1. Read Elf Dust aloud with your children or grandchildren November through
Christmas. Ask them; “Do you think the elves will come to our house?” After the
first reading children will be little detectives on the lookout for elf dust around the
house.
2. On a second reading ask the child to find the lost slippers and other items like
teddy bears and reindeer listed at the end of the book.
3. Go to any craft store and get containers of red and green glitter. You only need a
small pinch of the dust each time, enough to be visible.
4. As soon as you start reading the book, hide the Elf Dust in strategic locations
elves might hide (behind the leg of a chair, by a lamp or vase, on a kitchen
counter.) Once all are discovered, hide in more places until December 24.
5. I told my children we couldn’t touch the dust because we wanted to see how it
might change and touching it might alter things. Then, after a day I found an
opportunity to vacuum it up. POOF – evaporation.
6. Guide your little ones on Elf Dust hunting missions. Once you’ve found one, the
questions can begin to start the imagining “When do you think they were here?”
“What do you think they looked like?” “What were their names?”
7. Repeat Step 6 throughout the Christmas season.
8. Enjoy the magic and … Merry Christmas!
TEACHERS
Ideas and Suggestions to Incorporate with this picture book.
Geared for Pre K – Primary
By Heidi Lane M.ED
Table of Contents
General Ideas
These ideas are to be used with Pre-K and Primary students, addressing literature, math, geography and culture using text and illustrations to describe events, places, characters in the story and other ideas.
Reading Connections/Questions (Samples)
Use Templates (Find on the Web)
List of Books to use (Samples)
Songs and Rhymes (Samples)
Examples of Math Story Problems
Art, STEM, Science
Elf Trap
Elf Dust examples
General Ideas
Science, Social Studies, Music and Art can all be incorporated.
Read book all week long – Anchor Book.
Choose one or two informational texts – non-fiction books that relate to this book. (Social studies and Christmas around the world.)
Choose and focus on vocabulary from the story (either suggested list or your own).
Words you’ll introduce early in the week and support the learning of this vocabulary with all the different activities.
Target vocabulary for the first read and tie in the vocabulary for the first read with the plot, characters etc. in extension activities throughout the week.
The Big Idea of the text: “It’s Christmas Season and the North Poll is humming. Students will love finding out where the elves travel throughout the world and the customs.
Before Reading:
Ask:
What is Elf Dust
What does it look like?
What color is it?
Introduce vocabulary:
Humming, Santa, Elves, Delight, Flight, Naughty, Nice, Travel, Roam, Observe, Nimble, Sprinkle, Twinkle, Disappear, Unique, Peek, World, North Pole, Globe, Evaporate, Paris, United States, Asia, New York. (Note: could make pictures/ definitions.)
Reading Connections:
Text – to – Text Connections
Does this book remind me of another book I have read? Maybe a book about elves or elf dust or Santa?
Text-to-Self Connections
Does this book remind me of ever having tried to catch Santa or his elves?
Text to World Connections
Does this book remind me about anything in the real world in my life, in someone else’s life?
During Reading and/or all week
Page 1 &2
What season is it? What holiday is coming?
Page 3 & 4
What might the elves use for their flight?
What is Santa’s list?
What might be on Santa’s list?
Is an elf missing a slipper?
Page 5 & 6
Where are the children?
What are they playing?
Page 7&8
Can you find an elf?
What do they look like?
Page 9 & 10
Point the the table. What does beneath mean?
Point to above the table.
Page 11& 12
Can you snap like an elf?
Can you describe the elf dust?
Page 13 & 14
What is a slipper?
Do you have slippers?
What do you think an elf slipper looks like?
List of Books
A Pinta in a Pear Tree – Pat Mora
My First Kwanza – Karen Katz
How to Catch a Dragon - Adam Wallace
How Kids Celebrate Christmas Around the World – Pavla Hanackova
Christmas Customs Around the World – Mary Lankford
Non-fiction as well
Songs and Rhymes:
Source across the web – YouTube
Five Little Elves
This is me
10 little elves
Oh Christmas Elf
Elves in Santa’s Workshop
The Elf Song
Math Story Problems:
Count the Elves on a Page.
Count the candy Canes, teddy bears, elf slippers, Christmas presents
Ask: There were 2 elves in Santa’s sleigh, and one joined them. How many were there?
I saw two bags of elf dust. I then saw 2 more bags. How many bags of elf dust were there?
Also use subtraction
Art, Stem & Science:
Elf Trap Project -Give children all different types of fabric, yard, felt, glitter and a box and have them make an Elf Trap.
Candy Cane dissolve science project (check web)
Santa’s Frozen Hands
Peppermint OObleck
Note: These experiments (geared to your age groups) and many others can be found on the internet.
HEIDI LANE
As a retired elementary school teacher of 35 years, Heidi is an expert on sharing stories with children.
She found it easy and fun to channel her passions for teaching and reading to create "Forever Ours", her first book. (Etsy, Heidi Lane Author Shop) "Forever Ours" was also illustrated by Colleen Sgroi.
Heidi lives in Massachusetts with her husband, Wally. She currently teaches in a local Pre-K school.
How to bring Elf Dust to life in your home or classroom.