Month: April 2016

Flannel Friday: Baa Baa Black Sheep

This prop song from the archive (seriously, it was the first prop I ever made!) comes from Melissa at Mel’s Desk.

IMG_1206

I double-side each sheep with their bags of wool. I switch the prop sticks back and forth as we sing. This is one of my favorites to use with babies because of the great black and white contrast that their eyes love so much. My toddlers find it equally as entertaining when we change the color of the sheep. And it makes a great pairing with Mem Fox’s Where is the Green Sheep?.

Once upon a time, there was Microsoft clip art that was easy to modify. And then Microsoft took it down. I’m sorry I don’t have the original files anymore.

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

April 29, 2016 2 Comments Short URLFlannels

Outreach Storytime: 3/10

I do a regularly scheduled (sometimes twice monthly and sometimes just monthly) at a local business that we’ve partnered with. For these storytimes geared towards ages 3-6, I’ve thrown out themes! I’m just reading favorites books, new books that strike my fancy, and doing favorite flannels/props/activities. Materials starred are the ones used at the storytime. Other than this difference, I’ll report on these like I do with all of my other storytimes.

The Plan

Books

outreach-317

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr.*
Hooray for Hat! by Brian Won*
If You’re Happy and You Know It by Jane Cabrera
Mix It Up! by Herve Tullet*
Shout! Shout It Out! by Denise Fleming*

Extension Activities

Flannelboard: “Five Little Monkeys Swinging in the Tree”*

Flannelboard: “Seals on the Bus”*

Props: “Slippery Fish”*

Props: “Song Cube”*

Fingerplay: “Dance Your Fingers”
Dance your fingers up, dance your fingers down
Dance your fingers to the side, dance them all around
Dance them on your shoulders, dance them on you head
Dance them on your tummy, and put them all to bed
Credit: Best Kids Book Site (Site no longer links)

Song: “Icky Sticky Bubble Gum”*
Icky, sticky, bubblegum, bubblegum, bubblegum
Icky, sticky bubblegum
Sticking your fingers to your head
Unstick!
Credit: Preschool teacher

How It Went

This was my first storytime back at this location since November and the crowd was PACKED in. It also happened to fall during our storytime break at the library which might have contributed to the amount of people at the store. The book Shout! Shout it Out! was the book that inspired me to go themeless since it could cover so many different themes. I always pick very noisy books for this location because people are still using the business and I really need the kids to participate and be noisy with me. It was the perfect choice. The kids also really laughed at the end of “Slippery Fish”, so I call this a huge win.

April 27, 2016 0 Comments Short URLOutreach Storytime

Siblings: Me

For more information on how I plan and prepare my siblings 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

siblings-me

Peek-a-Who? by Nina Laden (Board book)*
From Head to Toe by Eric Carle*
If You’re Happy and You Know It by Jane Cabrera*

Early Literacy Tip
If we always place objects in a child’s right hand, we unconsciously encourage right-handedness. By alternating hands, we give our children a chance to experience use of both hands. This simple exercise allows children to use their dominant and non-dominant hands equally and gives them the message that they are free to use whichever hand they prefer.

Theme Extension Activities

Featured CD: Baby Beatles*

Flannelboard: “The Shape Game”*

Bounce: “This is the Way the Ladies Ride”
This is the way the ladies ride
Prim, prim, prim, prim
This is the way the gentleman ride,
Trim, trim, trim, trim
This is the way the farmer rides
Trot, trot, trot, trot
And this is the way the hunter rides
Gallop, gallop, gallop!
Credit: King County Library System

Lift: “Zoom Zoom Zoom”*
Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon
Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon
If you want to take a trip,
Climb aboard my rocket ship,
Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon
5, 4, 3, 2, 1, blast off!
Credit: Jbrary

Partnering: “Cheek Chin”*
Today, we encouraged the toddlers to gently touch baby’s cheek, chin, nose, and toes. When caregivers/parents lifted up baby, toddlers were asked to jump in the air!
Cheek chin cheek chin cheek chin, nose (touch baby’s nose)
Cheek chin cheek chin cheek chin, toes (touch baby’s toes)
Cheek chin cheek chin, up baby goes! (lift baby)
Credit: Read Sing Play

Repeating Extension Activities

  • Clap Your Hands
  • Open, Shut Them*
  • Thumbkin

How It Went

Snow and cold/flu season hit this week and my poor families kept calling in sick throughout the morning. My class was very small, but I was able to give each child a lot of individualized attention. We read ALL three books (okay, I ended the Cabrera on “give kiss kiss”) and I told the group that they were storytime legends for getting through three books. I had some LOVELY gentle touches as we did cheek/chin on our caregivers and then on our younger siblings. The best book of the day was definitely Peek-a-Who? with its surprise mirror page at the end!

