School Age Storytimes: Black History Month

 

Standing Up (or Sitting Down) for Equality!

 

Opened by asking kids with blue eyes to raise their hands, then kids with brown eyes – asked would it be fair if all the kids with blue eyes had to go to school in an old building down the street with no heat, broken down desks, old torn textbooks? That happened right here in the US, not color of eyes but color of skin --  called “segregation” = separate (vs. “integration” = mixed together) – not so long ago (when I was a little girl),  changed because of many brave people who worked to change laws and people’s minds.

 

Read Sister Anne’s Hands – Marybeth Lorbiecki – Beautifully-written & illustrated story of a black nun who comes to all-white school to teach – history, heart, and humor – the classes loved the idea of counting buttons on underwear!  If your class wants to have funky math problems, check out the website www.bedtimemath.com.  Also talked about possible handprint art project:

Followed up by showing pictures from The Story of Ruby Bridges – Robert Cole – a six year old girl is the first student to de-segregate a school. She has to be accompanied by federal marshals because angry crowds shout nasty things.  Empty classroom – all the other kids are pulled out of the class – she and her teacher brave it out alone.

 

Sang: “Black & White”  -- Song Lyrics: http://tinyurl.com/singalong-black-history-month

Read Sit In: How Four Friends Stood Up by Sitting Down by Andrea Davis Pinkney  323.1196 PIN – Splendid writing filled with food metaphors telling the story of the  4 college students who inspired a movement with their patient wait at a Woolworth’s lunch counter for their order of “doughnuts & coffee & cream on the side.”  (With some classes, sang “We Shall Overcome” when the protagonists are singing in jail; other classes sang this after We March (below))  Emphasized the line on the SNCC page: “We are all leaders” – asked did it mean only grown-ups?  Whether age7, 17, 47,  or 107, if they see something not right in the way we treat people, animals, environment or anything in our world, they can work to change it…

Showed Rosa by Nikki Giovanni (Caldecott-award winning profile of Rosa Parks) --mentioned she was another person who stood up by sitting down. Asked kids who could tell me what she did…then mentioned that many other people stopped using busses to protest and walked instead…compared the length of their walks to the distance the kids who lived at the top of The Hills might have to walk to school.

Speaking of walking…

Read We March by Shane W. Evans – simple account of getting ready and then marching in Washington D.C. – which the kids identified from the illustration of the Washington Monument -- ending with a picture of people watching a speaker at the  Lincoln Memorial – asked if anyone recognized the building and then why Lincoln?  (ended slavery) Who are they listening to?  (MLK)

Read selected pages from I have a Dream – Martin Luther King’s speech illustrated by Kadir Nelson (book comes with a CD so teachers can share MLK’s actual speech with students.)

Read This is the Dream by Diane Z. Shore and Jessica Alexander – summarizes in verse and magnificent paintings by James Ransome segregated America and the changes brought by activists and the resulting civil rights legislation.

Book/Song: This Little Light of Mine illustrated by E.B. Lewis – with hand motions

Finished with book Be A King: Dr. Martin Luther King's Jr.'s Dream and You by Carol Boston Weatherford, illustrated by James E. Ransom -- urges kids to emulate MLK telling kids "You can be a King" in their own lives -- fighting bigotry, feeling empathy,  banding together against bullies, stamping down hatred, seeking justice, walking tall, having a dream "great enough to grow into," closes with "Set your sights on the mountaintop. Climb a little higher every day."

Some classes: departed singing “We Shall Overcome”

Booktalked (some classes):
The Other Side – Jacqueline Woodson
Freedom Summer – Deborah Wiles
Ruth and the Green Book – Calvin Alexander Ramsey

Great new booklist: https://mailchi.mp/13927f00bfe4/17-new-picture-books-about-black-history, http://www.notwiddletwaddle.com/2013/02/picture-books-for-black-history-month.html 

Favorite booklist site with lots of ideas: https://www.whatdowedoallday.com/books-for-kids/

2.2016 Bedm.
2.2018 left off We March & I Have a Dream

 

 

"Taking the Initiative"

Storytimes incorporating non-fiction and fictional titles sensitizing kindergarten through third-graders to this country’s history.  Sensitively introducing slavery, the underground railroad, discussing separate but not equal, the civil rights movement, Dr. Martin Luther King and the many other black Americans who’ve overcome prejudice and made a difference.

Book: Henry's Freedom Box -- Ellen Levine (Kadir Nelson's illustrations won the Caldecott Silver) -- depicts how a slave shipped himself to freedom in 1849.  Also discussed what "underground railroad" was; homophones (mail/male).
Song: "Follow the Drinking Gourd" (lyrics to all songs below)

Book: All Aboard: Elijah McCoy's Steam Engine -- Monica Kulling  -- tells how the clever, mechanically-minded son of slaves (who escaped via the underground railroad) became a mechanical engineer and invented the device that oiled a train engine while it was in motion, revolutionizing train travel.  Also notes that the term "the real McCoy" comes from the fact that no one wanted an imitation -- his was so good.
Song: "Dr. Martin Luther King Had a Dream"

Book: The Other Side -- Jacqueline Woodson -- the story of two girls, one black and one white, who overcame segregation  (represented by a dividing fence in their town) to cleverly find a way to play together.
Sing and march as they depart: "We Shall Overcome."
One class only: Wind Flyers -- Angela Johnson (picture book about the Tuskegee Airmen)
2/14 K-2

