Month: November 2015

Flannel Friday: Eight (Nine, Really) Planets

An out-of-this-world flannel!

I originally made this laminated flannelboard at my old library. I don’t know where the pieces went in the moving process. (I honestly think I left behind nearly all of the laminated flannels in a file cabinet I didn’t clean out in time.)

Anyways, I used it in Number Nine! storytime and then re-made it this summer to use in outreach Space! storytime. I did make Pluto because we were having storytime on the day that Pluto pictures were revealed (!!!) and I wanted to talk about that. This is just a discussion based ordering flannel. No special rhymes!

The new set features clip art from Etsy shop JWIllustrations.

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There is no round-up today due to the holiday, but I made a resolution to post EVERY Friday this year and I’m keeping it! You can also check out our website, Pinterest, or Facebook!

November 27, 2015 4 Comments Short URLFlannels

Books!

The Plan

Books

books

Book Book Book by Deborah Bruss
Elephant’s Story by Tracey Campbell Pearson
Lola Loves Stories by Anna McQuinn
Maybe a Bear Ate It! by Robie H. Harris & Michael Emberley
My Book Box by Will Hillenbrand

Extension Activities

Flannelboard: “Five Little Books”

Flannelboard: “Letter Puzzles”

Puppets: “Five Little Monkeys”

Prop: Song Cube

Song: “If You Want to Read a Book” (Tune: If You’re Happy)
If you want to read a book, clap your hands
If you want to read a book, clap your hands
If you want to read a book, if you want to read a book,
If you want to read a book, clap your hands
(stomp your feet, shout hooray, do all three)
Credit: Modified from childhood

How It Went

Site Information
At this location, I do two storytimes and each group has their own theme/storytime. I actually had the classrooms split and I did one preschool outside and the other preschool with a toddler group inside their classroom. Previously, I had done all three groups at once.

Topic
This particular facility selects themes for me to do ahead of time to tie into their curriculum.

Preschool 1 (Outside)
This was a beautiful summer day, not too hot or windy, and the site has a canopy over their outdoor space so the kids and I were in the shade. With my first group (which is older than my second group), I read Elephant’s Story, Maybe a Bear Ate It, and Lola Loves Stories. Their favorite story was >em>Maybe a Bear Ate It. I had a great transition from Elephant’s Story to “Five Little Monkeys Swinging from a Tree” since there’s a alligator crocodile in the book.

Preschool 2 & Toddlers (Inside)
My second storytime was more basic: Book, Book, Book, My Book Box and Lola Loves Stories. This set of kiddos really enjoyed Book, Book, Book since we made animal noises throughout the book with the story. I didn’t do the Letter Puzzle with this group because they are so much younger and might not have all the vocabulary that makes that activity so much fun.

November 25, 2015 0 Comments Short URLOutreach Storytime

Toddlers: Sky

For more information on how I plan and prepare my toddler storytimes, check out this introduction post. And for a complete list of the repeating extension activities, visit this post. I starred the materials used in the plan; multiple stars indicate use for more than one session.

The Plan

Books

sky

Higher, Higher by Leslie Patricelli***
It Looked Like Spilt Milk by Charles Shaw***
Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me by Eric Carle
Touch the Brightest Star by Christie Matheson

Early Literacy Tip
Early experiences help to form the architecture of the brain and lay a strong foundation for both social and emotional development. We’re practicing sharing today with our stars.

Theme Extension Activities

Featured CD: Zoom Zoom Cuddle & Croon by Kathy Reid-Naiman***

Featured Track: #1 I Like to Rise (with foam stars)***

Flannelboard: “Four Little Stars”

Flannelboard: “What’s the Weather?”***

Repeating Extension Activities

  • Clap Your Hands*
  • Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear
  • This Is Big, Big, Big***
  • Wiggle Your Fingers & Stomp Your Feet*
  • Zoom, Zoom, Zoom**

How It Went

Tuesday morning
Originally, I only had planned three books: It Looked Like Spilt Milk, Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me and Touch the Brightest Star. That was before I did my average age for the classes and realized I had a lot more younger toddlers than I planned for. I added Higher, Higher and I’m so glad that I did. I use it a lift/book and ask parents to lift their children/children’s arms up higher as we go. Also: foam stars while the kids danced was adorable. We also sang a surprise “Twinkle Twinkle” since it was requested!

