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Showing posts with label Circle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Circle. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Kids Yoga Adventures
I was covering planning time for another teacher this week and in her Kindergarten class, the children did Yoga watching these videos. I can't believe I didn't know about them earlier! There are many episodes that you can do on different days or even for the whole week if it matches your theme. They are great for indoor physical activity time (as they are about 15 minutes long) and keep the children busy! Here are some links with the themes for a quick search!
Friday, April 19, 2013
Mortimer - Storytelling With Instruments
I love Robert Munsch as many other teachers do too. But the children love it even more with how I do the story 'Mortimer' in my classroom.
Very simple and very fun!
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All you need is the book: Mortimer by Robert Munsch and...
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Instruments!
Every time Mortimer sings "Clang, clang. Rattle, bing bang. Gonna make my noise all day", the children make noise with the instruments! I have done the story with the kids making loud noises with the instruments, medium-level noises, soft noises and even as-quiet-as-a-mouse noises. It's a ton of fun!! (Though, I do recommend you close the door during this circle time story!)
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Silly Sally - Felt Storytelling Technique
I can't believe how busy I have gotten in the past month. But I am back!!! A very happy summer to everyone and hope life is treating everyone with kindness, love and happy memories.
I love books as do most teachers (I hope!). But what I love about books is the different amount of techniques it can be told in. Here is a felt story I created on my own with a bit of help using a website (I will post the link as well).
Felt stories are one of the easiest ways to tell a story. It allows children to be focused if you are giving them opportunity to participate. I chose Silly Sally by Audrey Wood as it is one of my favourite books; it is fun, catchy (because it has rhyming words) and it can be used where children can participate while the story is being read. This allows children to look forward to the story and what is coming up next.
I bought red felt because it is bright and attracts children to keep their focus. You can choose to put the felt with magnets on a magnetic board or pin it up on a cork board.
I took printables from the above website and colored them in according to the characters from the story. I also photocopied some parts from the storybook in color so more children could participate throughout circle time. Then I laminated them so I can use them for a long time.
I bought pre-stick velcro from the dollar store and cut it into small pieces. Then I stuck them on the back of the pictures.
You can read the story at school on your choice of boards or you can do a small group story even on the floor. Don't forget to use this technique at home as well. It's a lot of fun!
I am also excited to share another blog, The Educator's Spin On It that has a post full of activities inspired by Audrey, Don and Bruce Wood. This blog has a post on a Virtual Book Club. Check it out, you'll love it!
I love books as do most teachers (I hope!). But what I love about books is the different amount of techniques it can be told in. Here is a felt story I created on my own with a bit of help using a website (I will post the link as well).
http://ak1.ostkcdn.com/images/products/muze/books/0152019901.jpg
Felt stories are one of the easiest ways to tell a story. It allows children to be focused if you are giving them opportunity to participate. I chose Silly Sally by Audrey Wood as it is one of my favourite books; it is fun, catchy (because it has rhyming words) and it can be used where children can participate while the story is being read. This allows children to look forward to the story and what is coming up next.
I bought red felt because it is bright and attracts children to keep their focus. You can choose to put the felt with magnets on a magnetic board or pin it up on a cork board.
I took printables from the above website and colored them in according to the characters from the story. I also photocopied some parts from the storybook in color so more children could participate throughout circle time. Then I laminated them so I can use them for a long time.
I bought pre-stick velcro from the dollar store and cut it into small pieces. Then I stuck them on the back of the pictures.
You can read the story at school on your choice of boards or you can do a small group story even on the floor. Don't forget to use this technique at home as well. It's a lot of fun!
I am also excited to share another blog, The Educator's Spin On It that has a post full of activities inspired by Audrey, Don and Bruce Wood. This blog has a post on a Virtual Book Club. Check it out, you'll love it!
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Circle Time - Basics
Circle time has been one of my MOST favourite parts of the day. This is when you get to connect personally with each child and share many stories, songs and experiences together. Here are important parts about circle time:
1. BUM minutes. This is a term I learned during my degree to describe the number of minutes a child is developmentally ready to stay seated and pay attention. For example, for a child who is 4 years old can developmentally sit for only four minutes in total. "OH MY!" is absolutely right. Look at what we expect from our children even though they are not developmentally ready. However, bum minutes can be increased through practice and teaching.
2. Because of bum minutes, you need to keep in mind to keep your "lesson" short and to the point. Use songs and finger plays to begin your circle. You can visit my posts about songs and finger plays for transitions here. Here are some more.
Song - Make A Circle (Tune: Where is Thumbkin)
Make a circle, make a circle
Big and round, big and round
Everybody hold hands,
Everybody hold hands.
