Yippety Yaks Emergent Reader - Related to the "Yy" and Alphabet Song

The Yippety Yaks are funny people shaped like the letter "Y" with yak faces. They travel using different modes of transportation. The emergent reader can be made into a big book using the enlarged pictures, predictable chart, projected on an overhead or smartboard to use a shared reading experience.

 Sample Page of Reader

Big Book Color Sample Page

Accompanying Emergent Reader Sample Page - Color Version

Accompanying Emergent Reader Sample Page - Black and White Version

Letter "y" Recognition - Picture Mnemonics

This craft involves children being actively involved in associating the picture to the letter sound. The purpose is to have them associate the letter "y" to the initial sound heard in "yak".  Research has shown children retain the letter/sound association and recognition more effectively when introduced in this manner.  The letter "y" would be colored yellow to associate the sound and the picture of a "yak" as shown in the photograph.

 Follow-up Craft Activities

Templates to Complete the Projects are Found in the Theme Unit or Member's Area

Shape Train

The square face could be copied on blue cardstock or paper and cut. The other shapes could be colored, cut and added to the face to make the train as displayed in the photograph to the right.

 Shape Bus 

The bus could be copied on colored paper as shown in the photograph.  The shapes could be copied on another color of paper or colored.  The children would cut the shapes and glue them to the dotted lines displayed on the bus.

 Airplane Craft Silhouette

The airplane and buildings would be cut and glued to black construction paper as displayed in the photograph. Stars could also be added. 

Hot Air Balloon

The hot air balloon could be copied on colored paper or the children could color it.  A head shot and foam pieces could be added.  Two strips of construction paper were added for the strings.

Van Craft

A road would be painted brown on blue construction paper.  The van could be painted or colored, cut and glued.  The sun, cotton balls and a head photograph could also be added.

Car Craft

The children would paint or color the car.  In the photograph, foam pieces were added.  This craft could be completed similar to the van craft above.

Boat Craft

Water would be painted on light blue construction paper.  The boat would be colored, cut and glued on.  Foam pieces, sun, cotton balls and a head photograph could also be added as displayed.

Literacy Center Suggestions

Alphabet Board Game - Review of the Alphabet Sounds

Game for Older Students

This game is played in partners.  There are two game boards each having different pictures beginning with  alphabet sounds.  The pictures are all related to the "Alphabet Program" ("y" for yak).  Alphabet letters are printed on bingo chips and placed in a container.  There is also four blank bingo chips added.  Each child takes a turn picking up an alphabet bingo chip.  If they have a picture beginning with that sound they place the bingo chip on the picture.  If they draw a blank one, it is placed on the round circle.  The child who has the game board completed first is the winner.

Game for Younger Students

Younger students would use the game boards with the words of the pictures printed on it.  They would be matching the alphabet bingo chips to the beginning letters in each word.

Alphabet Train

The train template can be made into a class alphabet shape book or used as a bulletin board display.  The pictures representing each letter of the alphabet would be cut and glued on the train.  Again, the pictures are related to the ones used in the "Alphabet Program".

 Alphabet Match

The alphabet bus templates can be used in the literacy centers.  The lower and upper-case letters can be matched or younger children can match the same letters.

Picture Sorting or Visual Discrimination Activities

The pictures in the theme unit can be used for matching the words to the picture or sorting.  These would also be good for "read around the room" activities.

Connect the Alphabet Dots Balloon

Connect the Dot Alphabet Balloon

Word Family Spinners - "an", "ay" "ar" and "ain"

The bus template would copied on card stock.  The spinners would be attached.  The children would spin the wheels to make a new word related to that word family. The focus word families are "an", "ay", "ar" and "ain".

Writing Center

Shape Books

The craft templates would be great for making writing shape books.

Math Connection

The lesson plans outline a concept to teach each day of the week.  The focus in this theme is on shapes, volume, capacity  number or number word recognition.  Games and activities related to learning these skills are suggested within the theme unit. The train template could also be used to make a number train.

Math Game - Number or Number Word Recognition

Numbers are printed on bingo chips.  These are placed in a container along with blank ones.  The children take turns picking up a bingo chip.  If they draw a number they match this with the word on the board.  If they draw a blank one, it is the other player's turn and the blank bingo chip is returned back in the container. The first person to complete the board is the winner.

Younger Students

Younger students would be matching numbers instead.

Science Integration

Children will be learning about wheels, levers, ramps, chutes and pendulums in this unit as outlined in the theme unit.

Social Studies Integration

Children will be learning about perseverance and determination.

Music Integration

The song "The Yippety Yaks" on the Alpha Tunes CD would be used in this theme.

Information on How to Gain Access to This Theme Plus