Term Four Program

ContentsPage.

  • Introduction3
  • Weekly themes and props 5
  • Week 1 All around the world 6
  • Week 2 Stories from Russia8
  • Week 3 Spooky Halloween 12
  • Week 4 Stories from China16
  • Week 5 Stories from Australia19
  • Week 6 Stories from Greece 22
  • Week 7Stories from Scandinavia24
  • Week 8 Stories from Africa29
  • Week 9Stories from India33
  • Week 10Stories from Japan36
  • Week 11 Stories from New Zealand39
  • Week 12Stories from South America42
  • Week 13Stories from Thailand45
  • Week 14 Christmas tales48


Introduction- Presenting the program

Term Four has a focus on stories from all around the world. Most centres have a focus on countries and cultures through out the year, however many children still find it a little challenging to understand that other countries may do thing differently to in Australia.

At the start of each week ask them if any one is from the county your stories are from; “Today we are going to have fun with some stories from China, was any one here born in China?”

Explain what is like to live in each country, the landscape, the climate, and the traditions. If you have pictures pass them around the group.

If there are children from other countries encourage them to explain what it is like where they are from.

There is a range of movement stories, draw and tell stories, foot stories and activities for you to choose from this term, rather than doing the whole script each week. Choose activities that best suit your group – if you have been doing foot stories all year you may wish to omit them and do other activities instead. If you're new to Fiction Factory this term you may want to include the foot stories and leave out some of the more complex activities.

What is required of me?

  • Using your individual talents, it is your job to bring the program to life.
  • Each theme has been designed to fit in with the key learning areas of pre schools so it is important to stick to the written program.
  • Always ensure staff at the centre understands that they are to help you with supervision. This can be as simple as asking at the start of each session “Do you think you will be able to join in today? I would love your help.”
  • Don’t hold back when reading the books. Any one can read a book, but only you can make it exciting and unique.
  • Try your best to ensure every child gets a turn at doing something. Whether it is answering a question or wearing a costume even the shyest children like to have a go.

Foot Stories: 10 min approx.

  • It is ok if you don’t do a foot story every week this term. You will find that some centres are a bit tired of them and others hate if you leave it out so play it by ear. Try for one every second week, with the kinders. There is enough material to get through without one if you are asking open ended questions about the stories.
  • As many of your children will have been doing foot stories all year they will be familiar with the process and eager to make up their own. Use the Foot stories in this script as a guide but if you have a group that likes contributing let them make up their own. A good way to control where the story goes or who gets a turn at talking is to use a ‘talking stick’ this can really be any object but it means that you can only talk if you are holding it. I like to call it the “story stick” when you have the story stick it’s your turn to contribute, if you don’t want a turn you can pass it to the person next to you.
  • The introduction to each foot story is the same every week. This repetition is to help build confidence to contribute to the stories later in the year. You will notice before too long the group will start saying this part of the story with you.
  • If you feel you need to make changes to the start of the story feel free to change the exercises that the mice do. Another option is to mix up what they are doing and see if any one notices. Eg. “Once upon a time there were two little mice and at the start of this story they were playing tennis…making a cake…fast asleep snoring!”
  • To challenge the children in the older rooms try pretending the alarm clock is broken. What could they use instead?
  • Before each story you may like to ask the children where they think the mice will go? What would they do there? Who would they see?
  • Or more specific the mice are going to the park today, what should they play on?
  • Perform in all rooms

Movement stories: 10 min approx.

  • The movement stories need to be memorized, however if they are not memorized word for word it won’t matter. It is more important that you are confident in what you are saying. If the presenter is unsure of the story it is hard for the children to really imagine they are in the story as they move and they will soon get bored.
  • Establish a word that everyone understands means they have to stop what they are doing and look at you. Eg. “Freeze”.
  • Allow moments for free dance/ movement.
  • Introduce the movement concepts before you begin the story eg. “Today we are going to move on different levels. Can you show me with your hands where a high level is? What about a middle level? Low?”
  • Perform in all rooms. Some toddlers may benefit from a shortened version but don’t be scared to try it with them, they love to move!

Draw and Tell: 10 min approx.

