Welcome back to story time! This week we have a beautiful and heartfelt story to share with you, all about the affects of social distancing, isolation, and the idea of staying together – even if only through windows. Written and inspired by someone who, as a medical worker, was forced to isolate from his own family.
We’re following up this story with a fun colouring sheet and card/letter writing activity to help inspire everyone to stay in touch with those they cant physically see right now! This is a thought provoking activity that we are sure will put smiles not only on the faces of the card makers, but their receivers as well!
Reading Suggestions: Windows
Windows by Patrick Guest and Jonathan Bentley is the heartfelt story of how we can all feel together even when we are far apart. Told through the voices–and windows–of children from around the world, this story’s comforting message and bright illustrations bring hope into your home even as our world changes outside. When you look out your window, don’t forget that we’re all looking out–together.
Reading Suggestions
Try putting on different voices for each child and location around the world. If you don’t feel confident doing this yourself then the publishers of this wonderful story have made a beautiful video reading of the book. Watch the video below or CLICK HERE.
Encourage children to interact with the story by asking questions such as: what can you see in the clouds? where in the world do you think this window is? who would you like to hug if you could?
Activity: Windows Card Making & Letter Writing!
For today’s activity we thought it would be fun to write letters to our far away friends and loved ones! Here’s a chance to connect with the people we can’t see right now, and have some colouring fun along the way!
This activity is perfect to get in some extra handwriting practice. But for our extra young readers some help might be required. Give them a hand brainstorming message ideas or even write out their letters for them if need be. Of course there’s more to just a letter than words, plenty of colouring and decorating to do as well!
Materials required: Windows Card and/or Letter Paper (provided in the download links below, writing utensils and decorating materials such as pencils, pens, markers, paints, glitter, stickers and anything else you have lying around the house.
Extra materials: envelopes and stamps for sending your letter.
Depending on whether you want this to be a quick or long activity there are coloured or black and white versions of the letter paper, one that’s ready to go and one that you can colour in yourself. The Windows Card is in colour, ready to just print and fold as is!
Instructions:
- Download the Windows Card and Letter Paper of your choice and then print out at home or your local printing spot.
- Write Your letter!
- Think of a person you’d like to send a special message to, and start brainstorming what you’d like to say to them. Think of things you’ve done recently, your hobbies, your feelings, or what you would like to tell them if they were standing right in front of you today.
- If writing a letter is too hard by yourself then why not try it as a whole family, having more people around makes craft more fun!
- Time to Decorate
- personalise your letter with things special to you! draw pictures, use stickers and tell your own story through your own window.
- Time to send your letter
- Seal it up in an envelope (you can decorate this too!)
- Give the letter to mum, dad or whoever else you live with to take to the post office and send out to your special friend!
For those of you who’d like to add something a little extra to your letter, or just continue the Windows themed fun, here’s an extra Windows colouring sheet for you to enjoy:
We hope you and your family enjoyed this activity and we’ll be back next Monday with another Storytime you can run from home. Please share photos of your projects with us in the comments here or find us at Facebook (@robinsonsbooks) or Instagram (@robinsonsbooks) as we would love to see your wonderful creations!
Happy Reading!
From the team at Robinsons Bookshop
Robinsons BookBlog 