Friday, December 21, 2018

Making History Come Alive


Laskarina Bouboulina
1771-1825
National History of Greece, Athens
Many storytellers portray historical figures as part of their repertoire. If you’ve been thinking about stepping into the pages of history the sites below offer many useful resources.

I hope you find something creative and fun to add to your storytelling work or classroom.









The Historian’s Toolkit This toolkit is based on the Australian curriculum but it will be invaluable to anyone researching historical figures or events. It offers information on continuity, cause and effect, evidence, empathy, significance, notes on using or oral history, a sample timeline and more

Library of Congress – Teaching with Historical Sources - Are you interested in researching an historical figure? This toolkit will help you “examine sources with a purpose.”

Library of Congress: Primary Source Sets A multitude of primary source sets from Abraham Lincoln to WWII. There are also links to additional classroom resources, lesson plans, presentations and activities. This site offers extremely valuable information for teachers and anyone working with historical figures and events.

Researching, Writing and Publishing Local History This is a very quick guide from the city of Ipswich in Australia. It has wonderful tips and ideas to get you started on your historical journey.

Writing Workshop – Historical Narrative - "History is more than typing up notes, more than putting relevant historical information together: history is identifying significant moments and using them to tell a compelling narrative." 

CURRICULUM

Making History Come AliveAn amazing project where students in grades 9-12 interviewed Holocaust survivors and put their stories on the Internet.

Use Storytelling to Make History come Alive in the Classroom -“History is a fascinating subject, so it should be easy to teach and fun to learn… a teacher with a bit of imagination can make history the favorite period of the school day.”

SOMETHING EXTRA

8 Historical Figures with Unusual Work Habits

15 Interesting People That History Somehow Forgot

Library of Congress: Digital Collection – A wide range of interviews on a variety of subjects. This would be very helpful to someone studying a particular subject or historical timeline.

Historical Personalities – “List of famous historical figures & personalities with their biographies that include trivia, interesting facts, timeline and life history.”

Information on the above painting: Laskarina Bouboulina was a "Greek naval officer, eventually awarded the rank of general, Bouboulina was born in May 1771. She was instrumental in Greece’s triumph over the Ottoman Empire in the War of Independence. She built four ships, and used her wealth to provide arms and ammunition to the Greeks."

Please note, websites change at a rapid pace and weblinks may change or break without notice. I cannot be responsible for redirected or broken links.  At the time of this posting all links were in working order. Thank you for understanding.

Karen Chace 2018 ©
This blog post was researched and compiled by Karen Chace. Permission for private use is granted. Distribution, either electronically or on paper is prohibited without my expressed written permission. For permission please contact me at storybug@aol.com. Of course, if you wish to link to my blog via your website, blog, newsletter, Facebook page or Twitter please feel free to do so; I greatly appreciate your support and personal integrity.


Monday, December 17, 2018

27 Lapsit Program Themes: From Apples to Zoos

For a number of years I presented a lapsit program, Whales, Tales, and Sails at the New Bedford Whaling National Historic Park. Each week I planned a different theme based on the calendar and upcoming holidays. I used flannel boards, songs, finger plays, books, stories and the children always made a craft to complement the theme.

For a while I have been sharing each theme separately on my blog but I thought it would be helpful to have them all in one place. The majority of the information connected to each theme was found on various sites on the Internet and do not belong to me. However, there are some original activities I created, which are indicated in the individual blogs.

I hope you will find something useful to use in your teaching or storytelling repertoire. As always, I would love to hear from you in the comment section of the blog at the end of this post.

