The Mitten

The Mitten, by Jan Brett.

We like to do this activity as a warm up before "The Mitten" activity.

Children always want to shake the parachute and make it "windy" in the classroom.  We make a snowstorm with the parachute and our "sponge" balls. 

Here is the rhyme:

I see the sunshine!  (raise the parachute high like the sun, don't let the balls fall!)

I see the snow!  (bring the parachute to the ground, like the snow falls)

I see the wind begin to blow! (make the sponge balls fly off the parachute!)

Sponge balls are made with sponges that I bought at Loopy's.  Sponges are approximately 3 X 5 inches.  Cut the sponge lengthwise into 3 strips.  Tie 3 strips tightly together in the center with yarn.  It makes a nice safe ball! 

The Mitten story:

Read the story first, showing the children the pictures in the book.  We then use the parachute to help tell the story.  The children are each assigned an animal. (Tape an animal to the front of each child, or tape an animal to the floor where the child is standing) As we tell the story, each child crawls under the mitten (parachute) as his animal is mentioned. Soon all the children are under the parachute except the mouse.  When the mouse crawls under, and the bear sneezes, and all the children run out!