The following are ideas for using
From Head to Toe in the classroom.

• Submitted by Emily Darby

  I used this book with my first graders, as part of the theme, “All About Me.” Each child created a page following the pattern in the story: I am (name) and I can (movement) with my (body part). As they were illustrating their words, I took photos with my digital camera of each child acting out the movement, and published a collaborative class book with their words and photos. The kids hoot out loud each time they read the book and see each other doing funny movements, such as cartwheels and headstands!

• Submitted by Angie Spells

  I am a kindergarten teacher in a low socio-economic area of Georgia. My kindergarten children have gained a tremendous amount of word recognition from the book From Head to Toe. I made pictures similar to the animals in the book, then wrote the name of each animal on an index card. After numerous read aloud sessions with the book, the children may choose to work in the From Head to Toe matching center. With a picture and the word, the children can easily match the animal and with the correct name. This activity makes children feel really successful with “reading.” Include art supplies in the center for the children to make their own animal figures and word cards to take home.

• Submitted by Bridget

  I am a parent educator with the Parents As Teachers program in our state. I conduct personal visits to families with young children using our research-based curriculum. One of our lesson plans focuses on developmentally appropriate experiences that encourage gross motor skills during the preschool years. Head To Toe works well on these visits—we simply “act out” the book. From Head to Toe gives parents an idea of the windows of opportunity that are opened with a book.

• Submitted by Alexis

  As a student (soon to be student teacher) I worked in a kindergarten classroom. I used From Head to Toe on a flannel board (making the pieces successfully out of foamies). It was a great success. The children really loved doing the movements and listening to the story. I would suggest this book to anyone who wants to get the kids interacting.

• Submitted by Sandy Parrish

  I teach 4 year olds and we made a book similar to From Head to Toe. I let the children think about something they could do that they didn’t think anyone else could do. Some of their ideas were “I can make binoculars (out of t.p. rolls),” “I can hum Happy Birthday,” “I can walk like a crab,” and so on. I only had 2 ideas duplicated. This was by far the best book we have made. They really got into it.

• Submitted by Bobbi Erbey

  I am a story reader interested in enhancing a love for reading in children. I travel around the county reading and telling stories to mostly preschool children. These children are from all developmental levels and ALL loved this book. The story was read and each child acted it out to his/her ability. It is a wonderful way to build self esteem in children who are not sure of their language skills. Like all of Eric Carle’s books, they speak to children of all ages.

• Submitted by Gil Wahl

  I am a toddler teacher at a child care center in Minnesota. The toddlers LOVE From Head to Toe! They became such fans of it, that I decided to make my own paintings of the animals and put them on the bulletin board so that they can do the actions any time they want. (The copy of the book that I used belonged to my four-year-old son, and he wanted it back!) I put in big letters above the bulletin board, “I Can Do It” and they love to repeat it. The book has such a wonderful self-esteem message, as well as teaching young children about body parts, and just getting them MOVING!

• Submitted by Linda Da Ponte

  Eric Carle’s book from From Head to Toe is absolutely fabulous. I am a librarian for the Providence, RI school department and teach at a 60% bilingual elementary school. Using this book as the basis for dramatic play during library time destroyed the language barriers. The kids loved it. They also came up with their own ideas for what they can do for the parrot to mimic.

• Submitted by Emily at Eric Carle Studio

  One librarian from Charlotte, NC e-mailed the following message to Eric Carle:

  “It was a real treat to read your new book, From Head to Toe. I can just imagine my children imitating all the animals in the book. They can’t help it. I have also heard of a fellow librarian using this book in creative drama format. She had clippings of animals from your books, put them in a box/basket, and let the children act out what the animals do in the book after she shared the story. These are kindergartners and they remember every detail in the book. It is amazing!”

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