Tapestry of Faith: Creating Home: A Program on Developing a Sense of Home Grounded in Faith for Grades K-1

Activity 1: Home and Back Again

Part of Creating Home

Activity time: 5 minutes

Description of Activity

Children will learn to define the threshold of their family homes by actively interpreting the story below, which you will read aloud or tell in your own words.

Have participants stand in a semi-circle or circle, so that all can see you and all can stretch their arms without touching another child. Tell them they will act out a story that will you will share. You may say:

Every time you hear the word "I," act out whatever "I" am doing.

Prepare the group for the story with these practice phrases. Demonstrate how to act out each phrase:

  • I jump.
  • I eat.
  • I slowly pick up my backpack.

Read the story below, using your tone of voice to call participants' attention to the phrases that begin with "I" - these are the phrases they can act out. Then read the story a second time, substituting the "I" phrases in parentheses.

Today is a school day at my house. I jump out of bed (I stretch and roll out of bed). I dress myself. I run (I walk) down the stairs.

I quickly eat (I slowly eat) my breakfast.

My parents meet me at the front door. I hug them as they say, "Have a good day at school."

I grab (I slowly pick up) my backpack. I grab (I carefully pick up) my lunchbox. Then I walk (I skip) across the threshold, going out the front door to the school bus.

After school, I ride home on the school bus. I step carefully (I hop) off the school bus at my stop. I walk (I run) down the sidewalk. I open the door and step across the threshold. I throw down (I carefully put down) my backpack and my empty lunchbox. I take a deep breath and I yell (I whisper), "I'm home."