Thursday morning (9:30)
I had the best group of dancers this morning. Shaking their little squirrel tails during It Looked Like Spilt Milk and jumping like crazy during “I Like to Rise”. I didn’t really deviate from my Tuesday line-up in terms of books and songs and extensions because Tuesday worked so well. I feel like this has been my favorite session of toddlers since I’ve started here and it’s just been an absolute joy to do it. I’m starting to dread that I’m not doing the toddler classes in our winter session!

Thursday morning (10:30)
When you have a new family sign-up and after storytime they rave about you/your class to your co-worker? Yeah, that was this class. I don’t really have anything else to say!

November 24, 2015 2 Comments Short URLToddler Storytime

Flannel Friday: Pancakes

This week’s Flannel Friday is all about yummy breakfast food! (Although I’m still Team Waffle.)

“Who Wants a Pancake?”
Who wants a pancake, piping hot?
“I’ll take the one with butter on top.”
Who wants a pancake, fresh off the griddle?
“I’ll take the one with butter in the middle.”
(More toppings: syrup, blueberries, strawberries, sugar)
Credit: Storytime Source Page

I would have used this flannelboard with my Pancakes Storytime! But since I left before performing the storytime, it’s just hung around the Storytime Katie archives waiting for a chance to be used.

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Kathryn is hosting the round-up today! You can also check out our website, Pinterest, or Facebook!

November 20, 2015 1 Comment Short URLFlannels

Families: Bedtime

For more information on how I plan and prepare my family storytimes, check out this introduction post. I starred the materials used in the plan. Some activities go unstarred because I only do this program once a week.

The Plan

Books

bedtime

Crybaby by Karen Beaumont*
It Is Night by Phyllis Rowand
Let’s Sing a Lullaby With the Brave Cowboy by Jan Thomas
Sleepyheads by Sandra J. Howatt*

Early Literacy Tip
Singing a lullaby while holding your child and rocking together is a great way to help them relax. Knowing how to take time out and relax is very important. Next time your child has a temper tantrum, try rocking them to a lullaby to help calm them.

Theme Extension Activities

Featured CD: ABCs & 123s by Twin Sisters Productions*

Featured Track: #12 Ten in the Bed*

Flannelboard: Four Little Stars

Flannelboard: Ten Teddy Bears*

Repeating Extension Activities

I had lots of back-up activities in case I needed them for time. I starred which ones I used in this storytime:

  • Ants Go Marching
  • Five Little Monkeys Swinging From a Tree
  • Green Says Go
  • Head, Shoulders, Knees, & Toes
  • If You’re Happy and You Know It
  • Pat-a-Cake*
  • Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear*
  • Two Little Blackbirds
  • Way Up High in the Apple Tree*

How It Went

Time change storytime alert: the kids were feeling it today! We got up and moved around a lot and did several fingerplays. It’s a great thing that “Ten Teddy Bears” has such great motions for the kids to act out. Crybaby was the most successful book since the kids could cry along with the baby. I also walked around the room during the dog spreads to let the kids see the toy in Roy’s mouth. Many of the older kids kept insisting that the baby wanted the toy. I was very proud of them!

November 19, 2015 0 Comments Short URLFamily Storytime

Shake, Shimmy, & Dance: 7/27

During the summer, we’ve switched to a weekly format again! I’m packing in between 60-120 people in a room and we are DANCING ourselves silly!

shakeshimmyanddance

The Plan

thumpthumpratatattat
Book
Thump, Thump, Rat-a-Tat-Tat by Gene Baer
I had the kids clap and stomp during this book which meant that I had to get very loud for everyone to hear my voice. Luckily, that’s not a problem for me. The kids did have a little trouble getting quiet as the book wound down, but since they were still engaged, I was happy.

Props
Activity Scarves!

