After School Read-Aloud and Craft: Names, May 10, 2012

I really had trouble deciding what to read last week week, and I think what I came up with in the end was actually kind of a dud. The theme was names, and the craft, which I found on Pinterest, focused on the kids' first initials. The craft was a huge hit, but the books... maybe not so much.

The Read-Alouds: Books About Names and Nicknames

Book One: Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes (1991)
I love this book, and enjoyed having a good excuse to share it. My group was mostly too young to really relate to the school experiences, but all of them said they liked the story.

Book Two: Matthew A.B.C. by Peter Catalanotto (2002)
I think the humor in this would have gone over really well with five- and six-year-olds, but it was too sophisticated for threes and fours.

Book Three: Nosy Rosie by Holly Keller (2006)
This book was one too many for this crowd. It's a cute story, but not a great read-aloud.

The Craft: Initial Posters 

This image, and the craft idea, came from Pinterest.

I. Supplies 

• Masking tape 
• White paper 
• Crayons

II. Prep
A coworker made one example, where she actually colored around her tape and then removed it to create the outline of her letter in white. I chose colored tape for mine and chose not to remove it. Both examples were presented to the kids.

III. Process
This was a huge hit, with kids from age 2 right on up to about 7. Some kids did all one color, others turned their letters into fancy designs. No two were at all alike, and I actually had to give them a clean-up time to make sure they were out by closing!

The Display: More Naming Books

• My Name is Elizabeth! by Annika Dunklee
• Man Gave Names to All the Animals by Bob Dylan and Jim Arnosky
• The Two Tyrones by Wade Hudson
• Max & Mo's First Day at School by Patricia Lakin
• Catalina Magdalena Hoopensteiner Wallendiner Hogan Logan Bogan Was Her Name by Tedd Arnold

I will definitely repeat this craft, and I might even go so far as to look the kids' names up next time, to find out their meanings. I might go with alphabet-themed books next time, though, such as Sue MacDonald Had a Book and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.