Song Lyrics: http://tinyurl.com/singalong-black-history-month

Previous years:   Black History Month 2/13

Book: Show Way - Jacqueline Woodson - follows generations of a family from slave days through the Civil Rights movement to today.
Song: “Follow the Drinking Gourd”

Book: Rosa's Bus: The Ride to Civil Rights -- Jo S. Kittinger -- one of many excellent tellings of Rosa Parks story
Song: “We Shall Overcome”
Book: Sister Anne's Hands --MaryBeth Lorbiecki -- Seven-year-old Anna has her first encounter with racism in the 1960s when an African American nun comes to teach at her parochial school.  Alternative: Freedom Summer – Deborah Wiles (In 1964, Joe is pleased that a new law will allow his best friend John Henry, who is colored, to share the town pool and other public places with him, but he is dismayed to find that prejudice still exists.), White Socks Only -- Coleman or Goin’ Someplace Special – McKissick
Song: “Black And White”
Some other books to consider: These Hands -- Margaret H Mason,  Giant Steps to Change the World - Spike & Tonya Lewis Lee

 

Black History Month 2/11:

Book: Aunt Harriet's Underground Railroad in the Sky by Faith Ringgold or Under the quilt of night – Deborah Hopkinson or Follow the Drinking Gourd – Jeanette Winter
Sing:  "Follow the Drinking Gourd" (after we talked about what it was - North Star/big dipper) or “Harriet Tubman”
Civil War ended slavery 150 years ago but 50 years ago black men and women still didn’t have equal rights – not so long ago I was their age then.  Book: Sit In: How Four Friends Stood Up by Sitting Down by Andrea Davis Pinkney  323.1196 PIN
K-2 sang "We Shall Overcome" as they left the library
Book: (3-4 only) This is the Dream by Diane Z. Shore 811.6 SHO. 

Black History Month  2/10:
Most Loved in All the World -- Hegamin
Henry Aaron's Dream -- Tavares
Back of the Bus -- Reynolds (illustrated by our guest illustrator -
Floyd Cooper)
Finding Lincoln -- Malaspina
Our Children Can Soar -- 973.0496 COO

Other books read over the years:

Night Running – Carbone, Crossing Bok Chitto – Tingle, Good Night for Freedom – Morow  (Underground Railroad)
Teammates -- Golenbock (Jackie Robinson & Pee Wee Reese)
Granddaddy's Gift – Mitchell (voting rights)
Pink & Say -- Polacco (4th grade only – powerful story of a black and a white soldier during the Civil War)
Amazing Grace –Hoffman (black girl learns she can do anything she sets her mind to)
More Than Anything Else – Marie Bradby.  Fictionalized narrative of Booker Washington’s childhood and dreams -- Nine-year-old Booker works with his father and brother at the saltworks but dreams of the day when he'll be able to read.
Africa Books: Kente Colors – Chocolate
Africa Brothers & Sisters – Kroll
Boundless Grace – Hoffman
Galimoto – Williams
It takes a Village – Cowen-Fletcher
I Love My Hair – Tarpley
Masai & I – Kroll
Friends for Freedom: The Story of Susan B. Anthony & Frederick Douglas by Susanne Slade (J303.484 SLA)
I, Too, Am America -- Langston Hughes poem beautifully illustrated by Bryan Collier

http://www.slj.com/2015/01/standards/curriculum-connections/changing-the-world-new-books-about-african-american-history/

New books:
Seeds of Freedom: The Peaceful Integration of Huntsville, Alabama by Hester Bass Somewhat long but well-written look at a city that desegregated peacefully: Kids will be astonished by the small things in the book, such as a black girl who has to use paper pictures of her feet because she is not allowed to try on shoes in the store, and the 3 black women plus baby who are arrested and go to jail for eating out at a restaurant along...introduces the other non-violent protests, school desegregation lawsuit...and first black students in Alabama to go to a formerly white school. Separate But Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez & Her Family's Fight of Desegregation by Duncan Tonatiuh Mexican American struggle to be allowed to attend white schools.
The Case for Loving: The Fight for Interracial Marriage by Selina Alko Kids will be astonished to learn that not so long ago black and white people weren't allowed to marry each other.

Josephine : the dazzling life of Josephine Baker by Patricia Hruby Powell, Little Melba and her big trombone by Katheryn Russell-Brown, The Voice That Challenged a Nation: Marion Anderson and the Struggle for Civil Rights by  Russell Freedman and  When Marian sang : the true recital of Marian Anderson : the voice of a century by Pam Muñoz Ryan tell the stories of talented and determined black girls and women who wouldn't bow down to discrimination's limitations.
Lillian's Right to Vote by Jonah Winter http://www.kidlitfrenzy.com/kid-lit-frenzy/2015/8/5/voting-rights-act-50th-anniversary-lillians-right-to-vote

Harlem Renaissance Party by Faith Ringgold (a boy is introduced to many of the “greats”
Dinner at Aunt Connie’s House by Faith Ringgold (twelve portraits of famous African-American women “speak”)

School Age Storytime: Martin Luther King Day

A storytime for Kindergarten-3rd grade celebrating the life of MLK

Book: Martin's Big Words by Doreen Rappaport (beautifully illustrated short biography complemented by MLK quotes)

Song: “Martin Luther King” (to “BINGO”) Song Lyrics: http://tinyurl.com/singalong-black-history-month  