The Playlist

Hello & How Are You? — Old Town School of Folk Music
Movin’ Groovin’ — Mr. Jon & Friends
There’s a Little Wheel A’Turning — Laurie Berkner
Wiggle Your Lah-De-Dah — Ralph Covert
Hula Hoop — Laura Doherty
Under the Sea — Georgiana Stewart
Twist and Shout — The Fresh Beat Band
Shake Hands With Friends — Ella Jenkins

How It Went

I don’t know if there’s anything sweeter than watching kids dancing to “There’s a Little Wheel A’Turning”. Our last three songs were all scarf songs. We spun our scarves in a circle for “Hula Hoop”, swam with our scarves being fish for “Under the Sea”, and did a modern twist (ha!) on a classic with the Fresh Beat Band’s cover of “Twist and Shout”. Mr. Jon & Friends has become my favorite new discovery of the summer and “Movin’ Groovin'” continues the trend of thrills from the kiddos!

(For an example of the Powerpoint and handouts that I made for each Shake, Shimmy please visit the original post.)

November 18, 2015 2 Comments Short URLMusic and Movement

Toddlers: Birds

For more information on how I plan and prepare my toddler storytimes, check out this introduction post. And for a complete list of the repeating extension activities, visit this post. I starred the materials used in the plan; multiple stars indicate use for more than one session.

The Plan

Books

birds

Big Fat Hen by Keith Baker**
Charlie Chick by Nick Denchfield & Ant Parker***
Early Bird by Toni Yuly***
Grumpy Bird by Jeremy Tankard

Early Literacy Tip
We often want to build on our children’s curiosity but don’t always know the answer to their questions. We can often discover the answers together in books.

Theme Extension Activities

Featured CD: Rise & Shine by Caspar Babypants***

Featured Track: #3 Silly Bird (with shaker eggs)***

Flannelboard: “Five Little Birds”***
One little, two little, three little, four little,
Five little birds so small;
One little, two little, three little, four little,
Five little birds on the wall.
Kitty Cat came from a nearby bush…..MEOW!
Gave the garden gate a push……SQUEEEEAK!
And one little, two little, three little, four little,
Five little birds went WHOOSH!
Credit: Lyrics Nursery Rhymes

Puppets: “Two Little Birds”***
Two little birds sitting on a hill
One named Jack, the other named Jill
Fly away Jack, fly away Jill
Come back Jack, come back Jill
(Other verses: cloud/quiet & loud; pole/fast & slow)
Credit: Modified from childhood

Repeating Extension Activities

  • My Thumbs Are Starting to Wiggle
  • Open, Shut Them*
  • This Is Big, Big, Big***
  • Tick, Tock**
  • Wiggle Your Fingers & Stomp Your Feet*

How It Went

Tuesday morning
I was prepared for a frustrating storytime since it was only twenty-four hours since we rolled the clocks back for daylight saving time. Poor kiddos don’t know why their stomachs say it’s lunch time and we’re still in storytime! I planned a pop-up book and shaker eggs to make storytime more fun than usual. And this group was angelic. No crying/screaming, no zooming around the room, full of participation from kids and parents, and we barely used any extension activities since the group was doing the best job of sitting. We got through THREE books! So good!!

Thursday morning (9:30)
This class was also really good. I read Early Bird with them and the parents acted out the prepositions in the story and it was so nice to see the parents really engaging with their kiddos. I brought the cat puppet around after our flannelboard rhyme to greet every child. This was a really great way to get the kids to rejoin with their caregivers because the kitty waited until they were together before nuzzling them or accepting a hug. We launched straight into a book after that!

Thursday morning (10:30)
I don’t know what’s going on with my 10:30 Thursday morning. I have a full twenty kids registered for class and I’m only seeing half of them each week. And it’s different kids each time! This group needed to move some more and I didn’t think we would get to read Charlie Chick because of their wandering attentions. But our shaker song saved us and pulled up back together. Thanks, Caspar Babypants!

November 17, 2015 0 Comments Short URLToddler Storytime

Flannel Friday: Slippery Fish

Today’s prop stick song is all about Slippery Fish!

I learned this song at Midwinter 2015 (? I think?) at Guerrilla Storytime. Anyways, Jbrary has you covered in case you don’t know the song. Lyrics are below:

Slippery fish, slippery fish, sliding through the water,
Slippery fish, slippery fish, Gulp, Gulp, Gulp!
Oh, no! It’s been eaten by an …

Octopus, octopus, squiggling in the water
Octopus, octopus, Gulp, Gulp, Gulp!
Oh, no! It’s been eaten by a …

Tuna fish, tuna fish, flashing in the water,
Tuna fish, tuna fish, Gulp, Gulp, Gulp!
Oh, no! It’s been eaten by a …

Great white shark, great white shark, lurking in the water,
Great white shark, great white shark, Gulp, Gulp, Gulp!
Oh, no! It’s been eaten by a …

Humongous whale, humongous whale, spouting in the water,
Humongous whale, humongous whale,
Gulp! … Gulp! … Gulp! … BURP!
(Cover your mouth.) Excuse me!

