Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Garden

The sun is shining, it is getting warmer, and the flowers and trees are starting to bloom. What a perfect time to have the theme of gardening and flowers!



Books:

Toddler Books:

The Wind's Garden - Melanie Hope Greenberg
Sunflower - Miela Ford
If You Plant a Seed - Kadir Nelson

Preschool Books:

Plant a Little Seed - Bonnie Christensen
And Then It's Spring - Julie Fogliano
Sunflower - Miela Ford
If You Plant a Seed - Kadir Nelson

Rhymes/Fingerplays/Songs:

Oh, Mr. Rabbit:
"Oh, Mr. Rabbit, you've got a might habit, (jump up and down like a bunny rabbit)
Of running through my garden and eating all my _______." (run!)
Peas, Carrots, Broccoli, Strawberries, Corn, Tomatoes, etc.
Source: This one was a classic script I found in my flannel draw. I updated it by laminating a bunny rabbit and a variety of familiar veggies to go along with the flannel. 


Five Pretty Flowers:
Out in the garden, growing in the sun,
Were five pretty flowers and I picked one.
Count down to no flowers. Show the kids a bouquet of picked flowers.
Source: Mel's Desk


The Gardener Plants the Seeds (Tune: "The Farmer in the Dell"):
The gardener plants the seeds,
The gardener plants the seeds,
High-ho, the derry-oh,
The gardener plants the seeds.
Other verses: 
The clouds bring the rain
The sun warms the earth
The gardener pulls the weeds
The seeds grow into flowers

Monday, March 23, 2015

Mud

Last week's theme was about rain showers and mud. Spring is in the air so it is the perfect time for such a spring-like theme. 



Books:

Toddler Books:

Split! Splat! - Amy Gibson
Raindrop, Plop! - Wendy Lewison
Ten Dirty Pigs/Ten Clean Pigs - Carol Roth
The Big Storm: A Very Soggy Counting Book - Nancy Tafuri


Preschool Books:

Puddle Pug - Kim Norman
Ten Dirty Pigs/Ten Clean Pigs - Carol Roth
The Big Storm: A Very Soggy Counting Book - Nancy Tafuri
Blue on Blue - Dianne White


Rhymes/Fingerplays/Songs:

It Ain't Gonna Rain No More (with the Ukulele):
C
It ain't gonna rain no more, no more,
G7
It ain't gonna rain no more,
G7 (or pause from strumming)
OH NO! It's up to my TOE,
G7                              C
But it ain't gonna rain no more.

Other verses:
OH GEE, it's up to my KNEE
OH FIDDLE, it's up to my MIDDLE
OH DREAD, it's up to my HEAD, I'm just gonna swim on home!
Source: West Bridgford U3A Strummers for the Chords
AND Jbrary for the Lyrics


Five Dirty Pigs
Five dirty pigs rolled in the mud (roll hands)
Squishy, squashy, felt so good.
The farmer took one piggy out,
"Oink, oink, oink," that piggy did shout! (turn pig over to "clean" side)
Count down till there are no more dirty piggies

No more piggies rolled in the mud.
They felt so nice and clean and good.
The farmer turned his back and then,
Those piggies rolled in the mud again! (turn piggies over to dirty side)


Song: Boots by Laurie Berkner Band (Victor Vito)
*I laminated pictures of black, brown, froggy, dancing, and rain boots for the different actions to put them up on the flannel board while we sang and danced to the song!



Friday, March 13, 2015

Under the Sea - For School-Ager's

Last week I had the pleasure of working with our school-aged members. We learned about the different oceans of the world and talked about some different sea creatures you might find in (and around) those different oceans.

1. I showed them a map of the oceans of the world. We counted how many oceans there are and how the map of the world wraps around so the Pacific Ocean's on both sides touch.



2. We read a book together: Puffin Peter by Petr Horacek



3. After we read the book together, I showed them pictures of different sea creatures, some funnier looking than others, and had them tell me what they were. We talked about the leafy sea dragon, the narwhal, the lionfish, the puffin, and octopuses. I showed them where each creature lived on the map of the oceans. We talked about random facts related to each of the creatures, such as what narwhal's use their tusk for or how many known species of octopuses are in the ocean. 

4. We did a "Sink or Float" experiment. I borrowed an idea for an experiment sheet from here, but made my own

I used a cotton ball, a pin tack, a rolled up piece of aluminum foil, and a pirate's coin (plastic but I totally stole it from a real pirate...). I had them mark whether they thought each item would sink or float and then we tested them to see. Afterwards, we discussed how salt is dissolved in the sea water, making it denser and able to hold up the lighter items that would sink in the fresh water. 

