The Little Red Hen - Chelmsford Public Library

1 The Little Red Hen Five practices (Read, Write, Talk, Sing, Play) that caregivers can use to develop early literacy skills starting at birth. Reading books together is the single best way to help children develop early literacy skills. Read together every day and talk about the books you read. Lots of versions of The Little Red Hen The Little Red Hen Makes a Pizza by Philemon Sturges Not Now Said the Cow by Joanne Oppehheim Bread, Bread, Bread by Ann Morris Everybody Bakes Bread by Norah Dooley Out of the Egg by Tina Matthews Writing activities help children learn letter names and sound out new words.

2 Writing also helps children understand that written words represent ideas, places and events. Draw and write together using red crayons or red markers. Decide to bake something together. Make a list of items needed. The grownup can write the words and the child can draw a picture to go with the words. Using pizza dough, roll the dough into different letters, bake and enjoy! Singing helps children hear the distinct sounds that make up words. Songs also teach new vocabulary and introduce new ideas and concepts. (words to these songs are on the back of this paper) The Little Red Hen s Song Who Took the Bread from the Big Bread Box?

3 Hickety Pickety One, Two, Buckle My Shoe Children learn how to express themselves, the meaning of words and other literacy skills by playing. Get out some measuring cups and play with them together in the bathtub, sandbox and in a container filled with something (rice, waterbeads, shredded paper for example) Bake something together in the kitchen. Let you Little one stir and pour and maybe even crack an egg! Work together to build a tower or building. Talking with your child is one of the best ways to help develop language and other early literacy skills.

4 Invite your child to help clean with you and engage in a conversation about helping other people. Read different versions of the story and talk about the different animals found in the different versions. Engage in discussions about other activities that involve several steps to do to complete it, like getting dressed or going to the Library . Will your child listen to 1000 books before Kindergarten? We will help make it happen. Choose a titles log OR a numbers log OR a coloring sheet to record the books read. Ask us for help! PLAYPLAYPLAYPLAY leads to literacy (reading and writing.)

5 Play with your child. Let your child lead. Ask open ended questions. You can use everyday moments to naturally engage with your child. The Little Red Hen's Song This is the way I plant the seed, plant the seed, plant the seed. This is the way I plant the seed so early in the morning! Repeat using the following verses in the above water the wheat. cut the wheat. go to the mill. make the dough. bake the bread. eat the bread. Who Took the Bread from the Big Bread Box? 1st person sings - Who took the bread from the big bread box? (Child s name) took the bread from the big bread box.

6 Child sings - Who me? 1st person sings - Yes you. Child sings - Couldn t be. 1st person sings - Then who took the bread from the big bread box? (Continue inserting other people s names in the song.) Hickety Pickety Hickety Pickety my red hen, She lays eggs for Farmer Ben. Farmer Ben comes every day To count how many eggs lie in the hay. (POP POP POP POP POP) She has laid 5 eggs today. One, Two, Buckle My Shoe One, two, buckle my shoe. Three, four, open the door. Five, six, pick up sticks. Seven, eight, lay them straight. Nine, ten, do it again! One, two, buckle my shoe.

7 Three, four, open the door. Five, six, pick up sticks. Seven, eight, lay them straight. Nine, ten, a BIG FAT HEN!