Cariboo Book Companions

Alright...kind of ironic that I'd post about Cariboo companion cards AFTER posting about a Cariboo alternative, but here goes... My kiddos love Cariboo!  It's such a fun and engaging game.  They hang on every word, just to get the opportunity to peek under that door and find a ball!  I've created not one, but TWO Cariboo card sets for books!  These can be used in a variety of ways.  In fact, they can be used WITHOUT the Cariboo game!  

The companion sets each offer cards for 10 of the most popular picture books.  Each book has 15 pictures that can be used to target sequencing, comprehension, identification after listening to a description, general vocabulary identification, following directions and more!  

Companion #1 offers cards for the popular children's books:
1. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
2. The Very Hungry Caterpillar
3. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (or Chicka Chicka ABC)
4. Good Night Moon
5. If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
6. Rosie's Walk
7. There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly
8. Good Night, Gorilla
9. We're Going on a Bear Hunt
10. Corduroy

It can be found here:  http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Cariboo-Companion-Cards-for-Popular-Childrens-Books-1572831

Companion #2 offers a Christmas theme, featuring cards for the popular Christmas books:
1. The Polar Express
2. If You Take a Mouse to the Movies
3. There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bell
4. 'Twas the Night Before Christmas
5. A Christmas Carol
6. The Gingerbread Man
7. The Twelve Days of Christmas
8. Bear Stays Up for Christmas
9. Snowmen at Christmas
10. Who Will Help Santa This Year?

It can be found here:  http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Cariboo-Christmas-Book-Companion-Cards-1581889

I hope you will check these out!  I think your kiddos will will have lots of fun while targeting literacy, listening and language!

The New Cariboo... "Secret Door!"

Do you love Cariboo but can’t find a copy of your own?  Look no further than “Secret Door!"  This fun game is similar to Cariboo, but can be made for less than $4.00!  Here’s how…

Michael’s sells plastic bead organizers with individual doors.  I chose this 14-door box, as it’s similar to Cariboo’s 15 squares.  (Michael’s also sells 7-door organizers for those looking for a smaller field of choices.)  This item is $6.99 but Michael’s is always offering 40-50% one item.  I pulled up a 50% off coupon right on my phone and scored my organizer for $3.50!

http://www.michaels.com/craftmates-lockables-organizer-3xl-14-compartments/10442311.html

Your next task is to create picture cards.  You can easily do this in Power Point.  Create a rectangle/square, which measures 1.87” in height and 1.37” in width.  Copy your square 13 more times for a page full of squares.  Then, go online and find the clip art for the items you’d like pictured.  (Teachers Pay Teachers has lots of great clip art for education!)

I like to print my pages, laminate them, and then attach them to the organizer with Velcro.  (However, with the organizer being so cheap, you could actually permanently affix them, if you want!)  I recently bought 500 Velcro dots on Amazon for $8.99+ free shipping, which is a pretty good deal… http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IYDOL64/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Many of my students have the goal from the Auditory Learning Guide (Walker, 2009), “(Name) will identify an object from several related descriptors (closed set) with XX% accuracy.”  For this goal, I create descriptor cards for each pictured item.  I put a treat (cereal or piece of candy) under 1 or more doors.  I, then, read the cards, describing the items.  The student lifts the door of the item he hears described.  Sometimes there’s a treat, sometimes not!  The thought of a possible treat keeps them engaged!

There are many other options for play, though.  It could be used for comprehension questions, sequencing, reinforcing content vocabulary, and more.  You could also turn the tables and ask the student to describe items to you, as you listen and try to find the treat!

I am attaching a freebie, Thanksgiving and Christmas Secret Door Game Cards for you to get started!  I hope your students have fun with listening 4 language!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6xKfs4xuK-_dnNfYWJxclpveVE/view?usp=sharing

Please note:  These doors can be pretty tricky to open, so I actually open all the doors and just have them lying closed.  That way, they’re easier to lift!