5. And, for the finale, we made octopuses out of toilet paper rolls. I used the craft from Kids Activity Blog as inspiration, but we didn't have time to have the kids paint them and wait for them to dry (nor did I want to clean up the mess that would entail), so they were given markers and colored pencils instead.


Thursday, March 12, 2015

Bugs

This week we talked about Bugs! And now that the weather is (finally) getting warmer, it is perfect timing for Spring-like topics.




Books:

Toddler Books:
Bugs! Bugs! Bugs! - Bob Barner
I Love Bugs! - Emma Dodd
Beetle Bop - Denise Fleming
Giant Pop-Out Bugs: A Pop-Out Surprise Book - Amelia Powers
Ten Wriggly, Wiggly Caterpillars - Debbie Tarbett

Preschool Books:
The Very Hungry Caterpillar - Eric Carle
I Love Bugs! - Emma Dodd
The Very Lazy Ladybug - Isobel Finn
Beetle Bop - Denise Fleming
Giant Pop-Out Bugs: A Pop-Out Surprise Book - Amelia Powers
Ten Wriggly, Wiggly Caterpillars - Debbie Tarbett

Rhymes/Fingerplays/Songs:

If You're an Insect and You Know it (Tune: "If You're Happy and You Know it"):
If you're a butterfly and you know it, flap your wings,
If you're a butterfly and you know it, flap your wings,
If you're a butterfly and you know it, and you really want to show it.
If you're a butterfly and you know it, flap your wings.

Other verses:
If you're an ant and you know it, stomp your feet.
If you're a grasshopper and you know it, jump up and down.
If you're a bee and you know it, say "Buzzzz, Buzzz."
etc.

Colorful Butterflies
The first to come to the garden bed,
Is a beautiful butterfly of brilliant RED.

In flies another and that makes two, 
Fly right in butterfly of lovely BLUE. 

"This garden is fine, the best I've seen,"
Said the butterfly of softest GREEN.

Butterfly of beautiful PURPLE, fly in too,
My garden was waiting for a color like you.

ORANGE, you've been waiting so long,
Fly into the garden where you belong.
*I love this poem and have used it at several different storytimes. It's easy to use for colors, counting, insects, butterflies, etc.! I found pictures of butterflies on a Google image search and laminated them to have the different colored butterflies.

Song: Itsy, Bitsy Spider by Hap Palmer (Baby Songs)

Thursday, March 5, 2015

Preschool Story Time Plan - Winter 2015

This is the story time plan for Preschool story times this Winter/Spring of 2015. 

I usually include between 16 to 20 elements (songs, books, flannels, fingerplays, activities, etc.) each story time. Some of the elements are extras that I have in case we need an extra stretch song or activity. 

I usually read about 3 books per Preschool Story Time, and my Preschoolers, even when there are 30 or so of them, are wonderful at sitting still through the longer books. 

Themed elements, that change weekly, are in BLUE. Everything else is a static element that stays the same every week.

You'll probably notice that some elements are very similar to Toddler Story Time. I did that on purpose, again with the repetition since many of the families come to both Toddler and Preschool story time. Also, some of my Toddlers have graduated so I don't want everything to be completely different between the two age groups. I want them to catch on quickly and not notice a huge difference between the two, while also subtly working on increasing their fine motor skills at this story time for older kids.




Preschool Story Time:

1. Opening Song + Bubble: Blue Moon by The Marcels

2. Calm Down Rhyme: Eeny, Minnie, Miney, Mo

Eeny, Minnie, Miney, Mo, Let me hear your HANDS go.
Clap, Clap, Clap, clap, clap. Clap, Clap, Clap, clap, clap.
That was good, that was fine, let me hear you one more time.
Clap, Clap, Clap, clap, clap. Clap, Clap, Clap, clap, clap.

Other verses:
Eeny, Minnie, Miney, Mo, Let me hear your FEET go. (STOMP)
Eeny, Minnie, Miney, Mo, Let me hear your MOUTHS go. (SHH)

3. Welcome and Guidelines: 

I welcome families to the library, introduce myself, and explain the story time guidelines. This has been instrumental in preventing or reducing major story time mishaps such as parents not participating or children being a little to "helpful" with my flannel board stories.

4. Themed: Letter of the Day

We draw the letter of the day. If it is appropriate, I also introduce the sign language word of the day at this point (otherwise I might wait until one of the books or activities to do sign language). For sign language words, this is a great site.

5. Calm Down: 


I wiggle my fingers, I wiggle my nose,

I wiggle my shoulders, I wiggle my toes.
Now all of my wiggles are out (CLAP)
And I'm as quiet as a mouse!