Book: The Other Side -- Jacqueline Woodson (fictional account of how two girls, one white and one black, gradually get to know each other as they sit on the fence that divides their town.) Alternatives:  Sister Anne's Hands --MaryBeth Lorbiecki – (Seven-year-old Anna has her first encounter with racism in the 1960s when an African American nun comes to teach at her parochial school)   or Freedom Summer – Deborah Wiles (In 1964, Joe is pleased that a new law will allow his best friend John Henry, who is colored, to share the town pool and other public places with him, but he is dismayed to find that prejudice still exists.)  or Goin’ Someplace Special – McKissick

Song: “Martin Luther King had a dream”  or “Black And White”

Read Sit In: How Four Friends Stood Up by Sitting Down by Andrea Davis Pinkney  323.1196 PIN – Splendid writing filled with food metaphors telling the story of the  4 college students who inspired a movement with their patient wait at a Woolworth’s lunch counter for their order of “doughnuts & coffee & cream on the side.”  (With some classes, sang “We Shall Overcome” when the protagonists are singing in jail; other classes sang this after We March(below))  Emphasized the line on the SNCC page: “We are all leaders” – asked did it mean only grown-ups?  Whether age7, 17, 47,  or 107, if they see something not right in the way we treat people, animals, environment or anything in our world, they can work to change it…

Read This is the Dream by Diane Z. Shore and Jessica Alexander – summarizes in verse and magnificent paintings by James Ransome segregated America and the changes brought by activists and the resulting civil rights legislation. or  

(unavailable 2019) Be A King: Dr. Martin Luther King's Jr.'s Dream and You by Carol Boston Weatherford, illustrated by James E. Ransom -- urges kids to emulate MLK telling kids "You can be a King" in their own lives -- fighting bigotry, feeling empathy,  banding together against bullies, stamping down hatred, seeking justice, walking tall, having a dream "great enough to grow into," closes with "Set your sights on the mountaintop. Climb a little higher every day."

Some classes: departed singing “We Shall Overcome”

1/2019 Bedm.  See also: School Age Storytimes: Black History Month

https://kateywrites.wordpress.com/2015/01/18/raisingreaders-monday-martin-luther-king-junior-edition has a great post on Martin Luther King day:

 

She writes "A new study by the Southern Education Foundation (widely publicized by an article in The Huffington Post) shows that over half of American public schoolchildren are living in poverty. According to FirstBook.org, “Most of these children have no age-appropriate books at home, and the classrooms and programs they attend are woefully under-resourced. Approximately two-thirds of these schools and programs cannot afford to buy books at retail prices.”

 

How do we fight the darkness of ignorance and illiteracy? What light do we have to shine for the 51% of American schoolchildren living in poverty, without adequate access to books?

 

I said to my children, ‘I’m going to work and do everything that I can do to see that you get a good education. I don’t ever want you to forget that there are millions of God’s children who will not and cannot get a good education, and I don’t want you feeling that you are better than they are. For you will never be what you ought to be until they are what they ought to be.’  – Martin Luther King, Jr. , 7th January, 1968

Check out her blog post (link above) to see her suggestions on how kids can make a difference.

(Great ideas for libraries as well)

 

If you are looking for great read-alouds for Martin Luther King Day and Black History Month – check out my storytimes: http://carolsimonlevin.blogspot.com/search/label/Martin%20Luther%20King

 

Additional book suggestions and author interviews:

http://www.smartbooksforsmartkids.com/happy-birthday-mlk-jr/

http://www.readbrightly.com/12-books-carry-legacy-dr-martin-luther-king-jr/

Josephine : the dazzling life of Josephine Baker by Patricia Hruby Powell and Little Melba and her big trombone by Katheryn Russell-Brown tell the stories of two black girls who wouldn't bow down to discrimination's limitations.

Booktalked: I Have a Dream J305.896 KIN
Other titles to consider:
Rosa's Bus: The Ride to Civil Rights -- Jo S. Kittinger  or Rosa –Nikki Giovanni -- excellent versions of Rosa Parks’ story
These Hands -- Margaret H Mason
Giant Steps to Change the World - Spike & Tonya Lewis LeeGranddaddy’s Gift by Margaree King Mitchell. (In 1965, a law was passed saying Black people must be allowed to vote, but white people in Southern states tried to make it very difficult.)

1/2009 Lincoln, MLK, Obama: 

 

"Take a journey through time -- starting 200 years ago" (with the birth of Abraham Lincoln -- bicentennial next month):

Book: Abe's Honest Words: The Life of Abraham Lincoln by Doreen Rappaport (lots of good writing here, and food for thought)
Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation & the passage of the 13th amendment freed the slaves in 1865, but a hundred years later black people still didn't have the same rights as white people even when I (Carol) was their age --  segregation/discrimination-schools, restaurants, buses, water fountains, voting -- until Dr. Martin Luther King & many brave people staged non-violent demonstations. (Younger classes sang "Martin Luther King" before we read the next book) 

Book: Martin's Big Words by Doreen Rappaport

Stretch -- song "We Shall Overcome" In 1965, a law was passed saying Black people must be allowed to vote, but white people in Southern states tried to make it very difficult (tests, threats) -- Booktalked Granddaddy's Gift by Margaree King Mitchell.

Look how far we've come. Today, 40 years later, we are 12 days away from the inauguration of a new President -- from Illinois like Lincoln, black like Martin Luther King: Book: Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Child of Hope by Nikki Grimes (poet -- wonderful figurative language) (I only read the main story not the secondary one.)

