He decides that he need to get faraway from it all so, he packs a healthy snack and puts on his spacesuit. Then he gets into his rocket and heads to the moon. (Apparently he has made space trips before.)
The moon is quiet and the perfect place to have a bedtime snack. It is also a wonderful place for a quiet moonwalk. There is something meaning on the moon. Nicholas quickly realizes that he miss his family and wishes his family could shared trip to the moon with him.
Nicholas rockets back to Earth and checks on each member of his family just before going to bed.
I think parents and children may both feel as Nicholas does at the end of the day. Taking a off for a walk on the moon is something everyone may enjoy from time to time. If only we all had a getaway rocket waiting for those days in our backyard.
What did we do to explore this book?
Sight Word Rockets on the Moon
![Read.Explore.Learn - Space Boy Learning Activities](https://jdaniel4smom.com/wp-content/uploads/642c23ddf5d40905e893df66b267aeb1.jpg)
One of the fun things about working with rockets on sticks is that you can have them zoom through the air and you can make rocket noises as it travels to it landing slot on one of the moon hills.
Space Science Experiment
![Read.Explore.Learn - Space Boy Learning Activities](https://jdaniel4smom.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/jdaniel4smom_space_boys_science_experiments_tools.jpg)
I found a science experiment in a library book that I thought we could easily put together. The materials were ones we already had and it took just a little while to put it together. There were just a few challenges. Putting the holes in the top of the bottle cap with washer on top and the base of the soda bottle were a little tough.
![Read.Explore.Learn - Space Boy Learning Activities](https://jdaniel4smom.com/wp-content/uploads/jdaniel4smom_space_boy_science_activities_done_maybe.jpg)
Joining the two rubber bands together to feed through the holes as easy. After a few slips of the bands out of holes, we quickly secured each of the rubber bands with straws. Each of us took responsibility for one of the rubber band loop.
Adding the beans was super easy for us. We tried adding them by handfuls, but later moved to adding a bean or two at a time.
Once we secured the rocket and astronaut to the straw, we thought that the experiment would go smoothly. We turned the rubber bands as tightly as we could and then let the large straw with the pictures on it go and nothing happened. Literally nothing.
JDaniel suggested we turn the bottle upside down and try the experiment. It worked! The astronaunt and rocket flew around and around. I am sure why it worked better, but I am glad it did.
Rocket Snack
![Read.Explore.Learn - Space Boy Learning Activities](https://jdaniel4smom.com/wp-content/uploads/jdaniel4smom_space_activities_rocket_man_snack.jpg)
JDaniel has been asking for snack food creations lately. I decided to make him a rocket sandwich with a trail of blueberry flames.
When I finished it, it looked liked it was missing something. I cut out little pieces of a flour tortilla and a small grape slice to make an astronaut for the rocket. Some tiny sprinkles were used to give him eyes and a mouth. My husband thought it was clever. My son just like the way it tasted. I think we would enjoy another Space Boy snack.
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25 Patriotic Activities for Kids
![25 Patriotic Activities for Kids](https://jdaniel4smom.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/jdaniel4smom_25_Patriotic_Activities_Kids.png)
![25 Patriotic Activities for Kids](https://jdaniel4smom.com/wp-content/uploads/jdaniel4smom_patriotic_eagle.jpg)
![{4th of July} Butterfly Site Count- Read.Explore.Learn.](https://jdaniel4smom.com/wp-content/uploads/238e021832058de6d72316789c116911.jpg)
I Spy 4th of July Words
Kid Friendly Meals
![4thofJuly2012lunch](https://jdaniel4smom.com/wp-content/uploads/4thofJuly2012lunch.png)
Memorial Day Picnic Foods Meal
![Recipe for Patriotic Chili](https://jdaniel4smom.com/wp-content/uploads/jdaniel4smom_patriotic_chili.jpg)
![jdaniel4smom_10_4th_of_July Books_for_kids](https://jdaniel4smom.com/wp-content/uploads/jdaniel4smom_10_4th_of_July-Books_for_kids.jpg)
10 Fourth of July Books for Kids
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4th of July Butterfly Count Activities for Kids
![0823416070](https://jdaniel4smom.com/wp-content/uploads/0823416070.jpg)
I didn’t realize that there were locations around the United States that hold an annual butterfly site count on of the 4th of July at until we read the book Butterfly Count by Sneed Collard III (2002-03-01). Butterfly Count is the story of a little girl named Amy and how she and her mom participate in a butterfly count.
Amy and her mother find a wonderful variety of butterflies during their butterfly site count. They even find a very rare butterfly that many had thought was no longer in the area. What a wonderful way to spend the 4th of July.
