Story Time: F is for Food
Food brings people together. Whether it’s a family reunion, a birthday party, dinner time, or even a snack at the park, sharing food enhances cooperation, communication, and caring.
So, the next time you read a book with food in it, talk with your child about the role it takes in the story. Did it cause a problem or bring the characters together? Are they working together to prepare a meal, sharing their lunch, or perhaps arguing over the last piece of cake? These moments are valuable opportunities to discuss skills like sharing, patience, and problem-solving with your child.
Join us Tuesdays, and Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. in the Community Room or Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. in the Activity Room.
Ages 3-5
Sing, Talk, Read, Write, Play
Tip
Moving to music, dancing, swaying, running, and jumping helps young children feel rhythm and begin to understand how their bodies work. Such movements help them gain muscle control and improve balance. All of this contributes to a child’s gross motor development.
Activity
Using a scarf, washcloth, or a towel, practice tossing and catching while singing the rhyme, “Toss Your Scarves.” You can also sing and play the familiar rhyme, “Pat-a-Cake”, with your child. This will help them develop hand-eye coordination.
Books Presented
More Spaghetti, I Say! by Rita Golden Gelman
Minnie the monkey is too busy eating spaghetti–all day, in all ways–to play with her friend Freddie.
Don't Eat Eustace by Lian Cho
Blake the Snake Bakes a Cake by Amy Young
Blake the snake wants to bake a cake for his friend Drake but he keeps making mistakes!
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Songs, Rhymes, and Fingerplays
Five Candles
Five candles on a birthday cake
Five, and not one more.
You may blow one candle out… poof!
And that leaves four!
Four candles on a birthday cake
There for all to see.
You may blow one candle out… poof!
And that leaves three!
Three candles on a birthday cake
Standing straight and true.
You may blow one candle out… poof!
And that leaves two!
Two candles on a birthday cake
Helping us have fun.
You may blow one candle out… poof!
And that leaves one!
On candle on a birthday cake
We know its task is done.
You may blow this candle out…poof!
And that leaves none! Make a wish!
Source: Storytime Katie
Hey, Mr. Caterpillar
Hey, Mr. Caterpillar, how are you?
Do you like to eat?
Oh, yes you do!
What do you like?
Oh, you like _______!
Munch, munch, munch!
We know you do, ‘cause you ate it through!
Source: Katie Leigh
Toss Your Scarves
Tune: Jingle Bells
Toss your scarves, toss your scarves
Toss them way up high.
Toss your scarves up in the air,
‘til they reach the sky.
Wave your scarves, wave your scarves,
Twirl them ‘round and ‘round.
Twirl your scarves one more time,
Then let them, all fall down.
Source: Acorn Song Library
On Top of Spaghetti
(by Tom Glazer)
On top of spaghetti
All covered with cheese,
I lost my poor meatball
When somebody sneezed.
It rolled off the table
And onto the floor,
And then my poor meatball
Rolled out of the door.
It rolled in the garden
And under a bush,
And then my poor meatball
Was nothing but mush.
The mush was as tasty
As tasty could be,
And early next summer
It grew into a tree.
The tree was all covered
With beautiful moss,
It grew lovely meatballs
And tomato sauce.
So if you eat spaghetti
All covered with cheese,
Hang on to your meatball
And don’t ever sneeze!
Crafts and Activities
Food Coloring Page
Pasta Eating Craft
Additional Books
Pancakes for Breakfast by Tomie DePaola
Pete the Cat Three Bite Rule by Anne Lamb
Hungry Harry by Joanne Partis
Mouse Went Out to Get a Snack by Lyn Rossiter McFarland
A hungry mouse finds a tableful of delectable morsels in quantities which illustrate counting from one to ten. A mouse counting on a snack A peckish mouse on the hunt for a light snack – something like a piece of cheese – climbs up the table and finds a feast fit for a king. He prepares an enormous platter filled with everything from chicken legs to tacos to cupcakes – and of course there’s cheese, too. However, the cat is onto him, and a chase ensues as the mouse desperately shoulders his smorgasbord back to his hole – but it’s too small! All the food flies up, up, up, landing on the unfortunate feline. All except the cheese, that is, which bounces safely into the mousehole. In addition to being a happy adventure with the simplest of texts and hilarious pictures, there is the bonus of counting the items of food the mouse piles on – and later loses – from the single cheese portion up to the ten slices of chocolate cake.
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