nfieldtrips

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IN-SCHOOL FIELD TRIP OPTIONS:
Mother/new baby

Mother and New Baby (Or Mom-To-Be):

This in-school field trip is perfect for the themes of "Home" and "Family." Ideally, if you're fortunate enough to know several families with babies of different ages/stages, you could have a mom-to-be come on one day, a newborn and mom the second day, a 1-month old the next day, 2-month old the next, etc. But seldom are we that lucky! Another option is to have 2-3 moms and babies at various ages come on the same day so that children can compare "baby stages" in action. (In any case, try to do this at a time when all the children in the classroom are healthy and it's not flu/cold season.) You should first establish rules for handling the babies. Although holding the babies can be an option at some point, instruct the children to just observe what the babies do for a period of time. As the teacher, look for moments of spontaneous discussion. For example, if an infant is beginning to stand, ask the older children why the baby holds onto something when he stands. Spend the morning discussing how everyone in our families began as babies -- even mommies and daddies. Do baby things: Have a "crawling" obstacle course. Provide baby toys in the water table and for creative play. Possible topics of discussion might include: How do babies talk? Why? Why do older children and grown-ups speak differently? Why can't little babies hold a spoon and eat? Allow the children to eat with their fingers. Why do babies wear diapers? Why don't older children and grown-ups wear diapers? Why do babies cry? Do older children and grown-ups cry for food? Why not? And so on.

I have more suggestions for this special day in the "Home and Family" section of my Thanksgiving booklet (see the "Stormie's Stuff for Teachers" section of my website).

E-mail your ideas tooStormie's Favorite Books For the Day:
*Happy Birth Day! by Robie H. Harris; Michael Emberley (Illustrator): What a great book for introducing all the characteristics of babies.
*Hello Baby, by Lizzy Rockwell: A little boy prepares for the new baby in the family.
*The New Baby, by Mercer Mayer: I have always loved Little Critter. In this book, he just doesn't understand why his baby sister can't enjoy the things he enjoys.
*Arthur's New Baby Book, by Marc Tolon Brown: This is an "Arthur" book so you know it's a goody. It has lots of flaps for children to lift that will instruct them on how to be a big brother or sister.
*Show and Tell, by Robert N. Munsch; Michael Martchenko (Illustrator): This is a funny story about a boy who stuffs his baby sister into his backpack and takes her to school for Show-N-Tell.
*Don't Wake the Baby, by Jonathan Allen: This is a cute book with real sound tabs. As hard as he may try, Daddy keeps making sounds that COULD wake a baby.

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Another field trip option related to the theme of "family" is to get permission from your local hospital to bring children to see the babies on the maternity ward.

MAKE HEAD COUNTING A HABIT!!!!!!
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