At the core of all three books was each man's passion for education and for making the world a better place through his actions.

Pre-School Storytime: Valentine’s Day & Celebrating Friendship

Ages 3-6: Stories and songs celebrating friendship.  Includes a non-fiction book showing how animals greet each other, concepts of shape and direction, numeracy and rhyme. 
Optional additions address loss and bullying prevention.

Music playing when enter: More Tickles and Tunes (Track #5 Razzama Tazzama)

Book: My Friend Rabbit – Eric Rohmann (Caldecott Winner, sometimes friends drive us crazy!)

Flannel: Snowman’s Valentine  (source unknown)
Fay made a snowman, fat and fine
And oh how his button eyes did shine
When little Fay
Gave him today
A big red heart for a valentine

follow with:
Flannel & Rabbit Puppet: A Chubby Little Snowman (source unknown)
A chubby little snowman had a carrot nose
Along came a bunny, what do you suppose?
That hungry little bunny, looking for his lunch
Ate the snowman’s carrot nose
Nibble, Nibble, Crunch!

Book: Mouse’s First Valentine – Lauren Thompson (guessing game – children figure out what is being used to make the valentine) – not that interesting, didn’t hold their interest 2017

Flannel: This Valentine is shaped like… (shapes, rhymes = phonemic awareness)
This valentine is shaped like a square
This valentine is shaped like a bear
This valentine is shaped like a circle
This valentine colored purple
This valentine is shaped like a rectangle
This valentine is shaped like a triangle
This valentine is shaped like a dove
This valentine is shaped with love!

Stretch: Head Shoulders Knees & Toes


“Animals use different body parts to say hello”
Hello, Hello! – Miriam Schlein (narrative non-fiction: ID animals, animal behavior)

Song: If You’re Happy & You Know It
 


“Some friends might not be human”
Book: Boy + Bot – Ame Dyckman  or  Clara and Asha -- Eric Rohmann (try Strictly No Elephants – Lisa Mantchev in 2017)

Flannel: May I Bring a Friend? based on the book by Beatrice Schenk de Regniers (1964 Caldecott Winner)

Song: Skinnamarink from Sharon, Lois, and Bram’s  One elephant, deux éléphants (also on other albums)

Skidamarink a dink a dink, Skidamarink a doo, I love you. (2x)
I love you in the morning, And in the afternoon, I love you in the evening
And underneath the moon;
Oh, Skidamarink a dink a dink, Skidamarink a doo,I love you!



Book (some groups): City Dog, Country Frog – Mo Willems (beautiful story of friendship, loss, and renewal)  and/or One --  Kathryn Otoshi – (anti-bullying parable where the number one stands up for the color blue against the red bully and all the colors discover that everyone counts.)

Flannel: Hi Harry (source unknown) – No one has time to play with Harry Tortoise until Sam Snail shows up…

Song: Make New Friends but Keep the Old (traditional)
Make new friends but keep the old,one is silver and the other gold
A circle’s round, it has no end – that’s how long I want to be your friend!
 

Optional: Book: If You’ll Be My Valentine – Cynthia Rylant (rhymes articulate the different valentines a boy makes for family members and pets)

Glove or Flannel: Five Little Valentines (source unknown, can use numeral cards to reinforce subtraction numeracy)
Five little valentines from the grocery store - I sent one to mother, now there are four
Four little valentines pretty ones to see - I gave one to my brother now there are three
Three little valentines, what´ll I do? - I gave one to my sister now there are two
Two little valentines , it´s so much fun - I gave one to Daddy, now there is one
One little valentine, I´m almost through
Who should I give it to?  I gave it to YOU!

Optional VHS: One Zillion Valentines (Weston Woods) Reading Rainbow: Best Friends

Other possible titles:

Ribbit! by Rodrigo Folgueira
Flora & the Flamingo by Milly Idle
Unicorn Thinks He's Pretty Great by Bob Shea
The Lamb-a-Roo by Diana Kimpton and The Day it Rained Hearts by Felicia Bond – Fran favorites

2.14

2.17: Emphasis on friendship and sticking up for each other in a difficult time.

Music playing as kids enter & during craft – Happy Feet album by Fred Penner
Book: Friendshape by Amy Krouse Rosethal
Flannel: This Valentine (shapes)

Book: One Good Deed by Terri Fields (Nice, a bit long, had to abridge for afternoon group)
Flannel: Snowman’s Valentine 
Action song: Happy Feet #8 from Fred Penner’s album
One by Kathryn Otoshi
Glove or Flannel: Five Little Valentines
Flannel: May I Bring a Friend? based on the book by Beatrice Schenk de Regniers (1964 Caldecott Winner) – skipped p.m.
Song: If You’re Happy & You Know It
If time: Book: Strictly No Elephants by Lisa Mantchev and/or Because of You by B.G. Hennessey or Whoever You Are by Mem Fox – no time for any, use next time?
Book: My Heart is Like a Zoo by Michael Hall  --> Valentine crafts (supplies: die cut hearts, foam hearts & letters, googly eyes, stickers, scrap paper, scissors, glue sticks, pipe cleaners, tape, 12x18 boards, white, pink, and red construction paper for cards, scrap construction paper.)

School Age Storytime: Valentine’s Day and Friendship

In-school storytime for Kindergarten through 3rd graders.  Incorporates kindness, anti-bullying, Black History Month, monsters, humor, and a bit of wacky math! (40 min. long )

Somebody Loves You Mr. Hatch by Eileen Spinelli (how thinking someone cared for him helped Mr. Hatch come out of his shyness and friend and be befriended by his neighbors -- aside for brief discussion of stranger safety.)

