With handmade, colorful masks of a brown bear, a red bird, a yellow duck and more, preschoolers from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Head Start/Early Head Start Helen Davis Center participated in an activity to observe the birthday of famous children’s designer, illustrator and writer Eric Carle.
Carle is best known for designing, illustrating and writing The Very Hungry Caterpillar and for illustrating Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? Carle has written/and or illustrated more than 80 children’s books.
“Carle’s birthday was June 25,” said Helen Davis Center Coordinator Wanda Brown. “In honor of his birthday, the Early Head Start staff at Helen Davis decided to organize a tribute to the author to recognize his works that the children enjoy so much.”
The tribute, which ran from June 25-29, included several activities where teachers read various books, and the children participated in different arts and crafts.
“On one day, the children made art projects that reflected the characters in Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?” said Brown. “When the book was read again, the children participated in a reenactment of what was happening in the story.”
Also, drawings and cutouts of animals depicted in Carle’s book, composed by Head Start teachers and decorated by the preschoolers, grace portions of the walls at Helen Davis.
“The tribute was a fun way to incorporate literacy in the classroom,” added Brown. “The children had a fantastic time while learning.”
The SIUE Head Start/Early Head Start program serves more than 1,700 families and youth from birth to age five (including children with special needs) in St. Clair County. The program includes 14 early childhood centers, seven managed directly and seven collaborations. Services include a rigorous school readiness comprehensive program that includes educational programs for family members, and health and dental screenings.
Photo:
SIUE Head Start/Early Head Start Helen Davis Center staff got preschoolers to make masks of their favorite animal in Eric Carle’s Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? Staff from left to right: Jacqueline Young, Bernadette Lucas, Avonjana Moore-Thomas, Jacqueline Hannah, Dana Young and Shantay Dotson