April 26, 2016 0 Comments Short URLSiblings Storytime

Flannel Friday: The Great Hot Air Balloon Race

A flannelboard inspired by Destination Storytime: The Great Hot Air Balloon Race!

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I let each child take a turn rolling the dice that I bought from Constructive Playthings — where I had put a matching piece of cardstock for each balloon color. The first balloon to hit the top of the flannelboard won! (I did have to stop moving them up so much when it was clear that blue was winning and I still had a few kids that needed a chance to roll.)

I used this hot balloon clip art as my template and made up the designs on the balloons. You can do anything with your balloons — I had the chance to see Balloon Fiesta in New Mexico in 2012 and there really is a balloon for everything!

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

April 22, 2016 3 Comments Short URLFlannels

Siblings: Bears

For more information on how I plan and prepare my siblings 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

siblings-bears

Corduroy’s Day by Don Freeman (Board Book)*
Bears in the Bath by Shirley Parenteau
Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr.*

Early Literacy Tip
Singing familiar songs with new vocabulary is a great way to teach your children new words.

Theme Extension Activities

Featured CD: The Wiggles Hot Potatoes*

Flannelboard: “The Shape Game”*

Bounce: “A Smooth Road”*
A smooth road, a smooth road, a smooth road, a smooth road (bounce baby gently)
A bumpy road, a bumpy road, a bumpy road, a bumpy road (bounce baby faster)
A rough road, a rough road, a rough road, a rough road (bounce baby faster)
A hole! (drop baby gently between your knees)
Credit: Co-worker

Lift: “Elevator Song”*
Oh the city is great and the city is grand
There’s a whole lot of people
on a little piece of land
And we live way up on the 57th floor
and this is what we do when we open the door.
We take the elevator up and the elevator down,
take the elevator up, take the elevator down
Take the elevator up and the elevator down
and we turn around.
Credit: Jbrary

Partnering: “Peek-a-Boo”*
Toddlers were once again given scarves and asked to face babies. Toddlers pulled down the scarves to play peek-a-boo with their siblings. We did this several times since the toddlers wanted to play peek-a-boo with everyone — caregivers and me included!
Peek-a-boo, peek-a-boo
I see you! I see you!
I see your button nose, and your tiny toes
Peek-a-boo! I see you!
Credit: Guerrilla Storytime at ALA Midwinter!

Repeating Extension Activities

  • Clap Your Hands
  • Open, Shut Them
  • Thumbkin

How It Went

My largest group yet: seventeen kids (eight families) and I am SO SO SO happy! The biggest success today was definitely Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See? because everyone read it along with me — including some of my toddlers. The toddlers really loved when I revealed a teddy bear hidden in our flannelboard “The Shape Game”. I don’t normally do the “The Shape Game” when I do toddler storytime, but I might consider it after their reactions in the siblings program!

April 19, 2016 0 Comments Short URLSiblings Storytime

Siblings: Songs

For more information on how I plan and prepare my siblings 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

siblings-songs

Babies on the Bus by Karen Katz (Board Book)*
I Ain’t Gonna Paint No More by Karen Beaumont
Row, Row, Row Your Boat by Jane Cabrera*

Early Literacy Tip
When you enjoy a book, let your children know that you like it and why. Sharing your enjoyment gives them a positive attitude towards books. This positive attitude will influence them when they get to school and learn to read.

