Especially for Kindergarten:
Thelma in the Garden
Kindergarten standards about plants and sunlight are brought to life in this collection of five 30-minute interactive storytelling and puppet making sessions.
“You mean fruit doesn’t always come wrapped in plastic?”
That conversation with a student, interviews with urban gardeners, and familiar tales inspired this collection of delightful stories of Thelma working in the garden with her Grandpa Gerald.
Pre-K and First Grade will also love these stories, but what makes them especially suitable for Kindergarten classes is the way they support and reinforce Kindergarten standards in:
Earth Science
Life Science
The Interdependence Among Living Systems
Artistic Process, Create or Make
Teaching Artist Residencies
We’re available for residencies year round and happy to work with you to put together a package that works for your schedule. Common formats are:
Every day for a week
Once a week for five weeks
Custom schedule worked out between the school and the Teaching Artist
Each session features a standalone story, so it’s also possible to do residencies with fewer than five visits.
Thelma and the Lettuce Thief
Inspired by Anansi Plays Dead, a West African Trickster Tale
Standards
0.4.1.1.2 Identify the external parts of a variety of plants and animals including humans
0.2.1.5 Create original two- and three-dimensional artworks to express ideas, experiences or stories.
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When Thelma worries that someone will eat the almost ripe lettuce in her garden, Grandpa Gerald tells her a story about someone sneaking into her garden at night to steal her lettuce.
Thelma decides to make a sticky statue to catch the thief. The culprit ends up being a Mama Bunny trying to feed her baby.
Thelma learns it’s more fun to share the food we grow.
Arts Activity
Students make a thief finger puppet
Let’s Talk!
Interested in finding out more about scheduling Thelma in the Garden at your school or organization? Please fill out our Contact Form, and we’ll be in touch shortly.
“Our teaching artist was phenomenal and kept all students engaged during every lesson. The integration of our science standards was PERFECT! The puppets were also a huge hit!”
Stephanie B, Kindergarten Teacher
Thelma and the Beanstalk
Inspired by Jack and the Beanstalk, an English fairy tale
Standards
0.3.2.2.2 Identify the sun as a source of heat and light
04.2.1.1 Observe a natural system or its model, and identify living and nonliving components in that system.
0.2.1.5 Create original two- and three-dimensional artworks to express ideas, experiences or stories.
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When Thelma decides to quit gardening because there are too many creepy crawly things in the dirt, Grandpa Gerald tells her a story about planting magic beans.
When the giant beanstalk blocks the sun from her window, she decides to climb up to the clouds.
She meets a friendly giant and his son, who thank her for planting the beans.
Thelma learns that even though someone may be small, they can still be a big helper.
Arts Activity
Students create large and small paper bag puppets.
Thelma and the Three Bears
Inspired by Goldilocks and the Three Bears, an English fairy tale
Standards
0.3.2.2.2 Identify the sun as a source of heat and light
0.2.1.5 Create original two- and three-dimensional artworks to express ideas, experiences or stories.
Bonus: Identifying when whether fruits and vegetables are ripe
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Thelma and Grandpa Gerald are foraging in the forest.
When Thelma wants to try every plant, Grandpa Gerald tells her a story: three Bears want to make a salad are are identifying which vegetables in their garden are ripe for picking.
When they leave to get some ranch dressing, Thelma comes and eats all of their ripe vegetables.
She tries to take a nap afterwards, but the light and heat from the sun keep her awake. With the help of the audience, she builds a structure to block the light.
The Bears find her, and she invites them to her garden and they make a salad together.
Arts Activity
Make a one-string marionette.
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Thelma is trying to work in the garden, but first the wind is too strong and then the sun is too hot.
Grandpa Gerald tells her a story about how the Wind and the Sun (played by the students) get into an argument about who is stronger.
They decide to have a contest to see who can get Thelma to take off the blanket she has wrapped around her.
The wind tries to blow it off her, but she just wraps it tighter.
The sun shines gently and warmly, and Thelma happily takes off the blanket to enjoy the beautiful day.
Arts Activity
Create shadow puppets and have a puppet parade.
Thelma and the Gingerbread House
Thelma, the Sun and the Wind
Inspired by The Northern Wind and the Sun, an Aesop’s Fable
Standards
0.3.2.2.2 Identify the sun as a source of heat and light
0.2.1.5 Create original two- and three-dimensional artworks to express ideas, experiences or stories.
Inspired by Hansel and Gretel, a fairy tale by the Brother’s Grimm
Standards
0.2.1.5 Create original two-and three-dimensional artworks to express ideas, experiences or stories.
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Thelma wants to eat candy all the time.
Grandpa Gerald tells her a story: Thelma’s older cousin, Willie, takes her to a witch’s house made out of gingerbread and candy. They break off pieces of candy and hide before the witch can find them.
The witch eventually catches them, but she’s a kind Yummy Food Witch. She gives them delicious strawberries from her garden.
Thelma and Willie decide to give fresh fruits and vegetables from to the kids in the neighborhood.
Arts Activity
Create finger puppets and take turns acting out eating food from the house and hiding from the witch.