Happily Ever Active Programs
Contact Happily Ever Active For More Information About The Programs
Enhance your curriculum with a Happily Ever Active school program. Choose regular visits or plan a special program for your school. Classes are for children ages 2-7 and can be 30, 45, or 60 minutes in length. Optimal group size is approximately 10 children, however classes can range from 8-15, based upon the space. At least one classroom teacher must be present during the class. If you are interested in bringing Happily Ever Active to your program for the 2009-10 school year, please contact me
Preschool Story
November 9th through 20th
Very Clumsy Click Beetle, by Eric Carle is
about a little beetle who gets stuck upside down. A wise old beetle
teaches him how to, click and flip and land on his feet. The little
beetle tries very hard but is unable to land upright. Finally, with lots
of practice and a very threatening large foot for motivation, the little click
beetle is successful at last. Practicing skills is something all
children can relate to!
Literacy Extension
This
should probably be a two day project. Be prepared with 2 sheets of chart
paper, markers, and two individual sheets of paper for each child. At the
top of one piece of chart paper write, "I can..." At the top of
the other write, "Soon I will..." As a group, ask each child to
come up with one thing that they have learned how to do from
practicing. Write their responses on the "I can"
sheet. Next, have children illustrate their answers on one of their
pieces of paper. The next day ask children to think of something
that they are still practicing. Write those responses on the paper
labeled "Soon I will." Then have them illustrate their answer
on their other piece of paper. Craft a classroom book so that each of the
child's two responses are across from one another.
Toddler Poem
November 9th through 20th
Shake My Sillies Out
Preschool Story
November 23rd through December 4th
Knuffle Bunny, by Mo Willems tells the
story about a very young girl named Trixie who, like many young children, is
quite attached to her stuffed animal, Knuffle Bunny. After spending the afternoon assisting her father at the Laundromat,
Trixie discovers she has lost her beloved bunny. Because she is still quite young, Trixie is
unable to verbalize her problem. So, she
uses the only means she knows to express her despair… a humongous temper
tantrum! The adventure begins there and
ends with an urgent trip back to the Laundromat where her daddy discovers
Knuffle Bunny, all washed and waiting to be removed from the dryer.
*Tracing a clue from Knuffle
Bunny Too, I discovered that Willems is Dutch and “knuffle” is Dutch for “snuggle”
and the proper pronunciation is with a hard “k” sound.”
Literacy
Extension
Gather children in a group. On chart paper generate a list of items that might need to go into the washing machine and dryer. Write each child's answer in a different color. After you have created the list give each child paper, markers, and scissors. Ask each child to draw their item and cut it out. Once everyone has finished, place a clothesline along the wall and have each child clothes pin their work onto the clothesline.
Shout It Out
At the end of the story when her daddy finds her bunny Trixie shouts, "KNUFFLE BUNNY!" Throughout this book Mo Willems uses varied text to emphasize a significant event, particularly Trixie's outbursts. If you have access to the book you can point out these occasions to the children to preface this activity. Explain to the children how bolder print requires a more excited tone. Make up several word cards choosing words that may suggest bold articulation, such as: surprise, hurry, look, boo, etc. On one side of the card write the word in lower case letters and on the other side print the same word in upper case, bold lettering. Hold up a card showing the lower case letters. Tell the children what the word is and ask them to repeat it all together. Then show them the other side of the card and ask them to repeat the word again.
Toddler Poem
November 23rd through December 4th
Silly
Willy
Inside,
outside,
upside
down,
rolling
all the way to town.
This
way, that way,
Do
si do,
Swimming
through the deep, deep snow.
Twirly,
whirly
Touch
the stars,
Jumping
rope on planet mars.
Sit
down, stand up,
Shake
your head,
Stop
for the green light and run on red.
Over,
under,
Take
a bow,
This
silly game must end right now!
At this time I am not offering any private classes. If you live near the Belmont, Cambridge or Watertown area and would be interested in starting a group, please contact me and we can discuss the logistics.
Happily Ever Active Happily Ever Active birthday parties are for ages 3-6. Birthday child may choose from a variety of stories. Parties can be held at the Concord Avenue studio in Cambridge, or at a space of your choice. The room must be large (approx. 500 square feet) and obstacle free. The Happily Ever Active birthday program lasts 45 minutes and the cost is $220.00. Attendance must be limited to ten children.
The Happily Ever Active library has more than 40 stories. Listed here are a few favorites for children's parties.
The
Bunnies Are Not in Their Beds, by Marisabina Russo. Now that the little bunnies are in bed,
Mama and Papa Bunny think they can enjoy a little peace and quiet. Not
so! The little bunnies still want to play. With a little imagination
and lots of energy, the bunnies find that there is still so much to do.
After making several trips upstairs to quiet their little ones down, it
is Mama and Papa who end up too tired to stay awake. This is a story that
many children can relate to, right down to the final ultimatum - "1 ... 2
... "
Caps For Sale, by Esphyr Slobodkina
The
delightful tale of mischievous monkeys. When a cap peddler
decides to take a nap under a shady tree, he is unaware that there are monkeys
hiding in the branches above, just waiting for the opportunity to try
on the caps. The peddler awakens to discover his caps are
missing and getting them back from the monkeys is no easy task. Children
delight in this charade of monkey see, monkey do.
Dear Zoo, by Rod Campbell
A story
about a child who decides to write a letter to the zoo asking for a new
pet. Each day the zoo sends a different
animal, none of which make an appropriate pet.
In the end the child receives the perfect pet… a puppy.
The
Gingerbread Man
This
favorite tale takes children on the trail of the fastest cookie in the
west. The little cookies will travel far and wide
as they are chased by a little old lady and a little old man, a horse, a cow
and a chicken. That's when they are face-to-face with a
a sly fox. When the fox kindly offers to help the
gingerbread man across the river, he desperately accepts
her offer. Alas, she cannot resist the sweet temptation
and there ends this tale.
Knuffle Bunny, by Mo Willems
The
story about a very young girl named Trixie who, like many young children, is
quite attached to her stuffed toy, Knuffle Bunny. After spending the afternoon assisting her father at the Laundromat Trixie
discovers she has lost her beloved bunny.
Because she is still quite young, Trixie is unable to verbalize her
problem. So, she uses the only means she
knows to express her despair… a humongous temper tantrum! The adventure begins there and ends with an
urgent trip back to the Laundromat where her daddy discovers Knuffle Bunny, all
washed and waiting to be removed from the dryer.
Not In the House, Newton!,
by Judith Heide Gilliland
The
story of a boy, Newton, who picks up a crayon in
his backyard, only to discover it has magical powers. Whatever Newton draws with the crayon
jumps off of the paper and comes to life. With each new creation Newton’s mother reasons that
these adventures are meant to be enjoyed outdoors. But Newton's imagination continues
to soar until he creates his final masterpiece, an airplane. Well, then he has no choice... and out he
goes!
Staff Workshops
Creative Fitness workshops are a great way for teachers to increase their repertoire of gross motor activities. I will come to your center and conduct a 90 minute participatory workshop geared to your goals. My fee is $300.00 for a 90 minute workshop. If you would like to host a creative fitness workshop, please contact me.