Storytime Plan
Pajama Party – The Moon and Stars
Ages: 4-5
Featured Early Literacy Skills: This kit is a bit different from other kits
in this collection: it does not focus on one particular early literacy skill, but
instead incorporates several (as do most storytime programs). Specific
asides to parents are not included, but there are opportunities to call
attention to the skills if caregivers are present. Look for the skills of Print
Motivation (making reading fun by using funny voices or expressions); Print
Awareness (opportunities to run a finger under the print in books – especially
when introducing the title); Vocabulary (being aware of unusual words used in
books and rhymes that you may need to explain); Narrative Skills (asking the
children questions); Phonological Awareness (rhymes and songs); and Letter
Knowledge (point out any large letters in books or prominent sounds in
rhymes – for example, you might put up a large letter R and use it to
emphasize the “r” in “roll” during the ending song).
Preparation: You may wish to enlarge rhymes and songs so that any
caregivers present can join in. Nametags are a good way to enhance “Print
Awareness” at all storytimes. You might spread a large blanket for the
children to sit on and pretend it is the bed for the opening song. Hang some
stars from the ceiling if possible. Cut out a large yellow circle or sun shape
for “Around the Solar System.” Make copies of the star diagram and the
take-home sheet. You may add your library name to the take-home sheet
before copying.
Program Plan
Opening Rhyme or Song
(Sing as children are settling in. Based on the song “Ten in the Bed.” We
are reversing the song here at the beginning of storytime. If you aren’t
familiar with the song, see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2bxC_TovZ4
as an example. Encourage the children to join in – especially when you sing
“come over.”):
There was one in a bed all alone, so he/she said
Come over, come over
So another came over
And crawled right in
There were two in the bed and the first one said
Come over, come over
So another came over
And crawled right in
There were three in the bed and the second one said
Come over, come over
So another came over
And crawled right in . . . [etc.]
Welcoming Statement:
“Welcome to storytime! Tonight we are going to have some fun with books
and rhymes about the moon and stars. So let’s pretend that it’s very dark
outside and we can look up and see the sky.
What do you see in the night sky? [moon, stars, etc.] Do you ever wonder
what the moon and stars would be like if you could see them up close? That’s
what the song ‘Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star’ is all about. I’m sure that most
of you know it, so let’s sing it together . . .”
Song:
(Put up a large flannelboard star and sing the first verse 2 or 3 times -- or
try adding the other verses. Choose according to the age group of your
audience.)
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are.
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
When the blazing sun is gone,
When he nothing shines upon,
Then you show your little light,
Twinkle, twinkle, all the night.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
Then the traveler in the dark
Thanks you for your tiny spark;
He could not see which way to go,
If you did not twinkle so.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
In the dark blue sky you keep,
While you thro' my window peep,
And you never shut your eye,
Till the sun is in the sky,
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
Rhyme
“Did you ever wish upon a star? There is an old belief that if you make a
wish when you see the very first star come out at night, your wish will come
true. Let’s stand up and reach for the stars while we make our wishes . . .”
(Stretch and grasp at pretend stars in the sky -- or the stars hanging from
your ceiling.)
Star light, star bright
first star I see tonight
Wish I may, Wish I might,
have the wish I wish tonight.
Quieting Rhyme: (flannelboard of man in the moon)
“Perhaps you will remember this rhyme as well . . .”
The man in the moon
looked out of the moon
and this he said to me
It’s time for all children at storytime
to sit still for a sto-ry.
Book:
Read My Place in Space by Robin & Sally Hirst; What’s Out There by Lynn
Wilson; Me and My Place in Space by Joan Sweeney; or choose another
favorite book about space.
