After School Read-Aloud & Craft: Gardening Theme, 3/22/12

This was a nice program. The kids loved it, the parents got involved, and I actually read books to an interested group. Plus, the craft came out great! Here's what we did:

The Craft: Cupcake Wrapper Bouquets 

I. Supplies 

• Colorful cupcake wrappers
• Buttons in assorted colors
• Straws in assorted colors
• Ribbon 
• White glue
• Scotch tape
  

II. Prep 
There was minimal prep needed for this craft, which is honestly part of why I chose it. For an example, I made three flowers - two with the cupcake wrappers left right-side out, and one with the wrappers turned inside-out - then tied them together with a ribbon. The kids instantly understood that they were flowers, and most of them were eager to make one.

III. Process 
Most of the kids had an adult with them, and were old enough, really to do the entire thing on their own. Only one little girl needed my help. I had three nice compliments. One came from a dad who said it was a great idea, another from a mom who said her two-year-old loved it so much they made two, and the third from a little boy who announced, "This library has the best projects!" 

Here's one of my flowers:

The Read-Alouds: Books About Gardens 

Book 1: In the Garden: Who's Been Here? by Lindsay Barrett George (2006)
This book was great for the group I had - mostly preschoolers, and one little girl who might have been in kindergarten. They loved guessing at which animals might have been in the garden,

Book 2: Muncha! Muncha! Muncha! by Candace Fleming, illustrated by G. Brian Karas (2002)
Another hit. The kids thought it was neat how the rabbits kept outsmarting Mr. McGreely, even if the ending did seem to leave them hanging.

Book 3: Inch by Inch by Leo Lionni (1960)
This book opened up a discussion about who does and does not love worms. A set of twin girls was split on the decision, and a little boy announced that he definitely doesn't like them.

The Display: More Spring and Garden-Themed Books 

• This is the Sunflower by Lola Schaefer, illustrated by Donald Crews
• Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert
• Grandpa Green by Lane Smith
• A Gardener's Alphabet by Mary Azarian
• On Meadowview Street by Henry Cole
• Two Old Potatoes and Me by John Coy
• I Love Spring! by Steven Kroll
• And Then it's Spring by Julie Fogliano, illustrated by Erin Stead
• The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss, illustrated by Crockett Johnson
• The Gardener by Sarah Stewart, illustrated by David Small
• Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney
• Tops and Bottoms by Janet Stevens