We had fun exploring outer space this past Saturday at SENSEational Story Time! Here is the plan:
Welcome song: "The Story Time Ball"
Crossing-the-Midline exercise: "Around the World"
We crossed our body's imaginary center-line by extending both arms up and around in a large circle, going "around the world."
Flannel rhyme: "5 Little Stars"
Five little stars were playing up high
Twinkling brightly in the sky.
One little star just couldn't stay.
Twinkle, twinkle, he went away.
Repeat with 4, 3, 2, 1 little star...
(source unknown)
Story: Zoom, Rocket, Zoom! by Margaret Mayo
Make sure to "scoop up" the moon rocks!
(Everyone was given one of these cute squishy star finger puppets.)
Twinkle, twinkle little star
How I wonder what you are.
Up above the world so high
Like a diamond in the sky
Twinkle, twinkle little star
How I wonder what you are.
Story: Solar System by Jill McDonald
This board book is one of the titles in the wonderfully interactive Hello, World! series. Since I had a small group, I walked around with the book and let the kids touch the red planet and trace their fingers along the starry path, etc. This is also available as an eBook, so you can project it to a larger group or buy a set of these board books for 1-1 interaction between child and caregiver (or adult and caregiver - also great for adult sensory story time!).
I also included some sensory experiences while reading the story. Our intern, Maeve, walked around to each child with a "small asteroid" (textured ball), the Earth (soft, tactile globe), Saturn's rings (hula hoop), and a constellation (puffy stars in the shape of the Big Dipper).
Story-related sensory activity: "Solar System in Motion" using giant rainbow scrunchie (Bear Paw Creek)
If you have story time kids with mobile disabilities, they can hold the "earth" and "sun" in the middle. Otherwise, you can be the earth and sun in the middle while they "revolve" around you!
(Tune: "Farmer in the Dell")
The Earth turns around,
The Earth turns around,
Once a day, every day,
The Earth turns around.
The moon goes 'round the Earth,
The moon goes 'round the Earth,
Once a month, every month,
The earth goes 'round the Earth.
The Earth goes 'round the sun,
The Earth goes 'round the sun,
Once a year, every year,
The Earth goes 'round the sun.
(source: Preschool Education)
Tactile beam activity: "Tactile beam song"
(Move slowly and adapt for those with mobile disabilities -- can do movements while seated or with the aid of their caregiver on the beam.)
We can move
Forward and backward,
Forward and backward.
Side to side,
Side to side.
Forward and backward,
Forward and backward.
Goodbye song and stretch: "Tickle the Clouds"
Tickle the clouds.
Tickle your toes.
Turn around and tickle your nose.
Reach down low.
Reach up high.
Story time's over--
Wave goodbye!
Sensory activity: We had two space-themed sensory activities:
Our lightbox with a dark blue overlay, laminated tissue paper stars, and constellation diagram cards (with holes punched out for kids to place stars over).
I also filled our discovery bin with blue moon sand, foam stars, squishy "planet" balls, plastic astronauts and spacecraft.
