3 Lesson Plans For Young Children to Go Along WIth 3 Classic Eric Carle Books
Eric Carle is a beloved children’s book author and illustrator whose colorful and whimsical creations have captured the hearts of children and adults alike for generations. Below are short descriptions of 3 of his classic books followed by 3 lesson plans for young children that can go along with those books.
1 Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? - Another classic book, Brown Bear features bold, brightly colored illustrations and repetitive text that helps children learn about different animals and colors.
2 The Tiny Seed - This book teaches children about the life cycle of a seed, from its journey through wind and water to its eventual growth into a beautiful flower. The book’s beautiful illustrations and message about the importance of patience and resilience make it a favorite for parents and educators.
3. The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse - This book encourages children to use their imaginations and be creative, as it tells the story of an artist who paints animals in unusual colors. The book’s vibrant illustrations and message about the importance of self-expression make it a favorite for children and adults alike.
Lesson Plan Number 1
Title: Be Creative with "The Artist Who Painted The Blue Horse"
Grade Level: Kindergarten
Objectives:
Students will be able to name and identify different animals.
Students will learn about the use of colors in art.
Students will engage in hands-on activities that encourage them to be creative and experiment with color.
Materials:
"The Artist Who Painted The Blue Horse" by Eric Carle
Pictures of different animals
White paper
Paint in a variety of colors
Paintbrushes
Smocks or old clothes for students to wear during painting
Procedure:
Introduction (10 minutes):
Begin by reading "The Artist Who Painted The Blue Horse" to the students, asking questions and encouraging discussion as you go along.
After the story, ask the students to recall some of the animals that were mentioned in the book. Write their answers on the board or chart paper.
Introduce the day’s lesson and objectives by telling the students that they will be learning about colors and how they can use them to create their own unique art.
Activity 1: Animal Identification (10 minutes):
Show the students pictures of different animals and ask them to identify them.
Encourage the students to name the colors that they see on each animal.
Have the students practice making the animal sounds as you show them each picture.
Activity 2: Creative Painting (30 minutes):
Pass out white paper, paintbrushes, and smocks to each student.
Encourage the students to use their imaginations to create their own unique animal paintings.
Show the students how to mix colors to create new ones.
Encourage the students to experiment with different color combinations and brushstrokes.
Walk around the room, asking students about their paintings and encouraging them to be creative.
Conclusion (10 minutes):
Have the students show their paintings to the class, sharing what animals they chose and how they used color to create their artwork.
Ask the students to name some of the colors they used in their paintings.
Reinforce the importance of being creative and using your imagination when making art.
Assessment:
Observe students’ participation and engagement during activities.
Check completed paintings to see if students were able to use colors creatively and experiment with brushstrokes.
Ask the students about their paintings and the colors they used to assess their understanding of the lesson objectives.
Lesson Plan 2
Title: Learning Colors and Animals with "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" by Eric Carle
Age group: Toddlers (2-3 years old)
Objective: By the end of the lesson, toddlers will be able to identify and name colors and animals using the book "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" by Eric Carle.
Materials:
"Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" by Eric Carle
Stuffed animals or pictures of animals in the book
Colored construction paper or flashcards (red, blue, yellow, green, purple, orange, black, white, brown)
Introduction (5 minutes):
Gather toddlers in a circle and introduce the book "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" by showing them the cover.
Ask if anyone has read the book before and if they know any of the animals in the story.
Show them the colored construction paper or flashcards and ask if they know any of the colors.
Activity 1 (10 minutes):
Read the book aloud to the toddlers, pointing out the different animals and colors as you go along.
Pause after each page to ask the toddlers if they can name the animal and the color. If they need help, point to the corresponding stuffed animal or flashcard.
Encourage the toddlers to repeat the names of the animals and colors after you.
Activity 2 (10 minutes):
Give each toddler a stuffed animal or picture of an animal from the book.
Hold up a colored construction paper or flashcard and ask the toddlers to find an animal that matches the color.
Help the toddlers as needed, and encourage them to repeat the name of the animal and the color.
Activity 3 (10 minutes):
Have the toddlers sit in a circle and pass around a stuffed animal or picture of an animal from the book.
When the music stops, the toddler holding the animal must name the animal and its color.
If they need help, the other toddlers can assist them.
Conclusion (5 minutes):
Ask the toddlers to name their favorite animal and color from the book.
Remind them that they can continue to practice identifying colors and animals by reading the book and playing games with the flashcards and stuffed animals.
Lesson Plan 3:
Title: Discovering the Lifecycle of Seeds and Flowers with "The Tiny Seed" by Eric Carle
Age group: Preschoolers (3-4 years old)
Objective: By the end of the lesson, preschoolers will be able to understand the lifecycle of seeds and flowers using the book "The Tiny Seed" by Eric Carle.
Materials:
"The Tiny Seed" by Eric Carle
A large poster board or chart paper
Seeds (e.g. sunflower, pumpkin, bean)
Soil
Small plant pots or cups
Watering can
Colored pencils or markers
Introduction (5 minutes):
Gather preschoolers in a circle and introduce the book "The Tiny Seed" by showing them the cover.
Ask if anyone has read the book before and if they know anything about seeds and flowers.
Show them the seeds and ask if they know what they will become.
Activity 1 (10 minutes):
Read the book aloud to the preschoolers, pausing after each page to ask them what is happening in the story and what they think will happen next.
After finishing the story, ask the preschoolers if they noticed the different stages of the seed's lifecycle and if they can name them.
Activity 2 (15 minutes):
Create a large poster board or chart paper with the different stages of a seed's lifecycle (e.g. seed, sprout, plant, flower).
Ask the preschoolers to draw each stage of the seed's lifecycle on the poster board or chart paper using colored pencils or markers.
Use the book to guide them and help them identify the different stages.
Activity 3 (20 minutes):
Give each preschooler a small plant pot or cup filled with soil.
Help them plant a seed and cover it with soil.
Water the seed and explain to them how it needs water and sunlight to grow.
Encourage them to observe their plant over the next few days and weeks and to water it regularly.
Conclusion (5 minutes):
Gather the preschoolers back in a circle and ask them what they learned about the lifecycle of seeds and flowers.
Remind them that they can continue to observe their own plants as they grow and change, just like the seed in "The Tiny Seed".
Encourage them to share their plants with their families and friends and to continue learning about seeds and flowers.
