Materials
toy barn (or a picture or model of a barn)
What to do
1. Place a toy barn, or a picture or model of a barn, in the middle of the circle.
2. When you have a few extra moments during group or circle time, say this sing-song rhyme:
Here we are visiting the farm.
What's that sound coming from the barn?
3. Go around the circle and give each child a turn to name a sound coming from the barn. Repeat the rhyme after each child's idea is shared. Continue as time allows.
-Judy Fujawa, The Villages, FL
Instructions
1. Use this activity as a transition to story time.
2. Decorate the box or trunk so it looks interesting to the children.
3. Choose a book for a group read.
4. Fill the "mystery box" with props that will enhance the storytelling.
5. If possible, find or create a hat or prop that matches the story and will lure
the children to story time.
6. Wear the hat or hold the prop as you bring the mystery box to story time
and call the children to story time.
More to do Language and Literacy: Use the mystery box as a language extender. Put a
mystery item inside and give clues or have the children ask questions until they
can guess what the item might be.
