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Lois Ehlert!

The Plan

Books

loisehlert

Color Zoo by Lois Ehlert
In My World by Lois Ehlert
Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert
Waiting for Wings by Lois Ehlert

Extension Activities

Flannelboard: “Thanks A Lot”
Thanks a lot, Thanks for sun in the sky.
Thanks a lot, Thanks for clouds so high.
Thanks a lot, Thanks for whispering wind.
Thanks a lot, Thanks for the birds in the spring.
Thanks a lot, Thanks for the moonlit night.
Thanks a lot, Thanks for the stars so bright.
Thanks a lot, Thanks for the wondering me.
Thanks a lot, Thanks for the way I feel.
Thanks for the animals, Thanks for the land, Thanks for the people everywhere.
Thanks a lot, Thanks for all I’ve got. Thanks for all I’ve got.

Activity: “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom” Tree

Fingerplay: “Two Little Butterflies”
Two little butterflies sitting on a hill
One named Jack, the other named Jill
Fly away, Jack, fly away, Jill
Come back, Jack, come back, Jill
Credit: Modified from Childhood

Craft

Since coloring sheets have gone over so well at the daycare, I’ve decided to go ahead and keep using them. The teachers love the sheets and the practice the kids get with holding crayons.

How It Went

Lois Ehlert is a special author to me, because she won the Caldecott Honor for “Color Zoo” when I was in kindergarten. I distinctly remember my elementary school librarian reading us this book — he loved to read to us, if my memories are any indication — and I feel like when I read this book to my kids, I’m honoring him. (Okay, sappy moment aside!) We had a great discussion about what kinds of techniques Ms. Ehlert uses — cut-outs, flaps, small pages. The kids really enjoyed comparing “Color Zoo” to “In My World” and “Planting a Rainbow” to “Waiting for Wings.” Our Chicka tree activity was awesome and super interactive since I let the kids put the letters on the tree. I used “Thanks a Lot” as my flannelboard since “In My World” ends with “Thank you, world, for everything.”

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May 8, 2013 4 Comments Short URL , , storytime

Eric Carle!

Since I finished up my numbers series, I thought I would do an author series for my daycare kids. I started with the great Eric Carle.

The Plan

Books

ericcarle

The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse by Eric Carle
From Head to Toe by Eric Carle
Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me by Eric Carle
The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle

Extension Activities

Flannelboard: “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”

App: Eric Carle’s My Very First App

Action Song: “Flutter, Flutter, Butterfly”
Flutter, flutter butterfly
Floating in the spring sky
Floating by for all to see
Floating by so merrily
Flutter, flutter butterfly
Floating in the spring sky
Credit: Best Kids Book Site

Song: “Itsy Bitsy Spider”
The itsy bitsy spider went up the waterspout
Down came the rain and washed the spider out
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain
And the itsy bitsy spider went up the spout again
(Great big hairy spider, teensy weensy spider)
Credit: Childhood

Craft

Since coloring sheets have gone over so well at the daycare, I’ve decided to go ahead and keep using them. The teachers love the sheets and the practice the kids get with holding crayons.

How It Went

We had some great discussions about what kinds of things Mr. Carle likes to use in his books. Such answers included: animals, swirly paints, color, and stars. The kids were SUPER jazzed that I brought a picture of him to show as well. Their favorite book — super hard to pick, but I think it was “From Head to Toe.” Also, the kids had a lot of fun matching colors and objects in the app and the teachers responded very positively to using the iPad in storytime!

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May 1, 2013 1 Comment Short URL , , storytime

Blankets!

The Plan

Books

blankets

Fly Blanky Fly by Anne Margaret Lewis
Kiki’s Blanket by Janie Bynum
No More Blanket for Lambkin by Bernette Ford & Sam Williams
Small Bunny’s Blue Blanket by Tatyana Feeney

Extension Activities

Flannelboard: “Ten Teddy Bears”

Action Rhyme: “Oh Me, Oh My”
At breakfast time, milk spilled on my blanket! Oh me, oh my!
Have to wash my blanket and hang it out to dry
(Lunch/peanut butter, snack/banana, dinner/spaghetti)
At bedtime, cookie crumbs dropped on my blanket! Oh me, oh my!
Have to shake my blanket out, no time to wash or dry
I need my blanket, it’s time for beddy bye!
Credit: Perry Public Library

