Getting creative with books, art, and storytelling

We love the characters that we explore in our classes, and have some fun ideas for how you can continue the exploration at home, with your whole family.
 
Book Highlight:
Dinosaurs, Rock ‘n’ Roll Style
 
Each week we choose a new theme for our “Little Stars” and “Act It Out” classes. Recent themes include aliens, the ocean’s environment, and, yes, dinosaurs. We’ve played dino games, read books about our favorite prehistoric behemoths, and acted out the stories.

Image credit: Amazon.com

I really enjoyed Carol Diggory Shield’s Saturday Night at the Dinosaur Stomp, which both kids and adults enjoy reading. Kids love the silliness, and adults appreciate the wit. It’s also fun to act out: kids love to stomp, rock, roll, twirl and roar like dinosaurs.
 
When you read books at home, you can encourage your kids to become part of the story. Kids can:

• Act out a favorite scene
• Try out a funny or dramatic voice for their favorite character(s)
• Guess what a character is thinking or feeling
• Talk about how the book makes them feel
• Talk about how they can relate to the characters in the book

 
I’m always amazed at the things kids tell me when I start asking questions!
 
Art Highlight:
Colorful Dino Prints

Scribble colors onto coffee filters, add water and watch the magic happen! In the spirit of Dino Dance Parties,  we've created some Colorful Dino Prints using this coffee filter art technique:

Image Credit: Care Actor

Supplies:

• White Coffee Filter
• Markers
• Water Dropper or Spray Bottle
• Scissors
• Glue
• Construction Paper
• Chalk

Instructions:

1. Trace different "dino" prints onto your coffee filters. Any type of animal prints & shapes work well here. Just google "animal track templates" for a ton of ideas, or to find outlines to trace! You can cut out your shapes now or wait until after the filters dry.
2. Color in your coffee filters with a variety of marker colors.
3. Wet the colored coffee filter with water droppers or a spray bottle. Watch the colors blend and set aside to dry.
4. Using white glue or glue sticks paste your dino prints onto construction paper.
5. We’ve found that chalk works really well if you want to add different colored claws to your dino prints!

Encouraging creativity after reading a book
 
Reading is a creative journey, and you don’t have to stop when you’ve finished the book. Have your kids write or dictate a sequel (depending on their age and ability level). You can also write the story together, or even make it a play that the whole family can act out. Definitely encourage kids to illustrate their stories, create picture books or comic books.

Image Credit: Pexels.com
 
What should they focus on? Having fun telling their story! It might be silly or serious, happy or sad. It might make very little sense, or no sense (especially if you’ve got young kids). Whatever direction the story takes, praise your child’s imagination. Ask questions. Share ideas.
 
If your kid doesn’t think her story is “good enough,” remind her that a good story is not defined by perfection, spelling, or grammar. It’s about letting loose, having fun, and creating something entirely new. (And here’s a secret between us adults – this kind of exercise can help kids in school because it gets them more comfortable with writing and expressing themselves on paper, without feeling like work.)