THE STORY
It's all about sharing! This age-old story has many versions from all have the world. Basically, it's about travelers arriving in a community and they're hungry! The people of this community don't want to share their food with the strangers and so they hide it away. However, the clever travelers begin to create a big pot of soup that is made from boiling water, salt, pepper and a stone!
This book is available at this link: Stone Soup at Amazon
Find this book at this link:Cactus Soup at Amazon
This book available at this
link: Stone Soup at Amazon
The clever strangers convince the villagers that the soup would taste so much better if there were only a few carrots, and maybe a potato or two, and of course, an onion...before too long, the villagers have each put their share of ingredients into the big ole pot of boiling water. The end result is a delectable soup fit to serve a king! And, the villagers just have to make some music & dance to celebrate the delicious soup.
Find this book at this link:
Stone Soup at Amazon
The villagers invite the travelers to stay longer and offer them the best accommodations in town. And, the legend of the magic stone soup is carried on for generations.
The "magic" ingredient of this amazing soup is SHARING!
The classic version of the story by Marcia Brown depicts the strangers as hungry soldiers who have been traveling for days and come marching into the village in hopes of food and accommodations.
This book can be found at this link: Stone Soup at Amazon.
This version lends itself well to dramatizing, with the marching soldiers making lots of noise that alerts the villagers to hide all the food. Then, the soldiers go
door-to-door looking for a meal. All of this is fun for the children to act out during a simple circle time or elaborately in an actual "performance."
LANGUAGE ACTIVITIES
A few weeks before Thanksgiving, I like to introduce this story to the children, first by READING them the book. Then, I add my hand-made FELT BOARD STORY to the Language shelf for the children to explore during work time.
PRACTICAL LIFE ACTIVITIES
During the weeks just before our Stone Soup Family Event, the children discover lots of "SOUP PREPPING" activities on the Montessori Practical Life shelves.
These colorful shelf works are very inviting and the children develop their FINE MOTOR SKILLS of "slicing" and scooping.
Two days before the Stone Soup Family Event, the children begin the ACTUAL PREPARATION OF THE VEGGIES. Each child decides what vegetables they want to contribute to the feast. Next, a note is sent home, and then the children bring their veggies to school for preparing our own "Stone" soup.
The veggie preparation activities are set up "Montessori-style". These are not tray works, but rather "stations" at a table near the sink.
EACH STATION HAS:
- a waterproof place mat
- child's apron
- cutting board
- vegetable scrubbing brush
- vegetable peeler
- chopping knife
***THESE ACTIVITIES MUST BE CLOSELY SUPERVISED BY A RESPONSIBLE ADULT AT ALL TIMES.
On the morning of our celebration, it's time to begin cooking the soup and the delicious aroma greets the children as they arrive at school that day!
THE ARTS, MUSIC, & DRAMA
After reading the story to the children, they are always excited to "ACT IT OUT"! We spend weeks with this wonderful drama play so that by the time our event is at hand, the children are very comfortable with acting out the story for their families and friends.
There are lots of PLASTIC VEGGIES for the children to "hide away" behind their backs and then later bring to the big ole cooking pot. AND, "WE CAN'T FORGET THE 3 STONES"!
"Three hungry soldiers arrive at the village!"
"Villagers bring veggies to the cooking pot!"
"We're sharing...that's the secret ingredient!"
After I discovered Kaplan-Lyss & Becker's book, Stone Soup-A Rock Opera, our Stone Soup Celebration became a little "musical drama"! This resource comes with a cd with some fun SONGS TO INCORPORATE into a Stone Soup Family Event. The two favorites of our group: the "Stone Soup Song" and the "Stirring Song".
Here's the link for this book: Stone Soup at Amazon
Another place where music can be incorporated in this story dramatization is when the "villagers" have their celebration dance at the end of the story. This is a time when you can put on your children's FAVORITE DANCE MUSIC and invite the families to join in!
The children in our group spent lots of time DECORATING the classroom "tree." A "tree", to represent the forest, is a great place for the "soldiers" to march around loudly as they approach the "village".
Another important part of the Stone Soup Family Event is CREATING THE INVITATIONS for the children to make for their families & friends. It's a great opportunity for children to draw pictures about the story as part of the artwork for the hand-made invitations!
FAMILY CELEBRATION
The day arrives! Don't forget how important it is for the children to PICK OUT THE TABLE CLOTHS and CREATE THE CENTERPIECES. Little ones love to welcome their friends and family. This event was talked about for months afterwards and EVERYONE ate lots of soup!
Yum!
I am so delighted that you are visiting my blog and I hope you and your little ones enjoy these activities as much as we did. Please feel free to leave a comment. I love hearing your ideas!
MY AMAZON SHOP HAS LOTS OF PRODUCTS YOU CAN ADD TO YOUR STONE SOUP ACTIVITIES! YOU CAN CHECK IT OUT AT THIS LINK. JUST CLICK ON:
Advertising Disclosure: Magical Movement Company may be compensated in exchange for featured placement of certain sponsored products and services, or your clicking on links posted on this website. Thanks for your support!
