Book Activities

Barn Dance

Written by Bill Martin and John Archambault Illustrated by Ted Rand
ISBN: 0805000895 Published: 1986

From the Publisher:
In an old farmhouse, bathed in the light of a full moon, a young boy creeps to his bedroom window and looks outside. Was that a voice he just heard, or the hooting of an owl? There it is again: Come a little closer....Come a little closer....Listen to the night....There's music in the air....Beckoned by the voice, the boy sneaks downstairs, out the door, and walks toward the barn. As he gets closer he hears the sweet sound of a country fiddler and the rhythmic thumping of dancing feet. But who could possibly be having a barn dance in the middle of the night?

Other Books by the Author

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, Here Are My Hands, Knots on a Counting Rope, The Ghost Eye Tree, Up and Down on the Merry-Go-Round

Read

Preview the book with your child. Explain that it is a rhyming story about a little boy who sneaks out at night to join the farm animals in a barn dance.

Do

Make up a barnyard animal dance of your own. Can you dance like a chicken, a cow, a horse, a duck, how about a goat? What if forest animals had a dance? How about jungle animals or ocean animals? How many animal dances can you think of?

Using brown lunch bags and scraps of paper, cotton balls, yarn, and feathers create farm animal puppets and have your own barn dance.

Learn some square dance moves. Can you do-si-do or swing your partner?

In the story, the boy is drawn to the barn by the sounds he hears in the night. What sounds can you hear outside at night if you listen closely? Can you hear animals, cars, people? Make a list of all the sounds you hear if you listen very carefully.

View

Arthur

The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash
This is a tale of a school trip to a peaceful farm which turns wild when Jimmy's pet boa constrictor escapes. LeVar takes viewers to an exotic pet shop where he meets a tarantula and a boa constrictor. He then goes to a livestock show where he learns unique facts about farm animals and watches events including sheep shearing, goat milking, and showing sheep.

Mama Don't Allow
When Miles gets a saxophone for his birthday, neither his parents nor his neighborhood can stand the racket. However, when Miles and his Swamp Band receive an invitation to play at the Alligator Ball, no one guesses what's in store. Inspired by the book, LeVar goes into the Louisiana swamps to visit an alligator farm, journeys down the Mississippi on a riverboat, learns about creating sounds from a mouth sound performer, and meets one of New Orleans' hottest jazz saxophonists.

The Milk Makers
It's fresh and cold, foamy and white, and one of nature's most nutritious foods-milk! Everyone learns about this delicious liquid as this book explains the process of how cows produce milk and how it is processed before being delivered to stores. LeVar visits California's dairy country where he receives a lesson on milking a cow by hand, as well as an introduction to the modern way of milking and feeding 600 cows. Viewers get a factory tour and see how cheese is made.

Barn Dance!
Unable to sleep, a young boy follows the sound of music across the fields and finds an unusual barn dance in progress. LeVar takes viewers to the hilltops of Tennessee for a look at true bluegrass music and dancing. Clogging is featured along with various instruments used by bluegrass musicians. Viewers learn how a fiddle maker creates an instrument from beginning to end.

Sophie and Lou
This is the story of Sophie, a shy mouse who sets out to learn on her own after she is enticed by the dancing that she sees in the studio across the street. LeVar masters some fancy footwork as he learns some new dances - the mambo and hip hop. Then viewers are taken across the world (including Bali, Ireland, and Australia) to look at the many cultural differences there are in dance.

Mr. George Baker
Harry sits on the porch with 100 year old Mr. George Baker who can dance and play the drums but goes to school, just like Harry, so he can learn to read. LeVar visits with The Steppers, a group of senior women who are learning to dance, and the Ferrara family who runs a bakery where the youngest to the oldest have been mixing up sweet treats for five generations.

Websites

Kid's Farm
Learn all about farm animals at this site.

Farm Animals
This site from Alphabet Soup has farm animal sounds, a quiz, games, coloring sheets and more.

Farm Animals for Kids and Teachers
You'll find information about farm animals along with links to farm lesson plans at this site from Kiddyhouse.

Kids Farm
Explore the farm at the National Zoo and learn more about cows, ducks, goats, and chickens.

FSA Kids
This site from the U.S. Farm Service Agency has coloring sheets, recipes, and puzzles and games that focus on farms and agriculture.

Farm Animals
Learn about farm animals around the world at this site from Enchanted Learning. You'll find animal facts and coloring sheets.

Dance Kids
You'll find dance games, art, stories, a look at dance around the world, or you can take a dance quiz!

Other Book Titles

Punk Farm by Jarrett J. Krosoczka (2005)
After Farmer joe goes to bed, the farm animals break out the instruments and become a punk band.

Farm Fresh Cats by Scott Santoro (2006)
Farmer Ray finds green, orange-eyed cats where he thought he'd planted cabbage!

Full Moon Barnyard Dance by Carole Lexa Schaefer (2003)
Its a beautiful night and the moon is full. The barnyard animals decide its a perfect time for a dance by the pond!

Giraffes Can't Dance by Giles Andreae (2001)
Poor Gerald the giraffe! Every time he tries to dance the other animals laugh at him until he learns that he just need the right music and a little confidence.