Tag: spring 2013

Trees!

The Plan

Books

trees

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr.
Pie In the Sky by Lois Ehlert
A Tree for Me by Nancy Van Laan
A Tree Is Nice by Janice May Udry

Extension Activities

Flannelboard: “Fall Is Not Easy”

Action Rhyme: “A Tree Is a Home”
A tree may be a home for bird (flap arms like a bird)
A tree may be a home for bee (buzz your hand around)
A tree may be a home for snake (slithering snake)
A tree may be a home for monkey (swing your arms)
Hmmm. I wonder if a tree would make a good home for me? (point to self)
Credit: The Holiday Zone

Fingerplay: “Way Up High in the Apple Tree”
Way up high in the apple tree (stretch arms up high)
I saw two apples looking at me (hold up two fingers)
I shook that tree as hard as I could (make a shaking motion)
Down came the apples… (make a downward motion)
And mmm, they were good! (smile and rub stomach)
Credit: Childhood

Song: “I’m a Tree, I have Four Needs” (Tune: Skip to My Lou)
I’m a tree, I have four needs.
I’m a tree, I have four needs.
I’m a tree, I have four needs.
Do you know what they are?
(I need lots and lots of sun, to grow big and strong / I need water now and then, to grow big and strong / I need air just like you, to grow big and strong / I need soil for my roots, to grow big and strong)
Credit: The Holiday Zone

Craft

20140227-135237.jpg

I got this AMAZING craft from The Crafting Chicks. We always have toilet paper rolls stocked, and an abundance of leftover foam letter stickers from the thousands of Oriental Trading crafts that we do. This was a great way to use some of the stockpile!

How It Went

This was another storytime that I tried to time around an April holiday — Earth Day (I think I actually did this in May though). I’m a huge fan of trees, and I had a great time talking, reading, and singing about trees. The kids were very excited to chant along with me during “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom” — I had a sibling set that reads that book every night before bed.

September 2, 2013 6 Comments Short URL, Family Storytime

Magic!

The Plan

Books

magic

Anton Can Do Magic by Ole Konnecke
Foxy by Emma Dodd
Magic Box by Katie Cleminson
Maisy’s Show by Lucy Cousins

Extension Activities

Flannelboard: “Five Magic Rabbits”
Five magic rabbits in a tall black hat
Along comes a magician who gives each one a pat
He waves his magic wand high above their ears,
Abracadabra, poof! One rabbit disappears (count down)
Credit: Youth Literature

Action Rhyme: “Magic Finger”
Magic finger in the air
Magic finger in my hair
Magic finger on my hip
Magic finger on my lips
Credit: Youth Literature

Magic Trick: Bubble Wand

Magic Trick: Color Changing Scarf

Rhyme & Puppets: “Hat Trick”
Magic, magic, in my hat!
I’ll pull out a rabbit – (pull anything other than a rabbit)
Ahhhh! What is that?!
(repeat until ready for the rabbit)
Magic, magic, in my hat!
I’ll pull out a rabbit –
See! Look at that!
Credit: SLC Book Boy

Craft

I modified this craft from Best Kids Book Site to make it a puppet so that the kids could “pop” their rabbit up out of their hat. As an extra special bonus, I let the kids have glitter which is always storytime magic.

How It Went

Holy moly, this was one of my favorite ever storytimes! The magic tricks made storytime extra special and I wish I had thought of a few more to include. (The bubble wand trick was just that I was using a bubble wand as my magic wand the whole storytime and then all of a sudden, Miss Katie made BUBBLES come out of the wand!! Genius.) The best books were “Maisy’s Show” and “Magic Box.” The kids freaked out in the best way possible when I brought out glitter. All in all, this storytime will remain a favorite for a long time to come!

August 26, 2013 4 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

Libraries!

The Plan

Books

libraries

Book! Book! Book! by Deborah Bruss
Dinosaur vs. the Library by Bob Shea
Lola Loves Stories by Anna McQuinn
Otto the Book Bear by Katie Cleminson

Extension Activities

Flannelboard: “Five Little Books”
Five little books at the library
Five little books as great as can be
Along comes (name) with their library card
To take one home and read
Credit: What Happens In Storytime

Song: “If You’re a Reader and You Know It”
If you’re a reader and you know it, clap your hands
If you’re a reader and you know it, clap your hands
If you’re a reader and you know it and you really want to show it
If you’re a reader and you know it, clap your hands
(shoot hooray, read a book)
Credit: Modified from childhood

Song: “Read, Read, Read a Book” (Tune: Row, Row, Row Your Boat)
Read, read, read a book,
Travel anywhere,
Worldwide, you decide,
A book will take you there.
Read, read, read a book,
Beginning to the end,
What a way to spend the day,
A book’s a special friend!
Credit: Harris County Public Library

Craft

I used up leftover foam bookmarks from our supply closet. (Can you tell that I’ve recently been doing some closet cleaning?) I put out a ton of foam shapes and the preschoolers went nuts.

