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Read It: D is for Dancing Dragon

January 28, 2009 by beth 2 Comments

Picture books are appropriate for any age-from birth on up.  And they make great introductions to mini-lessons. Read a picture book to the whole class, go over a correlating concept as a class, then have the students work individually to reinforce the concept.  It’s a great way to introduce new ideas or review old ones.

This week the Chinese are celebrating New Year and what better way to teach the students about Chinese culture and customs than with a picture book?!?

Take some time to read the book with the class and then try out some of these other activities:

  • Chinese New Year lesson plan for 2nd-3rd grade
  • A craft and a compare/contrast writing prompt from If I Only Had Super Powers
  • An entire unit based on this picture book-complete with worksheets and activities!! (PDF)
  • Learn to write “Good Wishes” in Chinese (PDF)
  • Have a parade to show off your dragon puppets!!
  • And if you’re really ambitious-make a dragon that the whole class has to carry!
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Comments

  1. amy says

    September 11, 2009 at 6:51 am

    AWESOME BOOK!!! ALL 7 OF MY KIDS AGREE!!!

Trackbacks

  1. Teaching Ancient Civilizations with Children’s Literature: D is for Dancing Dragon: A China Alphabet at Open Wide, Look Inside says:
    February 5, 2010 at 4:03 pm

    […] more lesson plan ideas and fun activities for grades 2 & […]

Have you read?

Beach Crafts Kids Can Make — No Vacation Required

Last month I shared a collection of beach crafts that used items from the beach like seashells and sand. This month’s collection is all about beach animals and things you might see at the beach that don’t require beachy materials to make. In fact you’ve probably got what you need to make most of these beach crafts in your house already. 

How about paper plates? With a paper plate you can make this cute watercolor seashell from The Educator’s Spin on It, or an adorable seagull like this one from Glued to My Crafts. 

Add some white beans and you can make paper plate sand dollars like Crafts by Amanda. Or use a paper plate as a frame for a sweet beach scene like this crab and turtle one from Artsy Craftsy Mom, which includes a downloadable template and instructions to make it super easy. 

Or grab a paper plate and some bubble wrap to make a jellyfish like this one from Happy Toddler Playtime. If you have paper bowls instead of plates, you can also make a jellyfish from one of those, like Natural Beach Living did. 

Use your stash of craft sticks and googly eyes to make crabs, fish, sharks and more with this craft idea from The Keeper of the Cheerios. 

I love this little crab made with a cardboard tube from Hunny I’m Home. With this same idea I’ll bet you could make lots of different creatures. 

Grab some construction paper to make the loopy tentacles on this watercolor jellyfish from Craftsy Hacks. Or make a stained glass jellyfish like this one from Life Anchored.

Make easy puffy paint to make these fun fluffy starfish from I Heart Crafty Things, or use cupcake liners to make cute little crabs (also from I Heart Crafty Things). 

Turn an old pool noodle into some super cute fish with this tutorial from Happy Toddler Playtime. 

And if you’ve got some leftover yarn lying around, make pompoms and turn them into turtles like these from Craftsy Hacks. (And check out my post on different ways to make pompoms if you need a refresher!)

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