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This is our last week of Garden Treasures, which is hard to believe! This week our focus has been on garden vegetables. We've learned how potatoes and green beans grow, that pea pods can have up to 12 peas in them, and that carrots come in many colors. We have had fun playing in the dirt this month and learning how to take care of our gardens! During our Bean topic, we read the storytelling script of Jack and the Beanstalk.
One of the best ways to promote emerging literacy skills in preschoolers is to have materials readily available to them. This storytelling script came with character pieces which was a fun way for them to interact with the story as I read the script, but also to retell the story on their own afterwards. At the end of this story there were five questions to answer. Often times when we do activities similar to this I'll pause and ask a question or talk about what we are reading. Asking questions throughout the story and at the end is a reading comprehension strategy that teaches them to engage with the text. It helps them recall and retain the story.
Having character pieces to go along with the story is a fun way to keep them engaged. During circle time I handed everyone a story piece and read the story. Before we began they turned on their listening ears (something my preschoolers do before they're expected to listen to a story, directions, etc., it's a fun way to get their attention). They listened carefully for their story piece to be mentioned. When they heard it they held it up for everyone to see. At the end of the story we answered the five questions. This was a great way for me as a teacher to see how much of what I read was retained by them.
After circle time we took it to the table and did this again in small groups, which gave them the chance to retell the story on their own, and for me to work with them more one-on-one. I left this out as one of our centers that they could come and go from.
Storytelling pieces help bring the story to life.
This was a great literacy lesson included in our Experience Preschool curriculum this month.
For Kids in the Kitchen this week we had to do an extra special treat that paired perfectly with Garden Treasures - dirt cups! This was fun for them to put together and a fun way to end our unit!
Follow us a long as we begin to explore Habitats and Homes next week!
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