All Aboard for Preschool Fun: Trains!
https://karenchace.blogspot.com/2018/12/all-aboard-for-preschool-fun-trains.html

A Roaring Good Time at the Zoo
http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2018/12/preschool-fun-roaring-good-time-at-zoo.html

Bears and Hibernation: Fun for the Little Ones
http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2015/11/bears-and-hibernation-fun-for-little.html

Birds, Bees and Butterflies!
http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2012/04/birds-bees-and-butterflies.html

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with the Wee Ones: Songs, Rhymes and Fingerplays
http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2014/03/celebrate-st-patricks-day-with-wee-ones.html

Celebrate the New Year in Style with the Small Ones
http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2013/12/celebrate-new-year-in-style-with-small.html

Celebrating Snow with the Small Ones
http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2013/11/celebrating-snow-with-small-ones.html

Dancing with the Dinosaurs
http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2014/10/dancing-with-dinosaurs.html

Elephants: Gentle Giants Among Us II
https://karenchace.blogspot.com/2016/02/elephants-gentle-giants-among-us-ii.html

Elves, Bells and Reindeer
http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2013/12/elves-bells-and-reindeers.html

Family Fun
http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2016/02/family-fun-fingerplays-songs-crafts-and.html

Five Speckled Frogs and So Much More!
http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2012/04/five-speckled-frogs-and-so-much-more.html

The Gingerbread Man: Stories, Songs and Fingerplays
http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-gingerbread-man-stories-songs-and.html

Gorgeous, Glorious Giraffes
http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2013/03/gorgeous-glorious-giraffes.html

Here’s to Fairy Tales and Happily Ever After
http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2015/01/heres-to-fairytales-and-happily-ever.html

It’s Harvest Time: Apple and Pumpkin Fun for the Wee Ones
http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2014/10/its-harvest-time-apple-and-pumpkin-fun.html

Let's Swim With the Fishes!
http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2012/05/lets-swim-with-fishes.html

Owls: Flying High with Fingerplays, Songs and More
http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2012/12/owls-flying-high-with-fingerplays-songs.html

Penguin Awareness Day
http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2013/01/penguin-awareness-day.html

Race Your Mouse Day: Fun for the Wee Ones
https://karenchace.blogspot.com/2017/08/race-your-mouse-day-fun-for-wee-ones.html

Scarecrows and Halloween: Fingerplays and Songs
http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2012/10/scarecrows-and-halloween-fingerplays.html

Seeking His Shadow: It’s Groundhog Day!
http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2013/01/seeking-his-shadow-its-groundhog-day.html

Spring Is Here: Make Way for Ducklings
http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2012/04/spring-is-here-make-way-for-ducklings.html

Swimming Towards the End of Summer: Oceans and Whales
http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2012/08/swimming-towards-end-of-summer-oceans.html

Thanksgiving Fun: Fingerplays, Songs, Stories and More!
http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2012/11/thanksgiving-fun-fingerplays-songs.html

Valentine Fun for the Children In Your Life
http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2014/01/valentines-day-fun-for-children-in-your.html

Whales, Tales and Sails!
http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2012/09/whales-tales-and-sails.html

SOMETHING EXTRA

Early Child Development Kit: A Treasure Box of Activities
https://www.unicef.org/earlychildhood/files/Activity_Guide.pdf

IFLS Library System: Sample Lapsit: No Theme
https://iflsweb.org/knowledge-base/sample-lapsits/ 

IFLS Library System: Storytime Templates and Samples    

https://iflsweb.org/knowledge-base/storytime-templates-samples/

Perry Library: Games, Rhymes and Song
http://www.isd21.mb.ca/Preschool/pdfs/Rhymes.pdf

Preschool Activities and Movement Songs
https://www.songsforteaching.com/preschoolkindergartenearlychildhood/activity-movement-songs/

State Library of Iowa: Tips to Help Plan Your Lapsit SeriesThe original link is no longer available but you can still access the information via the Wayback Machine here: http://web.archive.org/web/20151109201026/https://www.statelibraryofiowa.org/ld/t-z/youthservices/forlibrarians/lapsit/tips

When their attention begins to wane bring them back with these fun, short activities.

