Tag: paper crafts

In & Out!

The Plan

Books

inandout

If All the Animals Came Inside by Eric Pinder
Inside Outside by Lizi Boyd
Inside Outside Dinosaurs by Roxie Munro
One Ted Falls Out of Bed by Julia Donaldson

Extension Activities

Flannelboard: “Dear Zoo”

Fingerplay: “Won’t You Come Out?”
Jack-in-the-box
You sit so still (close hand with thumb inside)
Won’t you come out?
Yes, I will! (pop out thumb)
Credit: Preschool Express

Song: “Hokey Pokey”
Credit: Childhood

Song: “In and Out the Window”
Go in and out the window
Go in and out the window
Go in and out the window
As we have done before
March all around the village
March all around the village
March all around the village
As we have done before
Credit: Jbrary

Craft

This adorable Jack-in-the-Box craft came from Leah at Sunflower Storytime. I had the boxes prepped and the kids decorated with stickers and colored the clown!

How It Went

If you don’t know the magical storytime book that is “Inside Outside Dinosaurs”, you are missing out. The kids sat mesmerized while I turned the pages and the text — dinosaur names — is ridiculously simple and effective. I asked them to tell me the story of “Inside Outside” and while it wasn’t absolutely perfect, the preschoolers really enjoyed that activity.

May 22, 2014 0 Comments Short URL, Outreach Storytime

Big & Little!

The Plan

Books

biglittle

Big Hugs, Little Hugs by Felicia Bond
Every Little Thing by Cedella Marley
Little Mouse by Alison Murray
Maria Had a Little Lamb by Angela Dominguez
Meeow and the Big Box by Sebastien Braun

Extension Activities

Flannelboard: Go Away Big Green Monster

Action Rhyme: “Little Birds”
Little birds, little birds, jump up and down
Little birds, little birds, don’t make a sound
Little birds, little birds, tip-toe to me
Little birds, little birds, bend your knees
Little birds, little birds, peep, peep, peep
Little birds, little birds, sleep, sleep, sleep
Little birds, little birds, fly to the leaves
Little birds, little birds, sit down please
Credit: Greatest Resource Education Child Care

Action Rhyme: “This Is Big”
This is big, big, big
This is small, small, small
This is short, short, short
This is tall, tall, tall
This is fast, fast, fast
This is slow, slow, slow
This is yes, yes, yes
This is no, no, no
Credit: Mel’s Desk

Fingerplay: “Little Turtle”
There was a little turtle (put hands on top of one another)
He lived in a box (make box)
He swam in a puddle (swimming motion)
He climbed on the rocks (climbing motion)
He snapped at a mosquito (clap)
He snapped at a flea (clap)
He snapped at a minnow (clap)
And he snapped at me (clap)
He caught the mosquito (cup hands together)
He caught the flea (cup hands together)
He caught the minnow (cup hands together)
But he didn’t catch me! (shake finger “no”)
Credit: Childhood

Craft

I let the kids work on scissor skills since only the preschool class does the craft. (The twos & threes goes back to their classrooms and I’m left with the fours & fives for the activity.) I had cardstock circles print out on paper and the kids cut them out. Then they sorted them by size to string into rainbow necklaces. I had pre-punched the circles with a hole punch prior to arriving. Then, the kids strung the circles with yarn that I had taped at the ends for stability. This amazing idea came from Hands On As We Grow.

How It Went

This was a great opposite set storytime. The kids loved “Meeow and the Big Box” and “Little Mouse.” Doing “Go Away, Big Green Monster” as a flannelboard is always a crowd-pleaser. The kids absolutely adored this craft though and it was easily the hit of storytime. I loved seeing the kids wearing their necklaces as I left the classroom.

May 15, 2014 1 Comment Short URL, , Outreach Storytime

Cities!

