Storytime Lesson - Back
to School!
Pete the Cat: Rocking in My
School Shoes, by Eric Litwin and James Dean
Preschool Themes: Going to School, Shoes, Anxiety
Christian Themes: Anxiousness,
Trust in God
Introduction: This storytime
lesson is ideal for sharing right before the school year starts.
Whether your children are going back to preschool or starting
kindergarten or elementary school for the first time, this lesson
confronts their fears and teaches them about all the fun awaiting
them at school.
Bring in several pair of shoes,
preferably in funky colors and styles. Ask the children which is
their favorite. Ask them if they've had to get new shoes for the new
school year. Take a few minutes to talk about back-to-school
shopping and some of their expectations about school. What kinds of
things will they do at school? What are some of the things they'll
see?
Read: Pete the Cat: Rocking
in My School Shoes, by Eric
Litwin. Discuss the various situations Pete the Cat encountered in
the book. Was Pete anxious (nervous, scared) about going to school
for the first time? What did he get to do there? Did he have fun? Is
he looking forward to going back again?
Song
Activity: "It's time to Go to School" (Act out and
sing to the tune of The Farmer in the Dell.)
It's time to go
to school,
It's time to go
to school,
Ring, ring, it's
time to go,
It's time to go
to school.
Let's put our
red shoes on,
Let's put our
red shoes on,
Ring, ring, it's
time to go,
Let's put our
red shoes on!
We're riding in
the bus,
We're riding in
the bus,
Ring, ring, it's
time to go,
We're riding in
the bus.
We put our
things in our cubby,
We put our
things in our cubby,
Ring, ring, it's
time to sing,
We put our
things in our cubby.
We listen at
circle time,
We listen at
circle time,
Ring, ring it's
time to listen,
We listen at
circle time.
We paint at the
easel,
We paint at the
easel,
Ring, ring, it's
time to paint,
We paint at the
easel.
We eat our food
at lunch,
We eat our food
at lunch,
Ring, ring, it's
time to eat,
We eat our food
at lunch.
Continue
substituting any relevant lines as long as interest and creativity
last!
Bible Verse
Bracelets: Philippians 4:6 (CEV) "Don’t worry about
anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up
your prayers and requests to God."
(Print out, on a brightly-colored
sheet of paper, today's verse repeated down the page. Cut between
each verse so that you have 10-15 strips, (make as many as you
anticipate needing,) each with the verse printed on it. Ask the
children to form a line, and using tape to stick the ends together,
wrap a "Bible Verse Bracelet" round each little wrist. Some
children do not want to wear it; in that case, hand it to them and
tell them to use the verse as a bookmark. The children love these,
and come to expect them at each session! The verses also find their
way home to parents and siblings, and help to spread the news about
the storytime topic.)
Discuss common
fears about going to school with the children. Tell them that it is
very normal to have these fears, and that everything will work out
fine. Explain to them that they can talk to God any time they want
to, and can tell him what they're worried about. God is faithful,
hears them, and will be with them in everything they do!
Art Activity:
Pete's Groovy Red School Shoes!
Print off the
following template and give one to each child. Provide red glitter
glue, sequins, buttons, bits of yarn or other fibers, crayons, and
anything else you might like and let the kids rock out their school
shoes! Hang from the ceiling to add some back-to-school sparkle to
your classroom or circle area!
