Thursday, June 4, 2009

ABC Picnic Table Talk

This week's ABC and 123 Picnic Table Talk assignment is to write about ABC activities and books, etc. For more ideas, check out the other links over there.
I looked back in our "archives" for a few things Tornado and I did years ago. Sometimes it's the easiest project that engages them the most. He made this book when he was 4 or 5. I just made the columns with different letters, and he cut or ripped pictures out of magazines and glued them in. We kept this in a basket in the living room, and he added on to it whenever he felt like it.
One of his favorite ABC books he ever made was our Neighborhood ABC book. One day we drove around town, camera in his hand, until he spotted a business that started with a different letter. I would slow down, roll down his window, and he snapped the picture. I labeled the businesses, and he wrote the letters. He provided his own illustrations for letters we did not come up with on that outing.

Our favorite ABC book we've read lately is Alphabet Under Construction by Denise Fleming. Of course, the boys always love the ABC books with all things construction and tools, but we have especially used this book lately because we have also been learning about parts of speech. The mouse in the book performs an action on each letter, such as "buttons the B" and "hangs the H."
One of our other favorite books is ABC by Dr. Seuss. We have the hardback and board book versions of this book.
When I had a subscription to Mailbox magazine, I was able to print off these supplemental pages for Tornado to make his own book. It was in the February/March 2008 edition of The Mailbox Companion that you can only access if you have a subscription. There is Dad dreaming about donuts. For products and to sign up for the free email activities newsletter, visit The Mailbox here.
As I was visiting Book Worms Book Nook, I noticed the book Discovering Natures Alphabet by Krystina Castella. It made me think of the picture my friend Angie made recently, using photographs in nature in spell out my friend's baby's name. I think my kids would enjoy the challenge of going outside and doing this on their own!

12 comments:

Gidget Girl Reading said...

I loved my mailbox subscription too! I miss it but don't miss the cost of the subscription! :)

I love all your alphabet activities!

Cary said...

I love all of those books he made! I'm so proud of my little Tornado!
Was that just for D's sake, or does Ryan really dream about donuts? Cause I do.
I loved Angie's gift to Baby Esther. They sell photo prints of letters at Uma (that store with the cool stuff downtown I took you to) but they aren't just nature letters, but urban ones, too. I was going to get them for the kids room, but the total would have been $100 ($10 a piece). Angie should sell them:)

Bran said...

I love the idea of having him take pictures of businesses, I'll have to do that!

Katie said...

Fun idea with the magazine cut outs. I have piles and piles of magazines stored for just such projects. Now, I will hope (well...) for a rainy day so we can pull them out and give this activity a try:)

Annette W. said...

Thanks for sharing about your son. It's good to hear about those who have been through it. When Meghan turned two she had zero words. Now with intensive therapy and a lot of parent therapy, we are making good progress. WE understand more than half of what she says with the help of signs and such. OTHERS understand MUCH less.

I like your academy! Your profile is funny...and I see a bit of myself there!

Diana said...

I love the idea of making our own ABC books. That will definitely be on our list of activities to do. I love The Mailbox, too. I try and check them out in the library periodically. Such great ideas.

Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice said...

Thanks for the compliment!

I went on a tour of your blog. So many cool ideas!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for this post - I loved the idea about alphabet hunt around town. Tornado is a great artist too - I can't wait for Anna to display any real interest in drawing.

Eva said...

I really like the idea of searching for letters in the environment- such as business and in nature...Something I definitely want to try out! Thanks for sharing

Keri said...

adorable homemade books! something to treasure for along time! thanks for commenting on my blog- i look forward to more picnic thursday conversations in the future!

Katie said...

Homemade learning resources, especially books are the best! I love how he even took the pictures!

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