Play is necessary and valuable for young children’s development. As a young child matures their play becomes increasingly elaborate, and evolves from play with objects that are in a child’s immediate area to play based on ideas, plans, or experiences. Here are some resources to extend the play and learning introduced by JUMPSEEWOW.
FIRE STATION RESOURCES
The Fire Cat by Esther Averill
A classic book first published in 1960. It’s about Pickles the Cat who wishes to do big things and he eventually does. I love the drawings and the character of Mrs. Goodkind who knows that Pickles is really a good cat, but just mixed-up.
Fire! Fire! By Gail Gibbons
This is a picture book with detailed illustrations and lots of real world information about fighting fires in all sorts of situations—urban, rural, on the water, etc. This book is for the kid who wants more information about the work of firefighters.
Fire Drill by Paul Dubois Jacobs and Jennifer Swender Illustrated by Huy Voun Lee
This is a sweet book with colorful collage illustrations and a simple, happy story of a fire drill at a preschool. This book is a great way to introduce the idea of a fire drill without worrying kids about a real fire.
Firefighter Frank by Monica Wellington is a sweet depiction of a day in the life of Fireman Frank. Cheerful illustrations and nice details about everything firefighters do.
Dot the Fire Dog by Lisa Desimini
Beautiful illustrations depict a day in the life of Dot the Fire Dog. She is a hero in the story as she rescues a cat from a fire. There are some fire safety tips at the end of the book.
What if There is a Fire? By Anara Guard Illustrated by Gina Pfleegor
This is an illustrated book about fire safety. It gives children practical information about what to do to prepare for a fire. This may be better for slightly older or less fearful kids.
Machines at Work: Fire Truck by DK Publishing
This book is full of photographs of real fire trucks, helicopters, ambulances, rescue boats, tools, and gear. Lots of information for kids who want to know more about the work of firefighters.
Preschoolers love pretend play. Assemble some dress-up clothes such as inexpensive firefighter helmets, gloves (winter gloves or garden gloves), and some short hoses and encourage the kids to go play. If it’s warm outside you can give the kids spay bottles with water inside and let them run around and “put out fires.”
Recycled Material: Collect old milk cartons and cardboard boxes. Kids can use paint to transform them into fire trucks or fire stations. Once they are dry bring out the matchbox cars or people and continue the pretend play.
Fingerpainting: Let kids mix red and yellow paint to make orange flames/fire.
Click on the link above if you are looking for any of the following activities:
Fire Prevention Coloring Pages
Fire Prevention Word Searchs
Resources for Teachers/Parents
Everybody Bakes Bread by Norah Dooley
This is a longer story that weaves in bread traditions from around the world. Recipes are provided at the end. Dooley has written other books with universal food themes such as, “Everybody Cooks Rice,” and “Everybody Brings Noodles.”
How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World by Marjorie Priceman
Beautifully illustrated story of travelling the world to gather ingredients to make apple pie.
How to Make A Cherry Pie and See the U.S.A. by Marjorie Priceman
Richly illustrated story about finding the ingredients to make a cherry pie.
Mr. Putter and Tabby Bake the Cake by Cynthia Rylant
Sweet story of friends who bake a cake as a Christmas gift for Mrs. Teaberry.
THINGS TO DO
Bake: Pick a recipe to bake together—quick bread like corn bread is fun, easy and quick. Real bread takes some patience, but is exciting. It’s fun to measure out all the ingredients, stir, and shape your bread. It’s also fun to just play with flour, spoons and measuring cups in a big bowl.
Play: Make playdough together or play with store-bought playdough – “make” bread, cakes, cookies, pizza, or pretzels. Pretend to open your own bakery or restaurant.
Here are a few ideas to extend the play and learning introduced by the Jump See Farm App.
BOOKS ABOUT FARMS
There are tons of great picture books about farms. Here are just a few favorites.
Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown
It’s a classic, but one of my favorites. Similar to Good Night Moon I love seeing the farm as the sun slowly sets. It’s also fun to think of the mice playing in the moonlight.
These Bees Count! By Alison Formento Illustrated by Sarah Snow
This book follows a class on a field trip to farmer Ellen’s farm. They suit up and learn about bees. The story includes counting and a simple explanation for how bees make honey.
Country Road ABC: A Illustrated Journey Through America’s Farmland by Arthur Geisert
I’m a huge fan of Geisert’s hand colored etchings. In Country Road he creates interesting detailed illustrations for each letter of the alphabet of farm life in Iowa.
Haystack by Bonnie & Arthur Geisert
Haystack has more beautiful etchings by Geisert. Haystack has step-by-step illustrations and descriptions of how a haystack is built and how it is used by animals throughout the seasons. See the hydraulic lift and the hay basket as it bunches the hay into piles. It’s fun to watch how the haystack protects and nourishes the animals throughout the seasons.
From Seed to Plant by Gail Gibbons
This book has great, simple and clear pictures and explanations of how pollination happens and how seeds and fruit are made. Other great seed books are and then it’s spring by Julie Fogliano and illustrated by Erin E. Stead (I love her pictures) and A Seed is Sleepy by Dianna Hutts Aston and Sylvia Long.
This is a true story told through photographs. A black lab befriends a grumpy ram named Brutus.
To Market, To Market by Nikki McClure
This book is full of beautiful paper-cuts of the folks at a farmers market. Detailed descriptions of the people and the work they do.
VISIT A FARM
In Massachusetts there are a bunch of non-profit educational farms to visit like Weir River Farm or Appleton Farms through Trustees of the Reservation. There is also Wright-Lock Farm and Drumlin Farm which is a part of Mass Audubon. Finding a farm that has pick-your-own fruit or vegetables is a good way to visit a farm or farms that have Community Supported Agriculture might also be open to hosting visitors.
PLANT SOME SEEDS
In your yard, a container or even a paper cup plant some seeds and watch them grow. Herbs are easy and fun to have indoors or on a patio or porch. Kids love to pick, smell, and taste them. Planting flowers for your local bees is always a fun project too.
Little animal figures are always fun to play with, build houses for (out of blocks or recycling), bring with you in the bath or take with you in your pocket.