This wonderful story teaches children how to attract and identify butterflies where they live. It also gives you information on finding 4th of July Butterfly Site Count sites near you hosted by the North American Butterfly Association. I wasn’t able to find one near us maybe you will be able to find one near you.
Butterfly County Extension Activities
Butterfly Wing Experiment
This experiment using several layers of tissue paper, construction paper and a balloon was to explore how static electricity stored in a balloon can be transferred to tissue paper. During the transfer of electricity, the wings of the tissue paper butterfly would flap just like a real butterfly.
We started by cutting the outline of a butterfly out of tissue paper that had been layered to give us several layers of tissue to flap when the balloon was stroked over it.
![{4th of July} Butterfly Site Count- Read.Explore.Learn.](https://jdaniel4smom.com/wp-content/uploads/a7a60413d8c245353808626988ab90a4.jpg)
The tissue layers were then stapled to a piece of construction paper.( Next time I think we will staple our butterflies to cardboard. It would give them some more support.)
We started the experiment with six layers of tissue we soon learned that that was way too many layers. Only the top two layers of wings flapped. We pulled some of the tissue butterflies of the stack. The remaining butterfly layers flapped or lifted up more easily when we rubbed a balloon over the tissue. Rubbing the balloon on your head and then the tissue butterflies really helped the wings to flap. We had a great time exploring electricity with this experiment.
Butterfly Sight Word Match
![{4th of July} Butterfly Site Count- Read.Explore.Learn.](https://jdaniel4smom.com/wp-content/uploads/548db55ae5494b60d5b525ae605f9037.jpg)
I asked him to read me the word on each butterfly and then find its match on the paper. When he had found all the matches, I had him remove each word butterfly and read it to me.
Butterfly Number Count
This was so easy to put together. I just placed the butterfly outline from the first activity under a piece of copy paper. Then I wrote groups of number JDaniel has trouble with in the butterfly shape on the white copy paper.
![{4th of July} Butterfly Site Count- Read.Explore.Learn.](https://jdaniel4smom.com/wp-content/uploads/c05aa11250fb9636b6c61da43ebaefd2.jpg)
I put various colors of bingo markers on cards featuring each number. JDaniel was to use that stamp to place dots on that number to create a beautiful butterfly. After or before stamping each number, JDaniel read me that number. Yes, it was a lot of repetition, but he sometimes he forgets what these numbers are. I was hoping to put them into muscle, visual and auditory memory.
![{4th of July} Butterfly Site Count- Read.Explore.Learn.](https://jdaniel4smom.com/wp-content/uploads/d985a1021d62ab17df48224d559ae49d.jpg)
How did you explore books this week? If you have a post you would like to share, please link it up below. Once you have added your post, please visit at least three others.
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The Very Hungry Caterpillar- Read.Explore.Learn.
![The Very Hungry Caterpillar](https://jdaniel4smom.com/wp-content/uploads/14dfce7d67e7d3767b59f5bf3283e96f.jpg)
I can’t believe I haven’t featured this week’s book The Very Hungry Caterpillar on Read.Explore.Learn. before. We have several copies of it in JDaniel’s room and I have read it to him a zillion times. He loves to count the fruits that the very hungry caterpillar eats as he prepares to build his cocoon.
![The Very Hungry Caterpillar](https://jdaniel4smom.com/wp-content/uploads/download-5-1.jpg)
If you aren’t familiar with the story, a little caterpillar hatches from an egg and then begins a daily inhalation of food. He starts his week of slowly and gradually eats more and more until he isn’t a little caterpillar any more. The caterpillar has digested enough to carry him through the time he is sequestered in a cocoon.
Each food he eats has a hole in the middle of it. JDaniel loves to put his finger into each hole as he counts the foods the caterpillar eats everyday. He learned to count as I read this book over and over again.
What did we do to explore this book?
Caterpillar Snack
![The Very Hungry Caterpillar](https://jdaniel4smom.com/wp-content/uploads/download-2-2.jpg)
I am not huge on snacks. JDaniel does enjoy them though. We had green grapes, tomatoes, and watermelon in the fridge. I decided to use them to construct the caterpillar from The Very Hungry Caterpillar for him. Half a grape was used for each of the caterpillar’s sections. except his head. Half a grape tomato was used for his head. The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s antennae and feet are tiny slices of watermelon.
The caterpillar’s eyes and nose also came from the fridge. I cut tiny circles out of a flour tortilla and colored them green with a food marker.
Measuring the Caterpillar
![The Very Hungry Caterpillar](https://jdaniel4smom.com/wp-content/uploads/download-3-2.jpg)
JDaniel has been very interested in measuring with a ruler lately. He wants to find the length of the tiles in the kitchen, my foot, and his shoes. Not everything he wants to measure is completely straight. I decided to show him a trick for measuring oddly shaped objects.
