THE BUNNY HOP

The winner of a copy of ALONE TOGETHER ON DAN ST from last week's episode and giveaway is. . . . 

Jessica Hinrichs!!!!  

Congratulations!!  I'll pass your name on to Erica and I hope you enjoy the book!  Thanks for stopping by and commenting! Please share PBJamz with your teaching, musician, author, and homeschooling friends :-)

Video -- Read aloud of THE BUNNY HOP

Something a little different this week.  I decided to do a read aloud of the book for this week.  It's a simple little chapter picture book.  3 very short little chapters, but there are lots of great tie-ins and curricular connections.  Check out the sections below for teaching topics, and check out the YouTube playlists and Pinterest boards for tons of amazing ideas that would connect beautifully with this little book.

PB (Picture Book Tasting)

THE BUNNY HOP is a 1992 book written by Teddy Slater, illustrated by Larry DiFiori, and published by Scholastic.  It is an easy reader book with three short chapters.  It is a Hello Reader level 1 book, designated for preschool - grade 1.  It follows a group of bunnies who need one more participant to dance The Bunny Hop.  Then we're introduced to Buddy, who never learned to dance because of his large feet.  But when Buddy hears the music, he quickly becomes the leader of this bunny-hopping conga-line, gaining self-confidence, and having lots of fun.

A Little Jam. . .(The Music Kind)

I'm sharing two this week.  Same basic song.  If you want to use it for students to see people doing the Bunny Hop historically and see the instruments, use the Ray Anthony one.  The Disney one just has the song, but the steps are sung clearly.  There are a couple variations.  There's a great video on the YouTube list in the links section that gives wonderful directions if you want to do a conga line version.  If you don't want students getting so "up close and personal", you can have them do the steps in their own personal space.  There are lots of other songs and dances and music activities in the playlist that would go wonderfully with this little book.

Teacher Tips/Curriculum Tie-ins

Math

• Numbers to ten
  • Number words
  • Different representations
  • Number lines
  • Addition facts
  • Story problems
• Higher math
  • Story problems
  • Number line
  • Rabbit/bunny-related math activities

Literacy

• Vocabulary
  • Number words to ten
  • Dance words (waltz, fox-trot, cha-cha-cha, bunny hop, jitterbug)
• bunny - bunnies (change y to i and add -es)
• Interjections (ow, yow, zouch, etc.)
• Onomatopoeia (thumpity-thump, bumpity-bump)
• Rhyming
• Problem/solution
• Character
• Beginning/ middle/end
• Fiction/nonfiction (could compare with a text like BUNNIES by Gail Gibbons)
  • Do bunnies wear clothes? Organize dances? Talk with words? etc.
  • How are they like.unlike real bunnies?

Science

• Classification of bunnies/characteristics (mammals/rodents)
• Body parts
• Life cycle

Tips and Topics for Music Teachers

• Different types of dances
  • Jitterbug
  • Waltz
  • Fox-trot
  • Cha-cha-cha
  • Bunny Hop
• Learn to do the bunny hop
• Counting beats
• Music history (Bunny Hop, 1950's song and dance )
  • https://www.libraryofdance.org/dances/bunny-hop/
    
  • How to Bunny Hop and more!

​Writing Prompts/Author Tips

• Write about how you learned to do something new.
• Write about something that is hard for you.
• Write about your favorite dance.
• (After having some chances to learn the steps) Write a "How to dance the Bunny Hop" paragraph.

Links, More Fun, Extensions for Families and Everyone!

• YouTube playlist with lots of great music activities and connections
  
• Pinterest board with tons of integrative activities involving rabbits/bunnies (mostly NON-Easter)
• Easter YouTube playlist -- Easter songs, dances, music activities, and more. . .
• Pinterest board specifically for teaching Easter -- lots of egg activities and some other things as well.

PBJamz Snack 

Recipe for Peanut butter and jelly dip 

​If you're making this to go along with the theme, serve it up with Annie's Bunny Grahams and it's a perfect bunny hop snack! :-)

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Guest Links and Giveaways

Buy THE BUNNY HOP (only used copies available)
Teddy Slater 



GIVEAWAY
I'm giving away a non-rhyming picture book critique (less than 1,000 words)  To be eligible, leave me a comment below by midnight Wednesday, April 13. I'll draw a winner.  I can't wait to read someone's story!