We Like Ice Cream!

For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, summer is almost here. Our new book is We Like Ice Cream. All the animals like to eat ice cream, but the octopus really LOVES ice cream. How many ice cream cones can an octopus eat at once? Download the book HERE. After you read the book, try making ice cream in a bag with this easy recipe.

Ingredients

1/4 cup milk

1/4 cup half-and-half

1 tablespoon white sugar

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup ice cubes, or as needed

3 tablespoons ice cream rock salt

Directions

  1. Combine milk, half-and-half, sugar, and vanilla extract in a pint-size resealable plastic bag; seal tightly.

  2. Put a scoop of ice, 3 tablespoons ice cream rock salt, and the bag containing the milk-cream mixture into a gallon-size resealable plastic bag; seal tightly.

  3. Rock the bag back and forth (do not shake) until contents thicken into ice cream, about 10 minutes. Wipe salt from the top of the pint-size bag before opening to prevent salt from getting into the ice cream.

Will it Float?

Hello Everybody,

Our book of the day is Will It Float? You can download it HERE.

When reading the book, make sure your child points underneath the first letter of each word.

Next, you are ready to do some science experimenting. Gather several small objects, for example a paper clip, wooden block, key, penny, pencil etc. Fill a tub or the sink with water. Make some predictions about which things might sink and which ones might float. What does your child think?

Download a recording sheet HERE .

Try making a boat using aluminum foil, paper or playdough. What do you have to do to make the boat float?

Reading Train Alphabet is now free!

We are making Reading Train Alphabet completely free for the duration of school closures. Download it HERE on the App Store.

Listen, read, and record 24 fun, interactive alphabet books at Fountas and Pinnell reading levels A, B and C: 72 books in all!                                                     
Play the train game; win coins for the music store; collect and learn new words in the train yard to build skills, vocabulary, self-confidence and a love of reading.

Download and print out the A Book HERE.



Spring is Here!

Hello Reading train fans,

Today you can download a new book: Spring is Here         

You can create the book in 3 different ways: print it double sided, flipping on the short edge, or print out both sheets and glue them together back to back. In these cases, cut the book down the middle on the long edge and place pages 4-5 on top of pages 2 and 7. Fold and staple.  Alternatively, cut out the individual pages and staple them together in order.    

Read the book with your child, pointing underneath each word. Count the signs of spring on each page.

Go for a walk outside and look for signs of spring. Did you find some flowers beginning to grow? Are there leaves on the trees?

Make a bird nest out of playdoh and add different kinds of materials, just like birds do.  You can use feathers, twigs, bits of fabric, leaves etc.                 

Plant some seeds, water them every day and watch them grow. 

Make a “chia pet” with grass seeds if you don’t have any chia. 

Grow potatoes indoors. Put the potato in a dark place. After it sprouts, make a prediction about what the sprouts will be. Are they stems or roots? Once it starts to grow, bury it in a large pot of soil. Dig it up after a week and look at the roots. Then leave the potato to grow tall. Try keeping a journal to measure and record the growth, making drawings or taking photos. Believe it or not, your potato will make baby potatoes in a pot!

The Blue Book

Hello everybody!

This us our very first activity post to help you get the most out of the Reading Train during a time when so many schools are closed and families are practicing social distancing . We will regularly update this page so please send us your ideas for ways you have found to extend the learning. If we use your idea we will credit your child and send you a Promo Code for the app of your choice!

Our first printable book is the Blue Book. You can download a printable copy HERE. You can create the book in 3 different ways: print it double sided, flipping on the short edge, or print out both sheets and glue them together back to back. In these cases, cut the book down the middle on the long edge and place pages 4-5 on top of pages 2 and 7. Fold and staple. Alternatively, cut out the individual pages and staple them together in order.

Once you have assembled your book, help your child to find the word “Blue” on the cover and lightly color the word blue. Find the word “blue” on every page and circle the word or lightly color it blue. Colored pencils work well for this. You want to be able to still see the word when reading the book as this helps anchor the child for one-to -one matching. Next, it is time to color the vehicles blue on each page. Lastly, your child can practice reading the book, pointing to each word. Have your child point underneath the first letter of each word as this will help them to read unknown words. For example, if s/he says “airplane” for “plane“ on page 4, point out the letter p at the beginning of the word and say p, p, p plane.

After reading the book, here are some suggestions: Go on a treasure hunt around the house to find things that are different colors; Play “I Spy” with colors rather than things beginning with a letter of the alphabet; Make blue ice cubes with food coloring and watch them melt in a glass of water; Find out what happens when you mix blue paint or food coloring with other colors. Go to http://www.petethecatbooks.com/songs/ and listen to I Love My White Shoes.

Enjoy, and don’t forget to let us know how you are using the Reading Train at home.