Diversity and acceptance of others is a topic that can and should be talked about with children of all ages and cognitive abilities. Today we talked about different homes, things we see in and around homes, and welcoming others onto our "front porch." Here's the plan:
1. Hello!
2. Welcome Song: "The Story Time Ball"
tune: "Wheels on the Bus"(Roll ball back and forth to each child)
The story time ball rolls back and forth,
back and forth, back and forth.
The story time ball rolls back and forth,
Let's see who it found. Hi ______!
Now roll it back to me.
(Keep rolling back and forth until each child has said their name.)
3. Yoga pose: "flower" -- seated with our legs crossed in "easy pose," taking a deep breath in as we place our hands behind our head and imagine that we are a flower in a flower bed in front of our house, blooming. Then we bring our elbows together in front of our face and lower our head to the floor and exhale. We inhale again as we rise and "bloom" all the way open.
4. Flannel rhyme: "There Was a Little Green House"
(Layer houses underneath and remove top house until you get to the heart.)
There was a little green house.
And in the little green house,
there was a little brown house.
And in the little brown house,
there was a little yellow house.
And in the little yellow house,
there was a little white house.
And in the little white house,
there was a little heart.
(traditional english children's song)
5. Story: My Very First Book of Animal Homes by Eric Carle
We used our set of these board books for every caregiver to interact with this split-page story. We read the story together, finding the home on the bottom of the page that matched with the animal on top.
6. Stretch band rhyme: "My Turtle"
This is my turtle. (raise stretch band over head)
He lives in a shell.
He likes his home very well. (lower arms and stretch out to sides)
He pokes his head out (lean head forward)
when he wants to eat
and pulls it back (lean head back)
when he wants to sleep. (raise stretch band over head)
(traditional rhyme - source unknown)
7. Puppet story: A Bear Sat on My Porch Today by Jane Yolen
The top of our discovery bin became our "front porch," with the help of a few pieces of cardboard "porch railing" attached with tape. Puppet friends were added to the porch as I read this wonderful, cumulative story of wary strangers becoming friends. Story time kids helped by saying the repetitive "Boo! Shoo!" when asked "What should I do?"
8. Parachute song: "Itsy Bitsy Spider"
The itsy bitsy spider climbed up the water spout. (raise parachute high)
Down came the rain and washed the spider out. (lower parachute)
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain. (raise parachute, walk around in circle, and lower)
And the itsy bitsy spider climbed up the spout again. (raise parachute high)
9. Goodbye song: "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!
10. Play time: "House building with blocks and Magnatiles on light panels"
Animal habitats "Jungle animals" and "Sea creatures" (using blue moon sand as the ocean)
