Story - Gail the Snail

This month's storytellers group theme was 'garden' stories.
I've been searching for stories to tell about snails and yay for Jenny she had one to share with us.

Before watching the video I need to say that I'm fortunate to have parents in my program that will take my Flip camera at the very last minute when I ask "will you tape me, it's easy".    They are not professionals, they have their child or children right there with them and they do the best job possible.  I'm grateful.

With that said, I hope you enjoy the story of "Gail the Snail".

Here are the characters in the story.

 Gail the Snail

I didn't have a snail puppet so I made one from a ghost fingerpuppet,

glued a shell on the back and pipe cleaners with pom poms on the top seam.

It looks find from this perspective but when you look head on you see the ghost eyes,

not in the right place for a snail.

Oh well.

Then there's Rhoda Toada, Chuck the Duck,

Mrytle Turtle and Earl the Squirrel.

I forgot my crow puppet.

Borrowed Workbench

I've mentioned before the benefit of working for a school district, 

especially one that has a resource centre.

I borrow from the centre often.

It saves money - I don't have to buy it.

I send it back on it's due date which means I don't have to store it.

This month I borrowed the workbench.

The children have showed interest in hammering,

every time I put out golf tees and hammers it is a busy place.

I've been waiting for this kit for half the year.

On one hand it was frustrating waiting

but on the other it's exciting to know that it is being so well used by other teachers.

The children were excited to see it 

and started right to work.

 Only one rule: you must wear safety goggles.

 Some children were more interested in playing with the toys.

This gave us opportunities to talk about real tools and toys.

What each can and cannot do.

Where our creativity and imagination can lead us.

 Hands on, real life math happening.

 We added pencils and paper to the work bench.

For a few parents it took a lot of courage (on their part) to let their child 

use real tools.

 Most were quite happy to lend a hand when needed.

 Trial and error.

What works and what doesn't let's a child figure out how

to achieve what they want.

 Sharing work space safely.

The workbench will remain for a couple more

weeks.

Play Trays week 18 & 19

 Tray #1

 Scouring pads cut in to butterfly shapes

and coloured pom poms.

We talked about symmetry,

if one wing has this colour then the other wing

would match.

 Tray #2

 A metal can with stickers on the outside.

Matching stickers were mounted on cork then a magnet attached.

These are kept in the can.

They take out the magnets and find the matching animal on the outside.

This can is about farm animals.

I've also have one for emotions.

I find that toddlers especially love this activity because the stickers

are chunky and easy to hold

and the can has a handle and they love to carry it around.

 Tray #3

I saw a similar idea at Rockabyebutterfly

 I covered a piece of styrofoam with cardboard

then pushed golf tees in to it.

Provide marbles, we used large ones.

Great for working pincher grip,

eye to hand coordination,

counting,

first and last,

and so on.

 Tray #4

A bug viewer, little plastic coloured butterflies

with pictures to match.

 I glued the matching pictures to the bottom of each section of the bug viewer.

The children then sorted the butterflies by colour

using the tweezers to pick them up.

 Tray #5

Little metal tools with their silhouettes.

I photocopied the tools then placed them together

for sorting and matching.

 Finally Tray #6

The favourite and has been out for two weeks.

I saw this idea over at Alljoinin.

She even included the pictures to print out.

But we discovered once playing with it that there were two many strawberries 

and not enough oranges.

An impromptu problem solving happen which was great.

The families loved it.

They can read the book and feed the hungry caterpillar.

Turn the caterpillar around to see the cocoon then 

open it up to take out the butterfly.

Spin a Snail

Today at the art table we used 'lazy susans' to make snail spirals.

 Place a snail shaped paper on to the turntable,

 then figure out how to hold the pen and spin the table

at the same time.

 It didn't take but a few tries before doing it all on their own.

That freed up the parents to do their own along side their child.

 Our snail garden is still sitting beside the art table so 

it was easy to invite a snail out to join us.

 Child and snail went about their business.

 Exploring the materials.

Exploring the new environment.

 Making their marks.

Leaving a trail.

It was great to watch individual children approach this activity.

 How they used the materials.

 Taking time to see what each can do.

And how it works.

Before putting it altogether.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

One of my favourite stories to tell when we are raising butterflies or anytime for that matter is 

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle.

It covers so many concepts, such as; days of the week, counting, names of food, science, etc.

This activity I have done for story time for many years.

I found the pictures on makinglearningfun.

 Start with a pringle can or something that shape.

Cover it with green paper and cover the lid with paper,

draw on face and cut hole for mouth.

You now have a caterpillar

 Print out pictures of the food pieces.

I laminated them so they will last.

 Make wings out of felt and put velcro on the backs.

Place into a brown paper lunch bag.

 Put the opposite velcro strips on the side of your caterpillar can.

At the beginning of story time hand out all the food pieces to the children.

As you read the story they come up and feed the caterpillar.

The brown paper lunch bag represents the cocoon that he spins.

It can be a little tricky slipping your hand in to attach the wings and keep talking to distract the children from what you are doing.

But they'll be surprised when you pull out a butterfly.