2 by 2, and into the ark!

Dinner is at 5:30pm, and we're usually out of the dining room 45-60 min later. They have free time until 7pm, except on weekends where it's extended a bit longer.

On one weekend evening not long ago, just on a whim, I decided to go read my one and only Spanish storybook to some kids. I hadn't read it to them since last October. It's in Spanish, and on my level....beginners. It's about an elephant that doesn't like the rain, and is asked to help build an arc. He decided anthing is better than getting wet, so he helps Noah.

My first stop was with the 4-7 yr old girls in Griffin House. We all sat on the bottom part of a very tiny metal bunk bed, and I read them the story. At the end of the story, I got a brainstorm. I had them line up in their room, the way the animals did....2 by 2. I had them hold hands and they followed me as we made circles are the room. "Oh no, it's beginning to rain!" I shouted, "Get in the ark!", as I pointed back to the bottom bunk. They squeeled with delight and jumped into the make believe ark. "Who closed the door?" I asked (to see if they paid attention to the story). "Dios!" they declared (which is God in English). So, I pretended to close the door. Then I started banging on the top bunk, telling them that it was raining a lot. They squeeled even louder in glee. Then the rain slowed down, then stopped, and they were allowed out ....2 by 2 of course. Then they said, "Let's do it again!" So we did.

Then I repeated this pattern with the 4-7 yr old Griffin House boys. They had as much fun as the girls.

Then I went down to the Strawn House which houses a bunch of middle school boys. Some of them dropped out of the dodge ball game long enough to listen to the story. Then I joined them in a couple of games of dodge ball. Man, I don't move and swerve as well as I used to. But I had a ton of fun that night and look forward to doing it again in the near future.