Spring
Storytime in the Schoolhouse
Story: The Cranky Chicken Story
This week’s story is a pedagogical tale or teaching tale; we hear these types of stories during the second week of each month. Pedagogical tales are intended to prepare a child for a transition or to discuss a challenging subject or behavior. This week's tale is about a young chicken who loves to show off her strength by pecking and scratching everything around the farm, including her friends.
Cranky Chicken’s friends don't like playing with her and often go the other way when she comes around. This makes Cranky Chicken sad! She wants to have friends and doesn't understand why her friends don't appreciate her strength as much as she does. By the end of the story, Cranky Chicken realizes she can use her strength in helpful ways instead of hurtful ways.
Monday
Each Storytime begins with seasonal songs and poems. Each month we have a new circle time. We learn the poems and songs slowly, building week by week. This week we learn the next part of our “Spring is coming!” song.
Spring is coming! Spring is coming!
Flowers are coming, too.
Pansies, lilies, daffodil-ies,
All are poking through!
On Mondays, we practice mindful breathing. This month we are learning “Rainbow Breathing.” These exercises are intended to introduce children to mindfulness and deep breathing in an age-appropriate manner.
We spend the second half of Storytime listening to Ms. Becca tell the story of The Cranky Chicken.
I'm a cranky chicken and I want you to see
My strong beak is the best part of me.
Tuesday
We are back in the schoolhouse on a chilly Tuesday spring morning.
Storytime begins with circle time! We typically learn a new poem each month. This month’s poem is a long one. This week we practice the first two stanzas.
One fair morning in early spring
I hear in my garden a wee little sing
I quietly lay down about the ground
And carefully looked all around.
Oh me. Oh my. What do I see?
A kingdom of fairies with wings that glisten.
I stayed so quiet, my ears did listen.
The fairies were dancing in a ring
And singing a song like bells might sing.
Today we not only sing songs and hear a story, but we also go on a craft visit! During the second and fourth Tuesday of each month, we have a Craft Visit with Ms. Rae. Ms. Rae shows us a nature-based, seasonal craft that you can reproduce at home with your children.
We learn how to make a wet-felted nest during today's craft visit. It was a joy to see all the lovely nests our members made after going on this craft visit.
After the craft visit, we return to the schoolhouse for the story of The Cranky Chicken again.
We hear one story each week, repeating the story Monday through Friday. Repetition benefits young children and repeating stories is one way to help lay the foundation for later reading and writing. Because we repeat our stories for an entire week, we choose them with care and attention.
Wednesday
Every Wednesday, we are outside for Storytime. We begin Storytime on Ms. Becca’s porch this beautiful and sunny morning. Artemis, the cat, jumps in Ms. Becca’s lap today during circle time. Birds chirp, and you can hear the farmer’s equipment in the background as we sing our songs. You never know who will come to visit during our outside Storytimes.
Tirra, lirra lirra, in the spring
Orioles and robins sweetly sing
From the leafy branches you may hear
Tirra lirra lirra, spring is here!
Today and every Wednesday we are outside for Storytime and go on a field trip. Our field trips take us to visit community members as well as places in nature. On today’s field trip, we visit one of our Storytime families, meet their chickens, and see how they care for their chickens and coop.
The last part of Storytime is back on Ms. Becca’s porch for the story of The Cranky Chicken.
Thursday
Thursdays we are back in the schoolhouse for Storytime and…a puppet show! We have a puppet show every Thursday and Friday during our storytelling time.
Storytime has a predictable and consistent rhythm (flow) daily and weekly. We start and end each day the same way, following the same rhythm. Children thrive with a predictable and consistent rhythm. We hope Storytime can be the foundation of your mornings together.
Today and tomorrow, we will see a puppet show of The Cranky Chicken story. 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!
Friday
This is our last day to hear The Cranky Chicken 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.