I made The Very Hungry Caterpillar out of construction paper. The caterpillar is simply a piece of green paper folded in half with connecting curves cut out of it. It front and back ends are reflections of each other.
Then we took yarn and organized it inside the caterpillar’s body to follow its curves. We lifted the yarn up very carefully and lined it up above a ruler. The yarn length of the caterpillar was longer than the ruler. We wrote twelve inches onto the white paper. I had JDaniel hold the remaining length of the yarn while I recorded the first length. We then measured the remaining yarn. It turned out to be eight inches. The caterpillar didn’t look twenty inches long, but that is what he turned out to be.
Sight Word Game
![The Very Hungry Caterpillar](https://jdaniel4smom.com/wp-content/uploads/download-4-2.jpg)
JDaniel has really gotten into learning to read. We have been working on six sight words a week. This week I thought we would play a game to help him review the words we have worked on. I made a The Very Hungry Caterpillar game board using a paint program.
He earned a red pom pom for the first word he recognized and a green pom pom for the remaining words he read. The goal was to review six words at time. I ended up having to print out two game boards. JDaniel remembered so many of the words and he loved earning pom poms for the caterpillar.
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Read.Explore.Learn- Reading Comprehension: Illustrating a Story
![Reading Comprehension Illustrating a Story](https://jdaniel4smom.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/jdaniel4smom_reading_comprehension_illustrating.jpg)
JDaniel and I have read this story many many times in the past. Since we have been talking about gardening for the past few weeks, this book so needed to be read again. A few of her mistakes are related to gardening. She weeds the garden by adding weeds. She stakes the beans by wrapping steaks around them. Amelia uses a duster to dust the potato bugs with bug powder.
She also does several other odd things thinking she is doing the right thing. You just have to love her and giggle at what she does that is part of the fun of reading her stories.
Reading Comprehension – Illustrating a Story
Picture walking through a story means you flip through a story and look at the clues the pictures give as to what is happening in the story. Illustrating a story is the opposite of picture walking. During illustrate a story, a child flips through a book and looks for key concepts and pictures in a story they have already heard or read. They then draw them on a larger roll of paper in the order they happened in the story.
We looked through the story and picked four of the events that we wanted to draw. Both JDaniel and I worked on the drawings and we talked about what was happening in that part of the story.
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Drawing Weeds |
I drew the weeds and JDaniel added details to them. We talked about how they needed to be very big weeds just like the ones Amelia Bedelia had added to the garden.
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Drawing Bean Plants and Steaks |
It was so much fun to draw the bean plants and add pink steaks onto them. We don’t eat steaks often at our house. JDaniel kept having to refer to the book to see what they looked like.
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Dusting Potato Bugs |
I tried drawing a potato bug like the one in the book and JDaniel told me it was not exciting. I didn’t know that they were supposed to be exciting. He grabbed a gray crayon after drawing his leaf and made one that was more exciting than mine.
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Giving The Chickens Scraps |
JDaniel seemed to have lost interest in drawing when we got to give the chicken scraps of cloth. I started the chicken and he finished it. The feathers and feet are all his. I just love them.
![Reading Comprehension Illustrating a Story - Amelia Bedelia Helps Out](https://jdaniel4smom.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/jdaniel4smom_reading_comprehension_checking.jpg)
When we finished, I had him walk me through the events of the story we had selected. I was expecting to just talk about what had happened. JDaniel grabbed the book and looked through it to find each of the events. I love that he had us go through the book as we discussed it.
While his not yet reading, he has learned to show that he comprehends what is being read to him. I think we will be illustrating a story again soon. As he does learn to read and write better, I will have him add keywords from the text to the pictures. We will be doing this reading comprehension activity again.
Here are some more reading activities:
This Mouse Needs a House Printable
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Learning Activities – 19 Ways To Use A Zigzag Learning Maze
Here are some learning activities we have used the walkway we created:
We started by simply walking up and down the center of the pathway by placing one foot in front of the other. JDaniel doesn’t usually walk this so it took at little practice.
Walking the pathway backwards was even more of a challenge. When you are looking, back your feet can sometimes step off the path without meaning too.
Trying to walk on the tape down one side of the pathway and back on the other side took a little bit of concentration.
Jumping from one side of the path to the other was easy in areas where the pathway was narrow, but was harder in the wide areas.
Challenging a partner to move down the path in a certain way was a lot of fun. Skipping, hopping, galloping, sliding, and tiptoeing down the path were each offered up as challenges.
Timing which of us could move down the path the fastest and the slowest was also fun. Walking in slow motion inspires one to move the rest of your body in slow motion too. That can bring on a lot of giggles and stifled laughs.
