Materials
Paper crayons or markers The One and Only Me by Marilyn Singer Me and My Family by Paul Showers magazines scissors glue construction paper
Instructions
1. This project will take a week to finish. It can be a part of a beginning-of-the year theme, such as a "Me" theme.
2. Prior to doing this activity, send a note home asking parents to send in a small picture of their child.
3. Write the following titles on separate pieces of paper and make a copy for each child: "Me," "My Family," "My Birthday" (also draw a birthday cake for the children to decorate and add candles to), "What I Want to Be When I Grow Up," "My Favorite Color," "My Favorite Food," and "My Favorite Things" (write the following list of questions: What is your favorite book? What is your favorite game to play? What is your favorite toy to play with? Who are your best friends? What is your favorite color? Do you have a pet? What is your pet's name?). Monday1. During circle time, read the book The One and Only Me by Marilyn Singer.
2. Have a discussion about how each child is different from the other children in the room. For example, some children have blue eyes, and some have brown eyes. Ask each child, in turn, to describe the person sitting next to him.
3. After the discussion, explain that they will be making a "Me Book" all week. This book will be a story about them. After explaining the project, ask them to move to work tables and give them the page titled, "Me."4. Ask them to draw a picture of themselves. When they are finished, put the pictures aside to use later in their book.
5. Hand out the page titled "My Birthday" and let the children decorate the cake. When they are finished, they can add the number of candles that they will be on their next birthday. At the bottom, write: "(Child's name) will be years old on his/her birthday." Add the child's birth date and put the pictures aside to use later in the book.Tuesday1. During circle time, read the book Me and My Family by Paul Showers.
2. Have a discussion about families. It is important to remember the many different family types we have in our society today. Ask questions such as, "How many brothers or sisters do you have?" "Are they older or younger than you?" Do you know what your parent(s) do at work?" "When you have a family outing, what do you do?"3. Give the children the page titled, "My Family." Ask them to draw a picture of their families and when they are finished, you can help them write the names of each family member under their picture.
4. When they are finished, give them the page titled, "My Favorite Things." Ask them to dictate their answers as you write down the information.
5. Set both pages aside to use later in their book.Wednesday1. Before class find pictures of different community workers, or use magazines for the children to find pictures of what they want to be when they grow up.
2. During circle time, read a book about community workers (see related books below).
3. Start a discussion by asking the children what they want to be when they grow up. Ask them why they would like to have that occupation.
4. Give each child a page titled, "What Do I Want To Be When I Grow Up?" Encourage them to choose a picture of what they would like to be and glue it to their page.
5. Help the children label the picture, for example, "I want to be a teacher."6. When they are done, put the page aside for later.Thursday1. Before class, find pictures of different kinds of food or use magazines for the children to look through for their favorite foods.
2. During circle time, ask the children, "What is your favorite food?" "Why?" After your discussion, explain that they will be finding a picture of their favorite foods and adding it to their books.
3. Hand out the page titled "My Favorite Food." Encourage the children to glue pictures of their favorite foods on their pages.
4. Help them label their pages with the names of the foods.
5. When they are finished, set the pages aside for later.Friday1. Before class, prepare the covers for the books by printing, "(Child's name)'s Me Book" on a piece of construction paper. Make one for each child. Have their photos and pages ready to hand out.
2. Explain to the children that today's project will be to finish their books.
3. Move to a table where they can work. Hand out the covers, pages, and a photo to each child. Explain that they will glue the picture to their covers. 4. When they are finished, help them staple together the pages inside the front and back covers.
5. Encourage the children to take their books home to share with their families.
