Vocabulary and Language Lessons

Vocabulary and Language Lessons Sing and Play Together After you read the story, download the Seasons song*. Sing it and do the actions together often. Winter snow, wind does blow Air is cold, winter snow Now it s spring, birds do sing Growing things bloom in spring Sunny day, run and play We ll have fun in summer sun Leaves fall down on the ground Air is clear, fall is here sway arms shiver with arms around body wave fingers like bird wings skip squat down They are seasons, one and all Winter, spring, summer, fall Winter snow (echo) Wind does blow (echo) Now its spring (echo) Birds do sing (echo) We ll have fun (echo) In summer sun (echo) Air is clear (echo) Fall is here (echo) They are seasons one and all Winter, spring, summer, fall sway arms wave fingers like bird wings skip squat down *download from www.linguisystems.com/vocabularystoriesfortoddlers Seasons 1 Copyright 2012 LinguiSystems, Inc.

Core Vocabulary nouns verbs describing words fall sledding blooming cool flowers snow flying windy heat spring zooming hill summer kites sun mounds trike seasons winter Expanding Language Parents tend to talk to their toddlers in two ways: 1. They give short directions or explanations such as, It s snowing, It s hot, or Get your coat. This communication exposes toddlers to language and vocabulary but doesn t teach them how to learn new vocabulary. 2. Parents expand their toddler s language or elaborate on the directions they give. The simple statement It s snowing becomes Look outside! It s snowing. Snowflakes are falling from the clouds. It s hot expands to It s a hot summer day. Let s hook up the sprinkler. You can run through it to keep cool. Tips for Reading Aloud Reading to your toddler is a great way to teach vocabulary and language skills: Use inflection in your voice to emphasize rhyme in the story. Point to a picture and say its name. Ask your child to repeat it. Point to a picture and ask, What s this? Ask your child to find a picture. Say, Where s the? Ask your toddler to correct your mistakes. Ask Is this a (incorrect label)? Have your child name the item correctly. Encourage your child to talk in phrases by putting two or more words together. For example, Hot summer, Snow in the winter, and Pretty flowers. Explain seasonal events that happen where you live. Say, Look outside! What is falling from the clouds (snow, rain, hail, etc.)? The ground is covered with leaves. Watch them fall off the trees. Ask your child to point to or name an item based on a clue. For example, I m thinking of something we do in the summer. We bring our towels. (go to the beach/pool) Talk about the weather in your area and link it to each season. Seasons 2 Copyright 2012 LinguiSystems, Inc.

Tips for Reading Aloud, continued Talk about the clothes you wear as the weather changes. Use synonyms to describe how you feel in each season: summer (hot, sticky, sweaty), fall (cool, dry), winter (cold, freezing, chilly), spring (damp, cool, wet). Explain unfamiliar words. Mounds of snow means there s lots of snow in one place. Use the word in conversation. We have mounds of laundry or Rake the leaves in a big mound. Building Literacy These activities will help your toddler understand the importance of books and reading: Let your child turn the pages and/or hold the book. Reading books should be a pleasurable activity for your toddler. Increase the time you read to him as his attention span improves. Use vocal inflection as you read. Stress the rhyme in the story. Read a book until your child knows it by heart. Teach your toddler to connect print to speech. Point to each word as you read. Verbs Use action words to describe what happens in each season: Winter verbs: blowing, snowing, slipping, sledding, skating, shoveling, plowing (snow) Spring verbs: growing, blooming, planting, digging, raining Summer verbs: swimming, playing, riding, picnicking, roller skating, camping Fall verbs: raking, playing, harvesting, picking, roasting (marshmallows/hot dogs) Concepts Use concepts to describe the changes to your environment with each season. Compare and contrast the weather in each season: longer and shorter days crisp, cool air in the fall, crunchy leaves cold, icy snow summer is hot, winter is cold plants grow in the spring, die in the winter Seasons 3 Copyright 2012 LinguiSystems, Inc.

Phonological Awareness Clap out syllables in words from the story. Clap twice for win-ter and su-mmer, and once for fall and spring. Gradually introduce more words. Identify the beginning sound in words. Say, Fall starts with /f/. Summer starts with /s/. Story and Related Vocabulary by Beginning Letter /Sound/ C cold /k/ cool /k/ F fall /f/ flower /f/ G H I L N P grow /g/ hot /h/ ice /i/ long leaves /l/ nest /n/ play /p/ R rain /r/ rake /r/ S season /s/ snow /s/ spring /s/ summer /s/ sun /s/ sweat /s/ swim /s/ shiver /sh/ T tree /t/ W warm /w/ winter /w/ Vocabulary Flash Cards Print and cut apart the cards on the following pages. Use them to teach your toddler the names and definitions of words used in the story. Seasons 4 Copyright 2012 LinguiSystems, Inc.

Seasons Vocabulary Acquisition Chart Word Notes/Date blooming cool fall flowers flying heat hill kites mounds seasons sledding snow spring summer sun trike windy winter zooming knows these words! When your child uses a word in conversation, put a star in the box. Seasons 8 Copyright 2012 LinguiSystems, Inc.