Exploring Shapes with Circle Dogs {Summer Virtual Book Club for Kids}

The Summer Virtual Book Club continues this month with Kevin Henkes as the featured author! Another new to us author, we enjoyed reading the mouse books like Lilly’s Big Day, Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse, and Owen. We also like Old Bear , My Garden, and Birds. Aiden most requested to read Circle Dogs.

Circle Dogs describes a day in the life of two dogs. When we first meet the dogs, they are curled up asleep in their big square house. “See the dogs? See the circles?” You watch the dogs play in their big square yard and see them play with the kids. You see their triangle ears and pink tongues.They eat and take a nap. Then, they play some more.

Scenes from Circle Dogs

Circle Dogs sleeping

I decided to recreate scenes from the book and let Aiden play with them. I cut out shapes and helped him build the house. As we put the house together we talked about the shapes involved {squares, rectangles, a triangle, and circles}. We also talked about the colors of each of the shapes. I let Aiden rearrange the shapes however he wanted.

Circle Dogs' House

Next, we made the dogs’ big yard. A large green square was the perfect play yard. I thought about cutting out paper circles to represent the dogs, but they really didn’t do the dogs justice. I grabbed some pipe cleaners and made the dogs out of them.

Circle Dogs playing

Aiden played with the dogs in the yard making them run around and jump at imaginary shapes in the air.

Tracing Circles

To make the paper circles, I traced them with half a plastic egg. Aiden thought this was the coolest thing and wanted to try. He spent quite a while tracing circles. He held the egg half like I did and drew around it with his pencil. After making it half way around the egg, he picked up his pencil to trace the other half. The egg moved and his circle was not complete. He tried this a few more times with the same result – a messed up circle.

Tracing Circles with Help

He asked me to help hold down the egg so he could trace it. Success. A complete circle. He covered his paper with circles. As he got more competent at holding down the egg, I touched it less and less. He eventually held the egg down all by himself. He was excited.

Tracing Circles

 

 

Here are all of the blogs co-hosting the Summer Virtual Book Club.  Be sure to stop by and see what they’ve done. Toddler ApprovedMom to 2 Posh Lil DivasRainy Day MumReading ConfettiInspiration LaboratoriesPlay Dr. MomMommy and Me Book ClubKitchen Counter ChroniclesTwo Big Two LittleCreative Connections for KidsThe Golden GleamJuggling with KidsTaming the GoblinCrafty Moms ShareReady Set Read 2 MeFamiglia and SeoulThe Good Long RoadThe Educator’s Spin On ItImagination Soup3 DinosaursRoyal BalooBeing A Conscious Parent, No Twiddle Twaddle, Crayon FrecklesThe Pleasantest ThingAdventures in Reading with KidsSmile, Play, LearnCreekside Learning, and Teach Preschool

*Starting tomorrow we’re having a giveaway for Kevin Henkes books!

I’m excited to see what books and activities you have chosen.  Link up your posts about a Kevin Henkes book you read and your related activity {project, craft, recipe, etc.}.  Please grab a button and add it to your post or somewhere on your blog.
Summer Virtual Book Club for Kids
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Linking up here.

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