photo 3am_dj_home_zps919fb85e.png photo 3am_dj_about_zps7cce4c75.png photo 3am_dj_website_zps73051235.png photo 3am_dj_ss_zps6759ec2a.png photo 3am_dj_bs_zps43e27832.png

Sunday, March 31, 2019

SKIP COUNTING


Skip counting is counting in multiples and a way to help children with multiplication in primary grades. When you sing and move it will be much more fun and will “stick” in the brain. You can count at morning meeting or count as a brain break or while waiting in the hall.


Whisper Skip Count
One (Touch head as you whisper “one.”)
Two (Touch shoulders and say “two.”)
Three (Touch head and whisper.)
Four (Touch shoulders and say “four.”)
Five (Touch head and whisper.)
Six (Touch shoulders and say “six.”)
Seven (Touch head and whisper.)
Eight (Touch shoulders and say, “eight.”)
Nine (Touch head and whisper.)
Ten (Touch shoulders as you say “ten.”)

*To count by 3’s, touch shoulders and whisper “one,” touch shoulders and whisper “two,” touch waist and say “three.”
*To count by 4’s, whisper on 1-3 and touch knees as you say “four.”
*To count by 5’s, whisper on 1-4 and touch toes as you say “five.”

Karate Chop Skip Count (“Move It Learn It” CD)
Feet out, knees bent, karate chop as you count by 2’s to 50
2, 4, 6, 8…
Leg curls and chops as you count by 5’s to 100
Kick front and back as you count by 10’s to 200.
Wax on, wax off as you count by 100’s to 1000.
            
Macarena Skip Count
You can count by 10’s, 5’s, 2’s, or any number as you dance.

Patty Cake Skip Counting
Get a partner and patty cake as you count to 100 by ones.
Cross and give high 5 as you count by 5’s.
Clap both hands (10 fingers) to count by tens.

Sing and Skip Count
Sing and skip count by 2’s to “Twinkle Little Star.”
2, 4, 6, 8, 10,
12, 14, 16, 18,
20, 22, 24
Then start over and count some more.
2, 4, 6, 8, 10,
Numbers, numbers never end.

Practice counting by 3’s to “Are You Sleeping?”
3, 6, 9, 12 (Children repeat each line.)
15, 18, 21 (Children repeat.)
24, 27 (Children repeat.)
30, 33, 36 (Children repeat.)

4’s “Row Your Boat”
5’s “The Bear Went over the Mountain”
6’s “London Bridge”
7’s “Ten Little Indians”
8’s “This Old Man”

Hundreds Chart
Let children color in a hundreds chart to visually show skip counting.

Saturday, March 30, 2019

HOORAY FOR A NEW GAME!


As the weather warms up I'm sure you'll want a few new outdoor games.  Some of these games are older than me!!  But, good teaching is good teaching and a good game is a good game!

Build the Castle

Materials: long jump rope
Choose two people to hold the rope. The other players form a straight line and take turns jumping over the rope. The rope begins on the ground, but after everyone has had a turn, it is raised a few inches. If a child’s foot touches the rope, he or she is out of the game. Continue raising the rope until there is just one child left who can jump the height.
*A similar game called “school” can be played. When the rope is on the ground it is called “kindergarten.” Each time the rope is raised, it is called “first grade,” “second grade,” and so on.
                                     
Jump the Creek
Materials: 2 jump ropes
Place the two ropes on the ground a few inches apart to make a “creek.”
Have the children line up single file and try to jump over the creek one at a time without stepping on a rope. After every child has jumped, move the ropes a little farther apart to make the creek wider. Continue moving the ropes farther apart and letting the children jump over them. When a player can no longer jump over the rope, they must stand to the side of the game and be cheerleaders. The object of the game is to see how far the children can jump.
*You can play a similar game by drawing lines in the sand or dirt.


Sneaky Snake
Materials: none
Have the children hold hands and stand in a long line. Hold the child’s hand at the front of the line and move them in zigzags, spirals, and all around as the others follow behind.
*See if the “head” of the snake can catch the “tail.”


Red Light
Materials: none
Two lines are draw 30 feet apart. The children stand behind one line while “it” stands on the opposite line. “It” turns his or her back to the other players and calls out, “One, two, three, red light!” On this signal, “it” turns and faces the other players. If anyone is caught moving, the player is sent back to the starting line. The first one to tag “it” becomes the new leader.