One by Kathryn Otoshi (anti-bullying parable where the number one stands up for the color blue against the red bully and all the colors discover that everyone counts.)

The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson, Sister Anne's Hands by MaryBeth Lorbiecki or Freedom Summer by Deborah Wiles (mentioned that when I was their age, there were places in our country where black children and white children couldn't go to the same schools, playgrounds, libraries etc.  Vocabulary: "segregation" = separation.)

Leonardo the Terrible Monster  by Mo Willems (queried kids if they could name his other works: Pigeon, Knufflebunny, and Elephant & Piggie books)  Leonardo decides to give up being a terrible monster and be a wonderful friend instead.

Love Letters by Arnold Adoff (811.54) (amusing Valentine poems)

This Plus That, Life's Little Equations by Amy Rosenthal (clever look at how big and small moments add up in life.) or Chopsticks by Amy Rosenthal (after a pair of chopsticks get separated, each friends eventually learns to stand on its own.)



Additional Book Possibilities:
Bink & Gollie – Kate DeCamillo
Babuska Baba Yaga – Patricia Polacco
Alex & Lulu: Two of a Kind – Lorena Simonovich
One of Each –  Mary Ann Hoberman
Unicorn Thinks He's Pretty Great -- Bob Shea
2.12

Pre-School Storytime: Mousing Around!

A cozy interactive storytime for a cold day!
Ages 3-6: This story and song program explores colors, shapes, numbers,
the days of the week, poetry, and even a bit of sign language.

Note: This is a long program, may choose to omit one or more segments.

Music as children enter: Selection of mouse songs -- options include: Alex Mitnick’s Animals We Dream (track #6), Steve Pullar’s ZooBoogie! (#4), More Songs from Bear in the Big Blue House (#18), Laurie Berkner’s Rocketship Run (#3), Blue Dog Record’s It’s A Small World (#6), Phil Rosenthal’s Animal Songs (#7)

Opening poem with puppet: “Oh, What Is in that Little Box?” (Adapted from: What I Like: Poems for the Very Young by Gervase Phin) (Prop: Present box with 3 mice inside puppet from Folkmanis)

Oh, what is in that little box, Whatever can it be?

Could it be a spider or a buzzing bumble bee,
A slimy snail or a slippery slug, or a tiny jumping flea?

Oh, what is in that little box, Whatever can it be?   
Oh, what is in that little box, Whatever can it be?

Could it be a wiggly worm, wriggling to be free,
A beetle or a spotted bug, or a tiny chimpanzee?

Oh, what is in that little box, Whatever can it be?     
Oh, what is in that little box, Whatever can it be?

I wish that I could open it,
    But I haven't got the key.
    But wait a minute, the lid is loose,
    I'll open it and see.

Oh, look what is in the little box:
Three white mice!   One, two, three!
For the first two verses, the lid is on, but I'm making it move a bit by moving my fingers. The third verse, you open the lid and show the mice.

Book: Mouse Mess – Linnea Riley (alternatives: What’s for Lunch? – John Schindel or Mice  -- Rose Fyleman/Lois Ehlert)

Song: Hickory Dickory Dock (props: grandfather clock with movable hands, finger puppet mouse) -- This is an awareness introduction to analog clocks -- I don’t actually talk about the minute hand but I put up numeral cards on the flannel board to emphasize numbers and clap out the time (“struck 2” clap twice, etc.)
Hickory-Dickory dock
The Mouse ran up the clock
The clock struck one
And down he runs
Hickory-Dickory dock (2- “the mouse said ‘boo’”, 3- “the mouse went ‘whee’”, 4- “no more” or “wants some more” if you want to continue with additional hours 5 - “took a dive” 6 - “he’s in a fix” etc.)

Flannel: Mouse House (Great for introducing/reviewing/practicing colors & shapes -- I pause as I take out each flannel piece (in bold below) to ask the kids to identify its color and shape)

MOUSE HOUSE (source unknown)
Mollie Mouse lived in the big house of the Swathmore family. But she wanted her own cozy little house. She looked around the playroom of the Swathmore children for a cozy little house.
First she tried the toybox, but it was way too big.
Next she tried the jack-in-the-box, but it was much too crowded.

Then she tried the music box, but it was too loud.
Finally Mollie Mouse said, "I'll have to build a cozy little house all by myself.


So she went to the toy box and found a red square block.
(Place red square on flannel board)
"Perfect," she said, "but it still doesn't feel like home."
So she went back to the toy box and found a...
Blue rectangle block, (door)
Green half-circle block, (door mat)
Orange triangle block, (roof)
One yellow round cheese, (window)
Another yellow round cheese, (window)
And two pink balloons (chimneys).
"Perfect," she said, "now it finally feels like home. A cozy little mouse house."

Fingerplay: Quiet Mouse (optional prop: mouse finger puppet, encourage kids to use their finger - then repeat)

Once there lived a quiet mouse
(hold out fist with index finger extended)
In a quiet little house.
(insert index finger into other fist)
(whisper) When all was quiet as can be
Out Popped He!! (push finger out top of fist)



Book: Mouse Paint - Ellen Stoll Walsh (explores primary & secondary colors, color mixing)


Flannel: Mouse Paint (tune: Three Blind Mice, lyrics Carol Simon Levin) - reinforces color mixing idea -- cut 3 Ellison die-cut flannel white mice, + 1 of blue, red, and yellow, 3 jars of paint, 3 puddles, and 3 mouse bottoms (green, purple, and orange) to place on the bottom half of each colored mouse to show what colors are mixed.)


