My Many Colored Days

My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss is a wonderful way for parents and teachers to talk with children about their feelings. Each day is described in terms of a particular color, which in turn is associated with specific emotions. Using a spectrum of vibrant colors and a variety of animals, this unique book covers a range of moods and emotions. (Ages 3-8)

I am introducing this book during the first month of school as part of my Feelings Theme. I used the information provided from the Book Nook based on My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss to create visuals to retell the story with.


To purchase a copy of My Many Colored Days click here.

My Many Colored Days Activities Packet contains the following:

• Each animal is in colored and coordinates with the story. 
• Each colored boy is in color with the color word written on the cutout. 
• Pages 12-27 are a printable book based on the story by Dr. Seuss. The printable book is used for EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY! It may not be sold or re-distributed. The book is copyright protected and may be used for classrooms purposes only. The images are from the Ideas for Using Books to Support Social Emotional Development: My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss and can be found here: http://www.csefel.vanderbilt.edu/booknook/many_colored_days.pdf.

Directions: It is suggested that all pieces are printed on card stock and laminated for durability. Pages 2-11 print single sided, laminate, and cut individually. If you plan on using the visuals on a felt board simply attach the rough side of self-adhesive Velcro dots to the back of each piece. Another option is to use self-adhesive magnets. Also, to act out the story, print another set of visuals, laminate, and glue to craft sticks. Place the puppets with the book in your library. The book on pages 12-27 can be printed manually on both sides, laminated, and then either comb-bound or use book rings to make the book. Both the book and the puppets are being used in my Safe Place from Conscious Discipline.

FREE DOWNLOAD>> My Many Colored Days Activities

Examples of activities that can be used while reading My Many Colored Days and throughout the day to promote social and emotional development:

• While reading the story, pause after each animal and discuss the animal’s color. Ask the children to share a time that they were in that mood. After reading the story, discuss the spectrum of colors in comparison to moods and feelings.
• Extend the story by discussing different colors and their association with emotions. Explain that sometimes feelings are described in colors. We are all different and may have a different feelings or moods with each color. For example, although some associate blue with being sad others find it very peaceful and happy. Make a chart with different colors across the top. Ask children to pick which color represents how they are feeling. Talk about why they picked the color to represent their feeling. Write the children’s names under the color they pick.
• Color spinner—Trace two hands, with the two palm edges touching, on one piece of card stock paper or file folder. The fingers will be facing the outer edge of the paper/file folder, while the palms are toward the center. (Note: Once traced, the hands will form a mirror image of each other.) Cut out an arrow and attach it with a brad to form a spinner between the two hands. Color each finger a different color using the colors represented in the story. Have the children pass the spinner around taking turns spinning the arrow and discussing what the color means for them. Talk about how different people may have different feelings associated with the same color. For example, in the story, purple makes the boy feel sad; for others it could mean feeling loved.

The ideas used above are from: Ideas for Using Books to Support Social Emotional Development: My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss.

FREE DOWNLOAD>> My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss – Book Nook Ideas and Activities

Useful Social & Emotional Development Links

The Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL) is focused on promoting the social emotional development and school readiness of young children birth to age 5. CSEFEL is a national resource center funded by the Office of Head Start and Child Care Bureau for disseminating research and evidence-based practices to early childhood programs across the country.

Creating Teaching Tools for Young Children with Challenging Behavior is a FREE product developed by the Technical Assistance Center on Social Emotional Intervention for Young Children (TACSEI) that gives teachers practical strategies, developed from TACSEI’s research activities and experiences in Positive Behavior Support, to create a plan to support young children who are having challenging behavior.

Conscious Discipline is a comprehensive self-regulation program that integrates social-emotional learning and discipline.

Are You a Bucket Filler?

I am using the concept of “Bucket Fillers” and “Bucket Dippers” as part of my classroom management system in prekindergarten. According to Bright from the Start guidelines we are unable to use traditional behavior charts. This upcoming school year I am introducing the book the first week of school. I have designed our classroom rules around this theme. I have also purchased (2) buckets one is green for the “bucket fillers” which means go or good. It is a concept young learners can easily grasp. I also have printed a picture of a girl smiling to attach to the front of the bucket with the words “Bucket Fillers.” The second bucket is red for the “bucket dippers.” Again using concepts early learners can understand, red meaning stop and think about your actions. The picture for the front of the bucket is a boy who is sad and has a tear rolling down his face.

