First Friday - A Story. A Song. An Activity. (The Doctor With An Eye For Eyes)

We take time each year in March

 to celebrate Women's History Month 

noting...

the 

brave

amazing

innovative 

contributions women and girls 

have made all throughout history

Let's celebrate women and girls every day!!

First Fridays-

A Story. A Song. An Activity

Virtual Storytime

A Story

A Song

Kidz BOP 2020 Vision

An anthem for children who have

the vision to make the world shine!

An Activity

Dr. Patricia E. Bath used her gifts to help the world see!

Invisible Art- Wax Resist Art

Introduce this activity to bring together art and science,

amplify the message of female empowerment, and start a

conversation about using your gifts to change the world

Be strong, stay focused,

push forward, shine bright...

and you'll find all your dreams

will be well within sight!

-----------------------------------

Find additional stories and activities...

that highlight the work of Amazing Women Scientists

amazingscientists.com

What? Why? How? (One Hundred Days of Grace)

What?

One hundred consecutive days 

(my journey begins March 1) 

of noticing...

something

one thing

each day

---------------------------------------------

Why?

We let so many moments of grace slip past by 

failing to see the beauty in our everyday lives

So...

---------------------------------------------

How?

Stop.

Notice.

Appreciate.

and when you see grace...

take it in!

---------------------------------------------

There's no wrong way to

start your journey...

(follow mine)

You may choose to document it with a photo

journal the moment, or share with someone else

One Hundred Days of Grace

March 1- June 8

A Return to Simple- Slow and Intentional Living

I felt...

 

unsettled

uneasy

pulled out of my natural daily rhythm

so I...

prayed

read

researched

and was "gifted" a year and a half

to slow down, investigate and lean in

(on my journey toward self-paced intentional living)

and within that time

what I learned to

embrace is that...

I am built differently!!

I am highly emotional.

I require more time to process information.

I recover with large blocks of uninterrupted quiet time.

and at times...

I desire to move at a slower pace than others around me.

AND FOR YEARS...

 I struggled with this

fought against it

forcing myself 

to attempt 

to adapt 

to the energy 

around me,

but finally, after slowing down, 

I discovered my natural rhythm, 

(the pace of life/ lifestyle that feels good to me)

 

while delving deeper

into things that 

nourish...

guide...

heal...

me

--------------------------------

If this speaks to you, check out

The Slow Path to Embracing Wellness

First Fridays - A Story. A Song. An Activity. (A Place Inside of Me)

As we celebrate Black History Month,

our selected story provides an opportunity to come

together, give voice to feelings, and heal.  

Create a safe space to initiate 

a healing conversation as... 

"A Place Inside of Me"

A Poem to Heal the Heart

models how to use 

creative expression as an outlet 

for everything we may be feeling.  

Joy, Fear, Sorrow, Anger, Compassion, Healing... and Hope!

A Story

A Song

"Lift Every Voice and Sing"

Black National Anthem

This new twist to a classic tune encourages us to use our voice

in ways that promote unity, healing, and hope. As we celebrate

Black History Month, we stand together to declare peace,

love, and belonging for all children, everywhere

An Activity

Create an opportunity for children to create their

vision for our homes, schools, and community.

Community Mural

Prepare the space and bring that vision to life 

with a community mural and plan of action...

because together we can change the world!

"Against all odds my people have emerged

Strong, Triumphant, and Beautiful"

First Friday - A Story. A Song. An Activity. (Your Name is a Song)

Stories can serve as both 

"Mirrors and Windows" 

Mirrors-

reminding us 

to look within

(to see ourselves)

Windows-

allowing us

to see outwardly

(to see others)

"Your Name is a Song"

by Jamilah Thomkins-Bigelow

is a story of a young girl frustrated by constantly

having her beautiful name mispronounced

 

She soon learns that her name is a song, 

sings it to her friends and teaches them how to sing it as well

First Fridays-

A Story. A Song. An Activity

Virtual Storytime

A Story

Turn up the music and encourage children to sing along with acclaimed poet 

Maya Angelou featuring Elmo as we learn to celebrate our names

A Song

An Activity

Play Provocation Space

set up an area where children can explore, find the rhythm

in their names, and create their own unique name songs

Three thoughts to guide you...

- Use what you have

- Provide enough time/space for exploration

- Set up, then step back

"Made up names come from dreamers. Their real names 

were stolen long ago so they dream up new ones"

First Fridays- A Story. A Song. An Activity. (A Year in Review... 2021)

 I just love it when an idea and plan comes together

(which is exactly what happened this year) 

with...

First Fridays- A Story. A Song. An Activity.

An idea scribbled onto paper

then mentioned to a team member

bloomed

blossomed

and grew

into what has turned out to be

 an amazing opportunity to share 

virtual stories, songs, activities,

with children and families in places 

we could have never known we'd reach!!

(So here's to our first year in review)

In...

January- Stone Soup

we launched First Fridays 

as we brought in the New Year

February- Shades of Black 

kicked off Black History Month

as we learned to celebrate 

all of our beautiful shades,

tones, and undertones

In...

March- Go Away Big Green Monster

we got a handle on our emotions

by learning to name (and tame) them

with Elmo, Common, and Colbie Caillat's

in their Sesame Street version of 

"Belly Breathe"

April- Not Norman

celebrated our pets as we listened to a brass band, 

and headed outside to blow bubbles

May- The Napping House

we excitedly released our new logo and 

our First Fridays intro theme song!!

June-The Little Red Hen and the Grains of Wheat

we made non-toxic puffy paint while introducing 

the concepts of hard work, dedication, labor and reward

and then in...

July- Goodnight Moon

we had a glow-in-the-dark party!!

We offered our first "off site" recording to start

a conversation on validating our feelings 

toward going back-to-school

August- The Kissing Hand

and joined the band with our

own DIY child-sized instruments

to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month

in...

September- The Best Mariachi in the World

October- Rosie Revere, Engineer

was all about using what you have to spark 

creativity as we created with cardboard,

welcomed a special guest, and "engineered a song"

before bringing in 

November- We Are Grateful; Otsaliheliga

with gratitude

and finally closing out the year...

December- Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes

by celebrating 12 months of First Fridays with Pete the Cat's

reminder to keep moving along and singing our song!!

(And although you cannot personally join us for cake and ice cream...)

I would like to say "thank you" to everyone who has tuned in,

shared with a friend, and/or allowed me to read to your child(ren)

I do not take being invited into your home/school lightly.  

I appreciate our time together 

and until we meet again...

We hope to see you again on the next First Friday!

First Fridays- A Story. A Song. An Activity (Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes)

 I sat in a session with Eric Litwin

(creator of the original Pete the Cat series)

at a Child Care Conference a few years ago

and his message was simple... 

Best way to engage children? 

turn up the music

(and make it funky)

These past two years

have been a little funky, 

and

the events

the encounters

the experiences

we have all endured

have certainly taught us a lot

but grace has kept us, we've found strength in the storm,

and we continue to turn up the music and make it funky!!

First Fridays- 

A Story. A Song. An Activity

Virtual Storytime

A Story...

A Song...

Meghan Trainer- Better When I'm Dancin'
One Voice Children's Choir

An Activity...

"Pete the Cat" Snack Activity

In "Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes", Pete accidentally steps
into some things that change the color of his brand new white shoes.  

But does Pete cry? Goodness, No!

He just keeps walking along

and singing his song...

Use Pete's resilience to start a conversation on mindset

and recreate Pete's experience with this simple snack

Strawberries...

Blueberries...

Mud (chocolate)...

(or whatever the new year brings)

Just keep walking along

and singing your song!