Wednesday, October 29, 2014

In a Dark Dark Wood

I told the classic make-you-jump story "In a Dark Dark Wood" in story time this morning using a Folkmanis puppet set I haven't used in years. In case you have one of these, or something similar, this is a good use for it--not nearly as scary as yelling "Boo!" to a group of preschoolers.




Puppet:
Three Little Pigs finger puppet set from Folkmanis.

The Story:
I add a lot of movement when I tell this one.

Once there was a dark dark wood (pretend to be trees)
And in that dark dark wood there was a dark dark path (let's walk together)
Down that dark dark path there was a dark dark house (fingertips together, make a roof for a house)
And on that dark dark house there was a dark dark door (let's open it . . . SQUEEEAK . . .)
And behind that dark dark door there was a dark dark room (squint, hand above your eyes)
And in that dark dark room there was a dark dark closet (open another squeaky door)
And in that dark dark closet there was a dark dark shelf (arms folded in front of you)
(I have the Folkmanis box hidden and bring it out.)




And on that dark dark shelf there was a dark dark box
And  in  that  dark  dark  dark box  there  were . . . .

THREE LITTLE PIGS!


The children (and grown-ups) really got a laugh. We told the story of The Three Little Pigs
after this on the flannel board.

Super simple.


Happy Day,
Miss Lisa

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

"I'm Not Scared!" Revisiting Jonathan Allen

Back in 2012, I told Jonathan Allen's I'm not Cute! and now in 2014, celebrating the spookiest month of the year, I decided to tell the companion, I'm not Scared! I like to add books about feeling scared or anxious into my October story time themes because Halloween can be a scary time for small children.


Puppets:
Three owl puppets.
I was able to use different sizes: a finger puppet for Owly,
a Folkmanis snowy owl for Baby Owl, and a large owl for Papa Owl.

We don't have a badger puppet on hand, so I used a rat instead.
Bear
Bat

Props:
A bed for Papa Owl to tuck Baby Owl into.


 
 
 
 
 
I followed the book pretty closely, the biggest change being changing the badger to a rat. I had the children help me with the "but I'm not scared!" response of Baby Owl as the animals he encounters on his walk assume he's scared.
 
 
An easy puppet adaptation.
 
 
Happy day,
Miss Lisa