Story Time Theme: Eric Carle

This fall, I’ll be presenting story time for toddlers (ages 2 – 3.5 years old) as well as our very popular Yoga Story Time for children ages 2 – 5 years old.  Rather than focusing on a specific theme, this six-week session, I plan on focusing on a different author each week, we started with the ever popular, Eric Carle, a tried and true children’s author and illustrator.

Opening

• Traditional: 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: The Very Hungry Caterpillar (in ASL)

Transition

• Traditional: 5 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed
• Yoga: Sun Salutations (Mountain, Reach Up, Touch the Ground, Hands at Knees (flat back), Plank Pose, Cobra Pose, Downward Facing Dog, Walk Toward Hands, Repeat)

Book 2: Rooster’s Off to See the World (felt board numbers)

Transition (changes weekly)

• Traditional: If You’re Happy and You Know It
• Yoga: Balance Poses (Mountain, Star, Shifting Weight Star pose, Falling Star, Tree)

 Book 3: From Head to Toe

 Closing

• Traditional: Shake Your Sillies Out Puppet Show
• Yoga: Cool-down (Bridge, Happy Baby Pose, Star Pose/Deep Breaths) & Namaste

This was the first week for many families, making it a little crazier than usual.  I also had the largest crowd for Yoga Story Time with close to 25 children and their caregivers.  I chose to use The Very Hungry Caterpillar because it is so popular, but as I read the story, I also signed it (using American Sign Language).  I learned how from memorizing the story from a YouTube video.  This was a new and interesting take and many of the older children would try to repeat some of the signs as I was telling the story.  The kids only lasted through half of Rooster’s Off to See the World, about where all the animals decide to head home.  I was using a flannel board and adding each group of animals as we read the story so it did take a little longer than I expected.  From Head to Toe worked really well because the children get to try each of the movements with the animals.  I also printed out a very simple sign that said, “I can do it.” which the kids repeated after each movement.  Overall, I was very happy with the way story time turned out and can’t wait to try some new ideas next week – our author for next week: Karma Wilson (one of my favorite read aloud authors).