Storytime Theme: Orange

I don’t know what’s been going on, but my story times have been absolutely crazy all season long!  Last week, I had eight kids – it was absolutely nuts!  This week, I probably had close to 20 kids, and even crazier.  I think the biggest issue in this session is that I have a couple of kids who throw off the balance of the whole group mixed with many parents/caregivers who don’t seem willing to participate in storytime.  I have had to say multiple times, “Adults – story time is for everyone, let’s all participate, please!” But to almost no avail!  Granted, I have a few parents, who are amazing role models for their kids and seem to be having a great time, but many look as if the whole thing is a big inconvenience to them!  It’s fascinating and not in a good way!

That being said, the kids really enjoyed Pumpkin Trouble by Jan Thomas – and liked it even more when a duck appeared during our “Shake Your Sillies Out” puppet show, wearing a pumpkin costume!  They could barely contain their giggles!  Our theme for next week – the color RED!

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:  Conversation can happen at any time! Does your child need to know every step of making dinner? Probably not, but the kitchen is a great place to learn the names of some really neat things!

ASL Sign: Orange (squeeze fist in front of your mouth twice)

Book One

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

Music Transition

• Traditional (fine motor skills): “5 Active Little Monkeys” (traditional flannel board)
• 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: Waiting for Wings by Lois Ehlert
• Yoga: Orange Pear Apple Bear by Emily Gravett (flannel board)

Transition (changes weekly)

• Traditional (gross motor skills): “The Freeze” (Kids in Motion – Greg & Steve)
• Yoga Focus: Digestion (Turtle, Boat, Candle, Spider, Rabbit)

Book Three

• Traditional: Pumpkin Trouble by Jan Thomas
• Yoga: Pumpkin Trouble by Jan Thomas

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