Action Rhyme: “Time For Bed”
Time for bed, time for bed (tap watch on wrist)
Fluff up the pillow (pretend to fluff pillow)
Lay down your head (lay head on hands)
Pull up the blanket (sign “blanket”)
Tuck it in tight (hold hands under chin)
Close your eyes (close eyes and tilt head)
And sleep all night (snore)
Credit: Perry Public Library

Rhyme with Scarves: “I Once Had a Blanket”
I once had a blanket, it was fluffy and new
I once had a blanket, and its color was blue!
I once had a blanket, the prettiest I’ve ever seen
I once had a blanket, and its color was green!
I once had a blanket, soft as a pillow
I once had a blanket, and its color was yellow!
I once had a blanket, at the foot of my bed
I once had a blanket, and its color was red!
Credit: Anne’s Library Life

Craft

I recycled my craft from “Letter Q” storytime since it went so well with the kids.

How It Went

I am still so in love with this storytime theme. It was absolutely wonderful and just worked so well with my group. I honestly did not have any misses in any of the books or extension activities. The kids were thrilled when I pulled out the scarves from behind the flannelboard. It was another example of storytime magic!

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April 29, 2013 0 Comments Short URL , storytime

Number Ten!

The Plan

Books

number-ten

I’m the Biggest Thing in the Ocean by Kevin Sherry
Ten Little Caterpillars by Bill Martin Jr.
Ten Moonstruck Piglets by Lindsay Lee Johnson
Ten Tiny Tickles by Karen Katz

Extension Activities

Flannelboard: “Ten Fluffy Chickens”
Five eggs and five eggs
And that makes ten
Sitting on top
Is Mother Hen
Cackle cackle cackle
What do I see?
Ten fluffy chickens
Yellow as can be

Flannelboard: “Ten Little Umbrellas & Ten Little Raindrops”
One little, two little, three little umbrellas
Four little, five little, six little umbrellas
Seven little, eight little, nine little umbrellas
Ten umbrellas up for the rain
Repeat with raindrops going on top of umbrellas – last line “Ten raindrops falling down.” Pull raindrops away, counting down – last line “No raindrops out today.” Pull umbrellas away, counting down – last line, “Everything’s put away!”

Action Song: “Ten In the Bed”
There were ten in the bed and the little one said, “Roll over, roll over.”
So they all rolled over and one fell out.
(count down until)
There was one in the bed and the little one said, “I’ve got this all to myself.”
Credit: Childhood

Craft

The kids finished their coloring books today! It was so awesome to see all of the pages filled in!

How It Went

I did this storytime right around the beginning of March, when Chicagoland had a sudden warm-up and we thought spring was here! The kids loved the flannelboard with the umbrellas since it was mirroring what was happening outside that day. (I always love when that works out!) Their favorite books were “Ten Little Caterpillars” and “I’m the Biggest Thing In the Ocean.” My favorite part of storytime was when one kid shouted out, “HE DESERVED TO BE EATED” during “I’m the Biggest Thing.”

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April 24, 2013 0 Comments Short URL , , storytime

Number Nine!

The Plan

Books

number-nine

Nine Ducks Nine by Sarah Hayes
Nine O’Clock Lullaby by Marilyn Singer
The Planets by Gail Gibbons
This Jazz Man by Karen Ehrhardt

Extension Activities

Flannelboard: “Nine Planets”

Song: “Nine Little Ducks Went Out to Play”
Nine little ducks went out to play
Over the hills and far away
Mother duck said, “Quack, quack, quack, quack”
But only seven little ducks came back
(Count down by twos until one)
One little duck went out to play
Over the hills and far away
Mother duck said, “Quack, quack, quack, quack”
And none of her nine little ducks came back
Sad mother duck went out one day
Over the hills and far away
Mother duck said, “Quack, quack, quack, quack”
And all of her nine little ducks came back
Credit: Childhood

Song: “This Old Man”
This old man he played one,
He played knick-knack on my thumb
With a knick-knack, paddy-whack
Give a dog a bone,
This old man came rolling home
Credit: Childhood

Craft

We continued with our numbers coloring book today, working on number nine!

