Are You My Mother?

Our Mommy and Me Class enjoyed the book Are You My Mother? by PD Eastman this week.    

Gathering Activity: Bird Seed Sensory Table 

We played together outside in our sand table that I had filled with bird seed, toy birds, feathers, plastic bugs, measuring cups, and magnifying glasses.  The children enjoyed pretending to be birds.  And any that fell on the ground would be safe for our little animal friends to enjoy.  We ended a few minutes early and the children were able to come back outside and enjoy the activity again.  It was a favorite and no one was happy when it was time to go home.  



Circle Time:  Are You My Mother? by PD Eastman 

We open circle each week by singing “Here We Are Together.”  


BEFORE I READ: I gave each child and all of the mothers a plastic bird  figurine to hold during the story.  We used these during the story and finger plays.  The moms were able to model how to act out the story with their own birds. 

Are You My Mother? is a pretty lengthy read a loud for two year olds.  I invited the children to participate with the story while I read.  So when the baby bird looked up, they made their birds look up.  When the baby bird fell down out of the nest, their birds fell down to the ground (over and over and over again).  When the baby bird asked if the cat was his mommy, the children all asked the same question.

We sang two bird songs:  “In the Leafy Tree Tops” and “We will find a little nest”
 

We did the finger play "Two Little Blackbirds."


Two little blackbirds
Sitting on a wall;
One named Peter,
The other named Paul.
Fly away Peter!
Fly away Paul!
Come back Peter!
Come back Paul! 

Art: Paint with Feathers 

Materials Needed: Poster board, bird feathers, red, brown, and yellow paint.

We cut out a large bird outline/silhouette on a quarter sheet of poster board  for each child.  We gave the children feathers to use as paintbrushes.  We provided red, brown and yellow paint, like the colors in the book.

Snack: Jello Jigglers Eggs

One of our moms had the Jello egg mold and made Jello Jiggler Eggs for the kids.  We also ate cheese cubes and apple slices.  

Activity: Musical Nests

We played Musical Nests.  One Mom made 7 large brown nests out of vinyl she found at the fabric shop.  Construction paper would work, as well.  But these will last longer and can be used throughout the year.  We  played bird themed music she downloaded to her iPod. .  While the music was playing, we all pretended to fly around the room together.  When it stopped, we flew to a nest and sat down.   (or put the next on our heads).  Never take any nests away.  There should always be enough for everyone.