Tootsie Roll

Tootsie Roll (roll hands around each other)
Lollipop (pretend you are licking lollipop)
We've been talking now (hands open shut as if talking)
Now let's stop (hand cutting other palm as if stopping)

Hocus Pocus
Hocus Pocus (wave wand)
Everybody focus (hands up to eyes like glasses)

Counting Down

Five four three two one, zero (count with fingers)
I'm looking for my student hero (binoculars

Hello Bubble (To the tune of Where is Thumbkin)

Hello Bubble, (echo)
Come and land (echo)
Right in the middle (echo )
Of my hand (echo)
Sing it through several times until every child has had bubbles blown towards them.

Shake My Sillies Out – Raffi

I've gotta shake, shake, shake my sillies out,
Shake, shake, shake my sillies out,
Shake, shake, shake my sillies out,
And wiggle my waggles away!

I've gotta clap, clap, clap my crazies out,
Clap, clap, clap my crazies out,
Clap, clap, clap my crazies out,
And wiggle my waggles away!

I've gotta jump, jump, jump my jiggles out,
Jump, jump, jump my jiggles out,
Jump, jump, jump my jiggles out,
And wiggle my waggles away!

I've gotta yawn, yawn, yawn my sleepies out,
Yawn, yawn, yawn my sleepies out,
Yawn, yawn, yawn my sleepies out,
And wiggle my waggles away!
Raffi Shake My Sillies Out lyrics found on http://www.lyricsoncall.com/lyrics/raffi/shake-my-sillies-out-lyrics.html 


Please note, websites change at a rapid pace and weblinks may change or break without notice. I am not responsible for redirected or broken links.  At the time of this posting all links were in working order. Thank you for understanding.

Karen Chace 2018 ©

This blog post was researched and compiled by Karen Chace. Permission for private use is granted. Distribution, either electronically or on paper is prohibited without my expressed written permission. For permission, please contact me at storybug@aol.com. Of course, if you wish to link to my blog via your website, blog, newsletter, Facebook page or Twitter please feel free to do so; I greatly appreciate your support and personal integrity.


Saturday, December 15, 2018

Preschool Fun: A Roaring Good Time at the Zoo!


At the Zoo
Frederik Hendrik Kaemmerer
1839-1902

A few years ago, I researched and performed a number of lap sit programs for a local museum. Each week was a specific theme, and this is the one I offered on the zoo. I hope you find some use for it in your work.

As always, I would love to hear your comments at the end of the blog. 



FINGERPLAYS

One elephant went out to play, (hold up one finger)
Over the hills and far away. (wave finger like it is going over the hills)
She had such enormous fun, (on “enormous” circle arms out and around)
That she called for another elephant to come. (cup hands over mouth)
“Oh Elephant!”… (call out and then pound the floor
for the running elephant sound)
Two elephants went out to play, (use two fingers…repeat above actions)
Over the hills and far away.
They had such enormous fun,
That they called for another elephant to come.
“Oh Elephant!”…
(Repeat with as many elephants (fingers) as you want)

FIVE LITTLE MONKEYS  

Five little monkeys jumping on the bed
One fell off and bumped his head
Momma called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”
(four, three, two, one)

No little monkeys jumping on the bed
None fell off and bumped their head
Momma called the doctor and the doctor said,
“Put those monkeys right to bed!”
(No known origin: Public  Domain)

SONG

ZOO ANIMALS (To the tune of If You’re Happy and You Know It)

If you want to be a monkey, jump up high!
If you want to be a monkey, jump up high!
If you want to be a monkey,
if you want to be a monkey,
If you want to be a monkey, jump up high!
Parrot — flap your wings
Elephant — swing your trunk
Lion — roar out loud
Giraffe — stand up tall


STORY STRETCH

Animal Hokey Pokey

All the animals are ready to sing and move
And do the Hokey Pokey at the Animal Zoo
Go elephants go!
You swing your big trunk in.
You swing your big trunk out
Then you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey Pokey
Then you swing your trunk around.
And that’s what it’s all about.


