April 1

View:
Word World #106A - Pies, Pies, Pies

Read:
The Apple Tree by Anne Rockwell

Do:
The Magic "S" Game
In “Pies, Pies, Pies!,” Pig learns that he can turn one pie into many pies by adding the letter S at the end of the word "pie." Try playing this game with your child and some of her friends for a fun and exciting way to explore how an "S" can turn words into plurals.
(Skill:  Phonemic Awareness)

Grade K
VSC 1.B.1.b.
Discriminate sounds and words
b.  Identify initial and final sounds in a word

April 2

View:
Between the Lions #123 - The Lucky Duck

Read:
One Duck Stuck by Phyllis Root

Do:
Helping Out
Make "helping hand coupons" that promise to do something nice for people you know.
(Skill:  Fluency)

Grades PreK and K
VSC 1.C.1.a.
Engage in imitative reading at an appropriate rate
a.  Listen to models of fluent reading

April 3

View:
Sesame Street #4101 - Elmo and Zoe Claim a Ball

Read:
it's Mine by Leo Lionni

Do:
When Zoe and Elmo argue over a ball they found, Luis helps them realize that instead of arguing, they can share the ball and play together.  Play ball games with your child.  Take turns rolling, bouncing, throwing, and thinking of different ways to play with it. 
(Skill:  Phonemic Awareness) 

Grades PreK and K
VSC 1.A.2.a.
Discriminate and produce rhyming words and alliteration
a.  Repeat and produce rhyming words

April 4

View:
Between the Lions #101 - Pecos Bill Cleans Up the West

Read:
Come on, Rain! by Vic Karen Heese

Do:
Stormy Weather
In this activity, use household objects to make weather sounds and have your own mini-storm!
(Skill:  Vocabulary)

Grades PreK and K
VSC 1.D.1.b
Develop/apply vocabulary through exposure to a variety of texts
b.  Discuss words and word meanings daily as they are encountered in texts, instruction, and conversation

April 7

View:
Super Why! #102 - Hansel and Gretel

Read:
The Gingerbread Man by Karen Schmidt

Do:
Gingerbread Cookie Letters
The following activity introduces your child to reading a recipe and following directions. Make these gingerbread cookie letters with your child to teach lots of literacy skills: letters of the alphabet, the names and sounds of letters and word writing.
(Skill:  Phonics)

Grade PreK
VSC 1.B.1.a./b.
Recognize and identify that letters have corresponding sounds
a.  Recognize similarities and differences in letter sounds
b.  Identify letters matched to sounds

April 8

View:
Between the Lions #110 - Lionel's Antlers

Read:
Imogene's Antlers by David Small

Do:
Imagine That!
Make mix-and-match fantasy creatures.
(Skill: Writing)

Grade K
VSC 1.E.4.c.
Demonstrate understanding of text (after reading)
c.  Respond to text by drawing, speaking, dramatizing, or writing 

April 9

View:
Sesame Street #4104 - Donald Grump Looks for An Apprentice

Read:
This is My Hair by Todd Parr

Do:
It’s a hairy day on Sesame Street, from Donald Grump’s do to Elmo’s fur.  Everyone and every monster has different types of hair.  Celebrate what makes you so unique!
(Skill – Phonics)

Grade K
VSC 1.B.2.a.
Decode words in grade level texts
a. Identify similarities and differences in letters and words. 

April 10

View:
Between the Lions #202 - Humph! Humph! Humph!

Read:
Koala Lou by Mem Fox

Do:
Emotions in Motion
Act out different feelings and see if other people can guess your emotion.  Explore feelings through books and simple games.
(Skill:  Comprehension)

Grades K
VSC 1.E.4.b.
Demonstrate understanding of text (after reading)
b.  Respond to questions (who, what, and where) and verify answers using illustrations/text

April 11

View:
Sesame Street #4105 - Super Chicken on Sesame Street

Read:
Kid Canine - Superhereo! by P.T. Custard

Do:
Super Grover is the only super hero who gives special super hugs!  Have your child draw a picture of herself performing a super hero talent, e.g. a super smile.  Help her write her talent (Superhero Smile) on the picture and display it prominently.   
(Skill:  Writing)

Grade PreK
VSC 4.A.2.c.
Compose oral and visual presentations that express personal ideas
c.  Use drawings, letters, or symbols to express personal ideas.

April 14

View:
Sesame Street #4106 - Bob's Deaf Niece Visits Sesame Street

Read:
My First Book of Sign Language by Joan Holub

Do:
Telly and Rosita meet a new friend who knows sign language.  Work with your child to sign the first letter in his name.  You can also practice signing all the letters in his first name, and other favorite words. 
(Skill:  Comprehension)

Grades PreK and K
VSC 1.E.3.a.
Use strategies to make meaning from text (during reading)
a.  Use illustrations to construct meaning from text

April 15

View:
Sesame Street #4107 - Adventures of Little Big Bird Part 1

Read:
Hey Little Ant by Phillip M. Hoose and Hannah Hoose

Do:
Big Bird discovers a whole new world when Mumford accidentally makes him very small.  With your child, pretend you are as little as an ant.  Take a trip around the house or yard noticing all the things an ant may see.
(Skill: Comprehension) 

Grades PreK and K
VSC 1.E.1.a.
Demonstrate an understanding of concepts of print to determine how print is organized and read
a.  Understand that speech can be written and read

