Mo Willems Author Study

 

This week we are going to be reading books by author and illustrator Mo Willems. His books are funny and entertaining and often voice the everyday concerns of children. KnuffleBunny talks about losing a beloved stuffed animal companion. Pigeon is impatient and wants to do what he wants to do right now!! Elephant and Piggie navigate friendship at a preschool/kindergarten level! I haven't seen anything yet that is objectionable. Unfortunately, it doesn't always remain that way, but so far, so good!

Our KDI of the week is reading- Children read for pleasure and information. We read Mo Willems books for pleasure. We'll contrast that with a non-fiction book we read for pleasure and information! Some kids love fiction, some love non-fiction. The most important thing is to read to your child! 

Table Activities- Our table activities include elephant and piggie playdough, nest building, invite to create elephant, piggie and pigeon, clean a dirty pigeon who doesn't want to take a bath, Mo Willems coloring pages, pigeon, duckling and the cookie clothespins, birdseed bin, elephant, piggie and pigeon puppets.

Small Group- Our small group activities for the week include character on the street, drawing a pigeon, adding a "Don't Let the Pigeon... to our journal, and picking our favorite book to read again.

Large Group- We'll have a blow up elephant and piggies to play with for a bit outside!

Books of the Week- Mo Willems books

Bible Story- This week our story is about the man who could not walk. Jesus was in Capernaum, a village near the Sea of Galilee. When word came that he was visiting a house in that town, so many people came that the house was full. A man who was paralyzed, either by illness or accident, was carried to the house by his friends. There was no way they could get in, so they carefully carried the man to the roof of the house and lifted up roof tiles and lowered him down right in front of Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, "Son, your sins are forgiven." The teachers of the law that were there were astonished, blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins! 

Jesus knew their thoughts and he said to them, "What would be easier? For me to forgive his sins, or to say, get up, take up your mat and walk?" To show them that he was God and had the authority to forgive sins, he did just that- he healed the man! It was no gradual healing, but immediate! The man got up, took up his mat and walked!

Amazing! Jesus forgives a man and heals a man and all the teachers of the law can think- who gives you the authority? 

Jesus is God and he is man. He came to be like us to save us. He loves us enough to die for us! How blessed we are!

Here's to hoping for a full week of school this week!