Today’s book is And Then Its Spring by Julie Fogliano and illustrated by Erin E. Stead, one of my favorite illustrators.
Storytime Activity Guide:
Materials:
(If you need any materials, please let me know and I will put together a box for you to pick up)
Paper
Pencil or charcoal
White crayon or oil pastel
Watercolor paints
Eraser
Toilet paper tubes
Seeds
Soil
Prep:
Cover table with tablecloth
Lay newspaper or paper towel at each child’s spot to catch drips and splatter
Set up supplies in easy reach
Open Ended Project: Paint Drip Clouds
Using any plain paper, draw a fluffy cloud using a pencil, white crayon or oil pastel. Try to leave this area white. Use watercolors to make puddles of paint underneath the cloud. Gently lift the paper to let the paint drip and run down, looking like rain. Cover the cloud with one hand and gently splatter paint for more rain drops.
Art Activity #1: Tunnel Drawing
Using a single sheet of light colored paper, lightly cover it with charcoal or the side of a pencil. The goal is to completely cover the paper with gray or black, using something that can be erased. When the paper is covered, use an eraser to gently erase to make pathways for underground tunnels for animals. Here is a closeup of the book page for reference:
Art Activity #2: Toilet Paper Tube Planters
Gather a few toilet paper tubes. Cut a few 1” slits up from one end and fold to make a firm bottom to hold soil. Kids can do this part! Use a rubber band or ribbon to tie them together and/or place in a small pan for structure. Fill pots, gently water then add a seed or two to each one. Top with a little more soil and put in a warm, sunny window. Check each day. If soil feels slightly dry, add more water without saturating.
Extension: Make little signs as seed labels, and to keep bears from stomping nearby.
Art Activity #3: Spring Scavenger Hunt
Go outside on a springtime scavenger hunt. Make your own and share with each other, or use this one from Little Acorn Learning. Don’t have a printer? Take a screenshot to refer to while out on the hunt. Use a camera or sketchbook to document what you find. This doesn’t have to be a race, work together and see if you can find it all in your yard!
If you’re on instagram, I’d love to see what you make and do! Use #honeybeestorytimeart so I can see it too.
Thanks for encouraging a love of art and stories with your children, it means a lot to me!