Five practices (Read, Write, Talk, Sing, Play) that caregivers can use to develop early literacy skills starting at birth.

Reading books together is the

single best way to help

children develop early

literacy skills. Read together

every day and talk about the

books you read.

Lois Ehlert has written many bright and colorful books about lots of different

subjects. For Playspace, we are focusing on planting vegetables and flowers.

All of her books are worth reading, both the marvelous words and seeing her

bold and beautiful artwork. Lois Ehlert has also been the illustrator of a few

books written by other authors. The back of this paper lists the books Lois

Ehlert has written. Here are a few books she has illustrated.

• Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr.

• A Pair of Socks by Stuart Murphy

• Limericks by Lear by Edward Lear

Writing activities help children

learn letter names and sound out

new words. Writing also helps

children understand that written

words represent ideas, places

and events.

• Lois Ehlert labels a lot of things in her books. You can label things in

your house. Write out the name a few things and stick the word by the

object. This will be fun to use when starting to identify letters and

words.

• Allow your child to help you make the grocery store list. Tell him/her

what you need and let him/her “write” it on a list.

• Write out/draw a simple recipe together. For example, draw a slice of

bread, then a jar of peanut butter, and so on until you have made a

recipe to make a Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich!

Singing helps children hear

the distinct sounds that make

up words. Songs also teach

new vocabulary and

introduce new ideas and

concepts.

Words to these songs can be found on the back of this paper.

• “The Farmer Plants the Seeds”

• “I’m a Little Flower Pot”

• “The Vegetable Song”

• “Out in My Garden”

Children learn how to

express themselves, the

meaning of words and

other literacy skills by

playing.

• Take out some spoons and plastic bowls and cook together with

your child.

• Gather various scraps from around your home (like Lois Ehlert did

when she was young) and work together to create a collage

picture.

• Get some gardening gloves, a few shovels, find some dirt and dig,

dig, dig!

Talking with your child is one

of the best ways to help

develop language and other

early literacy skills.

• Take a trip to the grocery store together. Walk around the fruit and

vegetable aisle and talk about the different colors and sizes of fruits

and vegetables.

• Talk together about planning your dream garden, listing off all the

things you would want to grow. They can be real (cucumbers) or

dream-like (rainbows and unicorns.)

• While you are cooking in the kitchen, talk about what you are doing

and how you are preparing the food.

PLAYPLAYPLAYPLAY leads to literacy (reading and writing.) Play with your child. Let your child lead. Ask open ended questions. You can use everyday moments to naturally engage with your child.

Some Books by Lois Ehlert

Snowballs

Eating the Alphabet

Planting a Rainbow

Color Zoo

Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf

Leaf Man

Growing Vegetable Soup

The Scraps Book

RRRalph

Waiting for Wings

Feathers for Lunch

Fish Eyes

Hands: growing up to be an artist

Nuts to You!

Pie in the Sky

Color Farm

Boo to You!

Lots of Spots

Top Cat

Oodles of Animals

Wag a Tail

Circus

The Farmer Plants the

Seeds (Tune "Farmer in the Dell")

The farmer plants the seeds. (put

seeds in the ground)

The farmer plants the seeds. High ho the derry oh,

The farmer plants the seeds.

Second Verse: The sun comes out

to shine. (make big circle with

arms)

Third Verse: The rain begins to fall.

(hands flutter to the ground)

Fourth Verse: The seeds begin to

grow. (children begin to rise)

Fifth Verse: The farmer digs them

up. (pretend to use a shovel)

Now we'll have some to eat.

(pretend to eat)

I 'm a Little I 'm a Little I 'm a Little I 'm a Little Flower Flower Flower Flower

PotPotPotPot Sung to: "I'm a Little Teapot"

I'm a I'm a I'm a I'm a little flowerlittle flowerlittle flowerlittle flower pot pot pot pot

mom put outmom put outmom put outmom put out (point to self)

If you take care of me, If you take care of me, If you take care of me, If you take care of me,

I will sproutI will sproutI will sproutI will sprout. (nod head, point to self)

When you water me, I When you water me, I When you water me, I When you water me, I

will growwill growwill growwill grow (make sprinkling motions w/ right

hand) Into a Into a Into a Into a ppppretty flowerretty flowerretty flowerretty flower, , , ,

don't you knowdon't you knowdon't you knowdon't you know!!!! (raise left hand slowly up from

floor, make wide circle with hands

or arms)

The Vegetable Song (Tune: "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star")

Carrots, Peas, and Broccoli,

Vegetables are good for me.

For my snack and in my lunch,

Veggie sticks are great to munch.

Carrots, Peas, and Broccoli,

Vegetables are good for me.

Out in My Garden

Sung to: "Down by the station"

Out in my garden

Early in the morning

See the little vegetables, all in a row

see the rows of carrots

and the rows of peas.

Water, hoe, grow, grow

In my garden please.