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RABBIT FOO FOO
01
18
11'
“Little Rabbit Foo Foo” is a story I introduce to our children around Easter time.
I have always found it to be a favorite… the children just seem to love this mischevious little bunny!
The story can be sung, and we always take the opportunity to include a bit of dramatic play with it.
Rabbit Foo Foo rides through the forest on a motorbike… yep, you heard right!
So, to start with we have some discussion about what we would need to wear on a motorbike to stay safe. As the children make their suggestions, ie. helmet, gloves, boots, leather jacket etc, we pretend to dress ourselves.
Next step, we throw our leg over our motorbike and rev’ up the engine! … and then we’re off!
Little Rabbit Foo Foo riding through the forest,
Scooping up the field mice… (scoop action with hand)
And bopping them on the head (Hammer two fists one on top of the other)
Down came the good fairy… (stretch arms out and spin around once on the spot) and said,
Little Rabbit Foo Foo… (Hand on hip, cross face)
I don’t like your attitude (shaking pointer finger accusingly)
Scooping up the field mice… (scoop action with hand)
And bopping them on the head (Hammer two fists one on top of the other)
I’m giving you three chances to change… (hold up three fingers)
And if you don’t… (shake pointer finger accusingly)
I am going to… (make a”wooshing” sound and swish hands through the air as if applying a spell) turn you into a goonie!
The story continues on, with Rabbit Foo Foo failing to take note of the warnings and bopping wiggley worms, tigers and goblins on the head. He eventually runs out of chances and the inevitable happens… “POW”, he is turned into a goonie!
The children are quick to learn the story line, and using picture cues, they proudly read the book to each other…
and to staff!
… and sometimes, to the whole group!
Such great fun, and so much learning!
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A NICE WALK IN THE JUNGLE
01
15
11'
Every year we find that certain books become favorites with our children. In 2010 it was ‘Little Rabbit Foo Foo’ and ‘A Nice Walk in The Jungle’. (We might talk about Rabbit Foo Foo in another post)
In ‘A Nice Walk in The Jungle’, Miss Jellaby takes her class for a nature study walk through the jungle. As they walk, Miss Jellaby is so intent on spotting a variety of animals to show the children, that she fails to register that her entire class has been progressively consumed by a Boa Constrictor. Tim constantly pleads with Miss Jellaby to listen and take note of what is happening, but she is apparently not a very good ‘listener’!
We set up this mini playscape for the children to engage with and retell the story.
Oh, and yes I ‘googled’ some Boa Constrictor images!
There are so many ‘intentional’ teaching moments in this story.
The Boa Constrictor chases a child up the tree!
Miss Jellaby ties the Boa Constrictor in a big knot around a tree!
Oops! There goes another one!
… and a teachable moment again. After acting out this story, the children asked many questions, one was, ‘How can the Boa Constrictor get a person inside his little mouth?’ Together we researched and found out that they have ‘hinged’ jaws which they can ‘unhinge’ allowing the muscles around their mouth to stretch and engulf their prey.
And an old favorite, ‘I’m being eaten by a Boa Constrictor’.
The kids love it!
Here … He’s nibbling my toes!
And…. Oh, gee he’s up to my knees!
Oh fiddle, he’s up to my middle!
Oh, dread, he’s swallowed my head!
At the end of the song, we always make a big fuss of the Boa Constrictor ‘spitting’ the kids back out again because, “… eeewwww that tastes disgusting… oh yuk!
Or, ‘festy’ as one child suggested! :))
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EASEL EXPERIENCES
01
12
11'
Easel painting is an experience that we offer to our children every day and all year round. At the beginning of each year, our easel area tends to be a hive of activity as the children explore and experiment with what this medium can do.
You may have noticed that we have suspended with the traditional ‘A’ frame easels. The reason for this was two fold: firstly, the bulky nature of these easels meant that they took up valuable room space and seemed to always be ‘in the way’, and secondly, the nature of the easel set up meant that the children were unable to see each other and the work of their friends, so the activity tended to be of a solitary nature. Not that this is a bad thing, and certainly has it’s place and benefits, but we wanted to offer the opportunity for a more shared and collaborative experience. Our children can be overheard conversing about their work: sometimes offering advice, sometimes positive feedback and encouragement, sometimes collaboratively creating stories or a series of events, sometimes singing, sometimes laughing… but always having fun and learning from each other!
To keep the children interested, we like to progressively add different materials and media.
Black marker pens are always popular and allow the children to add finer details and definition to their work.
Edicol paint works well with black marker pens due to it’s transparent nature.
Then of course you can add some glitter (cell mix and glitter) and some cellophane to support the transparent concept.
And then, maybe some rollers for painting, stamps and black markers.
And then, maybe vary the brush sizes and add some collage materials.
And of course change the background paper colour.
The opportunities are endless!
But the most rewarding experience, when the children start to bring their own ideas and contributions to the easel area.
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