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

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!