Thursday, July 15, 2010

C is for Cookie

My favorite storybook version of this classic children's song, takes place in the Southwest. I got it years ago with classroom book order points and rediscovered it recently. Since ER is was born in Santa Fe, I think it's especially suited for story time with her. The beautiful watercolor and pen illustrations by Ashley Wolff bring the story to life in the desert landscape.

On the title page Skunk is baking up a batch of cookies, but on the next the cookie jar is empty. Skunk goes on a hunt looking for the culprit, running into several friends along the way, including Raven, Turtle, and Raccoon. As each friend is encountered they join Skunk in the search, which eventually leads to the Ants. Turns out the DO have the cookies and everyone ends up enjoying them together. I like how on each page there is a hint as to which animal friend Skunk will run into next. It's really cute to hear ER chanting along with me as I read.

In case you are unfamiliar with this chant and game:

(Chant together)
Who took the cookies from the cookie jar?
The jar was full!
Where did they go?
Mmm...Oh!...
Now I know!

(Second Part Alternates)
(insert player/child's name) took the cookies from the cookie jar.
Who, me? (child)
Yes, you! (rest of players)
Couldn't be? (child)
Then who? (rest of players)

Chant together until each child's had a turn.

We didn't do this, because it's not developmentally appropriate for ER, but when still in the classroom, I did a shared reading activity using sentence strips with it. It was a lot like the one described in Day Two of this unit on Hubbard's Cupboard. This Cookie Sheet Math from Childcareland.com is another good kindergarten appropriate activity and would make a learning great center.C is for Cookies: For our book art project, we made a big plate of cookies! They're not the edible kind but at least they last a lot longer. The supplies are pretty basic but there is drying time and the cutting took ER quite awhile. She was really working on those fine motor and cutting skills!Create cookies paper with brown paint and let dry completely. You can skip and use brown paper but I think this makes a cuter finished project.
Cut up your dried cookie paper into squares. You will have more than you need. Then have your child clip off each corner.
Continue cutting and snipping off points until you have a circle like shape. I still have watch ER very closely during this step and help turn the paper and tell her where to cut.
Create a cookie sheet out of tin foil, glue on to construction paper. Glue cookies on top and add chocolate chips with a Q-tip and black paint.Counting Cookies: We also used the number boards I shared previously and mini cookies to practice number recognition, counting, and 1:1 Correspondence. If you need some basic counting boards, I suggest these downloadable ones from Excuse Me Mrs. C! (NOT product placement above, just thought I'd let you know where we got our mini cookies. Cause I know someone would ask, if I didn't share☺) Counting Chocolate Chips: I made another simple game for ER out of brown circles. Ours go up to twelve, but this game could easily be changed to fit your own targeted numbers.

To Make: Cut out twelve circles from light brown paper, these will be the cookies. Punch holes in them, so that they represent numbers 1-12, (see above photo). Cut out twenty four circles from dark brown paper. Twelve will be your chocolate chips. Layer one light brown circle on top of a dark brown one, glue together and laminate. Use the remaining dark brown circles to make calling cards and label 1-12. The dark brown paper showing through represent the chocolate chips.

To Play: Match the number calling card with the cookie with the same number of dots {or} pick up a number card and ask your child to find a number less than, greater than, or equal to it.
Don't forget to wrap up your C is for Cookie activities, with baking real cookies! They don't have to be anything fancy. Even the ones that start with "open package" are yummy☺

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14 comments:

  1. What a great idea Katie... how do you keep them coming? That ER is so cute. I love that she's your little buddy in creating your projects!

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  2. I love how there is so much going on here - counting, letter recognition, cutting, painting, etc. Very cute stuff.

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  3. So much fun! I use to do the storybook and related activities with my preschoolers. I had a resource book, Story Stretchers that had lots of great ideas, but then, I just started making up my own.

    I love these!

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  4. She did a great job! Wishing I could grab a few of the real cookies!

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  5. Great set of activities! I LOVE the number boards. We'll have to make some soon for A... she's starting to at least pretend to count. :)

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  6. What cute ideas! I love books that bring about an entire adventure!

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  7. Cookies are such fun. I love all the learning activities you made with them.

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  8. What wonderful ideas! I remember singing this song when I was little and getting upset because I didn't want to be the one accused! LOL!

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  9. Sooooooo cute!!! I love the tin foil for the baking sheet. You are brilliant! :-)

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  10. Yum!! I am getting together lots of preschool projects to start homeschooling E in the fall, and I love this one!
    I'd love to feature one of your kids' projects if you are interested?
    P.S. Yes, that paper cutter is the circle thing with the thick templates. I don't know how I feel about them yet- it gets the job done, but it's a lot of trial and error. Maybe I'll have to look into something different.

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  11. Thanks for sharing all of those ideas for the book! I love the q-tips to make the chocolate chips!

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  12. I love the art that you did, with the foil background, it is really effective! A great post, thanks! :)

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  13. LOVE these activities. Thank you for sharing!

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  14. Thanks for the great ideas! I used the cookie sheet idea with my son and posted him making it on my blog with a link to your site! He really loved making the cookies and it invited some great imaginary play! My blog is motherhoodfromscratch.com.

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