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I Lost My Tooth In Africa

Language: English

A young girl, who loses a tooth while visiting her father’s family in Africa, follows tradition and places the tooth under a gourd; in return she gets two chickens. Host LeVar Burton explores with youngsters how things changed for them as they grow up including a first trip to the dentist and a Quinceanera celebration which honors a Hispanic girl’s transition into womanhood.

Here are activities to do after watching this episode:

"My tooth fell out!”

Create a memory book of your children’s experiences with losing teeth.

You will need:

  • paper cut into the shape of a tooth
  • pencil, crayons, or markers
  • yarn
  • camera (optional)
  • construction paper for making a cover for the book
  1. Make a large outline of a tooth on several sheets of paper.
  2. Have your child write or dictate the date, location, and circumstances of each lost tooth.
  3. Illustrate each page with a photo or drawing of their big smile showing the empty space.
  4. Tie the pages together with yarn so pages can be easily added.
  

Make ceramic tile art

You will need:

  • water-based paint
  • small paint brush
  • crayons
  • paper
  • ceramic tile samples, 8 X 8-inch square
  1. Check out a copy of the book from the library to study the images and patterns in the illustrations. Note the borders around the pictures and discuss why the artist chose those particular images for the borders.
  2. Obtain some ceramic tile samples or close-outs from a home improvement store -- an 8 x 8-inch square tile will allow ample space for a border and a picture.
  3. Have your child make a drawing (on paper the size of the tile) that tells a story about an important event in her/his life related to growing up.
  4. Then have them use water-based paint to copy the picture on the tile.

Check out some of these books on your
next trip to the library:

  • My Wobbly Tooth Must Not Ever Never Fall Out by Lauren Child
  • Rites of Passage: Coming of Age by Mandy Ross
  • Madlenka by Peter Sís

READING RAINBOW has a resource library that includes teacher guide materials as well as reading programs for use in the public libraries. You can download these resources from GPN at:
www.gpnresources.com

If you would like more information about READING RAINBOW or if you would like to learn more about other educational products please visit the GPN web site.

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