Theme Extension Activities

Featured CD: Mr. Jon & Friends*

Flannelboard: “The Shape Game”*

Bounce: “Icka Bicka Soda Cracker”*
Bounce: “Icka Bicka Soda Cracker”
Icka bicka soda cracker, icka bicka boo
Icka bicka soda cracker, up goes you! (lift baby)
Icka bicka soda cracker, icka bicka boo
Icka bicka soda cracker, I love you! (hugs and kisses)
Credit: Co-worker

Lift: “Tick Tock”
Lift: “Tick Tock”
Start by swaying baby from side to side
Tick tock, tick tock
I’m a little cuckoo clock
Tick tock, tick tock
Now I’m chiming one o’clock lift once
More verses: Two o’clock, three o’clock
Credit: My co-worker

Partnering: “Round & Round the Garden”*
Round and round the garden like a teddy bear (swirl finger around palm)
One step, two step (walk fingers up child’s arm)
Tickle under there! (tickle child’s underarm)
Credit: Co-worker

Repeating Extension Activities

  • Clap Your Hands
  • Open, Shut Them
  • Thumbkin

How It Went

Success! I’m still adding families. Today’s class had fourteen kids (seven families) which is about the average for a toddler class attendance during the winter. Caregivers had a great time singing with me today and our most successful board was Babies on the Bus in shared board book form. I had one set of siblings where the toddler “read” the book to the baby during this shared reading and it melted my heart!

April 12, 2016 2 Comments Short URLSiblings Storytime

Families: Interactive Books

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

families-interactivebooks

It’s a Tiger! by David LaRochelle*
Mix It Up! by Herve Tullet
Tip Tip Dig Dig by Emma Garcia*
Touch the Brightest Star by Christie Matheson*

Theme Extension Activities

Featured CD: Rock and Roll Playground*

Featured Track: #2 Jump Up (It’s a Good Day)*

Flannelboard: “Dear Zoo”*

Flannelboard: “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus”*

Props: “Green Says Go”*

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:

  • ABCs
  • Dance Your Fingers Up
  • Everyone Can March*
  • Head, Shoulders, Knees, & Toes
  • If You’re Happy and You Know It
  • Open, Shut Them
  • Pat-a-Cake
  • Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
  • Zoom, Zoom, Zoom*

How It Went

For my last Family Storytime (another staff member is taking over for the spring), I decided to go all out and do really high energy, interactive picture books and activities. I let each child put up a “No!” on the flannelboard during the Pigeon and encouraged everyone to get up and move and be excited. Since we were up and moving so much, I got through three books! That is a family storytime miracle for me!

April 7, 2016 0 Comments Short URLFamily Storytime

Siblings: Farm

For more information on how I plan and prepare my siblings 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

siblings-farm

Cow Moo Me by Losardo (Board Book)*
Charlie Chick by Nick Denchfield & Ant Parker
Clip-Clop by Nicola Smee*

Early Literacy Tip
Children love being able to identify animals and imitate the sounds they make. Identifying animals, matching each sound with an animal picture, and imitating animals sounds build children’s knowledge of the world around them.

Theme Extension Activities

Featured CD: Rocketship Run*

Flannelboard: “The Shape Game”*

Bounce: “This is the Way the Ladies Ride”*
This is the way the ladies ride
Prim, prim, prim, prim
This is the way the gentleman ride,
Trim, trim, trim, trim
This is the way the farmer rides
Trot, trot, trot, trot
And this is the way the hunter rides
Gallop, gallop, gallop!
Credit: King County Library System

Lift: “Zoom Zoom Zoom”
Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon
Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon
If you want to take a trip,
Climb aboard my rocket ship,
Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon
5, 4, 3, 2, 1, blast off!
Credit: Jbrary

Partnering: “Cheek Chin”*
Today, we encouraged the toddlers to gently touch baby’s cheek, chin, nose, and toes. When caregivers/parents lifted up baby, toddlers were asked to jump in the air!
Cheek chin cheek chin cheek chin, nose (touch baby’s nose)
Cheek chin cheek chin cheek chin, toes (touch baby’s toes)
Cheek chin cheek chin, up baby goes! (lift baby)
Credit: Read Sing Play

Repeating Extension Activities

  • Clap Your Hands
  • Open, Shut Them*
  • Thumbkin

How It Went

We’re gaining numbers slowly! Today, I had twelve kids (six families) in storytime today. I loved watching reactions to “This is the Way the Ladies Ride” on both babies and toddler faces today. I used it right before reading Clip-Clop and many caregivers/parents continued to bounce as we read. The toddlers are continuing working on being gentle with the babies and I love seeing the relationships between the siblings.

April 5, 2016 0 Comments Short URLSiblings Storytime