Phonics Poem- White Sheep

White Sheep

White sheep, white sheep
On a blue hill.
When the wind stops
You all stand still.
When the wind blows
You walk away slow.
White sheep, white sheep,
Where did you go?
-Christina Rossetti

Identify the sh- blends in the poem, then think about the words. Is the poet really talking about real sheep? Can you think about when else she may be talking about?

Phonics Poem- Twin Town

Twin Town

In Twin Town you'll find:
Twelve twins twirling twigs.
Twenty twins twisting.
Twin ladies in wigs.

Twin bluebirds tweeting.
Stars twinkling in twos.
You'll see everything twice-
even twin kangaroos!
-Kama Einhorn

Identify the tw- blends in the poem, when talk about other things you might find in a place called "Twin Town."

Phonics Poem- Trick or Treat

Trick or Treat

Off to trick or treat we go,

Trying to scare everyone we know.

Tracy and I and my dog Troy

(who really is such a nice boy),

traveling along a treacherous trail.

"This trio's trouble!" the neighbor's wail!

-Kama Einhorn

Identify the tr- blends in the poem, then think about the word 'trio.' What does it mean? Can you name things that come in threes?

Phonics Poem- There's a Hole in the Bucket

There's a Hole in the Bucket

There's a hole in the bucket,
dear Theo, dear Theo,
There's a hole in the bucket,
dear Theo, a hole!

Then fix it, dear Thelma
dear Thelma, dear Thelma.
Then fix it, dear Thelma,
dear Thelma, fix it!

With what shall I fix it,
dear Theo, dear Theo?
With what shall I fix it,
dear Theo, with what?

With straw then, dear Thelma,
dear Thelma, dear Thelma.
With straw then, dear Thelma,
dear Thelma, with straw!
-Traditional

Identify the th- blends, then sing this as a song with your parents. I bet they know the tune!

Phonics Poem- My Sweet

My Sweet

Swallow your snowpeas please,

my sweet.

Swing swiftly on the swivel swing,

little darling.

Swirl throughthe swishing leaves,

and swim in the sweltering sun,

my sweetest sweet

sugary bun.

-Brook Pieri

Identify the sw- blends in the poem, then talk to your parents about different 'pet names', like my sweet and sugar bun. Can you think of more? What do your loved ones call you?

Phonics Poem- Stella's Seed

Stella's Seed

Stella found a seed.

She planted it.

She watered it.

She hoped that it would grow.

Every day,

she stopped by the garden.

Every day,

she stood in the sun.

Stella watched

as her seed grew

into a plant with a stem

that grew into

a sunflower.

-Shelley Grant

Identify the st- blends in the poem then write a story about a magic sunflower that grew and grew and grew. Pretend that you climbed the stem into the sky. Write about what you found.

Phonics Poem- A Squirmy Squid

A Squirmy Squid

A squirmy squid is squiggling.

Squids always write with ink.

She squirms because she's giggling,

which makes it hard to think.

The giggling turns to squealing

the squealing turns to squawks.

The squawking wakes the walrus,

who was sleeping on the rocks.

The walrus cries "Who's squeaking?"

"I'm down here!" squeaks the squid.

"Please, help me finish up this poem!"

and so the walrus did.

-Jed Miller

Identify the squ- blends in the poem and then brainstorm a list on things that squeak and squeal and squawk.

Phonics Poem- Spin, Spider, Spin!

Spin, Spider, Spin!

Spin, spider, spin!
Spin your web round and wide.
Spin your slily web with pride.
Greet the guests that come inside.
Spin, spider, spin.
-Meish Goldish

Identify the sp- blends in the poem, then create a Venn diagram comparing apiders with insects. How are they alike? How are they different?

Phonics Poem- The Snail

The Snail

Quietly sneaking

through the garden,

the tiny snail

delicately snips off

a piece of leaf,

then moves on a slivery trail

to find another

leafy snack.

Identify the sn- blends in the poem and think about the word delicate. What does it mean? Can you brainstorm a list of things that are 'delicate'?