![Learning Activities - 19 Ways to Use a Zigzag Learning Maze](https://jdaniel4smom.com/wp-content/uploads/images-1-1.jpg)
Pretend Play
The edge of the pathway can be lined with block shaped buildings or cardboard boxes from the recycling bin.
Toy cars can race through the maze pushed from behind by people ready to get the checkered flag.
Balls can be rolled through the pathway like pinballs zinging and pinging through a maze.
The pathway can become a waterway for bathtub boats. The corners and dead ends can be inlets off a mighty river.
Learning Activities
Once number cards have been put in place, a child could walk to each number and clap that number of times.
Sight words can be placed along the path. In order to pick up the card the word on the card would need to be read.
Books could be used to fill up all the space on the pathway and they would then be counted.
The pathway could be the home to a giant concentration game. The cards could be spread out along the path. Children could walk up and down the path looking for matches.
Washcloths could be used to fill in the path. They could then be counted to find the area of the path.
What are some other ways we could learning using the zigzag pathway?
This post is linked to Mrs. Matlock’s blog.
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Christmas Activities- Christmas Treasure Tree
![Christmas Activities- Christmas Treasure Tree](https://jdaniel4smom.com/wp-content/uploads/jdaniel4smom_treasure_trees_festival2.jpg)
We have a three foot tree that we put out for JDaniel upstairs that had yet to be decorated. Seeing all those wonderful trees gave me an idea. Why not have JDaniel decorate the tree with recycled treasures. He loves to collect treasures and used them to create with.
Here are some of the things we found for our Christmas activities treasure tree:
- Mardi Gras Beads
- Hawaiian Lei
- Netting From a Bag of Sweet Potatoes
- Bottle Caps and Lids
- Tulle from last Christmas
- Stickers leftover from decorating Party Hat Christmas Trees
- Ribbons and Bows
- Bread Tags
![Christmas Activities- Christmas Treasure Tree](https://jdaniel4smom.com/wp-content/uploads/jdaniel4smom_treasure_tree_supplies.jpg)
![Christmas Treasure Tree](https://jdaniel4smom.com/wp-content/uploads/jdaniel4smom_recycled_treasures_tree.jpg)
Here are some more Christmas activities:
Fine Motor Christmas Activities
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Ten Red Apples from Pat Hutchins : Read.Explore.Learn.
![Ten Apples: Read.Explore.Learn.](https://jdaniel4smom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/tenapples.jpg)
We read the book ten apples this week. What fun counting book! The farmer tries to count the apples and his animals want to eat them. This book is filled with humor, problem solving and cute pictures.
What did we do with the book Ten Apple?
![Ten Red Apples by Pat Hutchins - Read.Explore.Learn.](https://jdaniel4smom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/applecorepuzzle.jpg)
JDaniel’s job was to put the pieces in order and then glue them onto a piece of blue paper. It took a lot of figuring to get the pieces just right.
![Ten Red Apples by Pat Hutchins - Read.Explore.Learn.](https://jdaniel4smom.com/wp-content/uploads/apple_button_count.jpg)
Then I took away all the odd numbered sets of buttons and we counted by twos. We could have added the button onto the apple cores by twos instead. Maybe we will do that next time.
![Ten Apples: Read.Explore.Learn.- Yarn Apples](https://jdaniel4smom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/yarnapples.jpg)
3 Dinosaurs made a wonderful apple yarn craft to go with the book Up, Up, Up! It’s Apple Picking Time!
If you like these Ten Red Apples activities , you will like these apple activities too!
Preschool Activities- Five Little Apples Rhymes and Crafts
Building Word Families – Worms and Apples
Cool Math Games for Kids -Appleseed Counting
Sight Word Games- Apple Tree Words
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Back to School Traditions- His Return to School
This year he was a little nervous about going in and he asked if he could wait until next time to go all the way in. He just couldn’t help it walking away from me though. His new classroom is decorated in a puppy dog theme and he just had to head in and look them all over again.
![Back to School Traditions- His Return to School](https://jdaniel4smom.com/wp-content/uploads/backtoschool2012.jpg)
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Dream Big- Read.Explore.Learn
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Learning to Tie Shoes
When I mentioned to a friend that JDaniel wanted to learn to tie shoes, she said she learned to tie them by practicing on her dad’s shoes. We took out my husband’s shoes and we have been parallel practicing. One of us has it mastered and the other still needs a lot of practicing.
I created little basketballs that contain the first 36 Dolch Preprimer words to help JDaniel work on his dream of reading. We have been working on four words at a time.
Every time he reads me on the words he can move an orange pom-pom to the basketball hoop on paper.
I don’t want to overdo the word practice. He gets to work on each word only a few times at each sitting.
Keitha’s Chaos linked up an amazing bento lunch to that explored the book Hour of the Olympics.
Please share your book extension and exploration post below.
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