Activity and Discussion:
Talk a little bit about how the sun is really another star -- the closest star
to earth. Mention that Earth is not the only planet near our sun. Use the
flannelboard pieces to create a simple diagram of the solar system as you
name the planets. Start with the Sun at the left, then Mercury, Venus,
Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. [See
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/planets/ or look for
another diagram to help you with the order.] This is a vocabulary-building
activity. How much you say about the planets will depend on the age of the
participants. You might call attention to the sizes – how big Jupiter is -- and
mention that Venus looks like a star in the night sky, etc. Just a few simple,
basic facts are enough. If appropriate, repeat interesting facts from the
book you just read and ask questions to see what the children remember.
Song
You may want to pick up the blanket you laid out for this activity.
Around the Solar System
Sing to the tune of “Here We Go ‘Round the Mulberry Bush” – for the first
verse have the children circle the sun cut out on the floor (or hold it in front
of you and have them circle around you); for the second verse have children
spin around slowly (if they go too fast, remind them that the earth spins
very, very slowly); for the third verse look up at the stars.
Here we go ‘round the big bright sun
The big bright sun
The big bright sun
Here we go ‘round the big bright sun
So early in the morning
This is the way the earth turns round
The earth turns round
The earth turns round
This is the way the earth turns round
At night and in the morning
This is the time to see the stars
To see the stars
To see the stars
This is the time to see the stars
So late in the evening
Book
Have the children help spread the blanket out again and remind the children
that we are pretending that it is bedtime in our very large bed.
Choose from Draw Me a Star by Eric Carle; Goodnight Moon by Margaret
Wise Brown; Where Does the Brown Bear Go? by Nicki Weiss; Regards to
the Man in the Moon by Ezra Jack Keats; Good Night Opus by Berkeley
Breathed – especially good for slightly older groups; or (try to find
something that features the moon and stars in the text or artwork.)
Rhyme:
Spaceship Ride from p. 222 of 1001 Rhymes & Fingerplays (also found online
at
http://www.swlauriersb.qc.ca/schools/crestview/ls/Space%20PDF/Spaceshi
p%20Ride.pdf).
Book
If time permits, read another bedtime favorite like Good Night Gorilla by
Peggy Rathmann; Goodnight, My Duckling by Nancy Tafuri; Sleepy Bears or
Time for Bed by Mem Fox; etc.
Closing Rhyme:
(Reverse the opening rhyme. You can begin with ten or more in the bed if
you wish. You might put up the letter R and ask the children to listen for
the sound of R as you say this rhyme. Exaggerate the R sound.)
There were five in a bed and the little one said
Roll over, roll over
So they all rolled over
And one fell out
There were four in the bed and the little one said
Roll over, roll over
So they all rolled over
And one fell out . . . [etc.]
One in a bed and the little one said,
"Alone at last."
Suggestions for crafts
Help the children learn to draw stars (as in the book by Eric Carle) using the
sheet provided. You could also make simple star “stampers” from fun foam
(check your craft supply store) or sponge. Suggest that the children count
the points of the stars as they draw.
If you want something more elaborate (and have caregivers present to help),
you might make a star mobile using drinking straws and pre-cut stars in
different sizes.
Take Home Sheet
The Moon and Stars
At storytime we talked briefly about the sun being the closest star and
about the other 7 planets that go around the sun. Your child might enjoy
watching the movement of the solar system online at
http://www.kidsastronomy.com/solar_system.htm -- or many other websites.
Look for books about the planets and outer space at your library, too.
Talking about space is an opportunity to increase your child’s vocabulary –
the more words your child knows by the time he starts school, the easier it
will be for him to learn to read.
Remember learning to draw 5-pointed stars? Help your child practice
drawing stars at home.
Look for stars that you can count on grocery items, signs, and so on – you
might be surprised how many you can find!
And mark your calendar for the “Night of the Shooting Stars” – otherwise
known as the Perseid meteor showers – on August 11/12 every year. These
meteor showers have been observed since the year 830. It is possible to
see up to 60 “shooting stars” per hour at the high point. See the website
StarDate website at http://stardate.org/nightsky/meteors/ (produced by
the McDonald Observatory at the University of Texas) for more
information.