Movement and other learning are often intertwined in my house because I have two super active kids. Pretty much the only reason they sit still is to listen to a really good story but then they’re off again.
For that reason, I’m often looking for ways to build skills or engage them in learning where they can move their bodies. This is one such activity.
I’ve mentioned before that we have a struggling reader in our house. This was a fun way to embed reading into an activity. We read the books together and then reading was also part of the scavenger hunt but it was disguised as good fun with sprinting in between.
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I love books that similarly engage kids in some interaction with the text. I have a whole post on books that you might love if your kids also love books like PRESS HERE. The books below by Christie Matheson definitely fall into this category.
I love that her books combine playful interaction with some subtle lessons about nature. Her latest book, Bird Watch, is less interactive but it does encourage exploration which is another of my favorite picture book genres.
This activity was inspired by these books and we started there, with reading these aloud. We read all of them but you certainly could read one or two and then do the activity but will all great bookish things I think it’s best to begin with a book:
Tap the Magic Tree
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Touch the Brightest Star
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Plant a Tiny Seed
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Bird Watch
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Movement and Literacy Activity
This movement activity is essentially a scavenger hunt that incorporates some of the motions that will feel familiar after you’ve read the books. It also takes place outside which brings the natural elements of the books to life.
This is simple to set up and play. My favorite kind of activity.
Materials:
- Free Printable (see below)
- Tape
- Scissors
Set Up:
- Print out the printable and cut the strips.
- Leave the first and last clue set aside.
- Follow the scavenger hunt clues yourself and tape the clues in the spots given on the clue before. For example, the first clue is set aside but it tells you where to find the second clue. Tape the second clue in that spot. Read the second clue and then tape the third clue and so on until you get to the end.
To Play:
Read the books with the kids and then explain they are going to go on a Tap the Magic Tree walk. Give them the first clue to read aloud. For younger kids, go along with them and read the clues as they go.
Including reading all of the books above, this activity will take 30-45 minutes.
Download Free Printable