And sit right down.
Sit right down.
Song - It's Time for Circle Time (Tune: Farmer in the Dell)
It's time for circle time,
It's time for circle time.
Everybody hold hands,
It's time for circle time.
3. Your circle time needs to begin with something that keeps the children's attention going for the next little while. I always start with a song that is personal to every child and the best of songs to accomplish this task are the ones where you sing the child's name. Here is a song that is personal and another that does not use children's names (there will be many days you may not have enough time to sing a long song!)
Good Morning/Afternoon Welcome Song
Good morning, good morning,
Good morning to you.
Good morning, good morning,
And how do you do.
Your faces like sunshine,
You bring us good cheer.
So happy to see you,
So glad that you're here!
Good Morning/Afternoon Train Welcome Song
*This song I always did with a train whistle that I have or a hand puppet of a train conductor. Props work excellent with young children. Sing in the tune of "She'll Be Coming Around the Mountain". The 'Choo Choo' part is when everyone pretends to pull the string of the engine's horn*
The good morning train is coming, how are you? Choo Choo!
The good morning train is coming, how are you? Choo Choo!
The good morning train is coming, the good morning train is coming,
The good morning train is coming, how are you? Choo Choo!
And we say hello to Page, how are you? Choo Choo!
And we say hello to Nothy, how are you? Choo Choo!
And we say hello to Bobby, and we say hello to Gary
And we say hello to Shelly, how are you? Choo Choo!
*Carry on with different names. If everyone's name is done and you still have the tune left to finish, you can always sing "...say hello to everyone"*
4. Begin with songs that allow the children to have fun and get their bodies moving to release their sillies! "Old MacDonald", "Itsy Bitsy Spider", "Johnny Hammers".
5. Read a fun story. Flap-books are great. Use different storytelling strategies. Puppets, clothesline, magnetic boards, felt boards, large books, books with props, or tell a story without the use of any book!
6. End circle with a few more songs. Or share stories/show and tell with each other. Finish the circle with a goodbye song.
Song - Goodbye Friends
Goodbye friends, Goodbye friends
Goodbye friends, we'll see you all next time.
2. Because of bum minutes, you need to keep in mind to keep your "lesson" short and to the point. Use songs and finger plays to begin your circle. You can visit my posts about songs and finger plays for transitions here. Here are some more.
Song - Make A Circle (Tune: Where is Thumbkin)
Make a circle, make a circle
Big and round, big and round
Everybody hold hands,
Everybody hold hands.
And sit right down.
Sit right down.
Song - It's Time for Circle Time (Tune: Farmer in the Dell)
It's time for circle time,
It's time for circle time.
Everybody hold hands,
It's time for circle time.
3. Your circle time needs to begin with something that keeps the children's attention going for the next little while. I always start with a song that is personal to every child and the best of songs to accomplish this task are the ones where you sing the child's name. Here is a song that is personal and another that does not use children's names (there will be many days you may not have enough time to sing a long song!)
Good Morning/Afternoon Welcome Song
Good morning, good morning,
Good morning to you.
Good morning, good morning,
And how do you do.
Your faces like sunshine,
You bring us good cheer.
So happy to see you,
So glad that you're here!
Good Morning/Afternoon Train Welcome Song
*This song I always did with a train whistle that I have or a hand puppet of a train conductor. Props work excellent with young children. Sing in the tune of "She'll Be Coming Around the Mountain". The 'Choo Choo' part is when everyone pretends to pull the string of the engine's horn*
The good morning train is coming, how are you? Choo Choo!
The good morning train is coming, how are you? Choo Choo!
The good morning train is coming, the good morning train is coming,
The good morning train is coming, how are you? Choo Choo!
And we say hello to Page, how are you? Choo Choo!
And we say hello to Nothy, how are you? Choo Choo!
And we say hello to Bobby, and we say hello to Gary
And we say hello to Shelly, how are you? Choo Choo!
*Carry on with different names. If everyone's name is done and you still have the tune left to finish, you can always sing "...say hello to everyone"*
4. Begin with songs that allow the children to have fun and get their bodies moving to release their sillies! "Old MacDonald", "Itsy Bitsy Spider", "Johnny Hammers".
5. Read a fun story. Flap-books are great. Use different storytelling strategies. Puppets, clothesline, magnetic boards, felt boards, large books, books with props, or tell a story without the use of any book!
6. End circle with a few more songs. Or share stories/show and tell with each other. Finish the circle with a goodbye song.
Song - Goodbye Friends
Goodbye friends, Goodbye friends
Goodbye friends, we'll see you all next time.
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