Materials
totes or containers
children's books centered around various themes
literacy items and activities to accompany the books
paper
luggage tags
permanent marker
Instructions
1. At the beginning of the year, send home a permission slip for parents to
sign notifying them that take-home literacy bags are available for checkout.
2. Ask them to return the signed slip saying that they will be responsible
for the contents of the bag.
3. Place several books centered around a theme, along with an activity or
literacy item in each bag. Include a letter explaining the purpose of the
bag, the theme, a list of the contents, and when it is to be returned.
4. Attach a luggage tag to the handle of each bag with theme written on
one side and the due date on the other.
5. Make a chart to keep track of who has which bag.
6. Rotate the contents of the bags so that each family has an opportunity
to check out each bag.
7. Following are suggested themes for literacy bags:
* ABCs
* Math
* Shapes
* Clouds
* Bugs (Ladybugs, Ants, Spiders)
* Cowboys
* Shoes
* Animals (Alligators, Mice, Dogs, Cats, Owls, Fish, Penguins, Pigs, Frogs)
* Dinosaurs
* Authors (Dr. Seuss, Jan Brett, Audrey Woods, Bill Martin, Jr.)
* Weather (Snow, Rain, Sunshine)
* Moon
* Stars
* Food (Apples, Pizza)
* Nursery Rhymes
* Sports
* Artists
* Family
* Farm
* Bedtime
* Teddy Bears
* Bees
* Friends
* Tools
* Birthdays
* Plants and Seeds
* Teeth
* Glad to Be Me
* Butterflies
* Growing
* Transportation (Trains, Trucks, Airplanes)
* Helping
* Rainbows
* Circus
* Homes
* Seasons
* Zoo
