Welcome to Read.Explore.Learn.! This meme was designed to be a place for you to share the learning opportunities, crafts, field trips, and other activities you have done this week that tie-in to children’s books. I look forward to seeing ways you have learned with and explored books
My Book Tie-Ins of the Week:
Gilbert in the story Gilbert Goldfish Wants a Pet by Kelly Dipucchio is lonely and really wants a pet. He has a number of animals visit the outside of his bowl. Each time a new pet stops by Gilbert gets excited and swims around in circles and the new pet runs around his bowl.
Each possible pet ends up leaving him, wanting to eat him, or gets squashed (the fly). Gilbert’s little heart then goes pitter- patter- plop.
Finally having much disappointment, he does get a friend. You will be surprised to find out what it is.
What did we do with the book?
Create Goop and a Fish Wash
I found a recipe for goop on the internet and we tried having JDaniel’s ocean bath toys swim in it. It turns out they needed a friend to help clean them up after they played.
We then created an animal wash in the second section of JDaniel’s water table.
Here is the recipe for Goop:
1/2 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup water
small bowl, tin pie plate, water table, etc..
A little more water
Food coloring
Add the water to the cornstarch in a small bowl, tin pie plate, etc. Mix it together using your hands
Fish Counting
I created a sheet with a number of fish bowls on it. I then wrote a number on the rim of each bowl and JDaniel had to put the correct number of fish in each bowl.
Talking about Possible Fish Friends
I created a sheet with a giant fish bowl on it and put a big plastic fish in it. JDaniel then selected various plastic animals and told me why they would or would not make a great pet.
Talking about the pro and cons of each animal encourage JDaniel to think at a higher level. He had to analyze and sort through real reason they would or would not be good pets.
Such cute ideas! I tried the fish counting with Nathan once and he ate more fish than he counted. 😉
Goop play sounds such fun! Great activity to go with the book.
Maggy
Cute ideas! We love playing with goop. When my son was younger, he used it for pretend science experiments.
My boys want to come share your wonderful water table! I have never made goop before.
This is awesome! You have some very creative ideas for play!
what fun activities you added with the story. I will be linking up next week with what we did this week, just didn’t have time to post it yet! Have a great weekend!
What a cute idea. That is awesome!!!
Love these ideas! The counting one is so easy to set up but would really help with numbers. I want to find this book now.
I love this! I am not a teacher of children, but I teach children’s literature in college. I often teach a book called Let’s Get a Pup, Said Kate because I enjoy discussing pets and animals as a topic. Glad to know there are similiar books out there.
Awesome post and hop….when my son gets older, I’ll be happy to play here!!!
http://mommieagain.com
My girls had a water table to play with when they were little. It was so much fun to sit outside with them and listen to their creative play. Now, I hear more of “Mom, watch this splash from my cannonball!” Water play is still fun but it tends to be a bit louder poolside than water table side. 😉
I love your thinking exercise – very useful to encourage kids to think beyond yes/no and on to “why”. The cover looks really engaging!
You make reading even more fun than it already is!
=)
You’re the coolest mom ever.
Cutest ideas 🙂
What great ideas. I have to find a photo I saw on FB today and thought of you. I was on my phone so couldn’t share. Happy Weekend to you girl!
These are wonderful activities! I especially like the goldfish bowl learning sheets you made for your child to go along with your theme. We haven’t read this book yet—a new one for us!
Sounds like a cute book.
Thanks for hosting! I didn’t have a new activity for this week, so I posted one of my first ones. 🙂
Very interesting post for a “new” grandma too !
What a great way to play and learn – love it!
I love the fish counting. So great!
We just receive a water table as a gift. I’ve got to make goop and fill the water table with it. That would be way cool.
Love the play with goop! Thanks for linking up to the outdoor play party!!
I love, love, love your goldfish counting game!! So cute. I can’t wait to play it with my sons. Malia {Playdough to Plato}