GOTV K-2 Results

Thank you to everyone who participated in this year's Get Out the Vote! We had quite a few responses from our Kindergarten through 2nd graders. First graders tied with 3rd grade to be invited to last Saturday's Pizza & Ice Cream Party!

Here are the official election results:

We also asked a few short answer questions: "What is your favorite picture book?" and "What is your favorite cartoon on TV?" Not everyone provided an answer, however we will share what we did receive, with some minor adjustments to spelling:

Favorite Picture Books:

-Big Book of How

-Sally's Purple Socks

-What Floats in a Moat?
-City Dog, Country Frog
-Bambi
-Otis
-The Legend of Johnny Big Buck
-What the Big Idea, Molly?
-Emily Brown
-Cat in the Hat Comes Back
-The Cat in the Hat: Cooking with the Cat
-Fly Guy

Favorite TV Cartoon:
-Johnny Bravo
-Johnny Test
-Good Luck Charlie
-Magic School Bus
-Lego Ninjago (multiple responses)
-Tom and Jerry
-Spongebob Squarepants (multiple responses)
-Wild Kratts
-Max and Ruby
-Dora


Thank you to all youth, parents, teachers, and staff for helping our Fall Creek youth fill out their ballots and getting them to Fall Creek Public Library! These responses will better help us serve the community, develop our collection, and provide programs and opportunities. All that and it is just plain fun to see the kids' spelling, handwriting, and ideas!

(Stay tuned for complete 3-5 and 6-9 graders' election results!)

Get Out the Vote Library Style!

Our 2013 ballots were sent to the schools today! Children K-12 should drop their ballots off at the Library by 6pm on November 5th. Let your voice be heard and earn a free pizza and ice cream party for your whole entire grade!

The ballot box is located near the Children DVDs and Jenna's desk, in the back of the Library. Be sure to pick up your treat (only when Jenna is in the Library) or free bookmark just for dropping off that ballot of yours!

Questions on this year's ballot differ by age group and may include:
-Vote for one favorite pizza topping.
-What is your favorite thing about Fall Creek Public Library?
-Circle two things you wish the Fall Creek Public Library offered.
-Vote for two items you would like to see available at the Fall Creek Public Library.
-What is your favorite children's book?
-What is your favorite movie that came out in 2013?
-What is your favorite animal?
-If you could, how often would you come to the Fall Creek Public Library.

Happy Voting!

Pizza Storytime October 16, 2013

Thank you to Pizza Hut, Pizza Plus, Toppers, Mancinos, and Pizza del Ray for donating pizza boxes. We used them so every child could go home with their very own "I am a Pizza" storyboard.

Welcome song: Hello, How are You? by Dr. Jean. Again, because of flu and cold season, instead of shaking hands, we wave hands.

Fingerplay: Little Pizzas
1 little 2 little 3 little pizzas
4 little 5 little 6 little pizzas
7 little 8 little 9 little pizzas.
10 pizzas in the oven.
10 little 9 little 8 little pizza
7 little 6 little 5 little pizzas
4 little 3 little 2 little pizzas
1 pizza in my stomach.

Book: Secret Pizza Party by Adam Rubin















Feltboard and Song: I am a Pizza by Charlotte Diamond
Instead of listening to the CD, we sang is as a repeat and answer song. We did it twice so each child had an opportunity to bring a piece of the pizza up front to the feltboard. Also, Jenna's French is very fuzzy so we did not sing the French lyrics.

Book: Pete's a Pizza by William Steig














Song: Pepperoni Pizza by Dr. Jean
Before the song, I held up each letter card and we practiced the sound that letter makes. During the song, I held up the appropriate letter card. The letters are: P, B, M, L, R, Z, Y.

Book: Hi, Pizza Man by Virgina Walter
During the story, the children took turns dinging a bell while everyone else sang out "Ding, dong" like a doorbell. It worked out perfectly; we had the exact number of children this day as there are times to ring the doorbell in the story.

Goodbye songs

Then I passed out the pizza boxes. Each pizza box included the words to "I am a Pizza" by Charlotte Diamond, pictures of the pizza ingredients for them to cut out, and they got to choose which color brown they liked their crust (construction paper).

Moldy Cheese Day Storytime

Today is National Moldy Cheese Day! FYI - we focused on the cheese, not the moldy, part!

Hello, How are You? by Dr. Jean

Cheese Please - i had a print out with the words and ASL for "cheese," "please," and "love" for the adults. The song goes like this:
Cheese, cheese, cheese, we love cheese
Please, please, please, give us cheese.
We love white cheese, yes we do.
Orange cheese tastes wonderful, too.
Yellow cheese for me and you
Oh, we love cheese.

We went through the signs then did the song twice.

Thanks, Mom! by Ed Emberly

Activity: Farmer in the Dell
I made character necklaces - one for each child and adult - and when we reached their character, they stood up and got to dance around.








Chorale Reading: I Went Walking

Taste Testing Chart
We tasted three different cheeses: sharp cheddar cheese, string cheese, and mozzarella cheese. While they ate their cheeses, I read "The Stinky Cheese Man." After they were done eating, they came up and marked a line under their favorite cheese. Then we counted out how many people liked each cheese, which had more likes, and which had the least.

