Faith Curriculum Library: Tapestry of Faith: Chalice Children: A Program about Our Unitarian Universalist Community for Preschoolers

Activity 4: Story

Activity time: 5 minutes

Materials for Activity

  • Story book

Preparation for Activity

  • Choose a story from the following suggestions:
    • Corduroy by Don Freeman, 1976. A slightly dusty teddy bear is fixed up and finds a new home.
    • Teddybears and the Cold Cure by Susanna Gretz and Alison Sage, 1998. When William's cold lingers too long and his demands for attention increase, the other bears work a miraculous cure.
    • The Best-Loved Bear by Diana Noonan, illustrated by Elizabeth Fuller, 1994. All the children in Tim's class are taking their teddy bears to school to find out which one is the best loved. Tim feels embarrassed. What will everybody think of his poor old battered teddy?
    • Bear Feels Sick by Karma Wilson, illustrated by Jane Chapman, 2007. Autumn has come to the woods, and Bear doesn't feel well. He sniffles and sneezes. He cannot sleep. He aches all over. Worst of all, he's feeling too poorly to play with his friends.
  • Review How to Read a Story Book, under Resources in the Introduction.

Description of Activity

Hold up the book and say:

Here's how I am going to read the story. Does anyone need to move so they can see and hear?

This will help the children move if they need to and then get settled before the story is started, so they don't interrupt the reading. It also serves as a reminder that if they stand or sit right in front of the pages, no one else can see. Invite them to find a place to settle so that everyone can see. When all are ready, read the story. When you finish reading, ask if anyone has thoughts about the story that they would like to share.

Including All Participants

Seat a child with hearing or sight difficulties near the reader.