After reading the book the children will hear scenarios that I have observed over the years of teaching and decide if the action is “bucket fillers” or “bucket dippers.” A child can draw a heart from the bag and depending on the age level either read the scenario or have the teacher read it. Then the child decides which bucket to place the heart in. 

Another activity for children to complete is a drawing prompt. Have the students draw a picture of how he/she can be “bucket fillers.” Let the child dictate his/her story to you and write the caption underneath. You can hang the pictures individually or combine and make a class book the children can revisit often.

In addition to the whole group activity I have designed “Bucket Fillers are people who…” poster illustrating our class rules. I also have designed a “Bucket Dippers are people who…” illustrating the opposite of our class rules. This way when a situation arises you can show the child what he/she is doing that is a “bucket dipper” and an illustration of how he/she can be “bucket fillers.”

DOWNLOAD>> I Can Be a Bucket Filler Activity Packet

I have also incorporated a Kindness Recorder as part of our classroom helpers based on the ideas of Conscious Discipline. The Kindness Recorder’s job is to catch classmates being “bucket fillers” and add a heart to the bucket. At the end of the day we count how many hearts are in the bucket and say our Bucket Filler Chant which can be found at BucketFillers101.com.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Resources

Since this week our class is using the book, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom to review the letters of the alphabet. I have looked for ideas to incorporate into the lesson besides completing the alphabet pages for the students' own Chicka Chicka Boom Boom book to take home. I have found quite a few activities and lesson plan ideas. Listed below are just a few of the resources available. I am currently working on designing a cross curriculum comprehensive Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Resource Book. Check back for updates!

~ Catherine

Lesson Plan Ideas >>

I have created a lesson plan incorporating the Chicka Chicka Boom Boom theme throughout the content areas and interest areas. Feel free to download and use in your classroom. Not all of the ideas listed on the lesson plan are my own ideas. Some I have borrowed from co-workers and found on the internet.


Download >> Lanie's Little Learners Lesson Plan

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, lesson plan ideas for the pre-k classroom!  The lesson plan includes the Georgia Performance Standards for Pre-K, activities for all content areas, and center ideas. Here is an excerpt from the resource:

To introduce the book, wear khaki overalls and safety pin construction paper letters all over them. Wear a hat that resembles coconut tree fronds. Ask the students to guess what you are pretending to be. Tell the class you are a coconut tree. Read the book to the class and stop when the alphabet is up the tree at “oh no” and have them predict what will happen next. Record their responses on chart paper.

Download >> Chicka Chicka BoomBoom Lesson Plan 

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Lesson Plan:  Virginia.edu incorporates four activity cards, one for each of the categories they believe to be important in children's development of literacy the categories are listed below:

Language Development: with attention to vocabulary and syntactic structures. 

Acts of Writing: including letter-sound relationships, print concepts, and genre knowledge

Artist's Craft: with attention to the ways authors and illustrators have created their works

Lots of Links: including inter-textual connections, connections to other content areas, and connections to children's lives

Download >> Virigina.edu Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Lesson Plan 

Sight Word Cards >> I have designed sight word cards to go along with the story. There are approximately six sight words used frequently throughout the story. There are several ways in which the sight word cards can be incorporated during the read aloud of the story or as a follow up activity. Some suggestions include: memory concentration game, the use of magnetic letters and have children match the letters on the card.

Download >> ChickaChicka Boom Boom Sight Word Cards 

Comprehension Questions >> You should only tackle these comprehension questions after reading the book to your child, at the minimum, at least two times. Some of the questions are open-ended which can lead to valuable discussions. Take the time to listen and respect your child’s point of view. The comprehension questions are from Read It Again.com.

Cross Curriculum Ideas >> Making Learning Fun.com has several great pintables FREE to use with the CCBB story. Some of the ideas include:

CCBB Emergent Readers and Class Books 

CCBB Sequencing Cards 

CCBB Beginning Sound Activities 

For their entire list of CCBB Activities click here.