Story Time Theme: Green

I think the universe finally saw it fit to provide me with a really great storytime (finally)!  The past few weeks have been very busy, chaotic and not always the best storytimes I’ve offered.  But today, it was awesome!  We focused on the color green today and boy did we get through a lot of information (and had tons of fun!)  We learned about all sorts of green things in Green: Seeing Green All Around Us, then we scared away a big green monster on our flannelboard, then shared Goodnight Moon as a group.  I ordered enough copies for each family to have one.  I even had extra board book copies which came in handy when some kids weren’t sitting next to their parents.  The parents did a great job reading with me and encouraging their children to answer my questions, I even saw some parents following the words with their fingers.  One mom’s little girl was sitting close to me and she was sitting at the back of the group and read the whole story (out loud) even though her daughter wasn’t anywhere near her.  It worked out really well!  I think the parents were comfortable because it was a simple, familiar book and it might be something I try again soon.
The Wide-Mouthed Frog and The Green Grass Grew All Around were both big hits as well and overall it was so refreshing to have a storytime that worked well and that everyone was participating in.  My fingers are crossed for a great experience tomorrow as well!
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, Dog)

Puppet: Meet Willy (monkey) and give high fives!
Early Literacy Tip/Story Stretcher: The color green is all around us, use new vocabulary to describe different shades of green with your child.
ASL Sign: Green (Letter “g” shake at shoulder height)
Book One

• Traditional: Green: Seeing Green All Around Us by Sarah L. Schuette
• Yoga: Green: Seeing Green All Around Us by Sarah L. Schuette

 
Music Transition

• Traditional (fine motor skills): Go Away Big Green Monster Ed Emberley
• Yoga Sun Salutations (Mountain, Reach Up, Touch the Ground, Hands at Knees (flat back), Plank Pose, Downward Facing Dog, Walk Toward Hands, Repeat 3x)

Nursery Rhyme Cube: (small tissue box converted into a die with a nursery rhyme on each side) Roll cube and repeat nursery rhyme 3x with families.
Book Two

• Traditional: Goodnight Moon By Margaret Wise Brown (copies for every family)
• Yoga: Goodnight Moon By Margaret Wise Brown (copies for every family)

Transition (changes weekly)

• Traditional (gross motor skills): “Green Grass Grew All Around” (Rockin’ Down the Road – Greg & Steve)
• Yoga Focus: Balance (Tree, Airplane, Owl, Triangle, Warrior)

Book Three

• Traditional: The Wide-Mouthed Frog by Keith Faulkner
• Yoga: Go Away Big Green Monster Ed Emberley

Closing

• Traditional: Shake Your Sillies Out Puppet Show
• Yoga: Cool-down (Bridge, Happy Baby Pose, Star Pose/Deep Breaths)
  • “Dokokade Yoruga Naita” (Putumayo Kids Presents: Asian Dreamland)
  • Namaste