Source: ....sorry to say that I can't remember!

6. Themed: Book 1

7. Themed: Flannel or Activity

8. Movement Song: Can't Sit Still by Greg & Steve

For this song I have the kids do the sign language for the words "Can't", "Sit", and "Still", since it repeats so many times throughout the song.

9. Transition: 

Two little feet go TAP! TAP! TAP!

Two little hands go CLAP! CLAP! CLAP!
One little body TWIRLS AROUND!
One quiet body SITS BACK DOWN!

Source: Preschool Express

10. Themed: Book 2

11. Themed: Flannel Story or Flannel Counting

12. Themed: Activity

13. Transition: 

Stretch up to the ceiling, Stretch out to the door,
Stretch out to the window, And sit on the floor!

14. Themed: Book 3

15. Familiar Song: Rock-A-Bye Bear by The Wiggles

16. Closing:

I thank everyone for coming, remind them about other programs, and to check out books!

17. Book Display: 

Abracadabra, Alakazam!
Let's take a look, SHOW US THE BOOKS!

*We're trying something new this Winter Session, so I have a cart of books that I bring out for the kids. I put a magic cloth over it and, when I wave a magic wand, I have the Preschoolers recite the "magic words" with me. Then I say the second part and whip the magic cover off the books. So far it's been a big hit. 

18. Extras

I usually list several stretch songs or other activities in case the Preschoolers are feeling extra wiggly one day, or if story time is running a little short.




Toddler Story Time Plan - Winter 2015

This is the story time plan for Toddler story times this Winter/Spring of 2015. 

I usually include between 15 to 18 elements (songs, books, flannels, fingerplays, activities, etc.) each story time. I typically only read two books per Toddler Story Time. My groups for Toddler Story Time can get rather large (50+, and occasionally up to 100), so my toddlers are too distracted to sit through long books or too many books. 

Themed elements, that change weekly, are in BLUE. Everything else is a static element that stays the same every week.

Toddler Story Time:

1. Opening Song: Can't Wait to Celebrate by Jim Gill

2. Calm Down Rhyme: Eeny, Minnie, Miney, Mo

Eeny, Minnie, Miney, Mo, Let me hear your HANDS go.
Clap, Clap, Clap, clap, clap. Clap, Clap, Clap, clap, clap.
That was good, that was fine, let me hear you one more time.
Clap, Clap, Clap, clap, clap. Clap, Clap, Clap, clap, clap.

Other verses:
Eeny, Minnie, Miney, Mo, Let me hear your FEET go. (STOMP)
Eeny, Minnie, Miney, Mo, Let me hear your MOUTHS go. (SHH)

3. Welcome and Guidelines: 

I welcome families to the library, introduce myself, and explain the story time guidelines. This has been instrumental in preventing or reducing major story time mishaps such as parents not participating or children being a little to "helpful" with my flannel board stories.

4. Themed: Letter of the Day

We draw the letter of the day. If it is appropriate, I also introduce the sign language word of the day at this point (otherwise I might wait until one of the books or activities to do sign language). For sign language words, this is a great site.

5. Stretch Song: Shake My Sillies Out by Raffi

6. Calm Down: Roly Poly

Roly poly, Roly poly
Up, up, up. Up, up, up
Roly roly poly, Roly roly poly
Down, down, down. Down, down, down.

Roly poly, Roly poly
Out, out, out. Out, out, out.
Roly roly poly, Roly roly poly
In, in, in. In, in, in.

Roly poly, Roly poly
Fast, fast, fast. Fast, fast, fast.
Roly roly poly, Roly roly poly
Slow, slow, slow. Slow, slow, slow.

Source: Jbrary

*My story time kids LOVE this rhyme and have started asking for it. I love watching their faces when we do the "fast, fast, fast" part because they get so into it! We always do this one at least twice before we read the first book.

7. Themed: Book 1

8. Themed: Fingerplay/Rhyme/Flannel/Activity

9. Stretch Song: Shakin' Like a Leafy Tree by The Wiggles

10. Transition: 

Stretch up to the ceiling, Stretch out to the door,
Stretch to the window, And sit on the floor!

Source: A fellow librarian. You can make adjustments to the rhyme for the features that are available in your room; but it helps get them to stretch and get ready for the next book.

11. Themed: Book 2

12. Themed: Flannel Story or Flannel Counting

13. Themed: Activity

14. Familiar Song: Rock-A-Bye Bear by The Wiggles

15. Closing:

I thank everyone for coming, remind them about other programs, and to check out books!

16. Goodbye Song + Bubbles: Good-Bye Song by Hap Palmer