Engaging children during virtual story time can be challenging. An individual story time prop kit for each student can boost the engagement level and encourage active listening during a read-aloud. Here are some inexpensive ideas to help you build monthly prop kits.
Making Individual Story Time Prop Kit
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All of the kits and components are inexpensive enough that students wouldn’t need to return them to school. Each month, pass out a new kit to students for the upcoming month filled with items that will go with your read-alouds for the month.
The Bag
A simple [easyazon_link identifier=”B07SZ4XYM2″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]quart-sized plastic bag with a zip top[/easyazon_link] works perfectly for these kits. The Dollar Store is your friend for bags and various supplies to go inside the bags.
The Props
Here are some basic supplies that lend themselves to working with multiple different stories. I have detailed pairings below in the month by month suggestions. Remember to think about items that could be a choking hazard for younger children.
- play dough
- buttons
- lids (applesauce pouches, juice lids, milk containers, etc.)
- yarn
- cupcake toppers
- [easyazon_link identifier=”B013QAX052″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Wikki Stix[/easyazon_link]
- paper puppets
- [easyazon_link identifier=”B083TQ1DGK” locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]craft sticks[/easyazon_link]
- pom poms
- stickers
- rocks
- mini erasers
- crayons
Fall Month by Month Individual Story Time Prop Kit Ideas
These kit ideas will take you through the fall. Each month provides eight read-aloud suggestions (two per week) along with appropriate props and ideas for using those props.
September- My Family, Friends, and Me
[easyazon_link identifier=”0316162264″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]I Can Be Anything[/easyazon_link] by Jerry Spinelli- Two icons with a thumbs up and thumbs down sign or students can use their own thumbs. As each activity is read, students can give a thumbs up or thumbs down if they would be interested in doing the activity.
[easyazon_link identifier=”0140564853″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]ABC I Like Me[/easyazon_link] by Nancy Carlson- Use an alphabet letter (plastic or paper) which students can hold up when their letter is called during the story.
[easyazon_image align=”center” height=”492″ identifier=”0763638838″ locale=”US” src=”https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51+rGjngDYL.jpg” tag=”groboobyboo-20″ width=”500″]
[easyazon_link identifier=”0763638838″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Full, Full, Full of Love[/easyazon_link] by Trisha Cooke- Include a plastic spoon, small piece of candy, and small toy car. Students can find each item in their prop kit when it is mentioned in the story.
[easyazon_link identifier=”0590259385″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Is Your Mama a Llama[/easyazon_link] by Deborah Guarino- Black and white images of each animal in the story so that students can locate each of them and hold them up during the story.
[easyazon_link identifier=”0525470158″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Dog’s Noisy Day[/easyazon_link] by Emma Dodd- Include a paper microphone or one made with a cardboard roll and ball of aluminum foil. Students can repeat the sounds the animals make in each part of the story.
[easyazon_link identifier=”0399226907″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]The Very Hungry Caterpillar[/easyazon_link] by Eric Carle- Use an old long sock becomes a caterpillar when placed on the arm.
[easyazon_link identifier=”1481416472″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Strictly No Elephants[/easyazon_link] by Lisa Mantchev- Invite each student to bring their own animal or stuffed animal to listen to the story. Alternatively, you could include a small toy animal in each bag.
[easyazon_link identifier=”0399550569″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Crunch The Shy Dinosaur[/easyazon_link] by Cirocco Dunlap- Include a small green piece of paper shaped like a bush for students to hide and peek around during the story.
October- Community Helpers
[easyazon_link identifier=”1338255800″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Dylan the Doctor[/easyazon_link] by Guy Parker-Rees- Give each student a pointer so that they can point to Dotty Bug on each page spread.
[easyazon_link identifier=”0763663824″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Nurse Clementine[/easyazon_link]by Simon James- Include a bandaid for each student to wear during the story.
[easyazon_link identifier=”075345307X” locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Flashing Fire Engines[/easyazon_link] by Tony Mitton- Create a water hose with a cardboard roll and blue tissue paper at one end for students to wave during the story.
[easyazon_link identifier=”0525423737″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Firefighter Frank[/easyazon_link] by Monica Wellington- Include an image of a tool from the story in each child’s bag. Have each student be on the lookout for their tool in the story and hold it up when they see it in the book.
[easyazon_link identifier=”0688128270″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Good-bye, Curtis[/easyazon_link] by Kevin Henkes- Put a SASE in each child’s bag and encourage the students to each send you a note or drawing after you read for the mail carrier to deliver to you.
[easyazon_image align=”center” height=”500″ identifier=”0802796621″ locale=”US” src=”https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61meLURFMUL.jpg” tag=”groboobyboo-20″ width=”396″]
[easyazon_link identifier=”0802796621″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Millie Waits for the Mail[/easyazon_link] by Alexander Steffensmeier- Include an uplifting note in an envelope addressed to each child that can be read after the story.
[easyazon_link identifier=”0670063150″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Police Officers on Patrol[/easyazon_link] by Kersten Hamilton- Include an image of a badge on gold paper for each student to wear.
[easyazon_link identifier=”1419723235″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]I’m a Police Officer[/easyazon_link] by Brian Biggs- Students can also wear their badge for this story.
November- Fall
[easyazon_link identifier=”0142423386″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Strega Nona’s Harvest[/easyazon_link] by Tomie dePaola- Place a small packet of seeds students can plant inside.
[easyazon_image align=”center” height=”500″ identifier=”0807565385″ locale=”US” src=”https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51tFBFJPquL.jpg” tag=”groboobyboo-20″ width=”405″]
[easyazon_link identifier=”0807565385″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Pick a Circle, Gather Squares: A Fall Harvest of Shapes[/easyazon_link] by Felicia Sanzari Chernesky- Include a different shape in each bag. Students can hold their shape during the part of the story where it is mentioned.
[easyazon_link identifier=”1481431560″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Yellow Time[/easyazon_link] by Lauren Stringer- Use a yellow paper leaf for students to wave.
[easyazon_link identifier=”1607188651″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Count Down to Fall[/easyazon_link] by Fran Hawk- Include paper cards with the numbers one to ten for students to find and hold for each part of the story.
[easyazon_link identifier=”1442407212″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]The Busy Little Squirrel[/easyazon_link] by Nancy Tafuri- Use a real (freeze first) acorn or pretend acorn to hide.
[easyazon_link identifier=”0399256725″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Ol’Mama Squirrel[/easyazon_link]by David Ezra Stein- Acorn can be used again to toss during the story.
[easyazon_link identifier=”0670015792″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Little Owl’s Night[/easyazon_link] by Divya Srinivasan- Include a glow stick or necklace for students to wear during the story.
I’ve designed these story time prop kits to pair beautifully with our Preschool Literacy Units if you are using them. And, they also are in align with our Book Based Activity Calendars. I do love consistency.