Before the story of Abram and Sarai comes the story of The Tower of Babel.  While J-jo loves our Noah’s Ark play set, Bear loves our Tower of Babel set. I printed out Our Country Road‘s “script” and Bear reads it as she retells the story (although now she no longer needs the script).  Our set is very similar to hers.  It’s very simple and I think the simplicity is what draws Bear’s attention.  Unfortunately, I didn’t get a photo of her playing with it, because I was usually busy retelling Noah’s Ark to J-jo.

In my search for Abram and Sarai Godly Play ideas, I came upon these three great resources:

First, a YouTube video of the entire lesson.
Second, Judy Jower’s flickr photo of her set.  I love how she just gathers things that work together.
Third, the script for the lesson of The Great Family.

Hope you find these helpful.  I’m off to gather a desert, a piece of blue felt, rocks, and Abram and Sarai.

Shells, Shells, Shells by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace – I love all her books.  They are so informational, yet read like a story.

Amos and Boris by William Steig a great classic of a mouse stranded at sea who gets helped by a whale and then promises to help the whale if ever he needs it.  But how would a mouse ever be able to help a whale?

The Little Island by Margaret Wise Brown

One White Wishing Stone A Beach Day Counting Book by Doris Gayzagian – a beautifully illustrated book

Hello Ocean Hola Mar by Pamela Munoz Ryan – a story about the sensory experiences one has at the beach.  The child in the book hears the sea, tastes it, smells it, feels it.  Full of imagery and descriptive words.  And it rhymes.  One I’d like to own as I can see poetry, grammar, and imagery lessons stemming from it.  Our copy from the library was bilingual, which was an other plus.

Commotion in the Ocean by Giles Andreae is the perfect fun book to learn a tad about lots of sea animals.

Swimmy by Leo Lionni

I am a Whale: The Life of a Humpback Whale by Darlene R. Stille

A Beach Tail by Karen Lynn Williams

Ten Little Fish by Audrey Wood – a counting book more for J-jo.

Seashells by the Seashore by Marianne Berkes – replete with stunning watercolor illustrations.  It’s a counting book, but it is a rhyming story as well.  It was enjoyed by both children a lot.  Another one I’d like to own.

Seaweed Soup by Stuart J. Murphy – a Mathstart book about sets.  It’s a fun one to act out and “play” at.  We made seaweed soup by using green tissue paper and crepe paper.

Out of the Ocean by Debra Frasier – the book that began our month long study of oceans.  The illustrations are mixed media and the story is of a boy who is told by his mother that “you can ask the ocean to bring you something.”  But the things the mother asks for are things that the sea already gives – sand, sun, water.  It’s a book about looking and seeing what’s right there in front of you.