Customer Reviews

Where is Thumbkin?: 500 Activities to Use with Songs You Already Know

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I am a Pre-K/Kindergarten teacher who is also the mother of a three year-old and a 2 month old. I use this book in and out of the classroom. It combines traditional children's songs, rhymes and finger plays with activities that cover all content areas. I try to buy books that are arranged thematically and/or seasonally and this accomplishes both. I must admit I love Pam Schiller. I also have her Creative Resources Book:A Complete Childhood Curriculum( I think that is the title) Anyway, her books are so thorough that lesson planning was made less of a chore. Now that I'm on maternity leave my 3 yr. old and I use this book almost daily. Early childhood educators should get this and her other books. I am working on getting all of her books (I'm a bookrat). Also recommended Hang Loose with Mother Goose by Dayle M. Timmons. She gives numerous activities using many nursery rhymes including clip art. She also arranges them under at least twenty early childhood themes eg. Little Miss Muffet and/or The Itsey, Bitsey Spider and their activities could be taught as you teach a learning unit on insects. This is a fun book.It has pocket chart activities, mini-books, rebus activities and simple cooking activities.

This is a fabulous resource for any early educator developing curriculum for young children.

If you teach young kids and use songs and rhymes, this book is a must have. It has lots of fun activities to use for each song. Some of the songs are not in the month I would have thought logically but most of the ones you will use are in there. It gives you enough ideas to come up with your own unit from each song.

As a teacher and mother of two, I owned a large collection of children activity books. I was very pleased with my purchase of "Where is Thumbkin". Each featured song is grouped with Things to Talk about, themed Curriculum Extension Activities (clearly labeled with learning goals whether geared for math, art, language, creative movement, gross motor skills, etc.), and Related Biography. Several activities are given for each song. Activities are geared for ages 3-6 and are clearly defined and easy to re-create. I bought this book a little early - I find I use "And The Cow Jumped Over the Moon" by Pam Schiller and Thomas Moore more often right now as I have toddlers at home, but I look forward to my children growing into these fun activities. Whether you are having a day of themed activities at home to brighten a Monday afternoon, or a Preschool/Kindergarden/First Grade teacher who is trying to create a fun classroom curriculum, this book is a wonderful resource.