How It Went

This was my storytime for National Library Week. (I know! I’m so behind!) We had a great time talking about getting our first library cards and how much we love coming to the library. It was all pretty heart-melting. The kids really got into roaring along with Dinosaur and making animal noises in “Book, Book, Book.”

August 12, 2013 12 Comments Short URL, Family Storytime

Butterflies & Caterpillars

The Plan

Books

butterfliescaterpillars

Butterfly, Butterfly by Petr Horacek
Peek-a-Bloom by Marie Cirumsanti
Ten Little Caterpillars by Bill Martin Jr.
Waiting for Wings by Lois Ehlert

Extension Activities

Flannelboard: “Butterfly Colors”
The first to come to the garden bed is a lovely butterfly of brilliant RED.
Then in comes another and that makes two. Fly right in, my friend of BLUE.
“The garden is fine, the best I’ve seen,” says the butterfly of softest GREEN.
Our garden needs a sunny fellow, fly on in, butterfly with wings of YELLOW.
Little friend of PURPLE, fly in too. The garden is waiting for a color like you.
ORANGE, orange, you’re waited so long. Fly right in, where you belong.
Butterflies, butterflies, you’re such a sight! Flying together – what a delight!
Credit: Miss Meg’s Storytime

Flannelboard: “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”

Fingerplay: “My Friend Caterpillar”
My friendly caterpillar (fingers crawl up arm)
Made its cocoon one day (close hands together)
It turned into a butterfly (open hands with thumbs hooked)
And quickly flew away (flap hands)
Credit: SurLaLune Storytime

Song: “The Life of a Butterfly” (Tune: Skip to My Lou)
I’m a caterpillar, wiggle with me
I’m a caterpillar, wiggle with me
I’m a caterpillar, wiggle with me
What’ll I be my darlin’?
(A chrysalis, now sleep with me / A butterfly, come fly with me)
Credit: Songs for Children

Craft

This foam kit was one that we randomly found in the “Odds and Ends” supply cabinet. I decided to use it in storytime!

How It Went

I had a great time in this storytime. The kids were super active during our songs, but settled down nicely for the stories. Favorite book was “Butterfly, Butterfly” — it’s a never ending crowd pleaser complete with pop-up at the end! They really had a good time guessing the with the flannelboard, too!

August 5, 2013 7 Comments Short URL, Family Storytime

Alligators & Crocodiles!

The Plan

Books

alligatorcrocodile

The Big Wide-Mouthed Frog by Ana Martin Larranaga
Clarabella’s Teeth by An Vrombaut
Egad, Alligator! by Harriet Ziefert
Snip Snap! by Mara Bergman

Extension Activities

Flannelboard: “Five Little Alligators”
One little alligator swimming in a pool
Another comes along and now there are two
Two little alligators swimming by a tree
Another comes along and now there are three
Three little alligators swimming near the shore
Another comes along and now there are four
Four little alligators swim, splash, and dive
Another comes along and now there are five
Five little alligators having lots of fun
Mama calls, “It’s time for bed!” and now the fun is done!
Credit: Esther Storytimes

Action Rhyme: “Alligator Alligator”
Alligator, alligator
Long and green
Alligator, alligator,
Teeth so mean
Snapping at a fly
Snapping at a bee
Snapping at a frog
But you can’t catch me!
Credit: Esther Storytimes

Fingerplay: “The Crocodile Loves to Swim”
The crocodile loves to swim
Sometimes he opens his mouth wide
But when he sees me on the shore,
Down in the water he’ll hide.
Modified from: SurLaLune Storytime

Song with Finger Puppets: “Five Little Monkeys Swinging in the Tree”
Credit: Childhood

Craft

20130528-162922.jpg

I got the idea for this craft from Family Fun Crafts. You can just imagine all the kids “biting” paper and “snapping” at noses, right?

How It Went

This was a super fun storytime! I loved the books that I chose and the kids had a great time with “Snip Snap” — which was one of the first books I learned to read to kids, way back in library school. The clothespin alligator was a huge success and the kids chased each other around the room, “biting” with their alligators.

June 10, 2013 6 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