Tag: circle time ideas

5 Props That Transform Circle Time

~ Storykate ~ Leave a comment

Hey educators! Circle time doesn’t need to feel like “sit and listen.” With the right props, it becomes playful, hands-on, and meaningful. Here are five of my favourites that I use and demo often on Storykate YouTube.

1. Felt Balls – rhythm, counting, and calm

Children love the texture and weight of felt balls. They’re perfect for passing games, counting songs, and even simple mindfulness. Watch how I use them in action in my video on Circle Time with Props.

👉 Want ready-to-go ideas? Try my Circle Time Props Bundle with printable games and guides.

2. Scarves – movement and imagination

Scarves bring music alive. Float them like waves, hide behind them for peek-a-boo, or toss them high to practise gross motor skills. I show simple scarf games in this circle time playlist.

3. Puppets – your best co-teacher

A puppet instantly draws every eye in the circle. They’re perfect for storytelling, managing transitions, or introducing tricky topics. My favourite baby wombat puppet makes a regular appearance on Storykate videos.

👉 Looking for inspiration? Check out my course Teaching with puppets

4. Rhythm Sticks – beat and focus

With sticks, children can keep a steady beat, copy patterns, or invent their own music. They’re brilliant for building listening and coordination. I share rhythm stick routines in my music and movement videos.

I tried them with pre-service teachers last month and it was also a big hit!

5. Story Baskets – books that come alive

A story basket filled with objects from the book makes every child lean in. Instead of just listening, they get to hold the story. For ideas, see my video on Story Baskets for Early Learning.

👉 You’ll also find Story Baskets printables in my store, ready to use with your favourite books.

Why props matter

Props aren’t extras – they’re invitations. They make circle time interactive, inclusive, and joyful. When children have something to hold, wave, or share, they’re not just sitting in a group – they’re part of it.

💡 Want more? Head over to my chanenl for practical strategies and demonstrations!

https://www.youtube.com/@Storykate

5 Group Time Mistakes and How to Fix Them

~ Storykate ~ Leave a comment

Are your group times feeling chaotic, with children losing focus or not responding? You might be making one of five common mistakes that most educators do not even realise they are making. By the end of this read, you will have simple ways to turn group time from messy to purposeful.

I am an early childhood teacher with 17 years of experience. Below are the typical pitfalls I see, plus quick fixes you can try this week.

1. Talking too much

When we talk for too long, attention drops. Working memory and self-regulation are still developing in early childhood, so long explanations are hard to hold.

Fix: keep instructions short and clear. Speak in small chunks, then do something. Use call and response, songs, props, and quick games. Aim for a talk burst, then action. The neuroscience backs it up!

2. Not reading the room

If you miss the early signs, things unravel. Staring into space, fidgeting, side chats, gentle kicks and pinches under the radar are all signals.

Fix: Be flexible. If focus dips, switch gears. Add a 30-second movement break, change position, hand out a prop, or shift to a whole-body activity. If the whole group has tuned out, it is fine to stop and return later.

3. Explaining without engagement

Explaining complex ideas without involving children leads to tuned-out faces. Prior knowledge matters.

Fix: start with what they already know. Co-create a quick mind map in children’s words, use real objects, and build meaning together. Turn explaining into doing with simple choices, partner talk, or a game that uses the idea.

4. A rigid plan

An ideal script that never bends can work against you.

Fix: plan to pivot. Have a Plan A, Plan B, and one fast reset. Change the order, shorten an activity, or swap it out. The aim is not to finish the script; it is to keep learning alive.

5. Going too long

Even strong sessions fail if they run past children’s attention span.

Fix: keep it short. As a guide, 5 to 7 minutes for toddlers, 8 to 10 minutes for kinder age groups, then move on. End while it is still working.

Quick checklist for tomorrow

  • One clear purpose for the session. What book or concept are you focusing on?
  • A short opener that gets everyone doing something, e.g. Acknowledgement of Country, the familiar song.
  • Two interactive moments planned in advance
  • A 30-second movement break in your back pocket
  • A simple close, for example, a song cue or reflection question

A 10-minute plan you can steal

1 minute welcome with a song
2 minutes prop reveal and quick prediction (I use baskets and story bags)
2 minutes discussion about the prop
30-second reset movement, touch your nose, touch your toes
3-minute story, song, or problem to solve, shared discussion
90 seconds reflection, then a clear close – transition to the next activity

DYI Felt Board

~ Storykate ~ Leave a comment

Today, we’re diving into the wonderful world of felt boards and exploring how they can transform storytelling for young children. Felt boards are engaging, versatile tools that can spark creativity, boost learning, and make storytelling come alive!

Making your felt board

Making a felt board is a breeze. You’ll need some felt or flannel fabric, a picture frame, and some staples or glue. Simply cut the felt to fit the frame size, secure it in place, and voila – your felt board is ready for storytelling. I buy felt in Spotlight, but you can also get some cheaper offcuts in the opportunity shops – as second-hand stores are called in Australia.

For an extra touch, use markers, stickers, or construction paper to create fun felt cutouts of various shapes and characters. You can also download cool stories on Etsy.

Tales with Felt

Now comes the magic part: using your felt board to weave captivating stories. Here’s how:

  • Introduce your felt characters and set the scene by placing them on the board.
  • As your story unfolds, move the felt cutouts around to illustrate the action. This visual element keeps young minds engaged and following along.
  • Felt boards are fantastic for incorporating songs and fingerplays into your storytelling sessions.

Storytime Example: Five Little Speckled Frogs

Let’s use the classic song “Five Little Speckled Frogs” to illustrate the storytelling magic of felt boards. Here are the felt cutouts you’ll need:

  • A tree
  • Leaves
  • Bushes
  • Rocks
  • Mushrooms
  • Five frogs (of course!)

Sing the first verse and place all five frogs on the felt board. As you sing about the frogs jumping in the pool, one by one, remove the corresponding frog cutouts. When all the frogs have made their splash, sing the final verse.

The Power of Felt Board Storytelling

Felt boards are important tools of early childhood education for a reason.

  • They grab children’s attention and keep them actively involved in the story.
  • Felt boards can be used to teach children about counting, colours, shapes, and letters in a fun and interactive way.
  • They foster storytelling and language development, allowing children to explore their creativity and express themselves.
  • Felt boards are portable and easy to make, perfect for teachers, parents, and caregivers to use at home, in classrooms, or anywhere! I always have a felt board when I teach the class.

Happy crafting and storytelling,