April 16

View:
Between the Lions #223 - Good Knight, Knight

Read:
Good Night, Good Knight by Shelly Moore Thomas

Do:
Jousting Knights
Mount your steeds. It's time for a Word Joust!  Ride pretend horses and have a jousting match to make new words from word parts.
(Skill:  Phonemic Awareness)

Grade K
VSC 1.A.3.b.
Blend sounds and syllables to form words
b.  Dictate or write words, phrases, or sentences related to ideas or illustrations

April 17

View:
Word World #101A - Runaway O

Read:
The Letters are Lost by Lisa Campbell Ernst

Do:
Going on an O Hunt
In "Runaway O," the WordFriends have to find an "O" that is rolling through WordWorld. Here is a fun activity that you and your child can do to find "O"s in your home and neighborhood.
(Skill – Phonics)    

Grade K
VSC 1.B.2.a.
Decode words in grade level texts
a. Identify similarities and differences in letters and words. 

April 18

View:
Word World #102B -Chef Sheep

Read:
Food for Thought by Saxton Freyman

Do:
My Favorite Foods Book
In this activity, you can create your own food dictionary/picture book of the foods in your home.
(Skill: Comprehension) 

Grades PreK and K
VSC 1.E.1.a.
Demonstrate an understanding of concepts of print to determine how print is organized and read
a.  Understand that speech can be written and read

April 21

View :
Sesame Street #4083 -Telly Catches a Ball

Read:
Make Way for Duckling by Robert McCloskey

Do:
The letter of the day is D!  Invite your kids to go Duck Dipping.  Place several rubber ducks in the water table.  Put a piece of tape with the letter D on several of the ducks.  Provide small nets and invite the kids to dip in to catch the D ducks!
(Skill:  Phonics)

Grade K
VSC 1.B.1.a.
Identify letters and corresponding sounds
a.  Identify in isolation all upper and lower case letters of the alphabet

April 22

View:
Word World #104A - The Mystery of the Disappearing Pie

Read:
Each Peach Pear Plum by Janet and Allan Ahlberg

Do:
Looking for Pieces of Pie
In “The Mystery of the Disappearing Pie,” Sheep tries to find the pie that Pig made for Bear. In this fun activity, you can go on your own scavenger hunt to find a pie.
(Skill:  Comprehension)

Grade K
VSC 1.E.1.i.
Demonstrate an understanding of concepts of print to determine how print is organized and read
i. Recognize that letters build words and words build sentences.

April 23

View:
Sesame Street #4084 - Banana in the Stone

Read:
Bearobics by Vic Parker

Do:
Slimey and some worm friends “stretch, wiggle and yay” while having fun and exercising at the same time.  Play a song that your child likes to move to and stretch, wiggle and yay!
(Skill: Comprehension)  

Grades PreK and K
VSC 1.E.2.c.
Use strategies to prepare for reading (before reading)
c.  Ask questions about the text by examining the title, cover, illustrations, photographs, text

April 24

View:
Word World #106B - Waterlogged

Read:
Alphabet Under Construction by Denise Fleming

Do:
Mixed Up Magnets
In "Waterlogged," every time the ants pull out the letters L-O-G from the water, they think they have pulled out the wrong letters, since they are not in the right order to form the word LOG. Try this activity to have fun scrambling and unscrambling the names of some WordFriends.
(Skill:  Phonics)

Grade K
VSC 1.B.2.a.
Decode words in grade-level texts
a.  Identify similarities and differences in letters and word

April 25

View :
Between the Lions #212 - Oh Yes It Can!

Read:
Favorite Folktales from Around the World edited by Jane Yolen

Do:
Spin A Story – Have each person contribute a part to create a family story
(Skill:  Comprehension)

Grades PreK and K
VSC 2.A.3.a.
Develop knowledge of organizational structure of informational text
a. Recognize sequential order

April 28

View:
Word World #108 - Nightlight

Read:
Polar Bear Night by Lauren Thompson

Do:
Two Words Become One
In "Nightlight," the characters put two words "night" and "light" together to make a "nightlight." In this fun activity, you and your child can explore hidden words inside of words and create new words by putting two words together.
(Skill:  Vocabulary)

Grades PreK and K
VSC 1.D.1.b.
Develop and apply vocabulary through exposure to a variety of texts
b. Discuss words and word meanings daily as they are encountered in texts, instruction, and conversation.

April 29

View:
Sesame Street #4087 - As the Porridge Cooled

Read:
Bearobics by Vic Parker

Do:
Telly’s Monster on the Spot reveals that the Three Bears rand jumped through the woods while waiting for their porridge to cool.  With your child, make up a rhyme to sing and dance to do when she has to wait. 
(Skill:  Phonemic Awareness)

Grades PreK and K
VSC1.A.2.a.
Discriminate and produce rhyming words and alliteration
a.  Repeat and produce rhyming words

April 30

View:
Sesame Street #4147 - The Missing Melon

Read:
The Missing Mitten Mystery by Steven Kellogg

Do:
The Word on the Street is "disappear".  Throughout the day, give your child some disappearing challenges.  Can he make a glass of water "disappear" by drinking it?  Try blowing some bubbles; can he make them disappear by popping them? 
(Skill:  Fluency)

Grades PreK and K
VSC 1.C.1.a.
Engage in imitative reading at an appropriate rate
a.  Listen to models of fluent reading