How It Went

Nine was the hardest number. SO HARD. Now, I know that Pluto isn’t an official planet anymore, but in Illinois…it is? I took a minute of two in storytime to talk about this (look, STEM!) and the kids were just happy to see pictures of the planets in general. “This Jazz Man” — featuring nine famous jazz musicians — was a huge hit for both teachers and kids. They all sang along with me, as much as they could!

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April 17, 2013 0 Comments Short URL , storytime

Manners!

The Plan

Books

manners

Bears on Chairs by Shirley Parenteau
The Ducking Gets a Cookie by Mo Willems
Llama Llama Time to Share by Anna Dewdney
Oh No, George! by Chris Haughton

Extension Activities

Flannelboard: “All the Little Germs”

Flannelboard: “Thanks a Lot”

Action Rhyme: “Thank You”
My hands say thank you with a clap, clap, clap.
My feet say thank you with a tap, tap, tap.
Clap, clap, clap. Tap, tap, tap.
I turn around, touch the ground,
And with a bow, I say…thank you, now.
Credit: The Complete Book of Rhymes, Songs, Poems, Fingerplays, & Chants by Jackie Silberg

Action Rhyme with Puppets: “Ah-Choo! Ah-Choo!”
Farmer’s nose tingles (point to nose)
Farmer’s nose twitches (wiggle puppet)
And he is going to sneeze!
Ah-choo, ah-choo, ah-choo!
Ah-choo, ah-choo, ah-choo!
(Cow, moo-choo / pig, oink-choo / chicken, bawk-choo)
Credit: Modified from SurLaLune Storytime

Fingerplay: “Thumbkin”
Credit: Childhood

Craft

20130417-143636.jpg

I got this craft from a fellow librarian at Confessions of a Real Librarian! The kids had a great time coloring and their moms loved the reminder to cover our mouths!

How It Went

This was a wonderful storytime theme. I loved all of the extension activities and the books — and it really, really showed by how the kids responded to them. The “Thanks A Lot” flannelboard got a lot of parents all misty-eyed and it took me a few listens to not get misty-eyed, myself! The action rhyme I last used in “Sick” storytime was remembered by a few patrons and the kids were more than happy to help me make animal noises. Their favorite book had to be “Oh, No George!” I think they were delighted to be watching George try to be good.

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April 15, 2013 2 Comments Short URL , storytime

Number Eight!

The Plan

Books

number-eight

Bears! Bears! Bears! by Bob Barner
Funny Tails by Liesbet Slegers
Octopus Opposites by Stella Blackstone
Ten Nine Eight by Molly Bang
The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle

Extension Activities

Flannelboard: “Eight Teddy Bears”

Action Rhyme: “I’m a Little Octopus”
Arm #1 goes swish, swish, swish (swing arms back and forth)
Arm #2 helps me catch fish (wiggle hand back and forth)
Arm #3 pats my head (pat hand on head)
Arm #4 makes sure I’m fed (put hand to mouth)
Arm #5 swims me to shore (move arms in swimming motion)
Arm #6 touches the ocean floor (touch hand to floor)
Arm #7 can grab and tug (open and close hands)
But all eight arms give me a hug! (cross arms and hug yourself)
Credit: Pubyac Compilation

Fingerplay: “Two Mother Pigs”
Two mother pigs lived in a pen (show thumbs)
Each had four babies, and that made ten (show fingers & thumbs)
These four babies were black as night (thumb in palm, wiggle fingers)
These four babies were black and white (switch hands, repeat)
But all eight babies loved to play
And they rolled and rolled in the mud all day (roll hands)
At night, with their mother, they curled up in a heap (clasp hands)
And squealed and squealed till they fell fast asleep.
Credit: SurLaLune Storytime

Song: “Itsy Bitsy Spider”
Credit: Childhood

Craft
Still working on our number book!

How It Went

I have to say it…eight was great! Really, the kids loved EVERY book and were so attentive during the stories. I personally enjoyed “Bears, Bears, Bears” which shows eight different kinds of bears, and “Funny Tails” where the kids had the opportunity to correct me during the eight different animal match-ups. It is always a pleasure to have thirty tiny voices shouting, “No, Miss Katie, that’s WRONG!” when you try and give a fish a pig’s tail.

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April 10, 2013 0 Comments Short URL , , storytime

Snowmen!

