My daughter’s school is just finishing up with their garden unit. They have been watching a classroom caterpillar as it turns into a butterfly, planting flowers in the front garden, and reading garden-themed books. It’s been fun seeing her get excited about learning – especially because the topic is meaningful to her as she watches the garden grow.
To extend her learning, my daughter and I have been learning about gardening at home. We planted her own special bed of flowers, went to the library to pick out garden books, and have been looking for little creatures that live in the garden. Inchworms are definitely her favorite!
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Garden Animal Books by Eric Carle
This month, Eric Carle is the focus author of the Virtual Book Club for Kids. A young child’s bookshelf isn’t complete without a classic tale by the famous Eric Carle, who has published over sixty children’s books since the 1960s.
At the library, we read Eric Carle’s books that feature gardens and the animals that often live there:
Garden Yoga inspired by Eric Carle Books
Another way to learn about the garden is through movement. So let’s combine garden books by Eric Carle and yoga poses for kids.
To get started, make sure you have a clear space so your little ones can get creative and spread out. Better yet, go out into the garden for some yoga fun. Below, you will find five yoga poses matching the garden items in Eric Carle books. Use this list as a guide or encourage your children to invent their own garden-inspired poses. You’ll be amazed what their imaginations come up with! Make the experience all about having fun with movement, not about getting the yoga “perfect.”
Five garden yoga poses
Cricket – Lizard Pose
(From a plank position, bring your right foot to the outside of your right hand and pretend you are a cricket. Rest your left knee on the ground, if needed. Switch sides.)
Caterpillar – Locust Pose
(Lie on your tummy, lift your chest and shoulders, look up, clasp your hands back behind you, and wriggle like a caterpillar.)
Ladybug – Child’s Pose
(Come to sitting back on your heels, slowly bring your forehead down to rest in front of your knees, rest your arms down alongside your body, and take a few deep breaths. Pretend to be a ladybug resting on a leaf.)
Spider – Table Top Pose
(Come to sitting with your palms flat behind you and the soles of your feet flat in front of you. Lift your buttocks to a flat back, and pretend to be a spider.)
Flower – Flower Pose
(Come to sit on your buttocks with a tall spine, lift your legs, balance on your sitting bones, touch the soles of your feet together, and weave your arms under your legs, pretending to blossom like a flower.)
YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY OUR GARDEN YOGA CARDS FOR KIDS
LEARN ABOUT THE GARDEN THROUGH SIMPLE YOGA POSES!
Pretend to be a bird, bunny, and butterfly! Instantly download these 52 garden yoga cards to learn through movement in your home, classroom, or studio. Includes an Index Card, Yoga Tips, Pose Instructions, 20 Yoga Pose Cards, and 20 matching Garden Cards. The multicultural yoga kids are from seven countries. Ages 3+.
Purchase Garden Yoga Cards for Kids here.
My daughter being a Spider in the garden by practicing Table Top Pose.
What is your favorite garden-inspired yoga pose?
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Virtual Book Club for Kids
This post is part of this month’s Virtual Book Club for Kids. Join us every month as we explore different authors and offer fun book activities to enjoy the books.
Participating Bloggers: Toddler Approved– The Educators’ Spin On It– Rainy Day Mum– 3 Dinosaurs– Learn~Play~Imagine – Crafty Moms Share – Reading Confetti– Inspiration Laboratories – Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas – Kids Yoga Stories – Enchanted Homeschooling Mom– Ready-Set-Read – Boy Mama Teacher Mama – PlayDrMom – Fantastic Fun and Learning – Growing Book by Book– Royal Baloo – The Outlaw Mom® Blog – Kitchen Counter Chronicles – Teach Preschool – Mama Smiles – Coffe Cups and Crayons – Juggling With Kids – Here Come the Girls
Cerys from Rainy Day Mum says
June 9, 2014 at 1:29 pmThis is brilliant – I’ve been after some yoga to do with T over the summer with preschool at home and these will be perfect.
Kids Yoga Stories LLC says
June 9, 2014 at 1:45 pmThanks for stopping by, Cerys. Let us know how T goes with the yoga poses. He can also invent his own! 🙂 Giselle
Amanda says
June 18, 2014 at 3:50 pmThese are great! Sharing today on our blog!
Kids Yoga Stories LLC says
June 18, 2014 at 4:14 pmThanks, Amanda! We love Educators’ Spin On It! 🙂
Tina at Mommynificent says
June 19, 2014 at 2:30 pmAs a former teacher, how I love to hear that you are enhancing your child’s learning at home!!! Well done, Mama. Well done. 🙂 Thanks so much for linking up on Booknificent Thursday this week. Always love to have you!
Tina
Kids Yoga Stories LLC says
June 19, 2014 at 4:57 pmThanks, Tina! Yes, I totally agree – how much fun it is to integrate movement, learning, and story! Thanks for stopping by.