Story Time Theme – Winter Wonderland

This week’s story time theme was so fun!  I decided to do a Winter Wonderland story time theme this week because it’s January and so we actually had a little snow on Monday, but by today, it’s 60+ degrees outside, so c’est la vie – we went with it anyway.  I’ve had a break from story time for about 2 months now, and it was nice to get a chance to breathe and come up with new ideas and go to some new trainings and workshop about story time plans.  I’ve begun to include “Early Literacy Extras” as a little take home half sheet of paper for parents that goes along with our theme that can be used at home to practice early literacy skills to get kids ready to read.  I’ve shared the information below my story time plan.

Opening

• Traditional: Put Your Hands Up In the Air (song) & Open Shut Them (fingerplay)
• Parachute: 1,2,3 Good Morning (said while sitting, kneeling and standing and raising the parachute above your head on the count of 3)
• Yoga: Warm-up (Rock n Roll, Zip up Spine, Deep Breaths, Cat/Cow, Dog)

Book 1: Mouse’s First Snow by, Lauren Thompson

Transition

• Traditional: 5 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed
• Parachute: The Parachute Rap (Shakin’ the Chute CD) (shake balls off parachute)
• Yoga: Sun Salutations (Poses: Mountain, Reach Up, Touch the Ground, Hands at Knees (flat back), Plank Pose, Cobra, Downward Facing Dog, Walk Toward Hands, Repeat)

Book 2: Under My Hood I Have a Hat by, Karla Kuskin 

Transition (changes weekly)

• Traditional: Sing-A-Move-A-Dance (Colleen & Uncle Squatty ~ Sing-A-Move-A-Dance CD)
• Parachute: Parachute March (Shakin’ the Chute CD)
• Yoga: Balance (Poses: Mountain, Star Pose, Shift weight star pose, Falling Star, Tree)

Book 3: Snow by, Manya Stojic

Closing

• Traditional: Shake Your Sillies Out Puppet Show
• Parachute: Rocketship Run (run underneath) – Laurie Berkner Band (Rocketship Run CD)
• Yoga: Cool-down (Poses: Bridge, Happy Baby Pose, Star Pose/Deep Breaths), Winter Lullaby – Laurie Berkner Band (Rocketship Run CD)

Early Literacy Extras

• Sort your family’s glove and mittens by shape (gloves vs. mittens), by color, and by size. Noticing these differences helps in learning the different shapes of letters and numbers.
• Put out some treats for the birds and other winter animals in your backyard. Count the birds and practice saying their names (Cardinal, Bluejay, Chickadee). Learning these names is a great way to expand your child’s vocabulary!
• Talk with your child about how the weather changes from fall to winter and then winter to spring. Look outside, or walk outside and see if you can notice any of these changes together.
• Spend time creating open-ended artwork with your child.  Open-ended artwork is created from whatever you have lying around the house without any expectations about what it “should” look like – give it a try!
• Young children are fascinated by books featuring all sorts of themes. However, it isn’t really the book that builds early literacy skills, it’s how the book is used. Be enthusiastic and get your child involved when reading together. You will both enjoy this special time you share!