Hello all, today I wanted to share a recent Pre-K circle time plan. I had decided recently to introduce the story of The Three Billy Goats Gruff, but I was surprised to find that there weren't many activity ideas online. I decided to improvise and it was a success! So below is a summary of the Three Billy Goat's Gruff lesson that I used:
Title: The Three Billy Goat's Gruff (circle time/ large group)
Developmental area of focus: Literacy
What you will need:
- The book "The Three Billy Goats Gruff" (the one featured in the picture is the retelling by Janet Stevens)
- 5 or more cardboard pieces
- A retelling visual aide (I used my miniature puppet theater, which was made with a shoe box and other found objects)
Transition in:
- Depending on your classroom circle time routines, you may have certain rituals to help children settle down at the beginning of circle time. I did not create a separate finger play for this circle time; instead I went with the classic finger play "Open, Shut Them". I also like to have my students buckle on their "listening ears" before starting a story
Body:
- Once everyone is settled, you can start reading the book chosen for The Three Billy Goats Gruff
- After the story we are going to retell it using visual aides. For mine, I used a shoe box to create a puppet theater. It's best to wait and reveal your props once you are ready to start, so they do not serve as a distraction during the reading. As you retell the story, ask children questions about the story. Do you remember what happens next? How do you think the troll feels? Is this goat bigger or smaller than the one before? This is also a good time to be very silly and animated; have fun with it!
Transition out:
- For the transition out, I quickly laid out some cardboard squares across our circle to make a "bridge". For this activity, you will choose one child at a time to stand up on the bridge. You would sing:
- "The Billy Goat, the Billy Goat, crossed the bridge
- the troll said STOP-- not just yet
- can you watch and do as I do?"
- you do a simple movement, such as stomping feet or clapping hands, and the child should copy your movements.
- once they have successfully done so, they can cross the bridge and exit the circle. You would continue this process until everyone is dismissed.
Possible extension activities:
- Story-inspired dramatic play area outside
- Billy Goat crossing race, where children roll dice to move a toy goat across that number of spaces on the bridge
- A game of Red Light, Green Light outside
Thank you for reading and have fun!
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