  • It is best to memorize the draw and tell stories, if you are not confident to learn it off by heart consider having a cheat sheet with the main plot points summarised rather then the entire story. Your eye contact with the children is very important to keep them engaged.
  • You can draw stories freehand or you can use the cheat sheets, lightly trace the picture you are going to be drawing in grey lead pencil, or trace it hard through one piece of paper to another so you have a guide before you get to the centre. This way you are just tracing when you tell the story rather then drawing from scratch.
  • Establish if you want them to call out when they know what the picture is or keep it a secret.
  • Try to perform in all rooms. Some toddlers may benefit from a shortened version. If you have a very young toddler group you may decide to leave the draw and tell out.

Weekly Themes / Requirements

Week / Theme / Props / Books / Page
One / All around the world / Globe / Whoever you are (Mem Fox)
Out (Angela May George) / 6
Two / Stories from Russia / Pictures
Drawing pad
Nesting dolls / Little Daughter of the Snow
Its lovely when you smile / 8
Three / Spooky Halloween / Superhero masks / The naughtiest fairy
Boo / 12
Four / Stories from China / Pictures
Dragon mask
Red fabric / Pandemonium
The magic paintbrush
Don’t Worry Douglas / 16
Five / Stories from Australia / Pictures / How the birds got their colours
How the kangaroos got their tails Koala Lou / 19
Six / Stories from Greece / Pictures / The little grey donkey
I wont say please/
Don’t be afraid little one / 22
Seven / Stories from Scandinavia / Drawing pad
Pictures / Dragon Stew
The flat rabbit / 24
Eight / Stories from Africa / Pictures / Handa’s Surprise
Milly the Meerkat / 29
Nine / Stories from India / Pictures / Monkey the tricksters tale
Ganeshas sweet tooth OR
This is our baby born today OR
The happiest tree / 33
Ten / Stories from Japan / Drawing pad
Pictures / Origami heart OR
Little Kunoichi the ninja girl
This is a ball / 36
Eleven / Stories from New Zealand / Pictures / How the kiwi lost its wings
Or Little Kiwi
Sleepy Sam / 39
Twelve / Stories from South America / Worry dolls Drawing stories / The rainforest grew all around
Toucan Toucan’t / 42
Thirteen / Stories from Thailand / Pictures / Hush!
The umbrella queen
The heart and the bottle / 45
Fourteen / Christmas Tales / Magic carpet / The 12 days of Christmas
All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth.
A Bush Christmas / 48

Week One –All around the world

Welcome song

Sit down and take a look we’re going to read a book

Sit down and take a look at stories from ‘The Fiction Factory’

This is the first week of term four. Start by explaining that now they are such great story tellers they will get a chance to make up lots of stories every week. Today we're going to talk about all the different places in the world. Show them the globe and all the different places around the world.

Book: Whoever you are – Mem Fox

Foot Story: Two mice go on a holiday

Once upon a time there were two mice and when this story started they were fast asleep, snoring.

(Legs stretched out straight in front of the body, toes pointing down to the floor and flexing back towards the chest to the rhythm of the snores.)

When one little mouse woke up and said, “Hooray!” Lift right leg and shake.

He tried to wake up his friend, “Wake up! Wake up!” Tap left leg and shake.

But his friend was fast asleep, so the little mouse went and fetched an alarm clock.

(Left leg continues to point and flex. Right leg bends and tiptoes out to the side, level with hip and returns to front centre. Both legs stretched straight in front of the body).

The alarm clock went, “Brrrring.” But still the mouse slept. Shake whole body gently.

So the alarm clock rang louder. “Brrrring.” But still the mouse slept. Shake the whole body a little more vigorously.

So the alarm clock rang as loud as it could, “Brrrrring.” Shake whole body with force.

And the little mouse jumped up, “Hooray!” Lift left foot into the air and return to the floor.

“Hooray!” said her friend. “We thought it would never get here, but its finally the day we go on holidays! Lets get ready for our trip!” Turn feet towards each other, and wriggle each foot in turn as it speaks.

“But first we have to do our exercises." said the little mouse.

I know! Lets do them at the same time!” said his friend.

The two little mice picked up their clothes and put them in their bag. They went point and flex point and flex. Start with feet on one side of the body, move to centre andpoint and flex feet, then move feet to other side.

Then in and out, in and out, in and out. In a sitting position jump feet apart then back together.

And off they set for the airport.