Three white mice, three white mice.
Three jars of paint, three jars of paint.
One steps in the yellow, one steps in the red,
One steps in the blue, “Look!” they all said.
“Once we were white, Now we’re colored instead!”
No white mice. No white mice.

Three colored mice, three colored mice.
Three puddles of paint, three puddles of paint.
Red Mouse stirs the yellow, Blue Mouse stirs the red,
Yellow Mouse stirs the blue, She dances there too.
They dance and they mix -- What new colors are seen?
Orange, Purple, Green! Orange, Purple, Green!

Action: Little Mouse, Little Mouse Turn Around
Little Mouse, Little Mouse Turn Around
Little Mouse, Little Mouse Touch the Ground
Little Mouse, Little Mouse Wave Your Tail
Little Mouse, Little Mouse, Climb a Pail
Little Mouse, Little Mouse Eat Some Cheese
Little Mouse, Little Mouse Don’t forget to say “Please”
Little Mouse, Little Mouse Twitch your nose
Little Mouse, Little Mouse Touch your toes
Little Mouse, Little Mouse Scamper away
Little Mouse, Little Mouse The Cat is here to stay!



Book: Seven Blind Mice – 398.2 Ed Young (traditional folktale, reinforces colors, days of the week, and is a guessing game)


Glove puppet: 5 Little Mice (tune: 5 Little Ducks, source unknown, can either use a cat puppet or teach kids the sign language sign: http://lifeprint.com/asl101/pages-signs/c/cat.htm) (Similar musical version on Liz Buchanan’s Once Upon a Tune (track #9), songs for learning signs on Music with Mar’s Singing and Signing Animals. I also use numeral cards and have kids hold up their fingers to emphasize numeracy.)

Five little mice came out to play
Gathering crumbs along the way
Out came the pussycat, big and fat
One little mouse goes scampering back.
Continue with Four, Three, Two, One... until there are no more mice. Optional codicil by Carol Simon Levin:
No more mice came out to play
Until that cat did go away
When that cat was truly gone
Five little mice came back along.



Book: The Little Mouse, Red Ripe Strawberry and the Big Hungry Bear – Don and Audrey Wood (We always chant the “big hungry bear” together in our big bear voices, sometimes I also teach the signs for “bear” (http://lifeprint.com/asl101/pages-signs/b/bear.htm), “strawberry” (http://www.babysignlanguagedictionary-mysmarthands.com/strawberry_-_ASL_sign_for_strawberry.html) and “mouse” (http://lifeprint.com/asl101/pages-signs/m/mouse.htm)

Alternate Book: Who Sank the Boat? – Pamela Allen
Alternate Action Songs: The Farmer in the Dell (traditional: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Farmer_in_the_Dell) or The Mouse Ran Around the Room (Hi-Ho-the Derry Oh) cat, bear, kids – optional puppets)



DVD: Picnic (Emily Arnold McCully, Weston Woods, Public Performance Rights – "I can’t give you all tickets to go to the Caribbean right now so great to fantasize about a summer’s day!" ) (Afterwards briefly talked about value of wordless narrative (ECRR2 “talking” -- kids articulating the story themselves, booktalked 2014 Caldecott Honors -- all wordless books.) Alternative: Reading Rainbow -- If you give a mouse a cookie.

Hand stamping music: Buckwheat Zydeco’s Bayou Boogie (track “The Mice ate my Rice”) -- kids got up and danced.

Display other books by Ellen Stoll Walsh and Emily Arnold McCully, folktale versions of “City Mouse, Country Mouse” plus additional “mice” titles.

2.14

Pre-school Storytime: Soup's On

 

Preschool Storytime: “Soup’s On” 

Age 3-6, also done as outreach for "GrandFriends"  – Kindergartners and Seniors combined storytime.

 

Featuring soup stories and songs,

incorporating fiction and non-fiction, concepts of alphabet, emotions, and months of the year

and participatory storytelling of a classic folk tale. Optional soup making or soup jar gifts.

 

 

 

Entrance Song: “Animal Crackers in my Soup” – from John Lithgow’s Farkle & Friends J730 LITH

 

Book: Growing Vegetable Soup – Lois Ehlert (vocabulary, non-fiction concepts of gardening & food prep)

 

“Piggy Back” Song/Action: This is the Way we… make the Soup (lyrics for this and all other songs below) (reinforces sequencing)

 

Book: Soup Day – Melissa Iwai

 

Interactive story with props (pot, puppets, & veggies): Stone Soup  (Participatory storytelling, mentioned old story many variants – I use the Ann McGovern version with old lady and young man - script below)

 

Song/Action: “Doing the Chocolate Shake” (chocolate soup) – used when needed to get out the wiggles

 

Song/Flannel:  "Alphabet Soup" by Tom Chapin (reinforces alphabet) 

 

Book: Mean Soup – Betsy Everitt or That is NOT a Good Idea -- Mo Willems

 

Song:  "If you are happy and you know it…" .. sad, angry, loving

Book/Cards/Song: Chicken Soup with Rice – Maurice Sendak, tune by Carole King from “Really Rosie” (audio & video available, concept: the names of the months)

 

