Preschool Storytime: Switch on the Night by Ray Bradbury

Switch on the Night by Ray Bradbury, is about a boy who doesn't like the night, switches on all the lights in the house and won't go outside, not even to play with the other children at night. One evening, a magical girl shows him how to "switch" on the night by switching off the lights. He hears crickets and frogs and sees stars and the moon and learns to enjoy the darkness.

Nighttime fears are very common for the four, five, and six year old child. Help children to enjoy the fun of the dark by having a simulated evening out -even in the classroom.

Switch off the lights, close the blinds, and have some nighttime fun. In advance, collect a battery-powered lantern, some blankets, snacks packed camping style, and flashlights. You may even ask the children to wear their pajamas that day. Have children sit around the lantern while you read this story and other safe stories while they relax and even eat a snack. Soft music or a tape made outside in the country or at the seashore at night could be played.

Children can sing songs, play circle games, and use flashlights to hunt for things around the room. These activities will help to reinforce the story.

Flashlight Fun

You'll need:

Flashlight

Colored blocks or small objects in a variety of colors

What to do:

1. Darken a room or wait until nighttime.

2. Group a set of blocks or other objects on the floor by color.

3. Tell children that you are going to shine the light on the red blocks.

4. Repeat the process through the various colors available.

5. Let children name the color with the light on it.

6. Once your group has named the colors with this technique, ask them to name their favorite colors. If possible, give each child a flashlight and encourage the child to go on a treasure hunt using the flashlight to shine on objects in their favorite color.

As a variation to this game, place assorted objects such as toys, cup, book, etc. in a row near a wall. When the lights are off, name an object and have the children find it by shining their flashlights on the chosen object.

Night Time Landscapes

You'll need:

Crayons

White paper

Black or blue tempera paint thinned with water

Paintbrushes

What to do:

1. Have children draw a bright daytime picture with crayons on white paper. Do a landscape by drawing houses, buildings, trees and so on.

2. When the pictures are done, turn them into night scenes by having children brush them with thinned down blue or black tempera paint.

3. Talk about how daytime turns into nighttime. Talk about the difference in the picture when washed with the paint.

4. Helping children notice things is such an important part of brain development and visual discrimination and acuity.

Stars on the Ceiling

You'll need:

Flashlights

What to do:

1. Lie on the floor with your group in the dark classroom.

2. All the children can shine their flashlight onto the ceiling.

3. Encourage them to move the light and pretend the beams are twinkling stars on the ceiling.

4. Sing the familiar song," Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" as a group.

Use the same tune and teach the children this variation.

Twinkle, twinkle little lights,

On the ceiling, oh, so bright.

With my flashlight I will shine

Beams of light for us to find.

Twinkle, twinkle little lights

On the ceiling, oh, so bright.

Engage your students in the activities above after reading this famous book by Ray Bradbury during your preschool storytime. Remember, any games you can play in the dark will help children to realize there is little to be afraid of.

Sources:

Personal experience in the classroom

Song courtesy of Familytlc.com, retrieved March 13, 2011