We Are Texans: Me!

Books to Share

Here Are My Hands by Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault.
Honey, I Love by Eloise Greenfield.
I Like Me by Nancy Carlson.
Shades of Black: A Celebration of Our Children by Sandra C. Pinkney.

Books to Display and Booktalk

From Head to Toe by Eric Carle.
Hush Little Baby by Sylvia Long.
My Five Senses by Margaret Miller.

Bulletin Board

Storytime Texans

Create a large tree with enough branches for the handprints of all children who attend your toddler storytimes. Trace one hand of each child and write his/his first name and age on it. Attach the hands to the tree branches. At the top of the bulletin board, list day(s) and time(s) for your toddler storytimes, and watch your tree grow! If you pre-register, list the next registration dates.

Nametag

As the children enter the storytime room, give them a nametag from a die-cut of a boy or girl. Add cowboy hats to make them Texans!

Rhyme

Pat A Cake

Pat a cake; pat a cake, Baker's man,
Bake me a cake, as fast as you can.
Pat it and prick it and mark with a B,
And put it in the oven for Baby and me.

Song

Ten Little Texans

(Adapted by Leila Raven Parrish)
(Sing to the tune of "Ten Little Indians" and hold up fingers while counting.)

One little, two little, three little Texans,
Four little, five little, six little Texans,
Seven little, eight little, nine little Texans,
Ten little Texan girls and boys.

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Crafts

Handprint Family Tree

(Adapted from The Little Hands Big Fun Craft Book by Judy Press)

Materials

11" x 17" construction paper in various colors, including brown
Scissors
Glue sticks
Markers

Directions

Precut one tree trunk and at least 3 branches per child from brown construction paper. Give each child a piece of construction paper that is not brown and enough branches for each family member: one for mom, dad, toddler, and brothers and sisters. The children glue the tree trunk and one branch per family member onto the sheet of construction paper. An adult traces one copy of a child's hand for each family member onto green, red, yellow, and orange construction paper, and cuts out the hands. The child glues them to the tree branches. You may also let the children add branches for pets. The adult writes the names and birth dates of the family members on each hand and writes "ME" on the hand that represents the attending toddler.

Games and Activities

Here are My Hands

Have the children stand and do the motions as you read Here Are My Hands and/or From Head To Toe. Since toddlers love repetition, you can read these books once and then do the motions on the second reading. Introduce this activity by saying, "And now we're going to listen to a story standing up!"

Texas Flag Coloring Sheet

Copy the pattern of the Texas flag at the end of this chapter for a coloring sheet and let children color it. An adult cuts out the flag and tapes or glues a drinking straw for a handle. The children can then march around room singing "Ten Little Texans." This may also be a take home activity.

Weigh Me

Bring in a bathroom scale. Weigh heavy items such as books and light items such as paper, and then weigh each child. Record their weight on a die-cut boy/girl for a special bookmark.

Audio Recordings

"Aren't You Glad You're You?" on Pure Imagination by Michael Feinstein.
"Like Me and You" on Raffi in Concert with Rise and Shine Band by Raffi.
"Tall Short Texans" on Elmo's Lowdown Hoedown by Sesame Street.

Web Site

Perpetual Preschool
www.perpetualpreschool.com

Professional Resource

The Little Hands Big Fun Craft Book by Judy Press.

Table of Contents | Texas Animals: We Are Texans Too!

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