Wolf and Chickens



Materials: none


Two lines are draw approximately 40 feet apart. The children are the “chickens” and line up behind one of the lines. One child is the wolf and stands between the two lines. The wolf pretends to be a chicken and says, “Cluck, cluck” and flaps his or her arms. But when the wolf shouts, “Wolf,” all the chickens must run to the other line. If the wolf tags them, they must become wolves, too, and help the wolf catch the other chickens. The game continues until all the chickens are caught. The last one caught becomes the wolf for the next game.


*A similar game called “sharks and minnows” can be played. Have the minnows get behind a line as the shark tries to catch them when “shark” is called.

Duck-Duck-Goose



Materials: none


Children form a circle and one child is chose to be “it. “It” walks around the outside of the circle saying “duck” as he or she touches each player on the head. Players squat down as they are tapped. If “it” touches a child and says “goose,” that child must chase “it” around the circle before “it” can get back to “goose’s” place. If “it” is caught, he or she must sit in the center of the circle. “Goose” then becomes “it” and the game continues.


*Adapt this game to different holidays. For example you could do “bat-bat-witch” in October.

Statue
Materials: none
Divide the children into groups of four or five. Each group thinks of a statue they can make with their bodies. (Let them think of a title for their statue, too.) Groups perform their statue for their classmates, while classmates try to guess what their title or theme might be.

*Increase the size of the groups to see how many people they can incorporate into their statue.


Mother, May I?
Materials: none
Children line up with their backs to a wall. One person is “mother” and stands about 30 feet in front of the others. One at a time “mother” names a child and tells them a different motion they must perform. For example, baby steps, scissor steps, twirls, giant steps, or frog leaps. The child must remember to ask, “Mother, may I?” before performing the movement or he or she is sent back to the starting line. The first one to reach “mother” becomes the next “mother.”

Follow the Leader
Materials: none
One person is chosen to be the leader. The rest of the class marches behind the leader and does just what the leader does. The leader can walk, hop, run, skip, wave their arms, go under something, slide down the slide, and so forth. After several minutes another child is chosen to be the leader.
                                                   
What were your favorite games when you were a child? Wouldn’t it be fun to teach your students or your own children a special game you remember from your childhood!

Friday, March 29, 2019

TAKE A FINGER PLAY HOME

Finger plays can encourage parents and children to interact together in a fun way.  

Newsletters or Social Media
Send copies of finger plays home in newsletters or post on your class blog or website.
*Parents would also get a kick out of a video where the children do finger plays with their classmates.

Finger Fun Family Book
Let children decorate a pocket folder.  Each week as you learn a finger play let them put a copy of the words in their book.  Practice saying/reading the rhyme throughout the week and then send it home on Friday.  Ask them to share the finger play with someone in their family for weekend homework.  Invite parents and friends to write comments and compliments on the page.

Take Home Backpack 
Each week as children learn a finger play make a backpack book from a lunch bag. Glue the words inside and invite children to decorate it with markers or crayons. Send home the backpack every Friday and encourage the children to “teach” their family the finger play.

           



How do you make a backpack?
Materials: lunch bags, pipe cleaners, hole punch, copies of finger plays
Directions: Turn a lunch bag upside down and punch two holes in the top as shown. Take a pipe cleaner and insert it in the holes to make a handle. Lift the top flap and fold the bottom of the bag up under the flap. Crease. Open and glue a copy of the finger play inside. Let children decorate with crayons or makers.


If you missed my webinar on finger plays you can watch it now with this link:

https://home.edweb.net/webinar/earlychildhood20190325/

Check out the new packet that Carolyn Kisloski and I have put together with 60 of our favorite finger plays. Included in this packet are full sheet, illustrated finger plays for you to use in the classroom. You may want to enlarge the pages for shared reading or make a classroom book with them. Also included in the packet are half-sheet illustrated copies of each finger play that you may send home with each child to share with their families. 

Thursday, March 28, 2019

READ ON WITH FINGER PLAYS

Finger plays can help children make meaningful connections between oral language and print.  Write finger plays on a chart and use for group reading using one of these strategies.

Choral Reading - The teacher and children read the finger play together as the teacher sweeps her hand from left to right under the words.

Shadow Reading (aka echo reading) - The teacher reads each line and the children "echo" the line after the teacher.

Take a Turn - The teacher reads line and then the children read a line.

