A beginning of the year activity for a great alphabet book - Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.

Objectives:

TSW:

cut and assemble a coconut tree from construction paper without using a pattern

form letters to place on their coconut tree

recall and express their favorite part of the story

You'll be able to assess cutting and gluing skills as well as letter identification and formation.

Materials:

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom book and cassette

half sheet of brown construction paper cut 4.5" x 12" for each child

half sheet of green construction paper cut 9" x 6" for each child

Paper for displaying child responses -- I used white, and wrote each child's response with different colored markers

large sheet of butcher paper to use as a background for displaying coconut trees and responses -- I used light blue

Plan:

1. Motivation: To introduce the book, I wear my khaki overalls and safety pin construction paper letters all over them. I tell the class that I'm the coconut tree. After reading Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, it soon becomes a favorite of the class. There is a tape available with the book which adds a fun beat to the story.
   
   
2. Making the coconut tree: Prepare a model for the coconut tree and explain it to the children before distributing their construction paper. Take the brown paper and cut it to look more like a trunk. (Use the scissors as your tool. It doesn't need to be drawn first -- just cut!) Then, cut the green paper like the top of a coconut tree, or cut it into separate palm leaves. Then glue the leaves/tree top to the trunk.
   
   
3. Adding Letters: After the tree has been assembled, letters can be added. Show them how to write letters on paper in different colors, cut them out, and paste them on the tree. I just thought of an idea - you could have them cut letters from magazines or newspapers.
   
   
4. Favorite Part of Chicka Chicka:While they are working, interview each child by asking what his or her favorite part of the story is. After recording this, you can transfer his or her quote to a larger piece of paper and display it in an attractive marker color followed by the child's name.
   
   
5. Closure: The children share their coconut trees and I read, or they tell, about their favorite part of Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. Finally, display the quotes alongside their coconut trees for others to see. I placed the question on the mural, "What do you like most about Chicka Chicka Boom Boom?"