Book (outreach only): Monkey Soup – Louis Sachar (child makes her father a special kind of soup to help get him well – silly!)   (used this book in Kachoos&BooBoos storytime in-house)

DVD (in house only): Armadilly Chili (Nutmeg Media, PPR)

 

Hand Stamping Song: Stone Soup (Song on Linda Arnold’s album "Make Believe”)

 

Another possibility: Last Stop on Market Street – Matt de la Pena -- grandmother & child travel on a bus to serve at a soup kitchen

LYRICS:

 

This is the way we…make the soup

(lyrics by Carol Levin, tune: “Mulberry Bush”   Action song following Growing Vegetable Soup by Lois Ehlert)

 

This is the way we plant the seeds(3x)…to make our vegetable soup. (plant)

This is the way we water and weed… (kneel)

This is the way the sun will shine… (arms)

This is the way the plants will grow… (rise)

This is the way we pick and dig…

This is the way we wash and scrub…

This is the way we slice and dice…

This is the way we put them into the pot…

This is the way we stir and sniff…

This is the way we eat the soup… (blow and eat)

Alphabet Soup --  Song on Tom Chapin's album "Moonboat" (alphabet, food)  flannel patterns available

Now gather 'round children, it's time for a treat.

Dinnertime's comin', who wants to eat?

I do.  I do.  I do, too!

Then I'll make Alphabet Soup with you.

              

Chorus:

Grab yourself a letter, throw it in a pot.

Stir it up, stew it up, serve it real hot.

Read it while you eat it.  Feed the whole troop.

Can't get enough of that Alphabet Soup. 

(clap, clap) Can't get enough of that Alphabet Soup.

 

A is for Apple, B for beans,

Corn, Dill, Eggs, French Fries, Greens.

What d'ya got so far?  Look and see.

A B C D E F G, what?  A B C D E F G!

chorus

 

Ham Bone, Ice Cream, Jelly, Ketchup, Lamb,

Meat, Noodles, Onions, Peas please, Ma'am.

What d'ya got so far?  Look and see.

H I J K L M N O P, what?  H I J K L M N O P!

chorus

 

Quince, Radish, Salt, Turnips, Unicorn Horn,

Veal Chop, Watermelon…Unicorn Horn?

Play my Xylophone while it's stewin'.

Let's put Yams in.  Let's put You in!

A big Zucchini when no one's looking.

Now we've got the whole alphabet cooking.

Alphabet Soup couldn't be better.

Let's say the whole thing letter by letter:

 

A B C D E F G

H I J K L M N O P

Q R S T U V

W X Y and Z.

 

Let's go 'round and sing it again.

Then pass me a S-P-O-O-N.

 

If You're Happy and You Know It Clap Your Hands – Traditional  (action, body parts, emotions)

 

If you're happy and you know it clap your hands (clap, clap)

If you're happy and you know your hands (clap, clap)

If you're happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it,

If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands (clap, clap)

2. Stomp your feet  3. Shout "Hurrah!"   4. Do all three.

Variation:

If you’re angry and you know it, stomp your feet (stomp, stomp)…

If you’re sad and you know it, shed a tear (sob, sob)…

If you’re loving and you know it, give a hug…etc.

 

Chicken Soup With Rice – book by Maurice Sendak, song on Carole King’s "Really Rosie" 

(food, seasons -- months)  (enlarge Sendak’s pictures from the small book and mount on cards)

 

In January, it’s so nice,

while slipping on the sliding ice.

To sip hot chicken soup with rice.

Sipping once, sipping twice,

sipping chicken soup with rice.

 

In February, it will be

my Snowman's anniversary

with cake for him and soup for me.

Happy once….

 

In March the wind blows down the door

and spills my soup upon the floor.

It laps it up and roars for more.

Blowing once….

 

In April I will go away

to far off Spain or old Bombay,

and dream about hot soup all day.

Oh my, once….

 

In May I truly think it best

to be a robin lightly dressed.

Concocting soup inside my nest.

Mix it once….

 

In June I saw a charming group

of roses all begin to droop.

I pepped them up with chicken soup!

Sprinkle once….

 

In July I'll take a peep

Into the cool and fishy deep

Where chicken soup is selling cheap!

Selling once….

 

In August it will be so hot

I will become a cooking pot

Cooking soup of course.  Why not?

Cooking once….

 

In September for a while

I will ride a crocodile

Down the Chicken soupy Nile.

Paddle once….

 

In October I'll be host

To witches, goblins, and a ghost.

I'll serve them chicken soup on toast.

Whoopy once….

 

In November's gusty gale

I will flop my flippy tail

And spout hot soup.  I'll be a whale!

Spouting once….

 

In December I will be

A baubled bangled Chistmas tree

With Soup bowls draped all over me.

Merry once….

 

I told you once

I told you twice

All seasons of the year are nice

For eating chicken soup with rice!

 

STONE SOUP - Ann McGovern

 

 

Act out the story of Stone Soup using either real or pretend food props, puppet people, or children taking parts. Parts and props are highlighted.  If you have many children who want to participate, the part of the man can be a whole family, and the part of the woman can be many villagers.

          

A young Man was walking.  He walked and he walked.  He walked all night.  And he walked all day.  He was tired.  And he was hungry.     At last he come to a big house.

 

"What a fine house," said the young man.  "There will be plenty of food for me here."  He knocked on the door.

 

A little old Lady opened it.