The Plan

Books

citiessummer14

All Through My Town by Jean Reidy
Drum City by Thea Guidone
Subway by Anastasia Suen
Wow, City! by Robert Neubecker

Extension Activities

Flannelboard: Building Blocks

Flannelboard: “Wheels on the Bus”

Action Song: “Driving ‘Round”
Driving round in my little red car
Driving round in my little red car
Driving round in my little red car
Zoom zoom zoom zoom zoom
(Go through red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple)
Credit: Childhood

Song: “London Bridge”
London Bridge is falling down
Falling down, falling down
London Bridge is falling down
My fair lady
Build it up with silver and gold
Silver and gold, silver and gold
Build it up with silver and gold
My fair lady
Credit: Childhood

Craft

This simple paper craft came from an amazing teen volunteer years ago who drew these shapes for me and then cut them out. The program there were originally intended for never happened and I saved them — this storytime was absolutely perfect! I added glitter to make stars and other designs in the night sky.

How It Went

Thursday morning
I was absolutely FLOORED that no child in this storytime had heard London Bridge before. Seriously! Their favorite book was definitely “Subway” — when we did the Building Blocks activity, they chose to build their own subway. They had a great time singing along to “Wheels on the Bus” with me and driving their cars around during “Drivin’ Round.”

Friday morning
This group got really into “Drum City” and I would say that was their favorite book. They built a little city with their building blocks and had a really great cooperative experience doing that, lots of sharing and helping, which was so nice to see.

April 24, 2014 0 Comments Short URL, Family Storytime

Squirrels!

The Plan

Books

squirrels

Acorns Everywhere by Kevin Sherry
Ol’ Mama Squirrel by David Ezra Stein
That Pup by Lindsay Barrett George
Who’s In the Forest? by Phillis Gershator

Extension Activities

Flannelboard: “Ouch”

Action Song: “Grey Squirrel” (Tune: Brother John)
Grey Squirrel, Grey Squirrel
Swish your tail, Swish your tail
Wrinkle up your funny nose
Hold a nut between your toes
Grey Squirrel, Grey Squirrel
Credit: Family! (Thanks, Bri!)

Fingerplay: “This Little Squirrel”
This little squirrel said, “Let’s run and play!”
This little squirrel said, “Let’s hunt nuts today!”
This little squirrel said, “Yes, nuts are good.”
This little squirrel said, “Yes, my favorite food.”
This little squirrel said, “Come climb this tree.” (run fingers up other arm, quickly)
And crack these nuts: one, two, three! (clap hands three times)
Credit: Sunflower Storytime

Fingerplay: “Two Little Squirrels”
Two little squirrels 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)
Credit: Modified from Childhood

Craft

I got this idea from a Pinterest pin that eventually led me back to La-La’s Home Daycare. The kids enjoyed ripping their paper apart, but I definitely had more than one who froze when I said it was all right to rip the paper.

How It Went

Thursday morning
I had a fantastic group of interactive parents this morning. They kept repeating words and sounds to their little ones as I turned the page and the kids loved it — especially during “Ol’ Mama Squirrel!”

Friday morning
This group really responded to the “Two Little Squirrels” rhyme. They had a lot of fun with the opposites! Their favorite book was “That Pup” since it was a search-and-find, kind of.

November 25, 2013 5 Comments Short URL, Family Storytime

Teeth!

The Plan

Books

teeth

Bear’s Loose Tooth by Karma Wilson
Brush, Floss, Rinse by Amanda Doering Tourville
Clarabella’s Teeth by An Vrombaut
Maisy, Charley, and the Wobbly Tooth by Lucy Cousins

Extension Activities

Flannelboard: “Go Away, Big Green Monster”

Flannelboard: “Tooth Fairy”
Look and see, look and see
Can you find the tooth for me?
Is it under the (color) pillow?
Credit: SLC Book Boy

Fingerplay: “Five Little Teeth”
There were five little teeth in my teeny tiny mouth
I pulled and I twisted and one popped out
Now there are…one, two, three, four.
(count down)
Credit: What Happens In Storytime

Song: “This Is The Way”
This is the way we brush our teeth,
Brush our teeth, brush our teeth
This is the way we brush our teeth
So early in the morning
(floss our teeth, rinse our teeth)
Credit: Modified from Childhood

Craft

These smiling cotton ball teeth were found on Kiboomu Kids Crafts. The cotton balls in craft were a great textile experience for the little ones. And I got to use up a lot of our cotton balls!

