This Little Piggy!

This little piggy went to market....this little piggy stayed home!

We began our day with these sweet little piggies counting, "1, 2, 3, 4, 5!" as we poked and punched them out of their frames courtesy of Mother Goose Time!

We laid them in rows.  We folded them and gave them little frowns, smiles, angry, and scared faces as we discussed the piggies journey from market, to home, to the dinner table and the piggie that was so, so sad because he had nothing to eat!  

We discussed what we would do to help our friends if we had something yummy or going to the store and our friends were sad.  

We decided that sharing our meal and asking mommy or daddy if our friends could come along would make our dinnertime and our shopping trips even more fun!

As they gave their little pigs emotions and words, I gave them time to retell their stories, their way.  I gave them time to pretend and play, to invent and dream up knew scenarios.

Retelling a story with props is a developmental milestone and a very important skill that preschool children need as stepping toward reading readiness.  

Utilizing well known and easy to obtain stories such as Nursery Rhymes helps small children with recall and helps them to connect their learning day with their family experiences at home.  

​"Children learn through retelling a story.  

The first telling of a story by the teacher to a group of young children is an exciting introduction to the content, while retelling of the same story allows children to revisit the tale and refine their understanding. This repeated pleasurable experience helps children develop concepts about words, print, and books (Morrow)

The magnetic quality of storytelling is the universal power to remember, entertain, inspire, create, and know—a personal process that connects to the language of the children. Drawing children into the telling actively engages the listeners, creating a shared experience that bonds the teller and listeners.

This co-creation is very different from the story viewing young children frequently experience in today’s high-tech world.
(28 www.naeyc.org/yc n Young Children • March 2002 2001)).

Several retellings of a favorite story by the teacher or the children over a period of time allow children to clarify their ideas and pick up additional details of the content. Each retelling increases the children’s familiarity with the story and offers more opportunities for their participation during the experience. These retellings also help children build frameworks, characters, and vocabulary to use when they create their own stories."​ http://www.naeyc.org/yc/files/yc/file/200203/Isbell_article_March_2002.pdf

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We practiced our fine motor skills cutting money for the piggies to go to the market with, then our money counting skills by counting each "dollar" one at a time.  We added and subtracted by purchasing "roast beef", bananas, apples, baby clothes, and many other items at our market!

We took turns being the shop owner, cashier, and buyer.  We shopped, made decisions on purchases based on how much money we had in hand and how much items cost.

This was all wrapped up in teacher supported play.  I helped them as they needed assistance with adding and subtracting.  It prompted conversations about how much we could purchase and items we should save for another day. 

These social/emotional and math skills were all powered by P.L.A.Y!!  What a great way to promote S.T.E.M. in real time, child led, teacher supported moments!

As always, I wish you well and I hope you get to play today! - L