Missing Word - Leave a word or phrase out and have the children fill it in.

Say What?  Read it the wrong way and let the children correct you by asking, "Say what?"  The children then read the correct way.

With Emotions - Read the finger play happy, sad, mad, and scared.  Chose the "tone" that works best for the rhyme.
*Read or say with other silly voices.
*You can download these "fluency cards" on drjean.org.


Print Connections - Print copies of finger plays for the children and use to identify letters, words, punctuation, and other skills you want to reinforce.
                                                                 

*Use letter pops (magnetic letters glued to jumbo craft sticks) to match letters in finger plays.
                    

Puzzles - Cut apart lines of finger plays as shown to make puzzles.



Pointers - Give children pointers to track the print as they say finger plays.

Magic wand – dip the end of a chopstick in glue and roll in glitter 
Finger nail – glue a fake fingernail to a craft stick 

I Spy – glue a googly eye to a craft stick 

Jewel – glue a fake jewel to a craft stick 



If you missed my webinar on finger plays you can watch it now with this link:

https://home.edweb.net/webinar/earlychildhood20190325/


Check out the new packet that Carolyn Kisloski and I have put together with 60 of our favorite finger plays. Included in this packet are full sheet, illustrated finger plays for you to use in the classroom. You may want to enlarge the pages for shared reading or make a classroom book with them. Also included in the packet are half-sheet illustrated copies of each finger play that you may send home with each child to share with their families. 

Wednesday, March 27, 2019

COUNT ON WITH FINGER PLAYS

"Fiveness" and "tenness" are important to developing number sense. We can do this naturally with finger plays involving five and ten.

Noodles
One small noodle (Hold up one finger.)
On my noodle plate.
Salt and pepper,
Tastes just great. (Pretend to shake salt.)
Mother’s going to the store.
Mother, mother, get some more.

Two…Three…Four… 


*Cut five small holes out of a paper plate and insert your fingers as you say the rhyme.
                      


Five Little Ducks
Five little ducks (Hold up 5 fingers.)
Went out to play
Over the hills (Move hand up and down.)
And far away. (Put hand over your eyes as if looking.)
When the mother duck called,
“Quack, quack, quack!” (Put palms together and open and shut.)
Four little ducks (Hold up 4 fingers.)
Came waddling back. 

Four…three…two…one
No little ducks went out to play (Make fist.)
Over the hills and far away.
When the daddy duck called,
“QUACK! QUACK! QUACK!” (Open and close arms and say loudly.)
Five little ducks came waddling back. 

                                      
*Staple the sides of a file folder and glue felt to the front to make a flannel board. Cut ducks or other figures out of felt to use as visuals for finger plays.

Alligator and Monkeys
Five little monkeys (Hold up 5 fingers.)
Swinging from a tree,
Teasing Mr. Alligator, (Point finger as if teasing.)
“Can’t catch me!
You can’t catch me!” (Shake head “no.”)
Along came Mr. Alligator (Put palms together and slowly
Quiet as can be, move like an alligator.)
And snatched a monkey (Open and clap palms as if
Right out of the tree! chomping on something.)


Four…three…two…one
“Missed me, missed me!
Now you gotta kiss me!” (Put hands on side of your head and wiggle.) 


*Attach stickers to craft sticks to make puppets for finger plays.

*Choose one child to be the alligator and five other children to be the monkeys and act out the rhyme.

Five Little Hotdogs
Five little hotdogs (Hold up 5 fingers.)
Frying in the pan.
The grease got hot,
And one went BAM! (Clap hands.)
Four little hotdogs… (Hold up 4 fingers.)
Three little hotdogs… (Hold up 3 fingers.)
Two little hotdogs… (Hold up 2 fingers.)
One little hotdog… (Hold up 1 finger.)
No little hotdogs (Hold up fist.)
Frying in the pan.
The pan got hot,
And it went BAM! (Clap hands and say the last word loudly.)

                                                    
*Draw the shape of a pan on a file folder. Cut a 6" slit across the center as shown. Cut hotdogs out of construction paper and tape to spring clothespins.
*Write numbers on plastic plates and have children make the appropriate number of hotdogs from play dough.


*Change “hotdogs” to “sausages.”  Or, change the rhyme to popcorn and say:
Five little kernels sizzling in the pot.
The grease got hot and one went POP!”

