Interrupting Chicken, by David Ezra Stein

Little Red Hen cannot help but interrupt her bedtime stories. Find out how this changes the way the stories are told.

Materials

Collection of different kinds of bird feathers.
Cracked corn
Collection of feathers
Pictures to go with song I Had a Little Rooster

Vocabulary

Interrupt (to break into a conversation or to barge in)

Before Reading the Story

Talk about night time rituals. When you get ready for bed what are some of the things that you do? (brush teeth, take bath/shower,/wash my face/kiss good night/read stories. Ask the children to raise their hand if a parent reads to them before bed. Make a list of the children’s favorite stories. Ask each child to name any favorite stories they may have. “Our Favorite Books” Brenda likes Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, Mark likes Mike Mulligan and the Steam Shovel

Literacy/Book Knowledge & Appreciation; progresses in learning how to handle and care for books; knowing to view one page at a time in sequence from front to back; and understanding that a book has a title, author, and illustrator.

Reading the Story

At each point where little red chicken interrupts and the story ends abruptly, ask the children if they liked that story, why or why not?

Social & Emotional Development/Self-Control; develops and understanding of how their actions affect others and begins to accept consequences for their actions.

After Reading the Story

Give examples of when to not interrupt. The teacher is talking to everybody about what they are doing today. You mom is on the telephone and you want to tell her something. Talk about when it is ok to interrupt and when it is not. Is it ok to interrupt when you are tired? If the house is on fire? You have to go to the bathroom? Someone made a face at you? Your friend is hurt and bleeding? Talk about how it makes you feel when you are interrupted. Talk about how to interrupt if you must (excuse, begging your pardon).

Approaches to Learning?Reasoning & Problem Solving; grows in recognizing and solving problems through active exploration, including trial and error, and in interactions and discussions with peers and adults. AND Social & Emotional Development/Self-Control; develops and understanding of how their actions affect others and begins to accept consequences for their actions.

Little Chicken just wanted to help the characters in the stories that her father was reading. Ask the children if they ever felt like they wanted to help someone out? Let them talk about their experiences.

Social & Emotional Development/Self-Control; develops growing understanding of how their actions affect others and begins to accept the consequences of their actions.

Discovery

Put out a variety of tools (scissors, pencil, phone, spoon, etc. Ask the child which tool you would use to put food in your mouth, write your name etc.

Language Development/Listening & Understanding; understands an increasingly complex and varied vocabulary.

If you are lucky enough to have a collection of feathers, put it out with a magnifying glass for the children to examine today. Can they find two that match? Do any of the feathers have a pattern on them?

Science/Scientific Skills & Methods; develops increasing ability to observe and discuss common properties, differences, and comparisons among objects and materials.

Music and Movement

The Interrupting Song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AifKm6TsWJA

Sing This Is The Way We…. To the tune of Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTgxW32ie5E

This is the way we scratch for worms, scratch for worms, scratch for worms. This is the way we scratch for worms so early in the morning. This is the way we peck for food, sit on our eggs, flap our wings, fly away.

Creative Arts/Music; Participates with increasing interest and enjoyment in a variety of music activities, including listening, singing, finger plays, games, and performances.

Relax with soft music. Let whole body relax. Pick up a child’s arm and let it fall, was it relaxed? Like a rag doll.

I had a little rooster https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBUg0HvWYx0

Art

Trace around each child’s hands and show them how they can turn them into chickens.

Physical Health & Development/Fine Motor Skills; progresses in abilities to use writing, drawing, and art tools, including pencils, markers, chalk, paint brushes, and various technology.

Use feathers at the easel for paint brushes today.

Creative Arts/Art; gains ability in using different art media and materials in a variety of ways for creative expression and representation.

Sand and Water

Fill the table fill of a chickens favorite food, cracked corn. Use it to scoop and pour.

Library and Writing

Have child draw a picture. Then ask them to tell you about their picture. Write their dictation onto a piece of paper and staple it to their picture.

Literacy/Early Writing; begins to represent stories and experiences through pictures, dictation, and in play.

In the story, father rooster began reading three stories. If you have these books in your school, add them to the center for the children to look at and ask you to read (Hansel and Gretel, Little red Riding Hood, Chicken Little)

Literacy/Book Knowledge & Appreciation; shows growing interest in reading-related activities, such as asking to have a favorite book read; choosing to look at books; drawing pictures based on books; asking to take books home; going to the library; and engaging in pretend reading with other children.

Dramatic Play

At nap time today make sure the children have access to books. Let them use this prepping for naptime to read stories (to each other or to a stuffed animal.

Bring in night time ritual materials for the children to play night time. (blanket, box for bed, books, dressup pj’s, stuffed animals

Creative Arts/Dramatic Play; participates in a variety if dramatic play activities that become more extended and complex.

Math and Manipulatives

Play any board game or card game that you and your children are familiar with. The idea is to practice taking turns.

Social & Emotional Development/Cooperation; develops increasing abilities to give and take in interactions; to take turns in games or using materials; and to interact without being overly submissive or directive.

Outdoor Play

Any game or activity where you stress the importance of taking turns.

Transitions

Tell the children that you are going to practice taking turns to go to the next activity. Ask the children to show you that they are ready. Call on those that you feel are ready and ignore those who are not following your rules. When all the children who did as they were asked have gone to the next activity, ask the remaining children why they are still sitting on the carpet? Remind them again to show you what they need to be doing. Call them as they follow the directions to go to the next activity. Keep reminding and calling children until everyone has moved. (I have the children sit with hands in their laps and mouths zipped closed).

Social & Emotional Development/Self-Control; develops growing understanding of how their actions affect others and begins to accept the consequences of their actions.