“The Raft,” by Jim LaMarche is a children’s book about a young man who goes to stay with his grandma. He is not feeling well about the trip because he will not have friends to play with. His Grandma is cool, she has a carved bear in her workroom she is working on. This Grandma has lots of plans for her grandson. The young boy will find his grandma’s place in a very interesting place full of things to do.

SONG

Fishing Raft

By Vicky Manning  (Tune of Oh my Darling Clementine)

On the river is a raft

That I built by myself.

I can take you down the river,

or you can travel by yourself.

On the river you can fish

With a cane pole I made.

After fishing in the river

We can dock in a shade.

CRAFT

Materials

13 Straws, Tape, Post it, Wood stick, toothpick, rubberband

Tape the Straws together.

Cut a rubberband and push thoothpick through one end.

Stick toothpick in straws and the wooden stick.

Place in a bowl of water to float.

Did the raft float or Sink?

Grand Pappy’s Crickets

(Sing to She’ll Be Coming Around the Mountain)

By Vicky C. Manning

There are crickets chirping in my bedroom Grand Pappy, Grand Pappy.

There are crickets chirping in my bedroom Grand Pappy, Grand Pappy.

There are crickets in my bedroom.

Will you come and get them soon?

There are crickets chirping in my bedroom Grand Pappy, Grand Pappy.

Grand pappy bounced me on his knee, yes sir’re, yes sir’re.

Grand Pappy bounced me on his knee, yes sir’re, yes sir’re.

We both bounced to their chirping.

Chirping in our ears was ringing.

Grand Pappy bounced me on his knee, yes sir’re, yes sir’re.

The chirping grew louder in my bedroom, oh dear me, oh dear me.

The chirping grew louder in my bedroom, oh dear me, oh dear me.

Grand pappy find them crickets soon!

They are hiding in my room.

The chirping grew louder in my bedroom, oh dear me, oh dear me.

Grand Pappy got down on his knees, carefully, carefully.

Grand Pappy got down on his knees, carefully, carefully.

He was on his knees a looking,

As those crickets kept on chirping.

Grand Pappy got down on his knees, carefully, carefully.

The crickets were not under my bed, no sir’re, no sir’re.

The crickets were not under my bed, no sir’re, no sir’re.

They were not in my closet.

He was very sure of it.

The crickets were not under my clothes, no sir’re, no sir’re.

Grand Pappy where are those crickets? Tell, me, tell me.

Grand Pappy where are those crickets? Tell, me, tell me.

Look in the toy box for me.

I’m sure their hiding from me.

Grand Pappy where are those crickets? Tell, me, tell me.

Grand Pappy found them crickets, yes he did, yes he did.

Grand Pappy found them crickets, yes he did, yes he did.

They were chirping in my toy box,

While jumping on my toy blocks.

Grand Pappy found them crickets, yes he did, yes he did.

Grand Pappy put them in a jar, for me, for me.

Grand Pappy put them in a jar, for me, for me.

They jumped up and down,

And crawled all around.

Grand Pappy put them in a jar, for me, for me.

We took the crickets outside to set them free, set them free.

We took the crickets outside to set them free, set them free.

We let them go outside.

They jumped in the grass to hide.

We took the crickets outside to set them free, set them free.

The crickets are chirping outside happily, happily.

 The crickets are chirping outside happily, happily.

The crickets are chirping outside.

Not a single cricket inside.

The crickets are chirping outside happily, happily.