Story Time Theme: The Color Green

Story time is back in full swing here at my library and although I didn’t have a packed house on Monday (I’m blaming the holiday weekend), my Yoga Story Time was chock full with 14 out of 15 kids present.  I was very excited to hear one 4-year old boy, exclaim half-way through story time that he LOVED it!  (He was very skeptical at the beginning)  Once in a while, I choose a more basic theme that can be easily adapted to any number of books, such as a specific number or letter or color.  This week’s theme was “green.”  We also discussed the importance of vocabulary as an early literacy skill and the first book I shared was a great example of a book with rich vocabulary.

Opening

• Traditional Toddler: Put Your Hands Up In the Air & Open Shut Them
• Yoga: Warm-up (Rock n Roll, Zip up Spine, Deep Breaths, Cat/Cow, pounce from child pose (lunge forward, Dog)

Book 1: Way Up High in a Tall Green Tree by, Jan Peck
(Ocelot, kinkajou, boa, gecko, are all animals that you probably don’t mention in your day-to-day life.  Learn what they are – look them up online, check an encyclopedia, or stop by the library to learn more!)

Transition

• Traditional Toddler: 5 Little Speckled Frogs
• Yoga: Sun Salutations (Mountain, Reach Up, Touch the Ground, Hands at Knees (flat back), Plank Pose, Downward Facing Dog, Walk Toward Hands, Repeat)

  Book 2: Little Green  by, Keith Baker

Transition (changes weekly)

• Traditional Toddler: Green Grass Grew All Around
• Yoga: Balance (Mountain, Star Pose, Shift weight star pose, Falling Star, Tree)

Book 3:   Where is the Green Sheep?  By, Mem Fox OR Green by, Laura Vaccaro Seeger

 Closing

• Traditional Toddler: Shake Your Sillies Out Puppet Show
• Yoga: Cool-down (Bridge, Happy Baby Pose, Star Pose/Deep Breaths)
  • Asian Dreamland (Putumayo Kids)
• Namaste – explanation

Early Literacy Extras

• Play a game of “I Spy With My Little Eye Something…. Green.”  This game is a great way to distract kids while waiting in line, at a restaurant, or even in the car.
• Plant some flower or vegetable seeds in little cups and place them by the window.  Water them a little bit each day and wait for them to sprout!
• 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!