Literacy Activity: Book Making

Guest Post by    Today, a literacy craft is shared by Erin at Small Types.  Some book making ideas! They can be easily adapted for the holidays. Make some homemade gifts for the grandparents!

Hello, hands on : as we grow readers!

I’m thrilled for the opportunity to guest post here on one of my favorite blogs. Thanks, Jamie!

In this busy season, it’s especially tough to carve out time for everything, and even important playtime and literacy routines can fall by the wayside when we’re rushing around preparing for the holidays. 

Today I’ll share a few of my favorite simple and playful book making projects for you to try with your kiddos this month. They’re fast and easy, and the end result of each project is a special new addition to your home library. 

Bonus: You could easily tweak these ideas and turn them into unique last-minute gifts!

Shadow Books:

• Take several photos of your child’s shadow while you’re on a neighborhood walk, or during playtime.
• Later, show the shadow photos and have your child narrate what is happening in each pose for you to record. I did this step a day or so later, or whenever I got the pictures off of my camera. Print the photos from your computer and hand write your child’s responses, or type responses and print when you’re finished. Gathering your child’s thoughts is the really fun [and funny] part of this activity. It’s so interesting to hear what the shadow appears to be doing from the child’s perspective.
  
• Stick them together to make a book. We attached ours to a blank Bare Book, but stapling pages or attaching with binder clips works well too. 
• Read over and over, and enjoy your new favorite shadow adventure book! 

By the way, I live in Seattle and we don’t see the sun much at this time of year. If you’re like me and shadows are hard to track down right now, or you just need a fun snow day activity, try an indoor version, using a flashlight and a blank wall. 

Thankful Log:

I know Thanksgiving is over, but the entire holiday season is about appreciating our many gifts. [And I don’t just mean the ones under the tree.]

Activities that keep the spirit of appreciation alive are perfect for December, since appreciation goes hand in hand with “receiving.” [Something most young kids are naturally focused on at this time of year.]

• Cut cardstock or paper and attach with a binder ring. Decorate the cover. Ours is simple but we decided to attach my little one’s thumbprint turkey at the last minute.
• Each member of the family creates a page showing what he or she is thankful for.  Do as many as you like. Be sure to record the child’s name and the date because…
  
• The idea is to keep this log with your holiday decorations, or someplace where you won’t forget about it, and bring it out every year to be updated.  As the kids grow, this makes a precious family keepsake and a holiday tradition everyone can look forward to.
• Read over and over throughout the holidays and talk about the people and things you appreciate most!

Bumpy Shape Book

This last idea is a [sort of] holiday-related recycling project.

• Take the corrugated cardboard sleeve from your favorite warm holiday drink before you recycle the cup.  [You can also use any kind of corrugated cardboard. I just needed an excuse to drink more peppermint lattes this month!]
  
• Cut shapes from the cardboard piece.
• Glue the shapes bumpy side up onto the pages of a book. We wanted to do an opposites book, so we also cut shapes out of smooth cardboard. We glued the bumpy shape on one side and the smooth one on the facing page.

Enjoy your new texture book!

*For this activity, I made the book out of cardstock and cut the shapes. My 2 year old told me which shapes to make and glued them down. 

Have fun, and happy book making! 

Want more? Visit me at www.smalltypes.com for additional book making projects, and playful literacy activities!

Erin Wing is a mom and a former teacher who blogs at www.smalltypes.com about simple ideas to help parents create literacy-rich homes. You can also find Erin on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. 

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