Kingsley's Colorful Days

Author: A.M.Hamlin Illustrator: E.B.Hamlin Editor: P.B.Hamlin

Free Educational Activities Based on our new book!

Kingsley's Colorful Days

Free Activity Guide

Our book, Kingsley’s Colorful Days (Hamlin, 2020) has been developed in a way that lends itself perfectly to the integration of Early Childhood Educational activities. We will post various activities that you may use with your children to extend their learning experiences at home or in the classroom. A wonderful way to expand on this book is by engaging in fun activities that reinforce various educational concepts.

Literacy

Does your child ask you to read the same books repeatedly? This is a wonderful way for children to learn to read! If you have a book that you have read with your child, consider asking your child to read the book to you. They may not be able to read the words yet, but you may be surprised in their ability to recall the book as they look at the pictures. Reading comprehension is very important. Do not worry if they do not tell the story perfectly. It is the experience that will help your child to develop these skills. Over time, your child’s ability to read will strengthen, especially when you provide them with these rich and meaningful experiences.

Science concepts including Biology and Geography

You may want to consider picking one creature to research with your child per day or week depending on how in depth your research takes you. Learning more about each of Kingsley’s encounters will foster greater understanding the wonders of the sea. This research should be fun and open ended.

Geography

Where would you find each of the sea creatures or natural wonders that Kingsley encounters? Research these things on the internet and/or take a trip to your local library and ask your librarian for books that would help your child in their quest. What are the ocean temperatures like? Are they found near you or far from where you live? Locate where they can be found on a map and mark where you live and compare how close or far from you, they are. Have you visited relatives or places near or between where you live and where these creatures live? Discussing how far or near these places in relation to other known places may help your child to begin understanding these concepts.

Community Experiences

Do you have an aquarium near you? Visit their website to see if they have any of the creatures and elements listed in the book. Whether they have any of these things or not, consider going there for a visit to discover new sea life. Even a trip to a pet store can be a fun adventure.

Community Resources

There are some libraries that have free passes for families who would like to visit museums and aquariums. Contact your local library and ask if free passes are available there or if they know of any place that would offer complementary passes. You may also contact the aquarium to see if they are aware of any free or discounted passes and where you might acquire them. If you learn that none exist, consider encouraging your local library to contact local businesses to organize a fundraising campaign to establish this type of resource for local families.

Biology

What is special about each creature or natural wonder? How do they move their bodies? What do they eat? Do they make their homes in rocks, coral, sea grass or other natural features? How many offspring do they have? Do they have a skeleton or other bodily structure? Do they have a nose, mouth or eyes? Is coral alive? Seeking the answers to these questions can be the start of a wonderful learning adventure.

Math

What is the size of each creature in the story? How does the size compare to your child? Create an outline of your child on butcher paper or the blank side of old gift wrap paper. Allow your child to color their outline. Post this on the wall. When you learn how big each creature is, you may use a ruler to discover how big the creature would be if it were beside your child. You could measure the outline from the bottom of your child’s feet up to where the item would reach, draw a line and label each creature. By doing this you would then be able to compare these creatures. Add some creatures that are not listed in the book and see how they would compare in size to your child.

Art

Art opportunities in early childhood, should be an enjoyable experience where limitless expression is encouraged over reproduction. You may use the shapes that we created of the sea creatures or allow your child to freely paint or color each one on their own. We encourage you to allow your child to express themselves without being required to make an art project look like a model. This can be done with or without the shapes that we have provided for you. When your child is finished and items are dry, you may use these pieces of art for the next activity.

Positional Words

As Kingsley discovers his world, you will notice that the text refers to where Kingsley or the creatures are in relation to each other or the things in the environment. Are they above, between or behind each other? We are providing you with printable shapes that can be used to teach positional words. You may also create and use your own. Look at the book again with your child and read a page at a time. Take your version of the creature and place that creature in a place that shows understanding of the positional word used on the page. Consider placing the image of a creature on a carpet square in the classroom or seat in your home. When your child sits on the seat they are “on” the creature. If they stand on the side of the chair they are now “beside” it. If they stand behind the chair they are “behind” the item. If you take two creatures and place them on separate chairs, your child can stand between the two chairs to reinforce the understanding of the positional word “between.” If you are able, you may add string to one or more of the pictures and hang them from the ceiling. Then you can have your child walk beneath them so that your child is “below” the creatures. Be sure to use the positional words as you go along. If your child asks you to be the one to go on, above, below or between these items, play along. It is empowering for your child to be the “teacher.” In addition, children often learn best when they are driving their learning.

Fine Motor Activities

Make copies of the shapes that we have created. Allow your child to color the shapes with crayons or markers. Using safety scissors in a safe and monitored environment, allow your child to cut the shapes out. Guide your child to glue the shapes onto poster board. Cut the poster board around each shape but leave about a half inch of poster board surrounding your child’s artwork. Use a one-hole punch to punch holes around the border that surrounds your child’s artwork. Provide your child with a shoelace that has a big knot tied at one end. Show your child how they can use the lace to “sew” around the edge of the poster board. If you do not have a shoelace that you can use, try to find a piece of yarn and roll tape around one end so that it looks like the end of a shoelace. This will make it easier for them to “sew” the item. This is a very good activity to strengthen fine motor skills.

Gross Motor Skills

Allow your child to hold a picture that they have created of Kingsley or a small stuffed animal. You should hold one too so that you can model for your child as you sing and dance to this song. Try to move Kingsley into various positions as you sing. If you are in a classroom with a lot of children, consider walking in a big circle so that children do not bump into each other as they move their arms to the song. You may sing this song to the tune of London Bridge.

Kingsley’s Song

Kingsley is all around, all around, all around,