A BIRTHDAY CAKE IS NO ORDINARY CAKE

VOCABULARY REVIEW SHEET

Follows a baker as he collects seasonal ingredients for a birthday cake. Use the vocabulary sheet to highlight words the story introduces. The words are divided into three categories: Earth and Space Words, Seasonal Words, and Cooking Words. Act out all the verbs; draw pictures for the nouns. (1 page)

3D PAPER BIRTHDAY CAKES

Build three-dimensional cake display posters for bulletin boards. Using cut-paper collage techniques like the author-illustrator, Debra Frasier; cut construction paper strips and decorate flat “cake layers”. Then watch delight grow when the 3-D effect makes the cake “pop out.” Colored paper, tape, glue, and scissors are needed. Cardboard backing is optional. (1 page)

BIRTHDAY BOOKLET

Print, cut, fold, and staple each eight-page booklet and have each child color it and fill in details about her or his name, birth date, months of the year, number of days in a year, seasons, and cake vocabulary. Have the children draw the cakes of their dreams! (2 pages)

COLORING PAGE

Debra Frasier sends birthday cakes flying through space on her dedication page. This coloring page is many students’ favorite page! Each child can add candles to match her or his age to the center cake. (1 page)

HOW MANY DAYS TO YOUR BIRTHDAY?

Map makes the idea of the Earth’s journey around the Sun concrete and visual. Here’s how it works: Find your birthday. Find today. Follow the direction of the arrows and plot how many days before your NEXT cake is due! This project involves map skills (abstraction), counting by 5’s, the months, the seasons with a solstice or an equinox, as well as leap day. (1 page)

PAPER PLATE CAKE CLOCK

With just a few inexpensive supplies you can build a clock with the Sun in the center and revolving "hands" to show where the Earth is now and another to mark your birthday. The distance between the hands indicates how how long it is until your birthday. (1 page)

BOOKMARKS

Distribute bookmarks and have each child add his or her name and the number of years he or she has circled the Sun—with a matching number of candles. Save this activity for birthday celebrations, or use it as a counting review. (1 page)

DONATE CAKE FOOD SHELF PROJECT

Share the joy of birthdays by and decorating generic cake boxes, then adding the makings for a cake: a sealed cake mix, icing, and candle. (1 page)

MAKE BAKER HATS

Make baker hats! With three sheets of tissue paper, a band of construction paper, tape, and a large paper clip, create the tall floppy hat that makes everyone think of baking. (1 page)

DREAMCAKES!

DreamCakes! Contest: Send out a call for collaged cakes based on the themes in the book. Use paper, boxes, or even flour and sugar. (1 page)

INVITATIONS

Invite a class or your friends to a one-a-year gathering. (Blank inside; 5.5 x 8.5"; two per sheet)