Toddler Time- Honu and Moa

by Bethany Thomas

Today we read Hona and Moa by Edna Moran, a Hawaiian version of the tortoise and the hare. Calm Honu (green sea turtle) and prideful Moa (rooster) race to win ownership of a spring. Readers learn a lot through their interactions; including about sharing resources with your community. I highly recommend this book for all our young readers!

The kids learned that Honu is the Hawaiian word for turtle, and Moa is the Hawaiian word for chicken. We also learned the Spanish and ASL (American Sign Language) for turtle and chicken.

English    Hawaiian    Spanish
Turtle     Honu           Tortuga
Chicken Moa           Pollo

ASL

Chili the Library Chicken joined us for the story. She sat with each kid as we read “Honu & Moa”.

We enjoyed pineapple and orange slices for snack. The kids learned that pineapples need a different growing environment than we have here in Idaho- they need heat! Pineapples grow on a shrub like plant in tropical climates. The top of the pineapple can be replanted to grow a new plant!

A honu coloring sheet provided opportunity for hand eye coordination, fine motor skills, sharing pencils, naming colors and more.

Every Toddler Time provides kids time to play and interact with each other and for adults to visit. Join us from 10 – 11am every Friday!

Bring your littles (ages 0-5) to the library for a story, and possibly a game or craft. Meet other parents and kids and enjoy some time in the library before it opens (it’s ok if your kids are a little loud!).

Toddler Time patrons are welcome to check out books and more while they are here! Did you know we have puzzles, games, and much more to check out? Follow this link to see the list of games in our catalog.

Other patrons are welcome to visit the Library beginning at noon on Fridays: Library Hours

#LibraryChicken

#BookFace

Later, from 3-6PM, Ms. Cadey from 4H led our after-school program. First we enjoyed the sunshine on our sledding hill.

Afterwards in our tipi we made haupia, a delicious coconut milk treat with pineapple!

While it thickened, Ms. Abbie read Honu and Moa. One of our fourth graders instantly understood it as a Hawai’iana retelling of Aesop’s The Tortoise and the Hare.

Every kid went home with a recipe card.

How to make haupia:

Ingredients:

1 can of coconut milk
1 can of water (use the can of coconut milk to measure)
5 heaping tablespoons of cornstarch
5 heaping tablespoons of sugar
1 can of pineapple

Directions:

Mix all ingredients except pineapple in a saucepan
Cook over medium heat until the mixture thickens (about five minutes)
Once thick, pour into a pan
Cover and chill
Serve in cubes with pineapple on top
Enjoy!

We ate it still warm, where it had more of a pudding consistency. Very yummy!

Published on: May 25, 2022 at 04:31

Hawaii was one of our favorite states to study because of the Aloha we received from Megan Martens. Your kids may still be talking about the delicious pineapple candies or the handmade necklaces and flowers. Our reading club was spoiled on the day we studied Hawaii.

Reading List: EPIC Hawaii

2. Science: Volcanoes The National Park Service has closed the areas around various volcanoes, they however do have webcams. NPS.GOV

If you have explored around a volcano message us your story. We loved seeing these kids explore Hawaii.

3.Math: I know you can count to 10, but can you do it in Hawaiian?

4.History: Pearl Harbor played a crucial role in our country’s history. Spend some time studying World War II

5.Writing:

Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) Poetry

Write a Kanaka Maoli Poem.

Native Hawaiian poetry is typically about the land and the people.

6.Art: The art of dance. Practice your Hula.. Hawaii Hula Company has several free videos on their website.

7. Book Pick: I have been trying to make my personal book pick appropriate for middle readers and YA readers as well. My Hawaii book pick is a great family read. It is Soul Surfer. Soul Surfer is the true story of Bethany Hamilton the surfer who lost her arm in a vicious shark attack. You can find this book on the Idaho Digital Consortium.