SPOTS AND STRIPES

Books:   

Spots:

Put Me In the Zoo by Robert Lopshire

Dog's Colorful Day by Emma Dodd 

The Spotty Pig by Dick King-Smith

The Dot by Peter Reynolds

Little Blue and Little Yellow by Leo Lionni

Polka Dot Puppy by Jane Belk Moncure

Spot (the dog) books by Eric Hill

Stripes:

A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon

Stripe by Joanne Partis

Stripe's Naughty Sister by Joanne Partis

Do Pigs Have Stripes? by Melanie Walsh

Sylvie by Jennifer Sattler

Sheila Rae's Peppermint Stick by Kevin Henkes (Board)

Zebra's Hiccups by David McKee

Cat's Colors by Jane Cabrera

Other ideas:

Zebras

Ladybugs

Rainbows

Skunks

Raccoons

Activities: 

Ask kids if they can think of an animal that has stripes. Give hints if necessary. (e.g. "black and white, looks like a horse...zebra" or "orange and black, roars, you see it in big zoos.... tiger") Do the same for spotted animals. (e.g. "a black and white kind of dog....dalmation", "a kind of bug that is red and black....ladybug", or "a big cat that you might see in a zoo...leopard")

Spots, Spots, Spots

(poke baby all over gently on the ‘spots’; run fingers down baby’s face and body on the ‘tiger’ part for a fun tickle)

Spots, spots, spots, spots, spots, spots, spots, spots

A leopard has lots of spots. What a lot of spots he’s got!

A tiger’s stripes are always nice, but –

A leopard has lots of spots, spots, spots, spots, spots, spots, spots, spots . . . (repeat)  

The Tiger

(Tune: Frere Jacques)

Orange and black,

Great big cat,

(hold hands out wide to side)

Four big paws,

(hold up hands)

Long sharp claws,

(curve fingers like claws)

Through the jungle running,

(pretend to run)

Do you see her coming?

(shade eyes with hand pretending to look)

What a sight! Will she bite?

Crafts: 

Dog's Colorful Day Craft

Print out the dog picture and let kids put spots on him by dipping their fingers in colorful paint.  

Template: http://coloringpagesforkids.info/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/dog%20coloring%20page%201.jpg 

Zebra Craft

Cut out the template and a bunch of 'stripes' from black paper. Assemble your zebra!

Template: http://www.thebestkidsbooksite.com/craftdetails.cfm?TopicID=416