Preparing the Mind and Body for Reading: Fun Activities & Dinosaur Adventures for Kids

Hey friends, it’s Rella B! Are you ready to dive into a fun-filled story time with me? Before we embark on our adventure, we need to get our minds and bodies ready for the wonderful world of reading. Let's start by going outside for some stretching and physical activities to get our energy up! Research shows that a little movement helps boost focus, making it the perfect prep for kids' book read alouds. Let's get moving!

Getting Ready for Reading: Fun Physical Activities

Engaging in a bit of physical activity can help children prepare for reading. How do we get physically ready for a storytime? Let’s pretend we’re playing different sports to warm up our bodies and minds. Ready? Let’s go!

Swimming: Splash into Reading!

First, imagine we’re swimming. Can you move your arms like you're splashing through water? Sometimes, when we put our head under, we need to turn our heads to take a breath. Let’s practice swimming and turning our heads. Wow, look at you go! You’re amazing swimmers!

Baseball: Hit It Out of the Park!

Next up, let’s pretend we’re playing baseball. We’re going to swing the bat and try to hit 10 balls out of the park. Ready? Pull the bat back, and SWING! One, two, three… You’re doing so great! Keep swinging. With just five more swings, you hit a home run!

Basketball: Bounce into Storytime

What about basketball? Let’s dribble the ball with one hand, switch hands, and even try dribbling while running. For an extra challenge, can you dribble the ball between your legs? It's all about having fun, no matter how good you are!

Soccer: Kickstart Your Imagination!

Now, let’s pretend we’re playing soccer. We can kick the ball with our feet, or use our knees to pass it. Whether you're playing as a goalie or kicking the ball, remember it’s all about having fun and using your imagination!

Blocking the Ball: Goalkeeper Skills

If we were goalies, we would need to reach and block the ball. Let’s practice blocking! One block, two block, three block… keep going! Great job, everyone! You’re all goalkeeping champions!

Rella's Riddle Time: Let’s Challenge Our Minds!

Now that our bodies are all warmed up, it’s time for Rella's Riddle! This riddle will get our minds ready for reading. If you’re new here, don’t forget to like and subscribe to our channel for more educational YouTube videos and kids' book read alouds!

Riddle Hints:

• 1. I come in many different sizes; I can be as small as a bird or as big as a house.
• 2. I normally have a full body of scales and big teeth and talons.
• 3. I have left behind many things all over the world that we call fossils.

Did you guess “dinosaur”? If you did, you’re absolutely right! Today, we’re going on a super fun dinosaur adventure. But first, let’s learn how to say "dinosaur" in Spanish and sign it in ASL.

Learning Dinosaur in ASL and Spanish

In American Sign Language (ASL), we sign “dinosaur” with a special hand gesture. Can you do that with me? And if we say "dinosaur" in Spanish, it’s “dinosaurio.” Isn’t that awesome? With that, let’s jump into our story!

Rynnie Roo's Adventures: Dinosaur Valley

Today’s book is titled Rynnie Roo’s Adventures: Dinosaur Valley by Jean Johnson. Do you like dinosaurs? I sure do! Imagine, Rynnie Roo is a kangaroo who loves going on exciting adventures and making new friends. Together, we’re going to laugh and play, using our imaginations to explore the thrilling world of dinosaurs!

The Dinosaur Capital

Our adventure today takes us to Glen Rose, Texas, also known as the Dinosaur Capital. Over 113 million years ago, dinosaurs roamed this area, leaving their footprints behind in the Paluxy Riverbed. It’s known as the “Dinosaur Highway of Texas.” Amazing, right? One of the coolest tracks belongs to the Acrocanthosaurus, a dinosaur nearly the size of a T. rex!

Imagining Dinosaurs: Giant Creatures!

Can you imagine walking alongside a dinosaur? Some of the tracks in Glen Rose belong to the Sauroposeidon—a dinosaur with a long neck and tail, towering over us in height. I bet it would have been amazing to see one of these creatures up close!

Dinosaur Fun in Glen Rose

What if dinosaurs had a day at Big Rocks Park? They could have played hopscotch on the giant boulders! Glen Rose is full of fascinating dinosaur-related sites, including museums and fun outdoor activities for kids. Whether you’re into dinosaurs or just want to explore, there’s something for everyone here.

Reflection and Future Adventures

Did you enjoy learning about Dinosaur Valley? I sure did! We learned so much about the Acrocanthosaurus and Sauroposeidon. Those were some pretty big dinosaurs, and their names were a challenge to say, too!

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Co-Creators and Fun

Before we go, let’s check in with some of our co-creators! Big shout-out to Lucas, Abigail, Liam, and Ava for joining us today. We love hearing from our friends and can’t wait for our next adventure!

Wrapping Up: Join Rella B for More Fun!

Thanks so much for tuning in to Rella B's YouTube channel. If you want to check out more books or become a co-creator, visit rellabbooks.com for all the details! And don't forget to check out the link above if you'd like to grab a copy of today's book, Rynnie Roo’s Adventures: Dinosaur Valley!

Looking for more educational content and kids' book read alouds? Visit our YouTube channel for fun and engaging videos, or listen to our screen-free podcast for more adventures! Until next time—Toodles!