Gummy Bears
Down at the candy shop what did I see?
Five little gummy bears smiling at me.
Along came (child’s name) with a penny one day.
He/she bought the green one and took it away.

Down at the candy shop what did I see?
Four little gummy bears smiling at me.
Along came (child's name) with a penny one day.
He/she bought the red one and took it away.

Three...two...one
              
*Cut gummy bears out of construction paper.  Choose five children to hold the bears.  Distribute paper pennies to five other children and use their names as you say the rhyme.


Ten Little Friends 
Ten little friends (Hold up fingers.)
Went out to play (Wiggle.)
On a very bright
And sunny day.
And they took a little walk.
Walk, walk, walk. (Walk fingers in front of your body.)
And they had a little talk.
Talk, talk, talk. (Put fingertips together.)
They climbed a great big hill (Move fingers over your head.)
And stood on the top very still. (Keep hands still.)
Then they all tumbled down (Roll hands around and down.)
And fell to the ground.
We’re so tired, (Hold up fingers.)
They all said.
So they all went home
And went to bed.
10 – 9 – 8 – 7 – 6 – (Put down fingers one at a time as you
5 – 4 – 3 – 2 – 1. count backwards and lower your voice.)
Good night! (Lay head on hands.)


If you missed my webinar on finger plays you can watch it now with this link:

https://home.edweb.net/webinar/earlychildhood20190325/


Check out the new packet that Carolyn Kisloski and I have put together with 60 of our favorite finger plays. Included in this packet are full sheet, illustrated finger plays for you to use in the classroom. You may want to enlarge the pages for shared reading or make a classroom book with them. Also included in the packet are half-sheet illustrated copies of each finger play that you may send home with each child to share with their families. 

Tuesday, March 26, 2019

HOW TO USE FINGER PLAYS

If you missed my webinar on finger plays yesterday you can watch it now with this link:

https://home.edweb.net/webinar/earlychildhood20190325/

Each week choose a finger play that you would like to teach your class. You can pick a finger play that you like or relate it to a theme. Glue the words of the finger play on an index card and practice it several times before doing it with your class. (Finger plays are wonderful to recite if you can't sleep at night or if you're sitting in traffic!) 



Sit on the floor or in a chair with the children in a circle. You want to get "close" to them so you can look them in their eyes. Prompt them before you begin by having them make a motion that will relate to the finger play. For example, "Show me your turtle," as you stick out your thumb. "Where's your bunny?" as you hold up two fingers like bunny ears. Always model what you want your children to do.
            

Begin saying the finger play slowly using lots of expression. Children love drama and will be drawn in by your voice and facial expressions. YOU can add the magic to anything! As you complete the finger play say with a smile, "That was so much fun, let's do it again." Do it a third time as you say, "You are learning this so quickly. Let's try it once more so we can save it in our brains!" Repetition helps children feel confident and builds auditory memory.

REFOCUS
Use the finger play several times each day during the week to focus the children's attention.  If their eyes and hands are busy doing a finger play with you they won't be fidgeting.

WAITING
Take advantage of those "teachable moments" as children wash hands, clean up the room, etc. to practice finger plays.

CIRCLE TIME
Start circle time each day with a finger play.

Play List
On Friday tell the children that they have done a great job learning the finger play. Write the title on a sentence strip and add a picture clue. Explain that you will start a PLAY LIST OF FINGER PLAYS and challenge them to learn a new one each week to add to the play list.



Finger Play Ring
Punch a hole in the index card and insert it on a book ring. In several months you will have a ring of rhymes that you can use to entertain the children.
                              


Finger Play Juke Box
Glue finger plays to 6” circles and place them in a gift bag. Write “Juke Box” on the front of the bag. When you have a few extra minutes hand a child a pretend quarter. Tell the child to, “Put it in the juke box and pull out a rhyme.” That child can lead the class in the finger play.
                                               


Finger Play Book
Get a pocket folder and invite the children to help you decorate it. Each week as you learn a new rhyme put a copy of the words in the book.  (Clear sheet protectors work well for this.)  During transitions use the book to entertain the children. (And when I say "entertain" there's more going on here because finger plays really do make children smarter!)


         


Check out the new packet that Carolyn Kisloski and I have put together with 60 of our favorite finger plays. Included in this packet are full sheet, illustrated finger plays for you to use in the classroom. You may want to enlarge the pages for shared reading or make a classroom book with them. Also included in the packet are half-sheet illustrated copies of each finger play that you may send home with each child to share with their families. 

