Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
Suggested Age: Preschool – Kindergarten (ages 3-5)
Submitted by Donna Tokumaru, State Librarian, Hawaii State Library
Book: Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr., Adapted from www.2care2teach4kids.com
This is a fun craft activity that ties in with the long-time favorite book Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. Between the ages of three and five, many children learn to print letters. This is an easy craft that lets them practice printing letters. When using this craft for our storytime, I have noticed that children who are at various levels of ability can be engaged. For younger children who haven’t learned to print yet, parents can assist with the printing—usually letters that make up the child’s name—and the child will help glue the letters onto the tree. Children who have had practice with printing can print either capital or lower case letters. I have also noticed older children who want to print words on the circles instead of letters! They are so proud that they know how to spell some words.
Related books that can be used with this theme include:
Alphabet Mystery by Audrey Wood
LMNO Peas by Keith Baker
Max’s ABC by Rosemary Wells
How Rocket Learned to Read by Tad Hills
Activity: Alphabet Tree from the book Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr.
Materials:
- Toilet paper rolls
- Green construction paper
- Smaller construction paper pieces in various colors
- Glue
- Crayons or washable markers.
Instructions:
- Cut three slits about 1 inch long into one end of the toilet paper rolls, equal distance apart.
- Cut out coconut tree palms from the green construction paper. Start with 7 ½ inch diameter circles and cut them in half. Cut three small triangles at the bottom edge. You could also trace the leaves and have the parents or children cut them out.
- Cut out circles 2 inches in diameter in various colors. You will need about 10 per tree.
- Have the children write letters in the circles and glue them onto both the toilet paper roll and the leaves.
- Insert the coconut tree leaves into the slits at the end of the toilet paper roll.
