retell literacy center activity - Swimmy

How do you introduce your literacy center time? I use natural activities we do in the classroom as the basis for our literacy centers in our classroom like the retell center. This is how I created a 'Swimmy' retell activity to go in our retell center as the introduction for my kindergarten students. They learn to practically memorize this book based off of our multiple readings, discussions and whole group retelling.

My kinders get to choose the book(s) they want to retell while they are at this literacy center, but when they first go, this is one of their first two choices. They read, they act, they use lots of great vocabulary and are developing fantastic reading habits all while continuing to build their love of reading.

Swimmy Retell (Literacy Center Activity)

It's one of my favorite literacy centers and we usually introduce Swimmy the third week (or fourth) of school.  I love the simplicity of the characters, the language and the BEAUTIFUL illustrations. Here are the props I made rather inexpensively (and you can too) to bring the book alive once we knew it by heart. Side note, the beanie babies were donated but I know you can easily find them at a garage sale or keep your eye out at the dollar store!

And yeah, those are some hand drawn characters and ocean animals from the book. I tried to follow the basic shapes and used markers to color everything. I simply traced outline I wanted in marker and added coloring with markers on the lobster, sea anemones and eel. It's one of my least artistic of any props I made, but they work! (Note: the little red fish are simply mass cutouts I did by hand - they have no added details)

Go back to read the Retell Literacy Center Directions {in case you missed it}

You can make this kindergarten activity yourself! Here are the materials you'll need...

Materials:

• Construction Paper (red, black, white, gray, pink, green - background paper for animals; brown, blue - background for seaweed)
• Paper Doilies (cut in half to make seaweed)
• Optional: Any animals from the story are great to have as stuffed animals or plastic trinkety toys
• Swimmy by Leo Lionni

More Swimmy Online

• Swimmy YouTube Version

More Retell Literacy Center Book Activities for Kindergarten

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Fresh Fall LeavesBig Pumpkin
Cinderella
There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly
The Little Red Hen
The Very Quiet Cricket
Red Riding Hood
Peanut Butter and Jelly
Hansel and Gretel
The Gingerbread Man
Goldilocks and the Three Bears
Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?
The Three Billy Goats Gruff
The Fat Cat
Cookie's Week
The Doorbell Rang
The Three Little Pigs

When do you like to read Swimmy with your class? Any other Leo Lionni books that you think are a must for kindergarten?

If you like what I do here on KindergartenWorks, then be sure to subscribe today. I look forward to sharing ideas with you weekly.
- Leslie

*Free downloadable Thank You Gift included when you subscribe via email or RSS.

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retell literacy center activity - The Doorbell Rang

What do you love about your literacy center time? I love listening over my guided reading groups to our literacy centers in our classroom like the retell center. This is how I created a 'The Doorbell Rang' retell activity to go in our retell center as an option for my kindergarten students. It was my most simple to compile since it only takes two props! When visiting the retell center, my kinders get to choose the book(s) they want to retell while they are at this literacy center. They read, they act, they use lots of great vocabulary and are developing fantastic reading habits all while continuing to build their love of reading.

The Doorbell Rang Retell (Literacy Center Activity)

It's one of my favorite literacy centers and we usually introduce The Doorbell Rang as one of our last memorable books in the year, so generally late spring. I usually also read this one the fewest times out of all of our retell stories.

This happens normally because I focus on the math aspect when reading and we really enjoy drawing out the division situations. They love how they can quickly identify the patterns they have come to study in books and have that early on in the reading of this story, allowing them to focus elsewhere. They still love the ending though - a cyclical ending gets them every time at this age. They just LOVE it!

Go back to read the Retell Literacy Center Directions {in case you missed it}

You can make this kindergarten activity yourself! Here are the materials you'll need...

Materials:

• The Doorbell Rang Cookies {Free download}
• Optional: HomeMade Cookies (I no longer incorporate a literacy house center, so our sight word cookies were relocated)
• Cat Toy with Bell {Doorbell Simulator} a jingle bell could work too!
• The Doorbell Rang by Pat Hutchins

More Retell Literacy Center Book Activities for Kindergarten

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
Fresh Fall Leaves
Big Pumpkin
Cinderella
There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly
The Little Red Hen
The Very Quiet Cricket
Red Riding Hood
Peanut Butter and Jelly
Hansel and Gretel
The Gingerbread Man
Goldilocks and the Three Bears
Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?
The Three Billy Goats Gruff
The Fat Cat
Cookie's Week
The Three Little Pigs
Swimmy

What do you like to teach out of The Doorbell Rang with your class? Is it a favorite read aloud instead?

If you like what I do here on KindergartenWorks, then be sure to subscribe today. I look forward to sharing ideas with you weekly.
- Leslie

*Free downloadable Thank You Gift included when you subscribe via email or RSS.