The Plan

Books

snowmen

The First Day of Winter by Denise Fleming
A Really Good Snowman by Daniel J. Mahoney
Snowballs by Lois Ehlert
Snowmen at Night: The Pop-Up Book by Caralyn Buehner

Extension Activities

Flannelboard: “Five Little Snowman Riding on a Sled”

Flannelboard: “Make-a-Snowman”

Action Rhyme: I Built a Snowman
I built a little snowman (make large circle with arms)
He had a carrot nose (point to nose)
Along came a bunny (hold up to bent fingers)
And what do you suppose? (shrug)
That hungry little bunny (make bunny again)
Looking for his lunch (hop bunny around)
Ate the snowman’s nose (pretend bunny is eating nose)
Nibble! Nibble! Crunch! (pretend to be eating a carrot)
Credit: Everything Preschool

Fingerplay: “Five Little Snowmen”
Five little snowmen standing in a row,
Standing straight and tall in the deep, cold snow.
Out came the sun, shining bright and hot all day,
And one little snowman melted away.
Credit: Not Just Cute

Song: “Frosty the Snowman”
Credit: Childhood

Craft

This was a simple craft — I had tons of cotton balls available for the kids to make a snow scene with. Some of them made snowmen, others covered their paper with snow, and a lot of them tossed the cotton balls around. I didn’t make a sample craft, but this was a hit for storytime!

How It Went

After a bizarre snowstorm hit Illinois at the beginning of the month, I ditched my storytime plan (pushed it back a week) and grabbed the snow books that were recently returned. The biggest hit was “The First Day of Winter,” which I sang. The extension activities were fun, and everyone joined in during “Frosty!”

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April 8, 2013 0 Comments Short URL , storytime

Flannel Friday: Thanks A Lot

It seems only fitting that on Flannel Friday’s anniversary that I do a flannelboard inspired by Melissa — the reason that we’re all here! Also, I really wanted to find a way to express my feelings about the whole Flannel Friday crew…I give you “Thanks A Lot.”

20130315-175916.jpg

This was, of course, inspired by Melissa’s post and hers was inspired by the Raffi song. I actually used this in Manners storytime this past week! The kids loved the pieces and kept playing with the after craft time. One of my favorite little girls wanted to take the “Miss Katie” piece home with her, it was very sweet.

So, thanks a lot, Flannel Friday. I am so glad that you are a part of my life and that I’m a part of yours. <3

–

Melissa is hosting the round-up today! Amy is unveiling the Flannel Friday map, and Sharon has the round-up about what Flannel Friday means to us. You can also check out our website, Pinterest, or Facebook!

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March 15, 2013 6 Comments Short URL , storytime

Number Seven!

The Plan

Books

number-seven

Quack and Count by Keith Baker
Seven Blind Mice by Ed Young
Seven Hungry Babies by Candace Fleming
Who Is Driving? by Leo Timmers

Extension Activities

Flannelboard: Seven Continents

Action Rhymes: “Number Poems”
Number 1 is like a stick
A straight line down, that’s very quick!
For number 2 go right around
Then make a line across the ground!
Go right around, what will it be?
Go round again to make a 3!
Down and over and down some more
That’s the way to make a 4!
Go down and around, then you stop
Finish the 5 with a line on top!
Make a curve, then a loop
There are no tricks to making a 6!
Across the sky and down from heaven
That’s the way to make a 7!
Credit: CanTeach

Song: “Seven!” (Tune: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”)
S-e-v-e-n spells seven.
S-e-v-e-n spells seven.
Seven airplanes in the sky,
Seven boats are floating by.
Let’s all shout “Hip, Hip, Hooray!”
For number seven.
S-e-v-e-n spells seven.
S-e-v-e-n spells seven.
Seven cars race on the track,
Seven trucks with heavy stacks.
Let’s all shout “Hip, Hip, Hooray!”
For number seven.
Credit: Mrs. Jones’ Room

Craft

Still working on our coloring book!

How It Went

We had a great time in storytime this week — I thought that number seven was going to be a tricky number to find books for, but it actually turned out to be much easier, thankfully. The kids absolutely loved “Seven Blind Mice” and guessing what it was that the mice were looking at. After I read that book, I talked to them about where in the world the story had come from. That’s when I pulled out my flannelboard pieces of the continents, pieces soon to come for a Flannel Friday post!

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February 27, 2013 0 Comments Short URL , , storytime

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