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Reading Bug

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Catch the Reading Bug

User Ratings: ****No Star

What You Need
  • 1 67 oz. NESTLÉ NESQUIK canister lid
  • Permanent markers
  • Crayons
  • Pencil
  • Safety scissors
  • Sheets of construction paper or craft foam in various colors
  • Pipe cleaners
  • Craft knife
  • Brads
How To Do It
  • Pick a location for the Reading Bug. Make sure there is plenty of room for it to grow!
  • Cut 6-10 circles out of construction paper or craft foam. You can add more circles as the Reading Bug grows.
  • Using permanent markers, draw a funny "bug" face on the surface of the round NESQUIK lid.
  • Center one of the circles to the back of the bug face and glue in place.
  • Curl two pipe cleaners for the Reading Bug's antennae.
  • Insert one end of each pipe cleaner into the construction paper or craft foam just above the bug's eyes and glue to secure.
  • Each time your child has completed a book, write the name of the book and the date it was finished on one of the circles.
  • (PARENTS) Make a small hole at the very bottom of the bug's face (next to the rim of the lid.)
  • Attach the first circle to the bug's face by pushing a brad through the circle (about 1/2 inch in from the edge) and then through the small hole that was made in the lid. Open the brad to secure the circle to the lid.
  • Add the second circle to the first by overlapping them slightly and pushing the brad through the two circles. As before, open the brad to secure the circles.
  • As the Reading Bug grows, attach it to a wall, bulletin board or refrigerator.
Tips
  • If you want to use the Reading Bug for more than one child, assign each child a specific colored circle. Watching their circles make the bug grow will help motivate them to read even more!
  • Suggest drawing a small picture about the book your child has finished.
  • Sometimes, talking about the book together will help give your child wonderful ideas for his or her illustration!
Follow-Up Fun
  • Take your children to the library or bookstore when a children's book author is giving a reading.
  • Attend a children's theater performance based on a favorite child's book. You can read it to your child before the play, if it is above their reading level. After the play, talk about how similar or different it was from the book.
  • Ask them if the characters in the play were as they had imagined them to be when they were reading the book.

Brought to you byNestle Family

Share Your Thoughts

Posted on: 2/16/2011 1:23 PM

Posted by: Angela M

City: Highland

This is really cute! My daughter LOVES being read to and I think she would totally get a kick out of seeing her library grow as we add new books! - A juicy bunch member :

Rated: ****No Star

Posted on: 2/11/2011 4:47 PM

Posted by: Elizabeth D

City: Bristol, VA

This is a cute activity!! My daughter loves reading so Im sure she will enjoy this activity!--a member of the Juicy Bunch

Rated: *****

Posted on: 2/4/2011 3:05 PM

Posted by: Charissa S

City: Tangent

What a cute idea! I am definitely going to have to try this activity with my kids. :

Rated: *****

Posted on: 2/4/2011 2:50 PM

Posted by: Kim S

City: Lebanon

I think this is a great article also, it will encourage my beginning 5 yr old reader to read more if possible. She loves books and loves to read. Her favorite place is the book store and I am so glad. A member of the Juicy Juice Bunch. Kim

Rated: *****

Posted on: 2/4/2011 12:08 PM

Posted by: Caryn W

City: cincinnati

I love the idea of this activity and cant wait to try it with my kids. I am hoping it will really motivate them to put the games down and enjoy some reading time.

Rated: *****

Posted on: 7/23/2008 1:38 PM

Posted by: Danielle G

City: dubois

this is a great activity it really helped my child learn to love story time! sometimes well read two books a day just so he can add on to his bug!

Rated: *****

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