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retell literacy center activity - The Three Little Pigs

Hooray for literacy center time in our classroom since we have very active literacy centers like the retell center. This is how I created a 'The Three Little Pigs' retell activity to go in our retell center as an option for my kindergarten students. It was just a matter of collecting and printing! What's this center all about? My kinders get to choose the book(s) they want to retell while they are at this literacy center. They read, they act, they use lots of great vocabulary and are developing fantastic reading habits all while continuing to build their love of reading.

The Three Little Pigs Retell (Literacy Center Activity)

It's one of my favorite literacy centers and we usually introduce The Three Little Pigs in the late winter {which can last for.ev.er. in Indiana}. At the time I choose this, my students can track the pattern of the story and l-o-v-e the Paul Galdone version. It's my favorite one since it includes 2 pattern sets in the plot, brings in the concept of time, and my kinders love the "real" version that all of their bedtime stories never told.

Here are the props I gathered rather inexpensively (and you can too) to bring the book alive once we knew it by heart. I actually inherited the beautifully colored ones from the teacher who retired and left her classroom stuff to me. A mish-mash, but all free so it works!

Go back to read the Retell Literacy Center Directions {in case you missed it}

You can make this kindergarten activity yourself! Here are the materials you'll need...

Materials:

• The Three Little Pigs Printables {Free download}
• Popsicle Sticks
• The Three Little Pigs by Paul Galdone
• Also Pictured (Finger Puppets/Retelling Glove - garage sale finds)

More 'The Three Little Pigs' Free Printables

• The Three Little Pigs Masks
• The Three Little Pigs Reader and Word Cards
• Three Little Pigs Sequencing Cards for Speech Therapy

More Versions of The Three Little Pigs We Love {I have them ALL!}

• The Three Little Pigs by Patricia Seibert
• The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Lane Smith
• The Three Little Pigs by James Marshall
• The Three Little Pigs by Marie-Louise Gay
• The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig
• The Three Little Fish and the Big Bad Shark
• The Three Little Aliens and the Big Bad Robot
• My Lucky Day

More 'The Three Little Pigs' Online

• The Three Little Pigs Silly Symphony Video
• The Three Little Pigs {Cool School Version} Video

More Retell Literacy Center Book Activities for Kindergarten

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Fresh Fall Leaves
Big Pumpkin
Cinderella
There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly
The Little Red Hen
The Very Quiet Cricket
Red Riding Hood
Peanut Butter and Jelly
Hansel and Gretel
The Gingerbread Man
Goldilocks and the Three Bears
Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?
The Three Billy Goats Gruff
The Fat Cat
Cookie's Week
The Doorbell Rang
Swimmy

When do you like to read The Three Little Pigs with your class?

If you like what I do here on KindergartenWorks, then be sure to subscribe today. I look forward to sharing ideas with you weekly.
- Leslie

*Free downloadable Thank You Gift included when you subscribe via email or RSS.

Read more ...

retell literacy center activity - The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Do you love your literacy center time? I do! We have active literacy centers in our classroom like the retell center. This is how I created a 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar' retell activity to go in our retell center as an option for my kindergarten students. It was a combination of drawing, printing and collecting! My kinders get to choose the book(s) they want to retell while they are at this literacy center. They read, they act, they use lots of great vocabulary and are developing fantastic reading habits all while continuing to build their love of reading.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Retell (Literacy Center Activity)

It's one of my favorite literacy centers and we usually introduce The Very Hungry Caterpillar late in the fall.  I like using this when my students are familiar with the days of the week and can see the growing numbers pattern and when the pattern stops. Here are the props I gathered rather inexpensively (and you can too) to bring the book alive once we knew it by heart. Side note, the beanie babies were donated but I know you can easily find them at a garage sale or choose one from the plastic insects at the dollar store!

And yeah, those are some hand drawn pieces of fruit too, but I'm leaving you a set of printables. {You know I've got your back!} You'll just need to cut your own holes into the foods.

Go back to read the Retell Literacy Center Directions {in case you missed it}

You can make this kindergarten activity yourself! Here are the materials you'll need...

Materials:

• The Very Hungry Caterpillar Food Printables {Free download}
• Caterpillars (Stuffed Animal or Plastic)
• Butterfly (Stuffed Animal or Plastic)
• The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

More Very Hungry Caterpillar Free Printables

• Color or Black and White Very Hungry Caterpillar Printables
• Very Hungry Caterpillar Printables

More Retell Literacy Center Book Activities for Kindergarten

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
Fresh Fall Leaves
Big Pumpkin
Cinderella
There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly
The Little Red Hen
The Very Quiet Cricket
Red Riding Hood
Peanut Butter and Jelly
Hansel and Gretel
The Gingerbread Man
Goldilocks and the Three Bears
Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?
The Three Billy Goats Gruff
The Fat Cat
Cookie's Week
The Doorbell Rang
The Three Little Pigs
Swimmy

More Eric Carle Ideas

Injecting Rhyming into Your Day

Seeing Eric Carle's Influence Show Up in Student Writing

When do you like to read The Very Hungry Caterpillar with your class?

