Food. Everyone loves it!
…Or used to love it at one point. Often, as we’re growing up, we’re told a lot about ‘what to eat’ – followed rather quickly by, ‘what not to eat.’ These two lists grow more complex and lengthy with every passing year.
Fortunately the innocence of children perseveres in this world of diet fads and scientists quietly retreating from the lipid hypothesis**. And teaching them a few simple rules about food will surely do more good than harm. Last Thursday led me to do just that.
Here are some quick and easy activities I use for this theme.
After I introduce a new vegetable to the pot we sing this song. We talk about vegetable names, colors and I tell them my favorites (typically tubers). This song is sung over and over until the soup is done. Have the children make a stirring motion. If you have a favorite puppet you use, have them try the finished product.
The Soup Is Boiling Up
The soup is boiling up,
The soup is boiling up,
Stir slow around we go,
The soup is boiling up.
This apple tree song is pretty basic. A flannel board of a tree and five apples is a good visual, but you don’t have to have it. I put visual instructions after each phrase in parenthesis.
Way Up High In the Apple Tree.
Way up high in the apple tree, (point up high)
Five little apples smiled at me, (show five fingers and smile)
So I shook that tree as hard as I could, (act like you are shaking a tree)
Down came an apple…Mmm, it was good! (motion an apple falling to the ground, and rub you tummy)
**A small footnote book recommendation for a small book with small ideas but big execution - ”In Defense of Food” by Michael Pollan. If you eat food, I can’t recommend this book enough. “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.” Clear, fresh and compelling writing, with a flair for balancing witticism and eye-opening facts. Other books I love by him (yes, I’ve read them all) are “The Omnivore’s Dilemma” and “The Botany of Desire.” Let us to begin to have our storytimes reflect not just fun and education, but also ourselves.
Showing posts with label props in storytime. Show all posts
Showing posts with label props in storytime. Show all posts
Friday, April 9, 2010
Using Props in Storytime
Bringing in props is a great way to spice up your storytime. After a while the most enthusiastic blend of puppets, songs, and new fingerplays may seem stale – either to you as the presenter, or the caregiver’s parents. Simple things you take for granted in your household fascinate children (and sometimes parents). Start bringing these into the storytime arena.
Here are some examples of some simple props and what to do with them.
Apples – You can do a storytime about apples, or if you need a broader topic fruit or food. Bring in a variety of colors. You can play games sequencing the apples; placing them in a row thusly – red, red green, red, red, green, red, red… and asking which one comes next. Use other sequences too! Big to small. You can also talk about how some apples are the same and some are diffeent. You can slice them in half and talk about the seeds, and how they make a tree. At the end of storytime, every child can take home one apple. Remember to remind them to wash it before eating!
Records / Record Player – I have a big record collection, and in my kitchen at home I have an old record player. I listen to music when I’m cooking and eating breakfast in the morning. Well the morning before my “Shapes” storytime was happening I was eating breakfast and DUH - “records are circles!” And perfect for musical storytimes. I brought in the record player and a kids record I had. We did the “Hokey Pokey” from it, and talked about how records and CDs are different and the same.
Musical Instruments – I play a few different instruments- and they always make good props (even if you can’t play them well). Whatever you play well can be used with songs you sing. Anything else can be used for comparing and contrasting. Remember to talk about the different sounds! I’ve brought in acoustic guitars, electric guitars and a banjo. Next week I’m bringing in my drum set for my advanced guitar class. I’ll keep them at the library an extra day and then use them for my Toddler Power Hour. We’ll be talking comparing them, talking about the sounds of big drums and small drums (and cymbals!) and every child will get to play them.
Here are some examples of some simple props and what to do with them.
Apples – You can do a storytime about apples, or if you need a broader topic fruit or food. Bring in a variety of colors. You can play games sequencing the apples; placing them in a row thusly – red, red green, red, red, green, red, red… and asking which one comes next. Use other sequences too! Big to small. You can also talk about how some apples are the same and some are diffeent. You can slice them in half and talk about the seeds, and how they make a tree. At the end of storytime, every child can take home one apple. Remember to remind them to wash it before eating!
Records / Record Player – I have a big record collection, and in my kitchen at home I have an old record player. I listen to music when I’m cooking and eating breakfast in the morning. Well the morning before my “Shapes” storytime was happening I was eating breakfast and DUH - “records are circles!” And perfect for musical storytimes. I brought in the record player and a kids record I had. We did the “Hokey Pokey” from it, and talked about how records and CDs are different and the same.
Musical Instruments – I play a few different instruments- and they always make good props (even if you can’t play them well). Whatever you play well can be used with songs you sing. Anything else can be used for comparing and contrasting. Remember to talk about the different sounds! I’ve brought in acoustic guitars, electric guitars and a banjo. Next week I’m bringing in my drum set for my advanced guitar class. I’ll keep them at the library an extra day and then use them for my Toddler Power Hour. We’ll be talking comparing them, talking about the sounds of big drums and small drums (and cymbals!) and every child will get to play them.
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