Go gorillas go!
You pump one big arm in.
You pump one big arm out
Then you flex it all about.
You do the Hokey Pokey
Thump your chest all around.
And that’s what it’s all about


Go snakes go!
You rattle your tail right in.
You rattle your tail right out.
You rattle your tail right in.
Then you slither all about
And you ssss all around.
And that’s what it’s all about


Go cheetahs go!
You prowl with both paws in.
You prowl with both paws out
You prowl with both paws in.

Then you shake it all about
You do the Hokey Pokey.
And you growl all around
And that’s what it’s all about

Found at: https://www.songsforteaching.com/jackhartmann/animalhokeypokey.htm

BOOKS

25 Awesome Preschool Books About Zoos
https://homeschoolpreschool.net/preschool-books-about-the-zoo/

Zoo and Zoo Life: Kid’s Books
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/b/books/animals-kids/zoos-zoo-life-kids/_/N-29Z8q8Ztul



CRAFTS

I Heart Crafty Things: 50+ Zoo Animal Crafts for Kids


CURRICULUM

Everything Preschool – Zoo Lesson Plan – An entire weeks' worth of fun and learning!

Kidssoup.com – Zoo and Animals Preschool Activities and Printables – You will find several free resources here while others require a subscription.
Pre-K Pages – Zoo Activities for Preschoolers
https://www.pre-kpages.com/zoo-activities-for-preschoolers/


Please note, websites change at a rapid pace and weblinks may change or break without notice. I cannot be responsible for redirected or broken links.  At the time of this posting all links were in working order. Thank you for understanding.

Karen Chace 2018 ©
This blog post was researched and compiled by Karen Chace. Permission for private use is granted. Distribution, either electronically or on paper is prohibited without my expressed written permission. For permission, please contact me at storybug@aol.com. Of course, if you wish to link to my blog via your website, blog, newsletter, Facebook page or Twitter please feel free to do so; I greatly appreciate your support and personal integrity.


Tuesday, December 11, 2018

1001 Nights to 2001 Story Resources V: Stor e Telling 2017

The Storyteller
Hugues Merle, 1874

Below are the Stor e Telling columns I wrote in 2017 for the National Storytelling Magazine, each with a synopsis to help you find what you are seeking in case your time is limited. I normally don’t post the yearly compilation until the New Year has passed but since I have the time today I thought I would get a few steps ahead of myself.

The magazine is a membership perk from the National Storytelling Network. The publication offers outstanding articles from well-known national and international storytellers, and educators from around the world on a wide variety of topics, and of course, stories. If you would like to become a member please visit https://storynet.org/membership/ .

At the end of the blog you will also find links to all of the columns from 2007 – 2016. At the time they were posted all of the links were active. If you find a dead link please let me know and I will do my best to find the updated source.

I hope you find something useful and fun to add to your storytelling repertoire or classroom, business enterprises or school curriculum. As always, I appreciate any comments you wish to share.

Stor e Telling January February March 2017:  Impacting Speaker and Listener
This issue focused on the varied ways stories impact the speaker and the listener. Also, stories for the Chinese New Year: Year of the Rooster. Also some tales to celebrate National Pig Day on March 1, devoted to celebrating their place as one of man’s most intellectual and domesticated animals. April 15 is Husband Appreciation Day so of course there are stories to share for that day as well.
https://karenchace.blogspot.com/2018/01/stories-impacting-speaker-and-listener.html


Stor e Telling Spring 2017: Storytelling World
Unwrap some fun and fabulous resources to love and add to your repertoire. The theme was Storytelling World so you will find hundreds of public domain tales from many cultures. There are also legends to savor on Tea for Two Tuesday on March 21, Noodlehead tales to tickle your funny for International Moment of Laughter Day on April 14, and folktales for Bat Appreciation Day on April 17.https://karenchace.blogspot.com/2018/02/storytelling-world-stor-e-telling.html

Stor e Telling Winter 2017:  Peace and Justice
Resources below to complement the theme along with finger plays, songs and stories to complement the winter months. 
I hope you find something useful for your work; goodness knows we could use some more peace and justice in our world.