If you like what I do here on KindergartenWorks, then be sure to subscribe today. I look forward to sharing ideas with you weekly.
- Leslie

*Free downloadable Thank You Gift included when you subscribe via email or RSS.

Read more ...

retell literacy center activity - Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See

Active kindergarten activities are essential to my literacy center time. Students stay on-task better at our hands-on literacy centers in our classroom like the retell center. This is how I created a Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? retell activity to go in our retell center as an option for students. It was really simple and all it took was printing a set of animals! They get to choose the book(s) they want to retell while they are at this literacy center. They read, they act, they use lots of great vocabulary and are developing fantastic reading habits all while continuing to build their love of reading.

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See Retell (Literacy Center Activity)

It's one of my favorite literacy centers and we usually introduce Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See in November. When students are familiar with a few color words is the perfect time to bring out this literacy activity. Students are ready to find the color words within the text to use it to support predicting what will be on the next page. Here are the props I printed (and you can too) to bring the book alive once we knew it by heart. If you have popsicle sticks left over in your craft cupboards, and can copy/print onto construction paper then you've got this one in the bag!

Go back to read the Retell Literacy Center Directions {in case you missed it}

You can make this kindergarten activity yourself! Here are the materials you'll need...

Materials:

• A Sheet of Construction Paper (yellow, orange, blue, brown, white, red, black, green)
• Popsicle Sticks
• Tape
• Brown Bear Animals Printables {Free download}
• Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Eric Carle

More Brown Bear Free Printables

• Modern Brown Bear Animals
• Brown Bear Label Cards

More Retell Literacy Center Book Activities for Kindergarten

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Fresh Fall Leaves
Big Pumpkin
Cinderella
There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly
The Little Red Hen
The Very Quiet Cricket
Red Riding Hood
Peanut Butter and Jelly
Hansel and Gretel
The Gingerbread Man
Goldilocks and the Three Bears
Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?
The Three Billy Goats Gruff
The Fat Cat
Cookie's Week
The Doorbell Rang
The Three Little Pigs
Swimmy

More Eric Carle Ideas

Injecting Rhyming into Your Day
Seeing Eric Carle's Influence Show Up in Student Writing

When do you like to read Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See with your class? Do you have a favorite activity that goes with it?

If you like what I do here on KindergartenWorks, then be sure to subscribe today. I look forward to sharing ideas with you weekly.
- Leslie

*Free downloadable Thank You Gift included when you subscribe via email or RSS.

Read more ...

retell literacy center activity - Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

Building reading literacy is core to my literacy center time. We have active literacy centers in our classroom like the retell center. This is how I created a Chicka Chicka Boom Boom retell activity to go in our retell center as an option for students. It was really simple and I had everything already in my classroom! They get to choose the book(s) they want to retell while they are at this literacy center. They read, they act, they use lots of great vocabulary and are developing fantastic reading habits all while continuing to build their love of reading.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Retell (Literacy Center Activity)

It's one of my favorite literacy centers and we usually introduce Chicka Chicka Boom Boom early on in the school year. A couple of weeks into school is the perfect time to bring out this literacy activity. Students are familiar with these letters and most are working on recognizing lowercase letters. Here are the props I gathered rather inexpensively (and you can too) to bring the book alive once we knew it by heart. Side note, the tiny trees were randomly found in a collection of plastic dinosaur toys I had. They deserved to live here instead of our playtime materials. {wink}

Go back to read the Retell Literacy Center Directions {in case you missed it}

You can make this kindergarten activity yourself! Here are the materials you'll need...

Materials:

• Magnetic Letters a-z (Free, on hand)
• Magnetic Cookie Sheet ($1)
• Laminated Coconut Tree Printable {Free download}
• Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault
• (Optional) Mini Palm Trees from Plastic Dinosaur Toys Package or Hawaiian Themed Party Supplies (Like from Dollar Tree)

More 'Chicka Chicka Boom Boom' Free Printables

• Coconut Tree and Letters Printable

More 'Chicka Chicka Boom Boom' Online

• Chicka Chicka Boom Boom read by Kenneth Faried

More Retell Literacy Center Book Activities for Kindergarten

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Fresh Fall Leaves
Big Pumpkin
Cinderella
There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly
The Little Red Hen
The Very Quiet Cricket
Red Riding Hood
Peanut Butter and Jelly
Hansel and Gretel
The Gingerbread Man
Goldilocks and the Three Bears
Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?
The Three Billy Goats Gruff
The Fat Cat
Cookie's Week
The Doorbell Rang
The Three Little Pigs
Swimmy

More Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Ideas

how to DIY your classroom bulletin board
12 tips to start a successful kindergarten year
developing phonemic awareness

When do you like to read Chicka Chicka Boom Boom with your class?

If you like what I do here on KindergartenWorks, then be sure to subscribe today. I look forward to sharing ideas with you weekly.
- Leslie

*Free downloadable Thank You Gift included when you subscribe via email or RSS.

Read more ...