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:

    • Harriet, You'll Drive Me Wild! by Mem Fox and Marla Frazee, 2000. Harriet doesn't mean to be pesky. Sometimes she just is. And her mother doesn't mean to lose her temper. Sometimes she just does. But Harriet and her mother know that even when they do things they wish they hadn't, they still love each other very much.
    • Who's in My Family? All About Our Families (Let's Talk about You and Me series) by Robie H. Harris and Nadine Bernard Westcott, 2012. Trusted New York Times best-selling author Robie H. Harris looks at the many kinds of families that make up our world.
    • The Family Book by Todd Parr, 2010. The Family Bookcelebrates the love we feel for our families and all the different varieties they come in. Whether you have two moms or two dads, a big family or a small family, a clean family or a messy one, Todd Parr assures readers that no matter what kind of family you have, every family is special in its own unique way.
    • I Love You by Todd Parr, 2013. Todd Parr celebrates the unconditional love between parent and child. From the heartfelt ("I love you when you need hugs") to the lighthearted ("I love you when you hide my keys").
  • Review How to Read a Story Book, under Resources in the Introduction.

Description of Activity

Hold up the book and say, in these words or your own:

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

This will help 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.