How It Went

Since I discovered “Clarabella’s Teeth” in alligator/crocodile storytime, I’ve wanted to use it every week! Needless to say, I found another theme to do — teeth! While their parents definitely appreciated the important message of dental hygiene care, the kids just had fun!

August 19, 2013 3 Comments Short URL, , Family 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!”

April 8, 2013 4 Comments Short URL, Family Storytime

Cats!

The Plan

Books

cats

Kitten’s First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes
Kitty Cat, Kitty Cat Are You Waking Up? by Bill Martin Jr.
Pete the Cat and the Four Groovy Buttons by Eric Litwin
Posy by Linda Newberry and Catherine Rayner

Extension Activities

Flannelboard: “The Three Little Kittens”

Action Rhyme & Puppets: “Five Little Kittens”
Five little kittens standing in a row
They nod their heads to the children so
They run to the left, they run to the right
They stand up and stretch in the bright sunlight
Along comes a dog, who’s in for some fun
M-e-oooow, see those kittens run!
Credit: Los Angeles Public Library

Fingerplay: “Little Kittens”
Five little kittens (hand in a fist)
All black and white
Sleeping very soundly
All through the night
Meow, meow, meow, meow, meow (raise each finger individually)
It’s time to get up now.
Credit: Pierce County Library

Song: “Soft Kitty”
Soft kitty, warm kitty
Little ball of fur
Happy kitty, sleepy kitty
Purr, purr, purr
Credit: My sister, who is a giant “Big Bang Theory” fan

Craft

st-cat2

This adorable stand up cat craft came from All Kids Network. My teen volunteers cut out the body and the head. Kids colored in their cats and glued the pieces together.

How It Went

I was so excited to do this storytime since I really felt like all of the elements that I had chosen were SO AWESOME. And I have to admit that I was very excited to debut the cat puppets and to read some of my favorite books. The kids, as always, LOVED “Pete the Cat” and some of them didn’t even know about his four groovy buttons! “Kitten’s First Full Moon” is a favorite for everyone — a lot of the parents wind up laughing when the kids chime in with me, “Poor Kitten!” Craft time was spent seeing all the very creatively colored cats and touching base with all of the parents after the fall storytime break.

January 28, 2013 6 Comments Short URL, Family Storytime

Seasons!

The Plan

Books

Butterfly, Butterfly by Petr Horacek
It’s Pumpkin Time! by Zoe Hall
Mouse’s First Summer by Lauren Thompson
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

Extension Activities

Flannelboard: “Fall”
Flannelboard: “Spring”
Flannelboard: “Summer”
Flannelboard: “Winter”

My flannelboards for this session were purchased boards, which you can still buy online at Amazon. I put up each season as a lead-in to the books that I choose and let the kids tell me what we did in that season as I put up the flannel pieces.

Finger Puppets: “Five Little Pumpkins”
Five little pumpkins were sitting on the gate
The first one said, “My, it’s getting late!”
The second one said, “There are witches in the air!”
The third one said, “I don’t care!”
The fourth one said, “Let’s run and run and run!”
The fifth one said, “It’s all Halloween fun!”
Then “whooo” went the wind and out went the lights.
And the five little pumpkins rolled clear out of sight.
Credit: Childhood

Song & Puppet: “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

Craft

This was a purchased Oriental Trading craft kit. Honestly, it was too much coloring for my littlest patrons. But my preschoolers were determined to color every inch of space on these!

How It Went

This was another one of those storytimes where attendance was SO LOW and it turned out to be a storytime for only six kids. I wound up cutting out a lot of extension activities that I had planned and instead just read books and had great conversations via the flannelboards.

December 3, 2012 4 Comments Short URL, , Family Storytime

Letter Y!

The Plan

Books

Eli, No! by Katie Kirk
Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett
Lemons Are Not Red by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
Yawn by Sally Symes
Yes Day! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Extension Activities

Flannelboard: “Go Away, Big Yellow Monster” (I just changed the color of the popular book by Ed Emberley.)

