Thank You, Omu! Activities

Jumpstart’s Read for the Record Day selection this year is Thank You, Omu! Below you will find some creative Thank You, Omu! activities to use with the story.

The 2019 Read for the Record Day will be held on November 7th.  You can pledge to read and be part of the reading record here.

Thank You, Omu! Book

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One by one, the people in the neighborhood are drawn by the scent of Omu’s thick red stew to her apartment. Omu is generous and gives each visitor a bowl until there is none left.  But, then there is another knock at the door.  Omu is genuinely touched by the generosity and gratitude of her neighbors. Thank You, Omu!by Oge Mora is a must-have read aloud.

Read even more stories about gratitude and kindness with the suggestions from our Books About Gratitude Book List and the Kindness Book List.

You will also want to check out Mora’s newest book, Saturday, too. The story is a reminder that being together is the most important thing about any day.

Thank You, Omu! Activities

Add it to the Pot

*Works on beginning sounds

This activity works on beginning sounds of common vegetables you would find in a stew.  Give each child a vegetable (printables included below.)  Call out a beginning sound such as /m/. Students who are holding a mushroom can add it the pot printable.

Stir the Pot

*Works on letter identification and/or letter sounds

Place a pot in the middle of the children and fill it with magnetic letters, foam letters, or letter puzzle pieces.  Place a large spoon in the pot.

Invite each student to come up to the letter stew and stir while chanting the following tune.

Stir the stew

Make it better

It’s perfect for you

Pull out a letter

Then, the child should ladle out a letter, name it, and say the letter sound.

Thank You Pictures

*Works on fine motor skills and writing

Have students brainstorm people in their lives who have been generous and kind to them.  Invite the children to select a person on that list to create a thankful picture gift (see printable template.)

Allow children to use various art materials to create their thankful picture and then let each child hand deliver or mail their image.

I’m Bringing

*Works on brainstorming, fine motor skills, and writing

Ask each student to pretend they were going to Omu’s apartment for the big feast.  What dish would they choose?  Invite the students to draw a plate or bowl of something and write the name of their dish on their sheet (see printable.)

Get the Printable Thank You, Omu! Resources

Would you like these printable resources? They are a thank you gift when you become a FREE member of the Growing Book by Book community.  Just click the “subscribe and get your thank you gift button below.”

Enjoy using these resources with Thank You, Omu activities  with the students.