School-Age
FromMore Than Letters,
Sally Moomaw and Brenda Hieronymus
What to have
- story paper (blank at the top and lined at the bottom), 12 by 18 inches, or manila paper, 9 by 12 inches
- rubber stamp of a familiar book character
- markers
What to do
This activity encourages children to draw and write about a familiar character from a book. Children start by creating a rubber stamp impression of the character on their paper. They then complete the picture however they choose. Children can write or dictate their own stories to go with their pictures.
Helpful Hints
Children’s bookstores often have rubber stamps that match book characters. Some book characters, such as the fish from Swimmy, by Leo Lionni, can be cut from a sponge.
Why
Children learn the relationship between spoken and written language. They will examine the written words as they repeat what they dictate. Some children will write their own stories, using phonetic or standard spelling, depending on their state of development. Some children will use nonstandard placement patterns for the words
For more activities check out
More Than Letters: Preschool, Kindergarten, and First Grade Literacy Activities
By Sally Moomaw and Brenda Hieronymus Copyright 2001 School-Age