Hello, friends! I’m Ryan, and this is my friend Craig. We’re so happy you’re here for Story Time with us! Today, we have a special book to share with you. It’s called “The Story of Ferdinand,” written by Munro Leaf and with beautiful drawings by Robert Lawson. Are you ready to hear the story? Let’s begin!
Once upon a time, in a sunny place called Spain, there was a little bull named Ferdinand. Ferdinand was not like the other bulls. While the other bulls liked to run and jump and butt their heads together, Ferdinand liked to sit quietly and smell the flowers. He was a gentle and peaceful bull.
Ferdinand had a favorite spot in the meadow where he would sit under a cork tree. He loved to relax there, enjoying the sweet smell of the flowers all around him. Ferdinand was happy just being himself, even if he was different from the other bulls.
One day, some men came to the meadow looking for the biggest, fastest, and roughest bull to take to a big bullfight in Madrid. The other bulls were excited and showed off by running and jumping. But Ferdinand just sat under his favorite tree, smelling the flowers.
Suddenly, Ferdinand sat on a bee! Ouch! It stung him, and he jumped up with a big snort. The men saw Ferdinand jumping and thought he was the fiercest bull of all. So, they chose him to go to the bullfight!
Ferdinand was taken to the big city of Madrid for the bullfight. Everyone was excited to see him. But when Ferdinand entered the ring, he just sat down and smelled the flowers that the ladies in the crowd were wearing. He didn’t want to fight at all!
In the end, Ferdinand was taken back home to his peaceful meadow. He was happy to be back under his favorite cork tree, smelling the flowers. Ferdinand showed everyone that it’s okay to be different and to enjoy the simple things in life.
Ferdinand’s story teaches us that it’s important to be true to ourselves. We don’t have to be like everyone else. We can be happy just being who we are, just like Ferdinand the bull. Remember, it’s always wonderful to stop and smell the flowers!
Thank you for joining us for Story Time. We hope you enjoyed “The Story of Ferdinand.” See you next time for more fun stories!
Flower Scent Exploration: Just like Ferdinand loved to smell the flowers, let’s explore different scents! Gather a few different flowers or herbs like lavender, mint, or rosemary. Let each child take turns smelling them. Ask them to describe the scents and share which one they like the most. Discuss how smelling flowers can make us feel happy and calm, just like Ferdinand.
Peaceful Place Drawing: Ferdinand had a favorite spot under the cork tree. Ask the children to draw their own favorite peaceful place. It could be a spot in their home, a park, or even an imaginary place. Encourage them to include things that make them feel happy and relaxed. Afterward, let them share their drawings with the class and explain why they chose that place.
Role Play: Being True to Yourself: Have a short role-playing session where children can act out different scenarios. For example, one child can pretend to be Ferdinand, choosing to smell flowers instead of playing rough games. Discuss how it’s okay to make different choices and be true to oneself. Encourage the children to think of times when they made a choice that was right for them, even if it was different from what others were doing.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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[Music] Hi, I’m Ryan Lagaan, and I’m Craig Tobey. Welcome to Story Time with Ryan Lagaan and Craig Tobey! Today’s book is “The Story of Ferdinand” by Munro Leaf, with drawings by Robert Lawson. Let’s get started!
Once upon a time in Spain, there was a little bull named
