Storytime Plan
Stone Soup
Ages: 3-4
Featured Literacy Skill: Narrative Skills
Preparation: You may wish to enlarge some rhymes so that the caregivers
present can join in. Nametags are a good way to enhance “Print Awareness”
at all storytimes.
Program Plan
Opening Rhyme or Song (as children are settling in):
Choose one from the “Opening Rhyme” sheet or substitute one of your own.
Welcoming Statement:
“Welcome to storytime! Today we are going to have some fun with books and
rhymes about soup. Soup may seem like a silly thing to read about, but there
are many interesting stories and rhymes about soup. [To the parents or
caregivers] Today we are going to focus on building ‘Narrative Skills’ – the
ability to tell stories and recount events. I’ll be doing what we call ‘dialogic
reading’ with the children – watch to see what I mean.”
Rhyme:
Sing, read or recite “Chicken Soup with Rice” by Maurice Sendak (or sung by
Carole King). You can find the lyrics online at
http://www.oldielyrics.com/lyrics/carole_king/chicken_soup_with_rice.html
or listen at http://play.rhapsody.com/caroleking/257649_really
rosie/chickensoupwithrice.
Quieting Rhyme:
Choose one from the “Quieting Rhyme” sheet or substitute one of your own.
Book:
Read Stone Soup by Jon J. Muth; or any other version of Stone Soup.
The purpose here is to demonstrate “dialogic reading” by asking the children
questions that will help them retell the story after reading or to pause and
discuss as you read. If you need some tips on dialogic reading, watch the
video clip http://www.walearning.com/languagekey.html. You might want to
create flannelboard pieces or bring in other props. The following song is one
way to re-tell the story.
Song Activity:
[Add some gestures and additional verses of your own, if you wish. You can
make the verses fit more closely with the version of Stone Soup that you
just read. If you have a small group, you might bring a large cooking pot,
some large spoons, a large stone, etc. so that the children can circle the pot
and take turns stirring and adding ingredients. Getting the caregivers
involved in the singing will help!]
This is the way we make the soup,
Make the soup, make the soup,
This is the way we make the soup,
On cold and frosty evening.
This is the way we stir the pot,
Stir the pot, stir the pot,
This is the way we stir the pot,
On a cold and frosty evening.
This is the way we add some peas,
Add some peas, add some peas,
This is the way we add some peas,
On a cold and frosty evening.
Now it is time to add the stone,
Add the stone, add the stone,
Now it is time to add the stone,
To make a perfect supper.
Book
Choose from Burgoo Stew by Susan Patron; Wolf’s Chicken Stew by Keiko
Kasza; Strega Nona by Tomie de Paola; Watch Out for the Chicken Feet in
Your Soup by Tomie de Paola; Group Soup by Barbara Brenner; or any
favorite story that fits.
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Rhyme:
Try “The Alphabet Soup Song” from Mudlucious by Jan Irving and Robin
Currie (p. 114) [an alphabet chart would be a good prop]; or “Pea Soup” by
Jean Warren from 1001 Rhymes and Fingerplays (p. 199).
Closing Rhyme:
Choose one from the “Closing Rhyme” sheet or substitute one of your own.
Suggestions for props, crafts, etc.
Children love to stir things. If you have snack time at your storyhour, you
might make “Cereal Soup” by letting the children mix several kinds of cereal
in individual bowls.
Southwest Library Service Area has a Stone Soup book kit to lend. It
includes the story as told by Ann McGovern.
Beyond Words: Great Stories for Hand and Voice (also available from
Southwest LSA) includes a version of Stone Soup with hand signs.
Take Home Sheet
Create a take-home sheet with some of the rhymes used (non-copyrighted
ones only, of course – you may use the ones included here).
Include a brief explanation of “Narrative Skills” or tips for doing dialogic
reading.
Some suggestions . . .
Narrative skills are the skills that your child needs to tell stories or recount
events.
Have him retell a simple story after you finish reading it. Instead of
reading the text of a favorite book, look at the pictures and ask your child
to tell you about what is happening.
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Remember that it takes a child about 10 seconds to respond to a question
(we are used to adults responding in about 2 seconds.)
At bedtime, have your child tell you about what he did that day.
Point to pictures in a book and ask her to describe what is happening. Try to
avoid “yes” and “no” questions.
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