SOMETHING EXTRA


1001 Nights to 2001 Story Resources IV: Stor e Telling 2016

http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2017/09/1001-nights-to-2001-story-resources-iv.html

 

From 1001 Nights to 2001 Story Resources III: Stor e Telling 2015
http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2017/01/from-1001-nights-to-2001-story.html


From 1001 Nights to 2001 Story Resources II: Stor e Telling 2014
http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2016/01/from-1001-nights-to-2001-story.html

From 1001 Nights to 2001 Story Resources: Stor e Telling 2013
http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2014/06/from-1001-nights-to-2001-story.html

Stor e Telling Columns: 2007 to 2012 with Synopses

 

Please note, websites change at a rapid pace and weblinks may change or break without notice. I cannot be responsible for redirected or broken links.  At the time of this posting all links were in working order. Thank you for understanding.

Karen Chace 2018 ©

This blog post was researched and compiled by Karen Chace. Permission for private use is granted. Distribution, either electronically or on paper is prohibited without my expressed written permission. For permission please contact me at storybug@aol.com. Of course, if you wish to link to my blog via your website, blog, newsletter, Facebook page or Twitter please feel free to do so; I greatly appreciate your support and personal integrity.



All Aboard for Preschool Fun: Trains!

The Locomotive
by
Claude Monet, 1875

A few years ago I researched and performed a number of lapsit programs for a local museum. Each week was a specific theme and this is the one I offered on trains. I hope you find some use for it in your work. 







STORY STRETCH

Choo Choo Train

This is a choo choo train (bend elbows)

Puffing down the track (rotate arms in rhythm)
Now it's going forward (push forward, continue rotating motion)
Now it's going back (pull arms back, continue rotating motion)
Now the bell is ringing (pretend to pull the cord - ding ding)
Now the whistle blows (hold fist near mouth and toot toot)
What a lot of noise it makes (cover ears)
Everywhere it goes. (stretch out arms)

Zoo Train (Tune: Down By the Station)

Down by the Zoo Train
Next to the zoo
On came an animal
Do you know who?

The engineer says an animal...such as "A Kangaroo came and it was hopping."

Sing: We picked up a kangaroo
And what do you know
This is the way the train started to go.
(Hopping, Hopping) watch us go.
(Hopping) fast then (Hopping) slow
(Hopping) down, then (Hopping) back
Watch us (Hop) around the track.

SONG

Down by the Station

Down by the station
Early in the morning
See the little puffer bellies

All in a row
See the station master
Turn the little handle
Puff, puff, toot, toot
Off we go!

I've Been Working On The Railroad

I've been working on the railroad,
All the live-long day.
I've been working on the railroad,
Just to pass the time away.
Can't you hear the whistle blowing,
Rise up so early in the morn,

Can't you hear the captain shouting,
"Dinah, blow your horn."

Dinah, won't you blow,
Dinah, won't you blow,
Dinah, won't you blow, your horn?
Dinah, won't you blow,
Dinah, won't you blow,
Dinah, won't you blow, your horn.

Someone's in the kitchen with Dinah,
Someone's in the kitchen, I know,
Someone's in the kitchen with Dinah,
Strummin; on the old banjo.


BOOKS


All Aboard! The Best Books for Kids Who Love Trains – Pre-K/Growing Reader
https://www.readbrightly.com/childrens-train-books/


CRAFTS


A Preschool Train Craft: The Little Engine that Could


Please note, websites change at a rapid pace and weblinks may change or break without notice. I cannot be responsible for redirected or broken links.  At the time of this posting all links were in working order. Thank you for understanding.

Karen Chace 2018 ©
This blog post was researched and compiled by Karen Chace. Permission for private use is granted. Distribution, either electronically or on paper is prohibited without my expressed written permission. For permission please contact me at storybug@aol.com. Of course, if you wish to link to this page via your website, blog, newsletter, Facebook page or Twitter please feel free to do so; I greatly appreciate your support and personal integrity.