 

"Good lady," said the young man,  " I am very hungry.  Can you give me something to eat?"

 

"I have nothing to give you," said the little old lady.  "I have nothing in the house.  I have nothing in the garden".  And she began to close the door.

 

"Stop!" said the young man.  "If you will not give me something to eat, will you give me a stone?"

 

"A stone?" said the little old lady.  "What will you do with a stone?  You cannot eat a stone!"

 

"Ah," said the young man.  "I can make soup from a stone."

 

Now, the little old lady had never heard of that.  "Make soup from a stone?  Fancy that."

 

"There are stones in the road," said the little old lady.

 

The young man picked up a round gray Stone.  "This stone will make wonderful soup," he said.  "Now get me a pot."

 

The little old lady got a pot.               

 

"Fill the pot with water and put it on the fire," the young man said.

 

The little old lady did as she was told.  And soon the water was bubbling in the pot.

 

The young man put the round gray stone into the pot.  "Now we will wait for the stone to cook into soup," he said.                                                              

 

The pot bubbled and bubbled.

 

After a while, the little old lady said,  "This soup is cooking fast".

 

"It is cooking fast now," said the hungry young man.  "But it would cook faster with some onions."

          

So the little old lady went to the garden to get some yellow onions.  Into the pot went the yellow onions, with the round gray stone.

 

"Soup from a stone," said the little old lady.  "Fancy that."                The pot bubbled and bubbled.

 

After a while, the little old lady said,  "This soup smells good."

"It smells good now," said the hungry young man.  "But it would smell better with some carrots."

 

So the little old lady went to the garden and pulled up all the carrots she could carry.

 

            Into the pot went the long thin carrots,

                                    with the yellow onions,

                                    and the round gray stone.

            "Soup from a stone," said the little old lady.  "Fancy that."           The pot bubbled and bubbled.

 

After a while, the little old lady said,  "This soup tastes good."

 

"It tastes good now, " said the hungry young man.  "But it would taste better with beef bones."

 

So the little old lady went to get some juicy beef bones.

            Into the pot went the juicy beef bones,

                                    and the long thin carrots,

                                    and the yellow onions,

                                    and the round gray stone.

            "Soup from a stone," said the little old lady.  "Fancy that."            The pot bubbled and bubbled.

 

After a while, the little old lady said,  "This soup is fit for a prince."

 

"It is fit for a prince now," said the hungry young man.  "But it would be fit for a king with a bit of pepper and an handful of salt."

 

So the little old lady got the pepper and the salt.

            Into the pot went the pepper and the handful of salt,

                                    with the juicy beef bones,

                                    and the long thin carrots,

                                    and the yellow onions,

                                    and the round, gray stone.

 

            "Soup from a stone," said the little old lady.  "Fancy that."            The pot bubbled and bubbled.

 

After a while the little old lady said,  "This soup is too thin."

 

"It is too thin now," said the hungry young man.  "But it would be nice and thick with some butter and barley."                    Into the pot went the butter and barley,

                                    With the bit of pepper and the handful of salt,

                                    with the juicy beef bones,

                                    and the long thin carrots,

                                    and the yellow onions,

                                    and the round, gray stone.

 

            "Soup from a stone," said the little old lady.  "Fancy that."             The pot bubbled and bubbled.

 

After a while the little old lady tasted the soup again.  "That is good soup," she said.

 

"Yes," said the hungry young man.  This soup is fit for a king.           Now we will eat it."

 

"Stop!" said the little old lady.  "This soup is indeed fit for a king.  Now I will set a table fit for a king."  So she took out her best tablecloth and her best dishes.

 

Then the little old lady and the hungry young man ate all the soup--

                                    the soup made with the butter and barley,

                                    and the bit of pepper

                                    and the handful of salt

                                    with the juicy beef bones,

                                    and the long thin carrots,

                                    and the yellow onions,

                                    and the round, gray stone.

 

"Soup from a stone," said the little old lady.  "Fancy that."

 

"Now I must be on my way," said the young man.  He took the stone out of the pot, and put it into his pocket.

 

"Why are you taking the stone?" said the little old lady.

 

"Well," said the young man.  "The stone is not cooked enough.  I will have to cook it some more tomorrow."

 

And the young man said good-bye.

 

He walked on down the road.  He walked and he walked.  "What a fine supper I will have tomorrow,"  he said to himself.

 

"Soup from a stone.  Fancy that!"

 

 

Stone Soup Recipe 

(Make stone soup in the classroom.)

 

                        1 clean stone (optional)

                        1 lb. canned tomatoes

                        1/4 c. chopped parsley                                                              

                        1/4 c. chopped celery leaves

                        1/2 tsp. salt

                        1/4 tsp. pepper

                        1/2 tsp. each marjoram, thyme, savory or any one of these

                        1 garlic clove, crushed or 1/2 tsp. garlic powder

                        3 to 6 cups chopped uncooked vegetables

                        (such as potatoes, carrots, green peppers,

                        onion, celery, beans, etc.)

 

·         Put stone and tomatoes into a pot containing 2 qts. of water

·         Add parsley, celery leaves, salt, pepper, herbs and garlic

·         Bring to a boil, then turn down heat and simmer

·         Add “hard” vegetables (e.g. onions, potatoes, carrots), boil 20 minutes or so, then add peppers, mushrooms and other soft veggies, boil until tender.

·         Taste, and add more salt and pepper if needed

·         Remove stone and serve!

 

2/16 BWL & Preschool Place