I bought my clip from Etsy and I didn’t stick to the lyrics that Jbrary had on their video. Pictured from left to right in my picture: (top) Jellyfish/twirling in the water, Octopus/squiggling in the water, Humongous whale/spouting in the water (bottom) Slippery fish/swimming through the water, Puffer fish/puffing in the water, Seahorse/flashing in the water, Little crab/pinching in the water

I love that I have all of these options for new vocabulary and actions depending on my group. I might only use slippery fish, crab, and whale in toddler time. But in preschool storytime, I’d use every one!

I laminated the clip art and backed it with self-stick popsicle sticks.

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Kim is hosting the round-up today! You can also check out our website, Pinterest, or Facebook!

November 13, 2015 16 Comments Short URLFlannels

Families: Manners

For more information on how I plan and prepare my family storytimes, check out this introduction post. I starred the materials used in the plan. Some activities go unstarred because I only do this program once a week.

The Plan

Books

manners

Mine! by Sue Heap*
Monster, Be Good! by Natalie Marshall
Please, Mr. Panda by Steve Antony*
Share by Sally Anne Garland

Early Literacy Tip
As children mature, they realize that certain behaviors cause certain responses. Having good manners means responding politely to people when they address you. Rhymes like “Where Is Thumbkin?” can help teach that.

Theme Extension Activities

Featured CD: “Juice Box Heroes”*

Featured Track: #6 Please & Thank You*

Flannelboard: All the Little Germs*

Flannelboard: Thanks a Lot*

Prop Story: Be Polite, Applesauce* (Flannel Friday forthcoming!)

Repeating Extension Activities

I had lots of back-up activities in case I needed them for time. I starred which ones I used in this storytime:

  • Ants Go Marching
  • Five Little Monkeys Swinging From a Tree
  • Green Says Go*
  • Head, Shoulders, Knees, & Toes
  • If You’re Happy and You Know It
  • Pat-a-Cake
  • Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear
  • Two Little Blackbirds
  • Way Up High in the Apple Tree

How It Went

This was an okay storytime, I’ll be honest. I had a set of toddlers that wound up getting really cranky (and eventually leaving) and it threw off the whole group. Luckily, our saving grace were the flannelboards and dancing to the music — loads of kids came up and requested a twirl or spin from me and it was pretty darn adorable. Our “Be Polite, Applesauce” was probably the most successful part of storytime — they love seeing puppets!

November 12, 2015 2 Comments Short URLFamily Storytime

Thanksgiving Storytime!

The Plan

Books

thanksgiving

1, 2, 3 Thanksgiving by W. Nikola-Lisa
Bear Says Thanks by Karma Wilson
I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie by Alison Jackson
The Thankful Book by Todd Parr

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.

Flannelboard: “Turkey Color Match”

Fingerplay: “Two Little Turkeys”
Two little turkeys sitting on a hill
One named Jack, the other named Jill
Run away Jack, run away Jill
Come back Jack, come back Jill
(cloud/quiet & loud, pole/fast & slow, sky/low & high)

Song: “If You’re Thankful and You Know It”
If you’re thankful and you know it, clap your hands
If you’re thankful and you know it, clap your hands
If you’re thankful and you know it and you really want to show it
If you’re thankful and you know it, clap your hands
(stomp your feet, shout “hooray”, do all three)

How It Went

*Note: This is a way old storytime write-up from my last job that I kept meaning to schedule around November and never did before. I did this storytime in November 2013.

I read this at a district Family Reading Night. They specifically requested the theme “Thanksgiving”, but I tried to go more with food, family, and being thankful than the traditional holiday symbols/themes. The kids really enjoyed “I Know an Old Lady” and they had a great time with “Two Little Turkeys”! I think this went really well for an outreach event. I was on the stage and the kids were in the audience which was different, but wound up working all right.

November 11, 2015 3 Comments Short URLOutreach Storytime

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