Hello!
As always, we sang our hello song first. I always use the same hello song, it's my own version of the Dragon Tales Hello Song found here.
We read:
Naked! by Michael Ian Black
This was a lot of fun to do in storytime. We talked about where it's appropriate to be naked and where it's not. We also talked about what it would be like to wear your clothes in the bathtub. Most of the kids agreed it would be kind of icky. Personally, I love the progression of this book, it's funny and eventually the little boy does get dressed. Just the right amount of words per page for a storytime book - especially a funny one.
Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed by Mo Willems
Mo Willems is a genius. Seriously. What's fun about this book is yelling out, "Proclamation!" It's a great place to start talking about how clothing can express your individuality. And that it's perfectly fine to be different - both for you to be different and for someone else to be different.
Ella Sarah Gets Dressed by Margaret Chodos-Irvine
There are some mornings when I feel like Ella Sarah. I just want to do what I want to do but no one wants me to. In both storytimes, there were children who very obviously dressed themselves (my favorite being the girl wearing pretty pink underwear on top of her black velvety pants - awesome!) and while I didn't point them out or anything, I could tell they really loved this book.
Song Time!
Hat, Shirt, Pants and Shoes stands in for Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
Children need repetition, and so that's why my storytimes have a basic outline. But, they also learn when you use a well known tune but put in different words. It also encourages them to experiment with the world around them and try new things, even if it's in a safe way. A co-worker suggested that I should change Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes to clothing we wear on those parts of anatomy. What a great idea!
When it was time (after we had done our stretching), I said something like, "Let's try something new," and asked them, "Where would you wear a hat?" The children pointed to their heads. "And where would you wear a shirt?" Most of the children pointed to their tummies or chests, but a few touched their shoulders. "Where do you wear your pants?" They pointed to their legs or knees. "Where do you wear your shoes?" They pointed to their ears. Nah...just kidding, they pointed to their feet.
Some of the kids had trouble with the concept of using clothing words instead - most of them had to do with not wearing that particular piece of clothing. This was a great opportunity to pretend, and I grabbed it. Frankly, it was a lot of fun, and I hope I'll figure out how to change the words more often.
I Went to Bed and I Tried to Sleep (magnet board)
Pretty much as soon as we were done with Hat, Shirt, Pants and Shoes everyone sat down - both days - even though I said, "I have another game we can play." The first day, I asked them to stand back up...but they didn't! So, I poked my lower lip out and said, "No one wants to play?" They all kind of giggled and stood back up. The second day, I said, "Oh, we're going to need our standing feet for this one." There wasn't as much giggling for that one.
For the magnet board, I found different types of shoes, printed them out, laminated them and put a magnet on the back.
The rhyme is:
I went to bed and I tried to sleep
but someone put _____ shoes on my feet! (and then you do the action that goes with the shoes)
The shoes I have are:
running shoes
skis
ballet shoes
tap shoes
roller skates
I saw a lot of smiles on faces as they played along.
More Reading!
Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress by Christine Baldacchino
I love this book. I really do. I love that someone wrote a book about a normal boy who likes to wear a dress. There is no shame in boys wearing dresses. Before I read this book (in both storytimes) I asked, "Is there any clothing that's only for boys?" Both times, I got a lot of "no!" Then I asked, "Is there any clothing that's only for girls?" Both times, I got a lot of "no!" again, but in both instances 1 child said, "dresses." Since we'd already been talking about clothing as an expression of individuality, it made it easier for me to be able to read this book with an open minded audience.
I'm afraid that I might have gotten a little "preachy" and I really try not to.
By the end of the book, however, everyone wants Morris to be able to wear what he wants, so it was alright.
Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Sims Taback
Joseph is the ultimate re-user. The kids really liked watching the overcoat shrink and shrink. Both days I had to explain what a handkerchief is. They all thought it was super gross, and perhaps the way I said it made it sound that way. "You blow your nose in it and then put it in your pocket to use later." Hmmm...I'm not sure how I could have explained it without it sounding gross.
Zorro Gets an Outfit by Carter Goodrich
I did this book on Tuesday but not Wednesday. Wednesday, I let them choose between Zorro Gets an Outfit and Dinosaurs Love Underpants. I'm sure you could have already guessed what they'd pick. Zorro is a nice story about a dog who is embarrassed to be wearing an outfit until he meets a super cool dog wearing an outfit. I like Zorro and Mister Bud.
Dinosaurs Love Underpants by Claire Freedman
Seriously.
I had to ask to purchase this book for storytime. We don't have it in our collection! It's so much fun to read. The kids love it because it makes an adult say "undies" or "underwear" a lot. We laughed quite a bit at this book.
Goodbye!
I don't remember where I found my closing song.
To the tune of "She'll Be Comin' 'Round the Mountain"
Now it's time to say goodbye to all our friends (goodbye!)
Now it's time to say goodbye to all our friends (goodbye!)
Now it's time to say goodbye
Wave a hand and wink an eye
Now it's time to say goodbye to all our friends (goodbye!)
Handouts
I hemmed and hawed over what to handout. Finally, I figured that I should give them paper dolls! I found a spiderman paper doll and a beautiful little girl paper doll. I don't have many left!
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