Phonics Poem- The Slow, Sleepy Sloth

The Slow, Sleepy Sloth

There's a rainforest creature you really should meet.
She's got three toes on each of her feet.
Her name is another word for slow.
She's the sleepiest creature I ever did know.
Slumbers all day and slumbers all night,
Asleep in the treetops, way out of sight.
Sleep tight, sweet sloth,
And know this is true:
Sometimes we feel exactly like you!
-Kama Einhorn

Identify the sl- blends in the poem and draw a picture of what your bed would look like if you slept like a sloth.

Happy Spring Break!

Sit back and RELAX!

Happy Spring Break!

Phonics Poem- Skyscraper

Skyscraper

Skyscraper, skyscraper,

Scrape me some sky:

Tickle the sun

While the stars go by.

Tickle the stars

While the sun's climbing high,

Then skyscraper, skyscraper,

Scrape me some sky.

-Dennis Lee

Identify the sk- blends in the poem and then write about a time you got lost in a skyscraper.

Phonics Poem- Shirley Shepherd

Shirley Shepherd

Shirley Shepherd counted sheep:

one sheep two sheep three sheep four,

shuffling through her bedroom door.

And when she drifted off to sleep,

she dreamed of those four shaggy sheep:

one sheep two sheep three sheep four,

eating shortcake on her floor!

-Brook Pieri

Identify the sh- blends in this poem and draw the visual image you got when reading this poem. Can sheep really eat shortcake on a bedroom floor?

Phonics Poem- Phoebe's Phase

Phoebe's Phase

My older sister Phoebe

is going through a phase.

Buying make-up at the pharmacy's

just a part of her new craze.

She's on the phone all night long.

Rock stars' photos on her wall.

I do think that teenagers

are the strangest things of all!

-Kama Einhorn

Identify the ph- blends in the poem and brainstorm a list of other words that start woth 'ph-'.

Phonics Poem- Grasshopper Green

Grasshopper Green

Grasshopper green

Too quick to be seen

Jump like a Mexican jumpity bean!

Grasshopper high

Grasshopper low

Over my basket of berries you go!

Grasshopper low

Grasshopper high

Watch it or you will end up in a pie!

-Nancy Dingman Watson

Identify the gr- blends in the poem and then draw a grasshopper in it's natural habitat. A grasshopper is an insect, so it has 3 body parts (head, thorax, abdomen), 6 legs, 2 antennae, and wings.

Phonics Poem- If I Could Fly

If I Could Fly

If I could fly,

I'd flap these arms.

I'd flap right off the ground.

I'd join a flock of geese up high,

and flip and float around.

And when I'd flown for many miles,

I'd flop down in my nest,

and rest my tired little wings,

and take a nice long rest.

-Kama Einhorn

Identify the fl- blends in the poem and draw a picture of what you would see if you were able to fly over College Station. Use descriptive words!

Phonics Poem- Raindrops

Raindrops

rain

drops

drip

down

all

day

long.

drip down,

slip down,

splashing out their song.

thunder-crashing

splishing

splashing,

slipping,

dripping

raining down

their rainy

raindrop

song.

Identify the dr- blends in the poem, then write a story about what you like to do on a rainy day.

Phonics Poem- There Was a Crooked Man

There Was a Crooked Man

There was a crooked man

And he walked a crooked mils;

He found a crooked sixpence

Beside a crooked stile;

He bought a crooked cat

And it caught a crooked mouse

And they both lived together

In a wee crooked house.

-Traditional

Identify the cr- blends in the poem and draw an illustration of the crooked man in his crooked house with his crooked cat and his crooked mouse. What are some more things that are crooked?

Phonics Poem- Clown Class

Clown Class

Little clowns, come along.

It's time for school.

In clown class you'll learn

all the clown rules!

In clown class, please ask

any questions at all,

no matter how silly

or off-the-wall.

Can clowns clap for the audience?

Should a clown wear clogs?

Can you climb on a cloud?

Can you juggle with frogs?

Does a clam have claws?

Are the stars made of clay?

Ask silly questions.

and maybe some day...

You'll be a clown teacher!

