Autumn
Storytime in the Schoolhouse
Story: Grandpa Ivy & The Pumpkin Mouse
We visit the schoolhouse during a week in late autumn for this week’s videos. In our story, Grandpa Ivy’s neighbor Dante finds a little mouse living in a wee pumpkin house at the edge of Grandpa Ivy’s yard. Dante is worried she doesn’t have enough to eat for the winter and knocks on Grandpa Ivy’s door to ask for help.
Monday
Every Storytime includes a circle time with songs and poems, as well as a time for hearing a story or seeing a puppet show. Each month we have a new circle time. We learn the poems and songs slowly, building week by week. This week we start to learn all new songs and poems, including “Come, Little Leaves," a seasonal favorite.
Come, little leaves, said the wind one day
Come over the meadow with me to play
Put on your dresses of red and gold
The summer is gone and the days grow cold.
We practice a breathing exercise each Monday at the end of our circle time. This month we are learning “Dragon Breathing.” These exercises are intended to introduce children to mindfulness and deep breathing in an age-appropriate and easy-to-access manner.
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We spend the second half of Storytime hearing a story. The first week of each month, Storytime members hear a Grandpa Ivy story written by Ms. Becca. This week’s story focuses on a wee little mouse that Grandpa Ivy's neighbor, Dante, finds living in a small pumpkin on the edge of his field.Â
Tuesday
We are back in the schoolhouse on a foggy and frosty morning. Ms. Becca has the woodstove to warm the schoolhouse as we sing songs and listen to a story.
Today gives us another chance to practice the new songs, poems, and signs we are learning this month. One of our themes this month is pumpkins.
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I am a Pumpkin, unknown
I am a pumpkin
Big and orange and round
I grow a long vine
Rooted in the ground.
When autumn wind whirls and blows
And the first cold frost does nip our nose
Children come and pick me up
Take me home and with a cup
They scoop out all my seeds inside
And carve a funny face with pride.
I am their jack-o'-lantern bright
I shine with fiery candlelight.
I am a pumpkin
Big and orange and round
I grow a long vine
Rooted in the ground.
When autumn wind whirls and blows
And the first cold frost does nip our nose
Children come and pick me up
Take me home and with a cup
They scoop out all my seeds inside
And carve a funny face with pride.
I am their jack-o'-lantern bright
I shine with fiery candlelight.
After circle time, we hear the story of Grandpa Ivy & the Pumpkin Mouse again. We hear one story each week, repeating the story Monday through Friday. Repetition benefits young children, and repeating stories helps lay the foundation for later reading and writing. Because we repeat our stories for an entire week, we choose them with care and attention. Your children will get to know the particular details of our story by the end of the week.
That little mousie had enough to get her all the way to spring, and she was never hungry again.
Wednesday
We begin the morning outside on Ms. Becca’s porch. Today and every Wednesday, we are outside for Storytime and go on a field trip.Â
Good morning, dear earth
Good morning, dear sun
Good morning, dear stones
And flowers everyone
Good morning, dear animals
And birds in the trees
Good morning to you
And good morning to me!
Good morning, dear sun
Good morning, dear stones
And flowers everyone
Good morning, dear animals
And birds in the trees
Good morning to you
And good morning to me!
Our field trips take us to visit community members and natural places. On the first Wednesday of each month, Ms. Becca takes us to visit somewhere in nature. Today we visit her skoolie-- a retrofitted school bus she lives in part-time.
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The last part of Storytime is back on the porch with Ms. Becca for a story of Grandpa Ivy and the Pumpkin Mouse.
Thursday
We are back in the schoolhouse on Thursdays for circle time and…a puppet show! We have a puppet show every Thursday and Friday during our storytelling time.Â
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We will see a puppet show of the Grandpa Ivy story today and tomorrow. Our team makes 90% of our puppet show materials and aims to use only natural materials. Our simple puppet shows are intentional. Don’t be surprised if your child starts putting on puppet shows for you!
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Storytime has a predictable and consistent flow. We start and end each day the same way, following the same rhythm. Children thrive on a predictable, consistent rhythm.
Let Storytime be the anchor of your mornings together.
Friday
This is our last day to hear Grandpa Ivy's story. Each new week of Storytime brings a new story, field trip, and new verses to our songs and poems. We have one last day to practice these verses before adding additional ones next week.
Are you learning the words of the songs and poems? With repetition and practice, even the youngest children will begin copying the words and motions. It will be far from perfect, but that’s okay! Let your child join Ms. Becca when they are able. You can encourage them to model the motions. Sit and watch with your child–and sing and move with us!
Storytime also follows a monthly rhythm. During the first week of Storytime, we hear a Grandpa Ivy tale, the second week a pedagogical or teaching tale, and the third and fourth week a nature tale or folk tale. If you have enjoyed this week of Storytime, please check out the other seasons we have available.
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