Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Fun Giveaway: Book filled with Activity Ideas for Children K-3

Building Character from the Start: 201 Activities to foster creativity, literacy, and play in K-3 by Susan Ragsdale and Ann Saylor is full of ideas for sparking meaningful conversations between children and adults. It seeks to engage children holistically, by letting them create, read, and play.

The first part of the book (the section that concentrates on "creating") is a set of "finish the picture" type worksheets with suggestions for discussion based on the pictures.

Next, the authors describe favorite picture books and give ideas for activities and conversations connected to each. (I tried one of the fun book activities, and wrote about it here)

Unit three, "Play and Move" is my favorite part of the book. Lots of fun and creative group activities and games here! Not only is there great variety, but the activities seem like they've been tried in real life and are well thought-out.

Many of the activities in sections one and three are tied to the picture books discussed in the middle of the book, making it easy for a teacher to easily create a book themed, multi-faceted day of character-building.

This book has useful ideas for parents, but would be especially helpful for teachers, daycare workers, and afterschool programs.

Susan Ragsdale and Ann Saylor have generously provided a copy of this book (with a companion CD full of hand-outs) for a giveaway. For a chance to win it, just leave a comment in the section below, making sure to leave your email address so I can contact you if you win!

For additional chances to win:

1. Visit Ragsdale and Saylor's blog Great Group Games, and leave a comment for them. When you have left a comment on their blog, come back here and leave an additional comment on this post saying that you have done so.

2. Subscribe to the RSS feed here and leave an extra comment to that effect (if you already subscribe, leave a comment with that fact)

3. Become a friend of Having Fun at Home with Google friend connect and leave an extra comment to that effect.

The giveaway will end at midnight on November 2nd.

55 comments:

Annette said...

sounds like a good book

Annette said...

I subscribe.

shelby brigham said...

I would love to win this :)
snugles4433@hotmail.com

Aysha said...

Left a comment on Great Group games as Aysha
aysha.iqbal19ATgmailDotCom

Aysha said...

Follow you on GFC
aysha.iqbal19ATgmailDOTcom

Unknown said...

Looks fun and useful--I'd love to win!
--Carla (yes_carla@yahoo.com)

Unknown said...

And I now follow your site--I can't wait to see what you're up to!
~Carla

Elsie said...

Thid would be a wonderful gift for the young parents of a little girl, they are beginning teachers too. so they coould share the information with grandparents and and reach many children,...this book sounds so worthwhile!

pumpkinlady430@yahoo.com

Chelsea said...

This book looks wonderful. I would be so grateful to win. Thanks for all the great ideas you share on your blog!

My email is river26[at]gmail.com

CJ said...

I have been looking for a book like this. This sounds great.

CJ said...

Left a comment at the The Great Group Games blog.

Springjoy said...

Oh, I'd love this book!

alaskawildrose AT gmail DOT com

Mary Preston said...

Fabulous book. I would love this.

marypres@gmail.com

Monica said...

I would love to win this I am always looking for new activities to do with my little girl.

Thanks!

Kim said...

we would love this!

Sundi said...

This books sounds wonderful for my kiddos!
sunrutsw at gmail dot com

Grace said...

I would love to have this for my Kindergartner and 2nd grader.
Thanks,

myyearinhaiku at gmail dot com

Renae H said...

This book looks wonderful!

remaho80[at]aol[dot]com

Tessy said...

looks awesome: )

tessyfishburn@hotmail.com

Unknown said...

Sounds great! I would love a chance! Thanks!
terraljones at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

I subscribe

thanks!
terraljones at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

I follow on GFC

thanks!
terraljones at gmail dot com

pinkveganmiso said...

My homeschool could use this book.

pinkveganmiso(at)yahoo(dot)com

Kathryn said...

This would be awesome!

kathrynbaby2004@yahoo.com

Ginny said...

I just graduated with my education degree and this would be another great book to have!
virginia.wilfong @gmail.com

Sue said...

Sounds like a useful book!

Rob & Michelle said...

Count me in!

Unknown said...

fun!

Anonymous said...

This looks like an awesome book!
jltreasure at gmail

Anonymous said...

I follow you in GFC
jltreasure at gmail

Baby Mama said...

I left a comment on their blog
sarahlovesvegas@hotmail

Baby Mama said...

GFC sarah_roxy_21
sarahlovesvegas@hotmail

phxbne said...

sounds interesting

phxbne said...

friend of Having Fun at Home with Google friend connect

phxbne said...

Subscribe to the RSS feed

Aisha said...

This would be a great gift for my son.

tina reynolds said...

My kids would also love this thanks for chance they also have a ebook coming out eaglesforjack@gmail.com

tina reynolds said...

i subscribe

Joy said...

I follow on Google Friend Connect. Joy G. abbeyzmom at gmail (dot) com

Joy said...

Subscribe through RSS. Joy G. abbeyzmom at gmail (dot) com

Susan said...

I'm always looking for great activity ideas for my 1st grade daughter!

susan (at) cravingthesavings (dot) com

Susan said...

I'm a new GFC follower


susan (at) cravingthesavings (dot) com

Susan said...

I visited Great Group Games and left a comment here:

http://greatgroupgames.blogspot.com/2009/11/introducing-our-newest-book.html

susan (at) cravingthesavings (dot) com

Susan said...

I'm a RSS subscriber now too.

susan (at) cravingthesavings (dot) com

Jay said...

I would love to win this for our family!
rbjj32825[at]lycos[dot]com

The Schneiders said...

Always looking for fun activities to do with my little ones.
schneider710 at yahoo dot com

Kathryn said...

This would be awesome!

kathrynbaby2004@yahoo.com

Jay said...

I would love to win this for our family!
rbjj32825[at]lycos[dot]com

Tess Fishburn said...

looks awesome: )

tessyfishburn@hotmail.com

Sundi said...

This books sounds wonderful for my kiddos!
sunrutsw at gmail dot com

Monica said...

I would love to win this I am always looking for new activities to do with my little girl.

Thanks!

Chantel said...

Oh, I'd love this book!

alaskawildrose AT gmail DOT com

Chelsea said...

This book looks wonderful. I would be so grateful to win. Thanks for all the great ideas you share on your blog!

My email is river26[at]gmail.com

Aysha said...

Follow you on GFC
aysha.iqbal19ATgmailDOTcom

shelby brigham said...

I would love to win this :)
snugles4433@hotmail.com