C is for Cookie

My favorite storybook version of this classic children's song, takes place in the Southwest. I got it years ago with classroom book order points and rediscovered it recently. Since ER is was born in Santa Fe, I think it's especially suited for story time with her. The beautiful watercolor and pen illustrations by Ashley Wolff bring the story to life in the desert landscape.

On the title page Skunk is baking up a batch of cookies, but on the next the cookie jar is empty. Skunk goes on a hunt looking for the culprit, running into several friends along the way, including Raven, Turtle, and Raccoon. As each friend is encountered they join Skunk in the search, which eventually leads to the Ants. Turns out the DO have the cookies and everyone ends up enjoying them together. I like how on each page there is a hint as to which animal friend Skunk will run into next. It's really cute to hear ER chanting along with me as I read.

In case you are unfamiliar with this chant and game:

(Chant together)
Who took the cookies from the cookie jar?
The jar was full!
Where did they go?
Mmm...Oh!...
Now I know!

(Second Part Alternates)
(insert player/child's name) took the cookies from the cookie jar.
Who, me? (child)
Yes, you! (rest of players)
Couldn't be? (child)
Then who? (rest of players)

Chant together until each child's had a turn.
We didn't do this, because it's not developmentally appropriate for ER, but when still in the classroom, I did a shared reading activity using sentence strips with it. It was a lot like the one described in Day Two of this unit on Hubbard's Cupboard. This Cookie Sheet Math from Childcareland.com is another good kindergarten appropriate activity and would make a learning great center.C is for Cookies: For our book art project, we made a big plate of cookies! They're not the edible kind but at least they last a lot longer. The supplies are pretty basic but there is drying time and the cutting took ER quite awhile. She was really working on those fine motor and cutting skills!Create cookies paper with brown paint and let dry completely. You can skip and use brown paper but I think this makes a cuter finished project.
Cut up your dried cookie paper into squares. You will have more than you need. Then have your child clip off each corner.
Continue cutting and snipping off points until you have a circle like shape. I still have watch ER very closely during this step and help turn the paper and tell her where to cut.
Create a cookie sheet out of tin foil, glue on to construction paper. Glue cookies on top and add chocolate chips with a Q-tip and black paint.Counting Cookies: We also used the number boards I shared previously and mini cookies to practice number recognition, counting, and 1:1 Correspondence. If you need some basic counting boards, I suggest these downloadable ones from Excuse Me Mrs. C! (NOT product placement above, just thought I'd let you know where we got our mini cookies. Cause I know someone would ask, if I didn't share☺) Counting Chocolate Chips: I made another simple game for ER out of brown circles. Ours go up to twelve, but this game could easily be changed to fit your own targeted numbers.

To Make: Cut out twelve circles from light brown paper, these will be the cookies. Punch holes in them, so that they represent numbers 1-12, (see above photo). Cut out twenty four circles from dark brown paper. Twelve will be your chocolate chips. Layer one light brown circle on top of a dark brown one, glue together and laminate. Use the remaining dark brown circles to make calling cards and label 1-12. The dark brown paper showing through represent the chocolate chips.

To Play: Match the number calling card with the cookie with the same number of dots {or} pick up a number card and ask your child to find a number less than, greater than, or equal to it.
Don't forget to wrap up your C is for Cookie activities, with baking real cookies! They don't have to be anything fancy. Even the ones that start with "open package" are yummy☺


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