Flannelboard Puzzle: “Letter Y”

Action Rhyme: “Big Yellow Moon”
Big yellow moon shines so bright, (circle overhead)
Glides across the starry night (arms to left and right)
Looks down at me (hand shades eyes)
Asleep in bed, (head on hands)
Whispers, “Good night, sleepyhead.” (shh)
Big yellow moon, your turn is done (move arms down)
Here comes Mr. Morning Sun (circle overhead)
I wake up. (arms stretch out)
You go to bed. (head on hands)
“Sleep well, Moon, you sleepyhead.” (shh)
Credit: King County Library System

Action Rhyme: “This Is Big”
This is big, big, big (stretch hands far to sides)
This is small, small, small (cup hands together)
This is short, short, short (hold palms close vertically)
This is tall, tall, tall (hold palms far apart vertically)
This is fast, fast, fast (roll hands quickly)
This is slow, slow, slow (roll hands slowly)
This is yes, yes, yes (nod head)
This is no, no, no (shake head)
Credit: Mel’s Desk

Song: “Shake Your Sillies Out”
Gotta shake, shake, shake my sillies out
Shake, shake, shake my sillies out
Shake, shake, shake my sillies out
And wiggle my waggles away
(clap my crazies out, stretch my
stretchies out, yawn my sleepies out)
Credit: Raffi

Craft

I saw this on several different pages, through Pinterest, but the post I actually read was from Mud Hut Mama. I thought this craft went well with “Extra Yarn” and the kids had a lot of fun. It was very nice to see their artwork displayed at the daycare facility when I came back next week for Letter Z.

How It Went

I love Letter Y. It is so much easier than Letter X! I had a lot of options, so I got to pick several favorites for storytime. The kids were spellbound by “Extra Yarn.” Not even the attendance check at the top of the hour took them away from the story; Annabelle is truly magical! “Yawn” was a close second favorite. It’s a great guessing game for the kids! The extension activities were perfect, especially when I had “Eli, no!” (yelling), right before “Go Away, Big Yellow Monster.” The kids got to yell along with both stories’ refrains.

November 7, 2012 6 Comments Short URL, Outreach Storytime

Letter X!

The Plan

Books

A Fox: The Sound of X by Alice K. Flanagan
Max’s ABCs by Rosemary Wells
My Mom Has X-Ray Vision by Angela McAllister
Xavier Ox’s Xylophone Experiment by Barbara deRubertis

Extension Activities

Flannelboard: “X-Rays Matching”

Flannelboard Puzzle: “Letter X”

Action Rhyme: “Red Fox, Red Fox”
Red fox, red fox turn around
Red fox, red fox touch the ground
Red fox, red fox reach up high
Red fox, red fox touch the sky
Red fox, red fox find your nose
Red fox, red fox touch your toes
Red fox, red fox find your knees
Red fox, red fox sit down please
Credit: King County Library System

Fingerplay: “Where Is X?” (Tune: Thumbkin)
Where is X? Where is X?
Here I am. Here I am.
How are you today, sir? Very well, I thank you.
Run away. Run away.
Credit: Modified from Childhood

Song: “What Begins With X?”
What begins with x?
What begins with x?
We all know, we’ll tell you so.
What begins with x?
(Xylophone, X-ray, Xavier)

What ends with x?
What ends with x?
We all know, we’ll tell you so.
What ends with x?
(Fox, Box, Ox)
Credit: MotherReader

Craft

This craft came from Totally Tots, a site to which I owe a great deal of thanks in these ABC storytimes. I changed ours up a bit, though, and used paper since foam can be expensive and more frustrating for the kids to glue with. (Gluesticks and foam really do not mix!)

How It Went

The hardest letter in the alphabet — finally done! The kids loved “My Mom Has X-Ray Vision” and also really enjoyed “Max’s ABCs.” They had a great time matching up the x-rays on the flannelboard, and always love singing. The craft was, by far, one of their favorites. The daycare posted it up on their walls in the classroom and they got a lot of compliments on it!

October 31, 2012 10 Comments Short URL, Outreach Storytime

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