Big Chickens

This week in my kindergarten storytime sessions, I'm doing one of my favorite lessons. Since we  exhausted all our Springtime stories in March, this month our focus is on chicken stories. Big Chickens by Leslie Helakoski is a blast. The story is about four physically big chickens. The term "big chicken" can also mean a person or animal who is scared of many things. (the chickens are big and they are scared in this story)

Because we live in the metro Atlanta area, it's "necessary" to expose my students to the landmark in Marietta, Georgia known as "The Big Chicken." Directions in Marietta are often referenced from "The Big Chicken." Remember, my students in this storytime are five and six year olds. Most get the concept of a physically, big chicken. Some get the point of big chickens who are "chicken". Only some make a connection with the "Big Chicken" in Marietta. ALL my students, understand how to do  the Chicken Dance. We play the music, do the motions and strut like BIG CHICKENS. Even my "biggest chicken", has a BIG SMILE on his/her face while we do the Chicken Dance. Older students working in the Media Center often join us in our "dance."  There are lots of BIG smiles during our "Chicken Time."