Read Across America to Celebrate Dr. S’s Birthday

Each year our Pre-K through 1st Grade hosts a themed Storybook Ball complete with snacks, music, story time, games, crafts, and more. The children and teachers dress up as their favorite book character and we parade around the campus. This year we decided to plan our Storybook Ball for Dr. Seuss’s birthday, March 2nd. I’m so glad we did! I have a feeling we’ll want to keep our Storybook Ball in conjunction with Read Across America from now on because it turned out perfect!

We sent home invitations a few weeks early:

Students rotated through four stations for our Read Across America festivities. In the Music and Movement station, our Kindergarten teacher led them in lots of fun songs and dances.

Here are some Dr. Seuss inspired songs you may want to check out!

In the art station, our Pre-K teachers led students in making a paper plate Lorax. The Lorax is truly one of Dr. Seuss’s most loved characters. For this craft, you’ll need to trace each student’s hand on yellow paper, fold, and cut to form two attached hands. You’ll also need to gather orange tissue paper, cheap paper plates, black pom poms for the nose, and googly eyes. This craft was easy enough for our Pre-K kiddos to complete but engaging enough that our firsties enjoyed it, too! As students work, be sure to read The Lorax to them!

I was in charge of Story Time. I read several different Dr. Seuss favorites depending on the group of kids I had. We talked about rhyming words and practiced making rhymes. I also used my best, most dramatic reading voice. The kids were mesmerized!

Here are some of my FAVORITE Dr. Seuss read-alouds! I also love the idea of celebrating Read Across America for older kids. Many of these books are appropriate for independent or partner reading in 2nd-3rd grade!

Finally, we all met for snack time. Or should I say, a SMORGASBOARD??? Oh my, I’ve never seen such amazing foods. We’re blessed with lots of parents who really step up!! I have a feeling Dr. Seuss himself would’ve enjoyed THIS birthday party.