They went; walk, walk, walk, walk, skippity-hop, skippity-hop, jump, jump, jump, Stop! x2

Press one foot on to the other then in a seated position run one foot away followed by the next. Repeat x 3

But when the mice got to the airport they found that there were no flights that they could catch for their holiday. "A Point feet.They could, however, get a balloon ride instead.

"Yay!" they cried as they ran towards the balloon.Run your feet along the ground.

They watched while the balloon was filled with hot air. Curl up in a ball and then extend arms and legs out like a balloon filling with air

They hopped into the balloon and started on their journey.

First the balloon rose up in the air

Rising

And it swirled in the wind,one way Make a circle with your legs and feet to the left

and then the other way Make a circle with your legs and feet to the right.

They passed over their home country of Australia where they saw kangaroos and emus. Staying seated, hop like a kangaroo.

The balloon swirled in the wind Make a circle with your legs and feet as it went over the ocean and soon they saw land. It was another country. Do you know what country it was? Take suggestions from the children if they know any other countries.

It was New Zealand! The mice looked out of the swirlingballoon. They saw sheep and they saw kiwi birds.

Lift one leg and shake your foot, bleat like a sheep.

The balloon swirled in the wind as it went back over the ocean and soon they saw land. It was another country. Do you know what country it was? Take suggestions from the children if they know any other countries.

It was China! They were having a festival where there were fireworks and parades and a group of people were dressed up like a dragon.

Scissor your legs and roar like a dragon.

The balloon swirled in the wind as it went over the ocean and soon they saw land. It was another country. Do you know what country it was? Take suggestions from the children if they know any other countries.

It was Greece and there was a great celebration. There was traditional food such as Gyros and Moussaka and all the people were dancing. Hold your arms out and sit with your legs straight out in front of you. Kick your left foot up and down. Cross your left leg and your left arm across your body. Return to your starting position and repeat on the other side. Do this as many times as you like – you can get faster as you go.

But now the mice were getting tired so they flew the balloon back to their home country of Australia. They ran back to their house and before you knew it they were back in their beds, fast asleep.

…SNORING!

Legs stretched out straight in front on the body, toes pointing down to the floor and flexing back towards the chest to the rhythm of the snores.

THE END!

Tanya Batt story – Lazy Jack (Traditional English)

This is a narrated track so you don’t need to learn the story but do listen to it in advance so you know what actions are coming up.

Activity: Magic Carpet

We're taking our magic carpet all over the world. There's so many countries to visit. Let’s take some photographs whilst we're there.

You can use some of the pictures from other weeks to be the photographs

Book: Out

Goodbye song

Sit down give me a wave, stories are over for today

Sit down give me a wave, til next time at ‘The Fiction Factory’

Week Two- Stories from Russia

Welcome song

Sit down and take a look, we’re going to read a book

Sit down and take a look at stories from ‘The Fiction Factory’

Today we’re going totell stories from another country. It can be very cold in this country – Its Russia.

Put up the pictures of Russia. Explain that the Russians tell wonderful fairy tales and have beautiful coloured buildings in their capital, Moscow.

Book: Little daughter of the snow

Foot Story: Two mice have a family bike ride.

Once upon a time there were two mice who are brothers and when the story started they were fast asleep, snoring.

Legs stretched out straight in front on the body, toes pointing down to the floor and flexing back towards the chest to the rhythm of the snores.

When one little mouse woke up and said, “Hooray, what shall we do today?”

Lift right leg and shake.

He tried to wake up his brother, “Wake up! Wake up!”

Tap left leg and shake.

But his brother was fast asleep, so the little mouse went and fetched an alarm clock.

Left leg continues to point and flex. Right leg bends and tiptoes out to the side, level with hip and returns to front centre. Both legs stretched straight in front of the body.

The alarm clock went “Brrrring”. But still the mouse slept.

Shake whole body gently.

So the alarm clock rang louder. “Brrrring”. But still the mouse slept.

Shake the whole body a little more vigorously.

So the alarm clock rang as loud as it could “Brrrrring”.

Shake whole body with force.

And the little mouse jumped up, “Hooray!”

Lift left foot into the air and return to the floor.

“Hooray!” said his brother. “What shall we do today?”

Turn feet towards each other, and wriggle each foot in turn as it speaks.