Toddler Program
Colores para campeones /
Colors for Champions
By Alexandra Corona and Paula Gonzales
Books to Share
- Los colores by Anne Gutman.
- Freight Train / Tren de carga by Donald Crews.
- Maisy’s Rainbow Dream by Lucy Cousins.
- Pinta ratones by Ellen Stoll Walsh.
- Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh.
- Oso pardo, oso pardo, ¿qué ves ahí? by Bill Martin.
Bulletin Board
Champion Colors
Use the photocopier or an overhead projector to enlarge the crayon pattern. Cut out crayons in primary colors from construction paper. Cover the bulletin board with white paper and arrange the crayons in various positions.
Nametag
Crayons
Cut out crayon shaped nametags using a variety of colors of construction paper, using the crayon pattern.
Displays
Colorful Stuff
Display concept books about colors on a table in the storytime area for children to check out.
Decorations
Drape various colored streamers around the children’s area of the library. Attach sports shapes, such as baseballs, soccer balls, and footballs, to the streamers, if desired.
Refreshments
Serve a colorful party mix by combining popcorn, M&M’s®, raisins, and Chex® cereal. If any children are allergic to chocolate, substitute Skittles®, gummy bears, or another colorful candy.
Rhyme
Estaba la pájara pinta
(Traditional. English translation by Alexandra Corona.)
Estaba la pájara pinta,
Sentada en un verde limón.
Con el pico recoge la hoja.
Con la hoja recoge la flor.
¡Ay, ay, ay!
¿Dónde estará mi amor?
There Was a Beautiful Bird
There was a beautiful bird,
Sitting on a lemon tree.
With his beak he picks leaves.
With the leaves he picks the blossom.
Oh, oh, oh!
Where can my love be?
Songs
The Color Song
(Author Unknown. Sing this rhyme to the tune of The Macarena. You may visit Kids Juke Box to listen to a recording and learn the melody.)
Red is rojo.
Blue azul.
Yellow amarillo.
White is blanco.
Green is verde.
Brown is café.
Black is negro.
Audio Recordings
“De colores” on De Colores and Other Latin American Folk Songs for Children by José Luis Orozco.
Flannel Board
Read Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin. Make flannel board characters based on the book to display as you read. Patterns for a bear, a fish, a sheep, a dog, a cat, a frog, a horse, a duck and a bird are included. Alternatively, if you have an old copy of the book, cut out pictures to use for your flannel board.
Crafts
Elephant Craft
Materials
- Grey construction paper
- Tissue paper, various colors
- Scissors
- Glue sticks
Directions
In advance, cut elephant shapes from grey construction paper using the pattern. Cut small squares of tissue paper in a variety colors. Let each toddler glue tissue squares on the elephant shape. The finished product will resemble the patchwork elephant in Elmer by David McKee.
Web Sites
- Primeraescuela.com
- www.primeraescuela.com/themesp/colorear.htm
- This web site has all kinds of coloring pages.
- Up to Ten Kids
- www.uptoten.com/kids/coloringpage-home.html
- Animated coloring activities for children.
- Coloring-Page
- http://coloring-page.net/kids.html
- Includes coloring pages to print.
Professional Resources
- Elmer by David McKee.
- Kids Juke Box
www.occis.com/KIDS_PLACE/KidsJukeBox/kidsjukebox.html
Ocean County, NJ offers a variety of musical selections in its Kid’s Place Juke Box.