Tell me a Story...Early Literacy (Krista)

This week, Andrea and Christine explored clay with small groups while I focused on literacy concepts with groups of children. Together, we explored the wonderful world of letters, sounds and words, with a particular focus on the letter ‘S’. First, I tapped into my Montessori roots and offered sandpaper letters, and a basket filled with different materials that start with ‘S’. We explored these materials on and off of the overhead projector.

I invited the children to make the "ssssss" sound, and to list words that start with ‘S’:

Here is their list:

Scuba diver Slippery

Squirrel Skip

Snake Sister
Slide Spider

Starfish Skirt
Sophia Stone
Stories Spoon
Splash Star pose
Snack Slipper
Sunflower Secret
Stone Sun Surprise

We also touched on the idea of action words. They totally got into this concept and we played a little game that went along with the words that they listed:

Stand Sit
Smell Smile

Spin Sneeze
Scoot

Finally, the children worked together to create ‘tag-team stories’ that centered around the items from the basket:

Day 1

Corbin began:

Once there was a shark.. He was eating fishes in the water with a fish in his mouth. He had s-s-s-strong, s-s-s-sharp teeth.

Allie continued:

Then he sawed a snake. The snake was really mean. He roared so loud and he was sad.

Mia G took over:

Then a little squirrel had a big tail and she went to her mother’s home and she had hot chocolate.

Allie:

And then the squirrel ated him all up and comeded out of his body and lived happily ever after!

Anika added:

Then a mean shark came over…

Corbin:

And the squirrel was chased by the shark and then a snake was here and the snake ate the shark.

Day 2

Mia G started:

One day a scubadiver went to the shore and rested on his pillow

Corbin added:

Then he went way down inside a stone and he couldn’t get out so he hit the door open

Allie continued:

And then the stone opened wide open

Anika finished the story:

Then the scubadiver fell asleep and then it was morning time.

Day 2:

Ava:

The starfish landed in the water and woke up and he then went outside and was floating in the water and he said, “where’s momma?” and then he said, "mommy I’m so happy to see you and then the starfish put on a dress and then he went to a wedding".

Day 2:

Jalie started:

A squirrel was walking alone the path and stopped and told his mommy, “I’m tired”.

Anika continued:

Then he walked and walked and walked and walked and fell asleep

Ava:

And woke up and realized there were a lot of nuts on the tree and grabbed them all and ate them all up.

Allie:

He…a bear comeded and it chased and went home and his dreams came true

Sophia:

Then he was tired and he had an owie and his mommy gave him m&ms and candy and a dvd

Mia G:

Then he went home and he said, “mommy, mommy, I missed you sososososososo much!”

Day 3:

Mia S:

A little spider craweled up a spider web

Allie:

Then he found them and they were just at his house playing hide-n-seek

Corbin:

Well, then his mommy went off to get some food

Jalie:

Then he walked up the path lonely and sad and then he felt happy again

Eddie:

And then the spider fell down and he hurt his legs

Lucca:

Are you okay Eddie?