Add The Hat printable book to your winter lesson plans today! Then be sure to check out the rest of my printable books next.
Your students practice important early literacy skills as they use The Hat emergent reader to retell a fun winter story by a well-loved author. They can be a bit creative as they add to the book’s characters, too.
And, once The Hat book is completed, the kids get to read it over and over again for even more early reading practice! You’ll see their confidence as early readers grow with each reading.
For your part, The Hat easy reader is very simple to prep. So you can have it ready to go quickly. It even comes with two versions, in case you want a teacher copy.
Related: Winter Activities for Preschoolers
Below, you’ll find some tips and activity suggestions for The Hat printable book. Then, scroll to the bottom of this post and fill out the simple form to get your copy of the free printable.
The Hat Printable Book
I love making books with the kids. It’s a great tool to use when you want a literacy activity to be more interactive. Sometimes, I like letting them participate in making the books by writing the sentences and coloring or drawing the pictures.
Other times, I just like being able to make a printable book for each student in my class. Then the kids can write, draw, underline, and highlight words as they see fit. It all depends on the students’ ages, needs, and what they’re learning at that point in the school year!
How to Prep the Emergent Reader
Prepping this emergent reader is a breeze! And you only need a few items to get started (I may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post):
- The Hat printable book (scroll down!)
- The Hat by Jan Brett
- Printer and copy paper
- Stapler
Once you have the file downloaded and printed out, it’s time to put the books together. Here’s what to do:
- First, fold the pages in half. Make sure the images are facing out.
- Next, arrange the papers in order and close the book, with the cover page on top.
- Finally, staple alongside the left-hand side.
Here’s a short video showing you what to do:
Of course, if you’d prefer to cut the document into individual pages and then staple, that works too!
Now, you might need a few additional items for the kids to complete the kids book. Or, maybe, you want to pair the book with some other supplies for a fun activity. Here are some supplies that might come in handy:
These are just a few ideas to get you started. You can create new activities and add items to the list as you see fit. Or, better yet, take a look around your classroom and supply closet for inspiration. You might be able to come up with a fun supplemental activity to the book based on items you already have!
One of my favorite parts about printable emergent readers is that is SO easy to set up. And you don’t need a ton of supplies to make it happen. That’s a win in my book!
How to Use The Hat Printable Book with Kids
Now that you have the books prepped and ready to go, it’s time for the best part! Let the kids use them. There are two separate versions of the book: one in black-and-white and another in color. Choose the version of the book that best fits the activities planned around it.
If you want the kids to color the pages, choose the black-and-white version. First, call the students over and have them color the pages of the book. You can also let the kids draw a sock on the hedgehog’s head. Or let them draw some other silly item on its head!
If you choose the version of the book that’s printed in color, just have students draw the hedgehog’s hat.
After that, read The Hat by Jan Brett to the children. Then, see if the kids can remember the animals in order. Next, read the printable emergent reader to the class. Model how to tap each word as you read. Then read it again. But this time, let the students follow along in their own books. Remind them to tap the words as they’re read.
This is a very simple activity. But reading, regardless of the content or difficulty level, is always a meaningful learning experience. And getting the chance to participate in the illustrations adds yet another layer of learning and skill-building.
A Few Extension Ideas for The Hat Reader
Using The Hat printable book to read with the class is such a fun and enriching activity. But I would be remiss if I failed to mention all of the other ways to use the printable or add to the reading. Here are some ideas:
- Pair the book with animal puppets. Have the puppets “read” their corresponding pages. Alternatively, enlarge and print an extra copy of the book. Then cut out and laminate the pictures of the animals. Place them in a pocket chart as they appear in the story.
- This activity builds on the idea above. After reading through The Hat by Jan Brett as well as the emergent reader several times, place the laminated animal pictures in the literacy center along with a copy of the emergent reader. Have students try to put the animals in order using the book as a reference. Then challenge them to try it without the book!
- Laminate the pages of the black-and-white version of The Hat. Let the kids use dry-erase markers to color the pictures. If you’re not keen on laminating, pop the pages into dry-erase pockets.
- Use the book to kickstart a conversation about why animals don’t need to wear clothes and we do. While animals each have a particular covering that helps them stay warm or cool, we can change our clothes to fit the weather.
These are a few ideas to get you started. I’m sure there are so many other possibilities as well! Do you have any ideas in mind? Be sure to let us know how you will use the printable book in the comments below.
What are the Kids Learning with The Hat Printable Book?
I mentioned earlier that printable emergent readers and homemade books can be so much fun. And, not to mention, full of so many learning opportunities! Here are some of the concepts the kids can practice with The Hat printable book and the activities listed above:
- Knowledge of the parts of a book
- Left to right directionality
- Differentiating letters from words
- Punctuation
- High-frequency words
- Letter sounds
- Animal identification
- Animal characteristics
- Sequencing
Remember: this list is, in no way, an exhaustive one. You can use The Hat emergent reader printable in so many ways. The learning possibilities are endless!
Be sure to scroll down to the bottom of this post to get your copy of The Hat printable book!
More Jan Brett Preschool Activities
Jan Brett is such a great children’s author! The Hat and The Mitten are both children’s classics that I use in the classroom every year. And, as such, there are tons of activities ideas floating around based on those books. Here are some of my favorite activities based on Jan Brett books:
There are so many great activities to choose from. You could even have a whole theme dedicated to Jan Brett!
Winter Lesson Plans
Teaching preschool is full of silly, sweet, chaotic, and rewarding moments. But, as with any career, there are stressful moments scattered throughout all of the good moments. One of the biggest stressors teachers face is lesson planning. And it’s so time-consuming, too! But that’s where Preschool Teacher 101 comes in! We have made hundreds of preschool lesson plans, activity packs, and teaching resources to save time for teachers like you.
Explore the signs of winter with reading, math, science, and tons of other fun preschool activities. Click on the image below to learn more about our Winter Lesson Plans product.
Here are some other fun resources to get you through the winter season. Click on the each image for more information.
If these lesson plan products seem like they align with your teaching style, consider getting a Preschool Teacher 101 membership. Members get regular access to our products at a steeply discounted rate!
Get The Hat Printable Book
This free printable is available to members of Fun-A-Day’s free email community. If you’re a member, fill out the form below and the download links will be sent to your inbox. If you’re not a member, you can join us by entering your information in the form. Then you’ll receive the printable as a welcome gift!
Be sure to check out my printing FAQ page if you run into any issues.
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