This Little Chick
Felt Board Fun (or Puppets)

This goes especially well with the "This Little Chick" poem.  You can use the templates (found at the bottom of this page) in a number of ways:

Use the sheets as... COLORING PAGES

• simply print the black and white version of each page and allow the children to color them.
• There is more than one template piece per page (typically there are two pieces) with dotted lines around the piece. 
  • Cut roughly around the dotted line before handing out the coloring pages 
  • either the children or an adult can do the cutting.
  • It is up to you whether you want to cut the pieces out in detail or just leave the white paper oval background.  (I like to leave the background for coloring pages or puppets and I like to cut the pieces out in detail and then laminate them for felt board pieces).
• Color recognition:  Focusing on color recognition and following directions while coloring the chicks.
• Printing:  older children can print the color at the bottom of their coloring pages.  Or, for slightly younger children who are starting to read but cannot yet write, have an adult write each color on a slip of paper.  Allow the children to pick out the proper slips and glue it to their coloring page -- you can color code the slips of paper to make it easier for the children to match the words with their chicks.

Use the sheets as...  PUPPETS

• Either complete the black and white sheets as coloring pages (see above) 
  OR
• print the color pages
• There is more than one template piece per page (typically there are two pieces) with dotted lines around the piece. 
  • Cut around the dotted line before handing out the coloring pages 
  • either the children or an adult can do the cutting.
  • It is up to you whether you want to cut the pieces out in detail or just leave the white paper square background.  (I like to leave the background for coloring pages or puppets and I like to cut the pieces out in detail and then laminate them for felt board pieces).
• Tape each template piece to a popsicle stick, drinking straw or an unsharpened pencil.
• Color recognition:  Ask all the children to stand up when their color is mentioned in the poem.

Use the sheets as...  FELT BOARD CHARACTERS

• Either complete the black and white sheets as coloring pages (see above) 
  OR
• print the color pages
• There is more than one template piece per page (typically there are two pieces) with dotted lines around the piece. 
  • Cut around the dotted line before handing out the coloring pages 
  • either the children or an adult can do the cutting.
  • It is up to you whether you want to cut the pieces out in detail or just leave the white paper square background.  (I like to leave the background for coloring pages or puppets and I like to cut the pieces out in detail and then laminate them for felt board pieces).
• You can cover with clear contact paper or laminate if you want them to last longer.
• Cut out each page.
• Cut out a small piece of coarse sandpaper and tape or glue it on the back of each animal (if you laminated, it will need to be a larger piece of sandpaper).  The sandpaper will allow the characters to stick on your felt board.
• If working with a group, give each child an animal.  As you read the story, have the children bring up the appropriate pieces and put them on the board.
• Color recognition:  Ask all the children to stand up when their color is mentioned in the poem.

Templates:

• close template window when done printing to return to this screen.
• change your page margins to zero (FILE, PAGE SETUP or FILE, PRINTER SETUP in most browsers).  See print help for more info.

Black, Brown, Yellow and White Chicks   color   or   B&W

Purple, Green, Blue and Pink Chicks   color   or   B&W

You pick the color (blank) Chicks    B&W

Red Barn   color   or   B&W

Rebekah wrote:
This spring we used your "Little Chick" poem and crafts on felt board.  My three kids wanted to make more chicks, so I printed the blank ones and added more colors.  They came up with several more verses I would like to share.  If you add it to your site, please acknowledge Mikayla (8 yoa), Corban (6 yoa) and Bryanna (4yoa).  It would be a great complement to their creativity and work.

This little chick is grey.
He likes to play all day.

This little chick is magenta.
He names his pentagon, "Penta." 

This little chick is rainbow and curl.
He likes to swirl.

This little chick is lavendar.
She likes to look at her calendar.

This little chick is stripe.
He is a very rare type.

This little chick is orange.
He jumps from orange to orange.
(They made oranges under an orange tree.) 

This little chick is tan.
He runs as fast as he can.

This little chick is red.
He stands on his head.
(One of their favorites because they put him upside down on the felt board.) 

Printable version