Monday, March 25, 2019

TODAY'S THE DAY!

I'm doing my edwebinar on finger plays this afternoon at 2.  I know that 
most of you will be teaching, but go ahead and sign up because you 
can watch it later.  It's FREE and you can even get CE Certificates.
https://home.edweb.net/webinar/earlychildhood20190325/?fbclid=IwAR0znFTQxags2uZ_tdmefmEFPIA0UcMyXZl9ueD5vt0wlbGNqTxpy90graE


I'm going to be sharing tons of information about WHY finger plays are important, as well as ways to use them as a springboard for skills you are working on. No worries about trying to remember everything because the next few days you'll find a review of the information on my blog.



Monday - WHY finger plays are important and how they can help children focus and learn.


Tuesday - HOW to introduce finger plays and props for your pocket.

Wednesday - COUNT ON and nurture number sense with finger plays.

Thursday - READ ON and integrate language arts standards with finger plays.

Friday - HOME/SCHOOL BRIDGES with finger plays.



WHY should you do finger plays with children?


Finger plays are even older than me! (And that's pretty old!) However, I hope they never go out of style because they are such an amazing way to reach and teach children. If someone says, "Finger plays are old fashion," just smile and hand them this list!!



Engagement – Doing a finger play is a natural way to engage children’s attention and help them focus.

Oral language – Repetition of finger plays builds oral language skills.

Auditory memory – Children activate their short-term memory as they memorize finger plays.

Comprehension – Most finger plays have a simple story plot for children to follow.

Imagination – With so much time spent in front of a screen, finger plays encourage children to make pictures in their brains.

Sequence – Remembering the sequence in finger plays can help children retell stories.

Phonological awareness – Finger plays build a foundation for rhyme, rhythm and alliteration.

Eye-hand coordination – Visual connections with finger plays are important for writing and reading.

Small motor skills – Doing finger plays is like sending the fingers to the gym to exercise.

Active Learning - Multiple senses are engaged as children watch and wiggle their fingers and repeat rhymes.

Purposeful Practice for Automaticity (aka repetition) - Children will enjoy saying these rhymes over and over.

Brain Breaks - Children will be oxygenating the brain and crossing the midline as they do finger plays. Many finger plays involve bi-lateral coordination (doing different motions with different hands at the same time).

Executive function – Children develop self-regulation and impulse control when they participate in finger plays.  There's task initiation and completion - a beginning and an end.

Social skills – All children can be successful with finger plays and this group experience.

State Standards – You got it! Speaking, listening, comprehension, phonological awareness all rolled into one!

Skills for the 21st Century – You’ve got those, too, with communication and cooperation.

Transitions - Research says almost 20% of instructional time is lost due to transitions.  You can take advantage of those times by entertaining the children with a finger play.

Best of all, finger plays are FREE! They are non-allergenic, simple to do, and FUN!

Check out the new packet that Carolyn Kisloski and I have put together with 60 of our favorite finger plays. Included in this packet are full sheet, illustrated finger plays for you to use in the classroom. You may want to enlarge the pages for shared reading or make a classroom book with them. Also included in the packet are half-sheet illustrated copies of each finger play that you may send home with each child to share with their families. 

http://bit.ly/drjeanFingerPlays

Sunday, March 24, 2019

THE BEST NEST

Happy Sunday!  I'm excited about doing my webinar tomorrow afternoon.  Start wiggling your fingers and get ready to join me.  Although most of you will be teaching, if you sign up you can watch it later.  
  

https://home.edweb.net/webinar/earlychildhood20190325/?fbclid=IwAR0znFTQxags2uZ_tdmefmEFPIA0UcMyXZl9ueD5vt0wlbGNqTxpy90graE


There are so many wonderful fiction and non-fiction books about birds, nests, and feathers.  This nest is a hands-on way to begin a unit and capture the children's interest.

Lunch Bag Nest
Open a paper lunch sack and roll out and down until you reach the bottom and it looks like a nest. Give children a bird identification book and invite them to choose their favorite bird.  Provide construction paper, scissors, and markers and let them make their bird.  Make the shape of a tree on a bulletin board.  Staple the nests in the tree and then let children put their birds in their nest.

