe the sky to look at the clouds and see the shapes described in the story. If they don’t see the same shapes what other shapes can they see?
- The story ends with Little Cloud joining again the other clouds and together they form the rain.
3) Basket Story (with audience participation)
Material:
- Basket
- Cloth
- Cotton (larger chunks, not the cotton balls), enough for children to make shape out of it
- rain stick
- Little cloud
Presentation:
- Invite children to gather around the covered basket.
- Remove the the cloth and spread it on the floor in the centre of the circle.
- Begin telling the story by presenting Little Cloud and as you begin telling about the shapes get out of the basket a chunk of cotton for every child.
- Have the children make the shapes with the cotton piece as the shapes change along with the story. Let them use their creativity as they do the shapes (no right/wrong).
- As the story comes to the end join Little Cloud with all the other cotton chunks of the children and use the rain stick that will represent the rain at the end of the story.
4) Felt Board
material:
- Felt board ( blue background if possible)
- Felt pieces:
Little Cloud (with a faded smile)
Giant Cloud ( with faded smile)
other clouds (5 other pieces)
few houses (3)
few trees (3)
sheep (cloud)
airplane(cloud)
shark (cloud)
two trees (cloud)
rabbit (cloud)
hat (cloud)
clown (cloud)
rain drops
- rain stick
Presentation:
- Teacher invites children for story time.
- Tell the story with the felt figures.
Observation:
- I did not find ready-made pieces. I enjoy making crafts and personally this is a way to “relax”. So this is a story that I will make the pieces myself.
- The pages I would stop to wonder would be: ( obs. no numbers on pages)
When Little cloud changes into a giant cloud. “ I wonder how it became giant ?”
When Little Cloud changes into a hat “ I wonder what is going to happen ?”
When little Cloud joins the other clouds again “ I wonder where the other clouds
went and what they saw?”
- I would not “chunk” this book because it is not extensive and also there is a “ flow” that I
would prefer not to interrupt.
Extension Possibilities:
1) Art ( making their book of clouds)
- An activity that could be done throughout the month, choosing alternate days to go outside and
observe the clouds to find shapes that they can register it in their book.
- Give them little booklets to document their observations
- Offer different kinds of materials each time they go out to observe and make their art work.
Materials: paint, water color, crayons, pencils, colored cotton and glue, yarn pieces....
2) Science
- Explore in more depth the formation of clouds
- Have conversation about weather conditions
- Make a calendar of the months and daily register whether there is a formation of clouds
3) Discussion (social aspect)
- Talk about how there are moments where we can do many things alone...Little Cloud trailed
behind as the other clouds went on. Little Cloud could observe and pay attention to things
around.
- Talk about how it is good to join back together, the clouds could “make” rain together.
- Discuss about relationships among each other.
No comments:
Post a Comment