Author Study: Eric Carle

Why study Eric Carle for a whole month?
Two reasons.
The first is that Eric Carle shares so much in his books.
There is the general theme the book, and then there are the extra treasures.
These additional bits of details provide opportunities to excite young children in areas from reading, science and math, to working through challenges with patience and perseverance.

This week we looked closely at Pancakes, Pancakes.
We learned about beginning, middle and end.
There is a process to making a pancake, whether you lived years ago on a farm, or now in 2020.
 First you:
Moshe: Get the stuff you need from a farm, or a store or your house if you have it.
Kenya motioned that you mix all "the stuff" together.
Moshe: Put it in a pan.
Evan: Cook it.
Moshe: Flip it and eat it.
Morah Katie: What did you enjoy most about Pancakes,Pancakes?
Evan: He finally got to eat them.
Morah Katie: Finally. That is such an interesting word.  When would we use it? At the beginning, middle or end?
Evan: The end.
Moshe: I liked that he took all the ingredients and finally got to make it.
Morah Katie: He got to mix all the ingredients, finally.  Again, that word.  When he finally got to mix the ingredients, when was that? Beginning, middle or end?
Moshe: The end, no the middle.   
Morah Katie: It was after he got all the ingredients, and before he ate it. The middle.

When you create a craft inspired by a book, you also follow steps.
First you cut the  circle for the pancake. Then you cut out  "splats" of strawberry jam. Next you glue a pat of butter and your jam to your pancake. Finally, you glue your pancake to your plate.

We also looked closely at The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

Morah Katie: On what day did he break out of his egg?
Moshe: Sunday.
Morah Katie: On what day did he eat an apple?
Evan: Monday.
Morah Katie: How many apples did he eat?
Zoey: One.
Morah Katie: On what day did he eat pears?
Eli: Tuesday.
Morah Katie: How many pears did he eat?
Eli: Two.
Morah Katie: On what day did he eat plums?
Moshe: Wednesday, 
Morah Katie: How many plums did he eat?
Zoey: Three.
Morah Katie: On what day did he eat strawberries?
Moshe:Thursday.
Morah Katie: How many strawberries did he eat?
Evan: Four.
Morah Katie: On what day did he eat oranges?
Moshe: Friday.
Morah Katie: How many oranges did he eat?
Evan: Five

Morah Katie: On what day did he eat all the food, lollipops, cake, watermelon?
Evan: Saturday.
Morah Katie: What happened when the little caterpillar did not make healthy eating choices?
Evie: Tummy ache.
Morah Katie: On what day did he did he eat the green leaf?
Moshe: Sunday, and then he went to sleep in his cocoon and then woke up as a butterfly.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar helped us learn about,
Moshe: Days of the week and numbers, colors.
Lael: He came from an egg.
Morah Katie: We learned that caterpillars begin their life from an egg.
Evan: He then went into his cocoon and came out as a beautiful butterfly.

The second reason to spend an entire month on one author is to help the children gain from the benefits of repetition.
Repetition is foundational for learning. It provides the practice that children need to master new skills. Repetition increases confidence and strengthens the connections in the brain that help children learn.
The more opportunities they have to listen and look at an author’s book, the more likely it is that the story will be retained.

Morah Katie: Who wrote The Very Hungry Caterpillar?
Eli: Eric Carle.
Morah Katie: Who illustrated The Very Hungry Caterpillar?
Kenya: Eric Carle.
Morah Katie: Who wrote Pancakes, Pancakes? 
Moshe: Eric Carle.
Morah Katie: Who illustrated Pancakes, Pancakes?
Evan: Eric Carle.

Hearing a story multiple times, and looking at the pictures allows children to "read" the story on their own.
Repetitious reading allows children to predict a story’s outcome. Predicting is an important step in learning to read, as well as developing a positive attitude toward books.

This process of "memorized reading" motivates a child.
Having become familiar with the pictures, the child is able to retell a story to themselves or to a friend. This satisfies the child's need to begin gaining independence, and his need to be of value to others.

http://www.thegan.org