Emergent Reader One
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
Emergent Reader Two - Simple Story Retelling of the Book
After reading the book "The Little Engine That Could" by Watty Piper and written by Richard Walz, the simple story retelling of the book can be used as a shared reading experience. The emergent reader "Story Retelling of the Little Engine That Could" 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 from the Reader
Big Book Sample Page - Color Version
Emergent Reader Three
Connection to Literature
Read the story How Will You Get There, Maisy? by Lucy Cousins. This is a funny lift and flap 
book about modes of transportation. It has a simple story line. The children will enjoy guessing as to what is behind each flap.
Predictable Chart Related to the Story
You will find a retelling of the story in the theme book or member's area that could be made into a predictable chart. In the links below you will find sample pages. There are both black and white/color versions of the retelling.
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".
Older Students - Rhyming Activity
This game is played in partners. The teacher would print a verbal skill she wishes to focus on (could be sight words, 
colors, shapes, letters of the alphabet or numbers) in the blank squares. Each child takes a turn to roll the die. They would move their player accordingly. If they land on a picture they must find the rhyming picture on their game board chart and mark this off. If they land on a skill square they must say what is in that square. The first child to have their game board chart marked off is the winner.
Rhyming pictures and words: boat and coat, bike and trike, truck and duck, car and star, train and plane, van and can.
Younger Students - Matching Activity
Younger students would be using the game board chart and matching pictures. The blank squares could be colored or numbers/alphabet letters printed. The children would say the color/number or letter name instead of rhyming.
This is a great counting and directional activity!
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".jpg)
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
introduce the letter "Yy" for Yak. Jack the Yak asks his animal friends to hop on his back and he will take them to the fair. All his friends are too busy to take him up on his offer. At the end, they all want to go. Jack has a very broad back but can he transport all his friends?
