We've been busy over the last few weeks sorting & planting out our Spring seeds. Amongst our selection of veggie seeds are runner & broad beans. These are great to observe as they grow at an amazing rate, & produce quick results for eager little gardeners.
Minnie has found it fascinating to compare beans (like those we planted) next to our growing beanstalks & observe just how quickly they've changed. She's also been considering what the beans have needed to help them grow, & eagerly checked, watered, & protected them by covering them every night.
As we've watched the beans grow taller, it's got me thinking about that classic fairy tale 'Jack & The Beanstalk.' Although Minnie knows a variety of classic fairy tales we were yet to share this one, so after a trip to the local library, & a quick search around the house I came up with this story basket for her to explore this well known fairy tale.
Our 'Jack & The Beanstalk' Story Basket contained:
2 small world play figures - Jack & Jack's Mother
1 slightly large play figure - The Giant
Cotton wool - Cloud
Green shoelace with green buttons threaded along - The Beanstalk
Plain cardboard box - House/Castle
Woolen chick - Hen/Goose
2 plastic Easter eggs
5 Broad beans
Small dish
6 small pebbles
Minnie has had much fun exploring the story...
Here's Jack selling his cow for some magic beans!
His mother is unhappy & sends him to bed...
... and throws the beans out of the window!
.. and grows up through the clouds to a castle where a Giant lives!
The woolen chick enabled the golden eggs to be 'laid' again & again (which proved very popular) & encouraged some fine motor skills too! :-)
The golden eggs were solid in the original story, but in Minnie's version the eggs were filled with seeds, leaves & other natural goodies from the garden.
Using the basket to hold the story props proved ideal for outdoor play as it could be hooked over a bike (or arm) & transported around the garden fast! The basket itself was also used as a prop.
This little story basket offered endless opportunities for imaginative play & story telling, the house/castle even became a camera at one point!
This proved a fun way to explore a classic fairy tale, & enabled Minnie to retell & act out the narrative as well as discover & share her own stories. I know this is something we'll explore again & again.
If you like this check out Make Your Own Story Tree with Story Baskets