 

Tissue Bird
You can also make a little bird out of two tissues.  Open one tissue and lay on the table.  Wad the other tissue up into a ball and place in the middle of the flat tissue.  Gather around the ball to make a head and tie with a piece of yarn.  (An adult will need to do this.)  Let children add eyes and a beak cut out of construction paper or let them draw with a marker.
 
      
P.S.  A teacher said her class made these.  When they were out on the playground they put a few jelly beans under each bird.  Can you imagine the children's faces when they returned to the classroom!!!!
                                                          


Paper Plate Bird and Nest
Let children make birds or nests out of paper plates similar to the ones in the picture.




What’s in the Egg?
First, brainstorm all the different animals that come out of an egg. Now, you’re ready to make a flip book called “What’s in the Egg?” Fold a sheet of paper in half lengthwise, then fourths and eighths. Open and cut the crease to the middle fold. Fold in half to make 4 little flaps. Children draw eggs on the front of each flap. Open the flaps and challenge children to draw 4 different things that might come from an egg. When they hold this book up to the light, they will see their little critters inside the egg.

                                      

Two Little Blackbirds
Two little blackbirds sitting on a hill. (Stick up both thumbs.)
One named Jack (Wiggle right thumb.)
And one named Jill. (Wiggle left thumb.)
Fly away Jack. (Put right thumb behind back.)
Fly away Jill (Put left thumb behind back.)
Come back Jack. (Bring back right thumb.)
Come back Jill. (Bring back left thumb.)
                                                                          
Opposite variations:
One named Happy and one named Sad… (Say happy and then sad.)
One named Loud and one named Soft… (Say loud and then soft.)
One named Fast and one named Slow… (Move one fast and one slow.)
Continue letting children think of names and motions for the birds.

Saturday, March 23, 2019

HAPPY "BIRD" DAY!

  

Have you signed up for my finger play webinar yet?  I know you'll be teaching Monday afternoon, but if you sign up you can watch it anytime.  


https://home.edweb.net/webinar/earlychildhood20190325/?fbclid=IwAR0znFTQxags2uZ_tdmefmEFPIA0UcMyXZl9ueD5vt0wlbGNqTxpy90graE

If you've been to my workshops you know I just love these activities that you can integrate into a spring theme or science unit. I mean, who doesn't love birds? They are joyful and carefree and decorate our world like ornaments on a Christmas tree. I hope you can share your passion for nature and our feathered friends with these ideas.
SHHHH! DON'T WAKE UP THE BIRDIES!!!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfZuGmjlyPM

Birdies
Way up in the sky
The big birdies fly.
Way down in the nest
The little birds rest.
With a wing on the left,
And a wing on the right.
The little birds sleep
All through the night.
SHHHHHH!
DON’T WAKE UP THE BIRDIES!
Then up comes the sun,
The dew falls away.
Good morning! Good morning!
The little birds say.

Baby Bird Cut and Tell Story
Materials: construction paper, scissors, marker
Directions: Begin this story with a sheet of paper, scissors, and marker in your lap. Follow the directions as you tell the story. (You can either cut the paper or tear it.)

It was spring time and mother and father bird decided to build a nest. Who can tell me some of the things they might have used to make their nest?
(Fold the paper in half and cut accordingly.)

              
Mother bird sat on the nest and laid a beautiful egg.
(Open the nest to reveal the egg shape.)
                           
Now, mother bird could not leave the egg. She had to sit on it and keep it warm and safe. Even when it rained and the wind blew hard, mother bird had to sit there and protect her egg. Fortunately, two little bugs who lived in the tree made friends with mother bird and kept her company. This is one little bug. His name was _____. (Use a child’s name in the class.)
                                      
                                                      

(Draw a little dot for the bug.)
This is the other little bug. Her name was _____, (Use another child’s name in the class.)
(Draw another little dot on the opposite side.)

One day as mother bird was sitting on the egg, she heard a little cracking sound. She looked down and saw a little crack in her egg.
(Cut a little slit on the fold slanted toward the eyes.)
                                                                     
Then she heard a great, big cracking sound.
                                                                                 
(Cut around the eye and slit as shown stopping before you get to the end of the egg.)

And guess what mother bird saw coming out of the big crack in her egg?
She saw her baby bird!
(Open the egg and bend up the beak as shown.)



Hint! You can also cut this story out of a paper plate.


Here's a copy of the story:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1SnEagA4jljOGhrSnJKWVVfekU