Predictable Pattern

Martine, B.(1991). Polar bear, polar bear, what do you hear?: N.Y.:Henry Hold and Company

ISBN: 12-978-0-8050-1759-5

Content of the Story:

There are ten animals making sounds.  Ask each animal, for example “Polar bear, polar bear, what do you hear?” and the animal answers, “ I hear lion roaring in my ear.” You can predict the pattern quite easily with this story. 

The reason for three to five year olds:

It is very easy to understand and there are a lot of animals introduced in this picture book.  There are some animals that children are familiar with; however, there are some that they wouldn’t know the name; for instance, they use “Boa constrictor” instead of “Snake”. Or use unique birds, like Peacock or flamingo. That will evoke children’s interests so that there are many animals that they don’t see in the other picture books.

Illustration comments:

This illustration is done by Eric Carle.  He is a world famous picture book author and illustrator.  He uses thin coloured paper and put the pieces together to create a picture, which technic is collage. 

 

Provocation:

Put instruments everywhere in the centre.  Children notice them eventually and start to play.  Before the circle time, gather the instruments: for instance, castanets, recorders, drums, shakers, (some of the instruments are made in our class). While children are touching them, or play them, I ask them what they hear.

Presentation:

1. Read it simply as the story goes, and enjoy the picture, the sound that animals make and even imitate them while read the story.

2. Make two parts and read with children. For example, a teacher says, “Polar bear, polar bear what do you hear?” and put him/her hand near the ear.  Then the children’s turn comes and they say, “I hear lion…….” After that, children can do that with their peers.

3. Make flip cards of the animal pictures and read the story together. While I flip the card, I can tell the story, and as soon as children see the next picture, they can finish the lines, using the animal sounds etc. We can do it slow, faster, or using low voices or high pitch voices.

Extension:

1. Play instrument or make sounds in the circle. Use any of the tools or instruments, even own body parts and make sounds; for example, it can be clapping, witling or stamping if there are not enough instrument, or mix body and instruments.  In the circle, one child makes a sound, and we ask the next person, “Tomas, Tomas, hear?” And answer, “I hear Emma stamping her feet.” They can go around the circle and do the same.

2. Make a book. Give children colouring tasks. Here is a site you can get black and white colouring pictures: http://www.dltk-teach.com/books/brownbear/sequel.htm. When they have coloured all the animals, use a hole punch and make two holes.  Give children two rings and they can make a flipping book in the order they like.

3. “Who am I?” game using the sound of animals in the book during the circle time.  One child ask, “Who am I?” and make a sound of animal, for example, “Roooooaaarr”. Then everyone or the person who knows the answer says, “I/we hear roaring in my ear, so s/he is a lion.”  We can all sing and do this game, too.