Book: “Pumpkin Heads” by Wendell Minor Instructions: 1. Let each child choose a background color. 2. Place orange, green and black construction paper on the table. 3. Let the children tear the paper and create their own pumpkin heads!

Book: “The Very Busy Spider” by Eric Carle Instructions: 1. Have cotton string cut into 6 inch pieces. 2. Place plates of glue in the middle of the table. 3. Give each child a piece of waxed paper with their name on int. 4. Let the children take one string at a time and dip it completely in the glue, then lay it on their waxed paper. Let them continue until they are satisfied with their web. 5. Sprinkle a little glitter on each web. 6. Let dry and then display.

Book, “Your Five Senses” by Melvin and Gilda Berger Instructions: 1. Teacher Prep: Cut out lots of eyes, noses, mouths, and ears from magazines. Have them in separate containers so the children can identify them easily. 2. Give each child a paper and let them choose the eyes, nose, ears and mouth of their choice. 3. Glue them on and draw a circle around it! Look how cute!

Book, “Mouse Paint” by Ellen Stoll Walsh Instructions: Teacher Prep: Make copies of white mice (on cardstock) and have them hanging on the walls of the room. Have a plastic shoebox container prepared for each child by taping a piece of cardstock inside of it. 1. After reading the story have the children go and find a white mouse. 2. Give each child a container and let him tape their mouse on his paper. 3. Give each child 3 marbles. Put one color of paint on each child’s paper and let him put on the lid and shake it. 4. Add another color and shake again. Repeat until you have used red/yellow and blue. 5. Take the papers out of the containers and take mice off when they are dry.

Book, “The Litte Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry and the Big Hungry Bear” by Don and Audrey Wood Instructions: 1. After reading the story and discussing how strawberries taste and smell, give each child a red piece of paper and let them draw their own strawberry and cut it out. 2. Glue it on to a background paper. 3. Tear green leaves for it. 4. Let them put glue dots on their strawberry and then dip their strawberry into a container with strawberry jello powder. MMM it will smell so good!

Book, “Pete’s a Pizza” by William Steig As you read the book, pretend to make children into a pizza just like Pete’s dad did. Instructions: Teacher Prep: Have large pieces of red, brown and yellow butcher paper cut into squares. Have smaller pieces of black, green, pink and etc. for additional toppings. 1. Let the children draw their own pizza shape. 2. Then, let them create the toppings of their choice to go on it. 3. For older children, you may choose to let them write the words of their toppings on the pizza!

Book, “Red, White and Blue” by Susan Canizares and Betsey Chessen Instructions: Teacher Prep: Have long 1 inch strips of red and blue scrapbooking paper cut. Have a simple flag shape copied onto cardstock. The younger the children, the fewer the stripes! 1. Let the children tear the papers and create their own American Flag. You will love seeing the combinations of paper and designs that they come up with.

Book, “It Looked Like Spilt Milk” by Charles G. Shaw Teacher Prep: Cut pieces of cardstock into 4 squares each. Fold each piece in half and glue one side of each piece onto construction paper. Make sure each child has 4 pieces on her paper. Instructions: 1. Put a very small amount of paint on a section of the child’s paper. 2. Let the child fold it over and rub it. 3. Write down what the child thinks it looks like and then let them do their next square until all are completed.

Book, “Purple Hair, I Don’t Care” by Dianne Young Instructions: 1. Have a simple head shape drawn on a piece of cardstock for each child. 2. Put out a variety of collage materials so that the children can create their own face. Make sure that you have PURPLE HAIR! 3. Provide markers to add additional details.

Books: Focus on Ezra Jack Keats books As you read a few books by Keats, point out the variety of colors of papers that Keats uses to make his pictures. Many pictures for his stories are simply cut out papers. Instructions: 1. Provide a large variety of scrapbook paper for the children to use. 2. Let them choose their large paper and then create their pictures by cutting shapes out of the other papers. 3. Provide markers so that the children can draw their shapes and add details as desired.

Book, “We’re Going on a Leaf Hunt” by Steve Metzger As you read the story, point out all the places fall leaves can be – on the trees, in the air, on the ground. Instructions: 1. Give everyone a piece of construction paper. 2. Let each child paint one arm and hand brown on the bottom side! (We know, this scares you!) 3. Press their arm and hand onto their paper and wipe off excess paint on them! 4. Put out fall colors of paint and let the children sponge paint using sponges with clothespins clipped to them.

Book, “All You Need For a Snowman” by Barbara Lavallee As you read the story talk about the many things that are needed to make a snowman. After the story, see if the children can recall what was needed. Write it on the board. Instructions: 1. Give each child a piece of waxed paper. 2. Let them squeeze a BIG glue puddle on their waxed paper. 3. Put “snowman” materials in the center of the tables so that the children can choose what they need for their snowmen. 4. Let the projects dry for a couple of days and then take off the waxed paper.