MaiStoryBook Library

MaiStoryBook Library: On a Magical Do-Nothing Day + New Year Nature Walk Scavenger Hunt

Introducing this *First Friday of 2018* magical~imagination read aloud featured in this week’s MaiStoryBook Library Collection:

“On a Magical Do-Nothing Day” by Beatrice Alemagna

Book Synopsis and Review

It’s raining and gloomy outside~ and all this little girl wants to do is lounge around indoors and play her game *aka defeat the Martians.* However, when Mom reprimands her for having another *do-nothing* day, and confiscates her electronic, handheld game, the little girl sneaks it back and then slinks outside. When she accidentally drops her precious  game into an icy pond, she sulks that nothing can be fun without her game…that is~  until a parade of glowing snails creep by~ guiding our young heroine into the magical world of nature and Earth around her. With no screen to distract her, this little girl will begin to see her world in a whole new way.

Fall in love with this magical story about the wonders of the world around you. Technology and ipads and phones can be fun, but sometimes if you stare at the screen too much, you miss all of the amazing, exciting things all around you. This story brings to life the adventures that can happen when you take a break from screentime, and highlights how stepping outside can lead to a whole new universe to explore. Beatrice Alemagna creates brilliant illustrations that will lure you into the story realm, so that you too become lost in this beautiful tale of unplugged exploration. I love this book for encouraging children and family to put away the screens, and rediscover the adventure that awaits just right outside the door. It’s the perfect message to start off the new year~ and could make for a great new years resolution as well~ less screen time and more time to read and play outside! Check out this book and *interactive read aloud* to find out just what can happen *On a Magical Do-Nothing Day.*

Vocabulary List

  • Pond (p. 11) a small body of water
  • Hurricane (p. 16) a storm with very strong winds and a lot of rain
  • Antennae (p. 18) long, thin parts that poke out from an insects head, usually used to help the insect see or smell
  • Damp (p. 20) a little wet
  • Strainer (p. 24) a bowl that has holes in it

Themes/Main ideas

  • Unplugged Childhood: Take a break from the screens for an opportunity to discover the wonders of the world right outside your door!
  • Break from Boredom: With a little imagination and the great outdoors, the possibilities of adventure are endless!

YouTube Video: Guided Shared-Reading Read Aloud Example

Example of a shared-reading, interactive Read Aloud of “On a Magical Do-Nothing Day” – how to subtly introduce the vocabulary list words within the text, ask guided questions, and spark conversation!

*~Check it Out~*

Subscribe: MaiStoryBook Youtube Channel for additional read aloud videos!

Follow: MaiStoryBook on Vimeo for additional read aloud videos!

New Year Nature Walk Scavenger Hunt Activity

It’s the beginning of a Brand New Year~ the time for reminiscing on the past year and creating resolutions for the new one. I have several resolutions for this year~ and other than continuing to bring read aloud adventures to you every Friday~ one of my goals is to spend more time being *present,* to enjoy and cherish the moments I’m living in~ meaning *in part* putting down and away the technology and electronics, and being mindful of my own thoughts  and/or being truly present with loved ones, family, and friends. I am a huge advocate for an *unplugged childhood,* keeping children away from screen time as much as possible. While I do create interactive read aloud youtube videos that children engage with over screen time, I make sure to engage the child in conversation throughout the videos so that they aren’t just passively staring at the screen. Research shows that for read alouds, especially for young children, it isn’t beneficial for them to just hear the book being read *aka a typical, straight-through video/recording read aloud of a book.* Rather, it is the conversation that occurs during a reading that enhances children’s comprehension skills, book knowledge, and vocabulary use and development. But~ since watching an *interactive* read aloud video is only the second best things for a child to do~the ultimate activity for children is to explore the physical world around them. For this week’s activity, we have a *New Year Nature Walk Scavenger Hunt* ~ the perfect opportunity to put down the screens, and to explore the outside world with your little one! Be prepared for an afternoon of exploration of the amazing place and space around you that you call *home.*

Materials 

  • Scavenger sheet print out (find it here)
  • Markers
  • Walking shoes!
  • Small bag to carry found items *optional*

Directions

  • Print out the Scavenger Hunt Sheets (2 pages)
  • Preview the sheets so you and your child know what to look out for while walking  *snails, mushrooms, birds, puddles, etc.*
  • Grab a couple markers to take with you on your nature walk.

  • Take a little baggie with you to hold any items you and your little one collect along the way.
  • Put on your walking shoes and head outside to discover the magical world around you!

  • Fill in the scavenger hunt sheet as you find/complete each activity~ either having your little one draw or write *or you can write for them* to record their observations.

 

Enjoy Your Nature Walk Scavenger Hunt

  • Enjoy your time outside!
  • Add additional activities to the scavenger hunt, or create a new list for a second nature walk!
  • Use the record sheet as a guide to share with other family members or friends all of your discoveries on your nature walk
  • At home, draw a picture/illustration of your nature walk adventure~ illustrate your favorite part of the walk

*~Overall, have fun adventuring on your own *New Year Nature Walk Scavenger Hunt*, and I hope you and your little ones enjoy the magical outdoors! Please comment below  – tag me on Instagram @MaiStoryBookLibrary  – or post on FaceBook to share your photos of your own *Nature Walk Scavenger Hunts*  and your own reading adventures! I’d love to hear from you!~*

*Check Back on Next Friday for our New Reading Adventure*

*~Until next time, Happy Reading~*