And give the clown test:

Did you make the class laugh?

That's better than best!

-Kama Einhorn

Identify the cl- blends in the poem and write a story about when YOU went to clown school. Tell about all the things you learned!

Phonics Poem- Chick, Chick, Chatterman

Chick, Chick, Chatterman

Chick, chick, chatterman,

How much are your geese?

Chick, chick, chatterman,

Five cents apiece.

Chick, chick, chatterman,

That's too dear.

Chick, chick, chatterman,

Get out of here!

-Traditional

Identify the ch- blends in this poem and draw a picture of what you think is going on in this poem.

Kids Can Cook- Blueberry Brunch Cake

This is a HUGE hit in my house... my kids love to put their (very clean) hands in the bowl and mush the crumble topping for me. It's fun to make together and a great measuring activity! Enjoy!

BLUEBERRY BRUNCH CAKE

2 c. enriched flour
1 c. sugar
3 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 c. shortening
2 eggs
1 c. milk
1 pt. blueberries

Cut together sugar and shortening. Sift together flour,
baking powder, and salt. Combine eggs and milk. Stir
together all ingredients and fold in blueberries. Pour
batter into a greased and floured 9x13 inch pan. Sprinkle
with topping.


TOPPING FOR BLUEBERRY BRUNCH CAKE:

2/3 c. sugar
1/2 c. flour
2 tsp. cinnamon
6 tsp. butter
1 c. flaked coconut

Mix together all ingredients until crumbly in texture.
Sprinkle on top of cake batter before baking. Bake at 375
degrees for 25 to 30 minutes.

Phonics Poem- Brooms

Brooms

On stormy days

When the wind is high,

Tall trees are brooms

Sweeping the sky.

They swish their branches

In buckets of rain

And swash and sweep it

Blue again.

- Dorothy Aldis

Identify the br- blends in this poem and talk about the meaning... can trees really sweep the sky?

Kids Can Cook- Mashed Potato Snowman

Mashed Potato Snowman
Having a hard time getting your kids to eat their vegetables? They won't be able to resist this snowman made from mashed potatoes, carrots, raisins and radishes.

Ingredients:
For the potatoes:
6 pounds of potatoes, peeled and quartered
About 1 cup whole milk or heavy cream
1/4 cup butter
Salt and Pepper
To adorn the snowman:
1 long carrot
1 baby carrot
3 raisins
2 small radishes

Preparation:
This recipe makes 15 to 20 servings.

Place the quartered potatoes into a large pot. Don't overcrowd the potatoes. You may need to use two pots if you don't have one that's big enough.


Cover the potatoes with salted water, bring the water to a boil on the stove and cook at a gentle boil until the potato pieces are fork tender, about 15 minutes.


Transfer the potatoes to a large bowl and mash with a hand masher until smooth, adding the milk or cream, butter, salt and pepper as you go. Be careful not to add too much milk or cream. You don't want the potatoes to be runny.


Set a large serving tray (preferably not a white one) next to your bowl of mashed potatoes.
Scoop the potatoes onto the tray, starting with the large, bottom "snowball." Scoop a slightly smaller amount of potatoes onto the tray above the first snowball to create the snowman's midsection. Then, add the smallest helping of potatoes on top for the head. Smooth out the potatoes with the back of a spoon.


Scrape off the tips of the radishes with a potato peeler and place them scraped-side-up on the snowman's face for eyes.


Insert the baby carrot for the nose and the raisins as buttons.


Working in long motions, peel off two thin layers of the large carrot with your potato peeler and drape the carrot strips across the snowman's neck like a scarf. You could also snip the ends of the carrot peels with kitchen shears to make the scarf look like it has fringe.


Serve warm.

Phonics Poem- The Quietest Boy

The Quietest Boy

A boy was so quiet
That when he spoke,
He made no more noise
Than a puff of smoke.
But then one day
I told him a joke
And he laughed so loud
I thought he might choke!
And after that,
Whenever he spoke,
He always told
That funny joke.
-Helen O'Reilly

Identify words from the -oke family, then brainstorm more words from the -oke family.