---

   Month by Month 

This page is designed to assist you with helping your child discover what is so special about each individual month. Use the poems and topics to explore the changing seasons and monthly holidays with your child. The calendar can be used to learn the months of the year, holidays, and special days relating to your family. Encourage your child to draw a picture in the frame of the calendar that represents what they think each month means to them. Discuss all the possibilities and look for things in the environment and around your home that represents the changing months.

January

 

Things to do this month

1. Go outside and and see if your shadow appears.

2. Watch the news and see if the groundhog saw his shadow.

3.  Make paper hearts and decorate.

A Poem for January

  When Skies Are Low and Days Are Dark

            When skies are low
            and days are dark,
            and frost bites
            like a hungry shark,
            when mufflers muffle
               ears and nose,
            and puffy sparrows
            huddle close-
            how nice to know
            that February
            is something purely
            temporary.

             -N. M. Bodecker

Poem Activities

1.  Read the poem aloud with your child.  As you say each word point to it, so your child will learn that each word has a sound and a look.  Talk about any  individual word or phrase your child may not be sure of the meaning. Ask your child, "What does the word muffler mean? After discussing the word, have your child draw a picture to help reinforce the meaning of the word.  It doesn't need to be elaborate; just a small, quick drawing to help them remember.

2.  Make a copy of this poem and give to your child with a pencil.  Ask your child to circle the words that begin with "W" in the first line.  Repeat with other words throughout the poem.
 

3.  Make a copy of this poem and have your child circle individual letters in the poem.  For example, ask your child to circle all the “W” in the first line of the poem.  Ask “Can you find the longest word in the seventh line.”  Help your child count down the lines if they do not understand ordinal numbers.  What is the shortest line in the poem?

4.  Talk about what the poem means. Make sure your child knows that a sparrow is a bird and a muffler is used to keep your face warm.  Talk about February being the shortest month of the year, as well as a winter month that is usually cloudy.  Draw a picture to illustrate the poem.

5.  Talk about the author.  Who is the author?  What is an author?  If you wrote this poem, what words would you add?  What words would you change?  Did the author make you ready for February to end and spring to hurry up and arrive?
 
 
 

 

Calendar Activity 
Click here to print the January calendar.

Click here to print the January calendar markers.
 

1. Discuss the important dates for February including any special days
    pertaining to your family such as birthdays or anniversaries.  Talk about
    the different holidays and the changes that usually occur in the weather
    and the environment.  Don't forget to talk about any special traditions your
    family may have for a holiday or special day.

2.  Have your child trace the word February with their finger and say each
     letter out loud.

3.  Together, count how many days are in the month, while pointing to each
     number.

4.  Discuss what the letters at the top of the calendar mean (S M T W T F S).

5. Cut out the icons representing February and any others that relate to
     your family's special days.

6. Talk about what each icon represents and paste it onto the appropriate day.

7. Draw a picture within the border of the calendar that represents an aspect
    of  FebruaJanuary.

8. Again, count the days of the month and say the special days.

9. Hang the calendar at your child's eye level and try to refer back to it
    during the month, especially around the special occasions.
 
 
 
 
 

Winter Reading List
 

These are just a few books on the subject of winter that you may want to explore with your child.  Please feel free to e-mail me the title and author of any books that you enjoy reading with your child.

Grandmother Winter by Phyllis Root
This is a wonderfully illustrated book depicting winter as a grandmother who gathers goose feathers during the spring and summer.  She then makes a white quilt that she shakes out covering the land with snow.  This book shows time as circular and these events or seasons continue year after year.

I Like Winter by Lois Lenski
This is an easy read.  Small children will love this book because of the easy to remember phrases.  They will be reading along with you in no time.

Snow Dance by Lezlie Evans
This is a picture book containing rhyming stanzas.  The children in the book hope for snow which does fall.  School is canceled and the fun begins.  The pictures are watercolors that are bright and makes reading this book extra fun.

Akiak:  A Tale from the Iditarod
This book is about a sled dog and her last attempt at the Iditarod.  Unfortunately, Akiak becomes injured and is sent home.  She resists and catches up with the sled.  This book does a great job explaining the Iditarod and detailing the courage of Akiak and how she refused to give up.  The illustrations are more like paintings and are beautifully done.

Flannel Kisses by Crotta Brennan
This book was written for children around the ages of 2-4 yrs.  This is a rhyming book that contrasts the warmth of indoors with playing in the snowy outdoors.  The little ones will really enjoy the simple water color illustrations.

The Big Snow by Berta Hader
This book tells how the animals prepare for winter and the coming snow.  The illustrations are well done and the simple text is great for 3-4 year olds.

I Like Winter by Lois Lenski
This book has easy to remember phrases that are great for emerging readers.  It won't be long and they will be reading along with you.

Winter Lullaby by Barbara Seuling
Don't let the title of this book fool you!  This is a fun to read educational book.  The author uses a question and answer format to explain how the world copes with winter.  The illustrations are fantastic.
 
 
 
 
 
 

One More Poem
 

January

The days are short,
   The sun a spark
Hung this between
   The dark and dark.

Fat snowy footsteps
  Track the floor.
Mild bottles burst
  Outside the door.

The river is
  A frozen place
Held still beneath
  The trees of lace.

The sky is low.
  The wind is gray.
The radiator
  Purrs all day.

The shepherds wait,
   The kings, the tree-
All wait for something,
   Yet to be.

Some miracle,
   And then it's here,
Wrapped up in hope-
   Another year.

John Updike
 
 
 

 
 

© 1999 - 2006 KayDee's Pages, All Rights Reserved