During our circle time we played a fun little hide and seek game with our friend Little Mouse. This simple and repetitive color identification game has been a big hit with the class. The various houses are lined up on "3 streets". We always start at the top left hand corner and move across the row, then drop down to the next row and so forth. This order is deliberate. It is the same way in which we read text on a page. This basic flannel board story is setting the foundation for future reading success. Little Mouse is always hiding in the last house but that doesn't deter the children's astonishment when a house is removed and Little Mouse is not behind it.
The story goes like this...
"Little Mouse, Little Mouse, Are you in the red house?"
We repeat with each color until the mouse if found under the last house and the class rushes forward to blow Little Mouse a kiss.