Poem: "My Mouse is Rather Fond of Cheese" in My Hippo Has the Hiccups by Kenn Nesbitt

Goodbye Songs

After Storytime, I brought out some playdough mats and fun foam for the kids and adults to play with. BIG HIT!


Next week: PIZZA!! (Sorry, no taste testing!)

Library Camp: Insect Week

We tried a new program in September: Library Camp. Children K-7th grade were invited and had to be pre-registered for each day they were going to attend. We had 4-9 kids attend Monday-Thursday. Unfortunately, we had to cancel Friday due to low registration.

Here is what we did each day.

MONDAY:

Snack: maggots and ants on a log

Completed snails

Playing "SLUG" (a version of SPUD but with hula hoops and frisbees instead of basketball)

Playing SLUG

Free play: Some chose to put on a puppet show!

Some children chose to make another snail or "create your own insect" during Free Play

Create your own insects and snails

We started Monday with expectations, two stories, and a get to know you game. Then we made snails out of paper scraps, google eyes, paper plates, glue, and tape. Then we had snack. We made maggots (yogurt covered raisins) and ants (raisins) on a log. Then we went outside to play SLUG, which is like basketball SPUD but with homemade frisbees and a hula hoop. Then we came back inside for Free Play. The children could choose to make their own insect, quiet reading, or a puppet show.

TUESDAY: 

Ladybug snack - apples, green cake frosting, craisins, peanut butter

Fingerprint insects

Library Scavenger Hunt

Learning about Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches with Toby Jacobson

Magnolia with a cockroach

On Tuesday, we again went through expectations and read two stories. Then we made our Ladybug snack. Then we made insect creatures with our fingerprints and went on a Library Scavenger Hunt. Then we learned about Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches and even got to hold and touch some! Then we had free play in the Library where children could choose a quiet activity to do alone or with a friend.

WEDNESDAY: 

Beaver Creek Reserve visited with their Dress a Butterfly program

Snack - build a spider web out of chips (the spider) string cheese (the web OR legs) and animal crackers (stuck in the web)

Wednesday started out with Dress a Butterfly with Beaver Creek Reserve. We learned all about monarchs, including an interactive walk through their life cycle. Then we made a spider web snack, which the kiddos REALLY enjoyed. They took quite a bit of time making their webs that we only had time for a story and then free play - no art activity that day!

THURSDAY:

Getting supplies together at Randall Park

Footbridge on the walking trail at Keller Park

Drawing and writing what is in his small circle at Randall Park

Investigating the ground on the walking trail at Keller Park

Keller Park 

drawing what she sees in her large circle at Keller Park

On Thursday, we walked to Randall Park and had a snack at the picnic table: graham crackers and granola bars. We spent about 20 minutes exploring the ground. Each child had paper, coloring pencils, a footlong string, and a 4 footlong string. First they made circles with their strings and examined everything they could find in those circles. They could draw pictures and/or write down what they saw. Then they could dig under the soil and move things around to see if they could find any evidence that insects had been there. Then, we walked the trail in Keller Park and did the same thing. I also had a few magnifying glasses they could use. When we got back to the Library, we shared and discussed what we found in our circles. We also discussed the differences between the parks and how the ground would look different during the different seasons.

What a great week!

Storytime is Back!

Storytime resumed last week and here are the setlists from last and this Wednesday!

Last Week: My Senses

We went over the rules before we even started. We have quite a few new friends. Also, with a few weeks off, it never hurts to remind the families about what is expected :)

Hello, How are You? by Dr. Jean (through cold and flu season, we are WAVING at our friends, instead of shaking hands)

Then we discussed our many senses.

Story: Press Here

Song: Beaniebag Dance by Greg & Steve - we got the bags out and followed along

Story: Freight Train

Then we discussed feeling with our hearts and emotions.

Chorale Reading: I'm the Biggest Thing in The Ocean

Song: Wiggle Worms by Johnette Downing - we danced around with shakers

Story: Dog's Colorful Day with felt pieces

Good-bye Songs

After each storytime, I'm offering pseudo-playgroup activities families can choose to do together. Today I set up a maze/obstacle course using riverstones.

This Week: Insects

Hello, How are You? by Dr. Jean

Fingerplay: Itsy Bitsy Spider - We added on two verses: big fat spider and teeny weeny spider

Book: Spider on the Floor by Raffi

Song: Butterfly by Lisa Atkinson - we danced with scarves and moved like caterpillars and butterflies

Story with felt pieces - Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

We ran out of time for our chorale reading piece: We Went Walking. We'll do this story the next few weeks!

Then we played a game, using the songs "A Rabbit with a Flea" and "My Dog has Fleas." We sat in a circle then passed around a stuffed rabbit. When the music stopped, whomever had the rabbit had to put it on the floor. When the music started, the rabbit could be passed again. We passed the rabbit faster and faster and then I started adding a few more stuffed animals to the game. This game encourages listening, sharing, paying attention, cooperation, and positive encouragement of each other. It was fun! Great listening, everyone!

We also ran out of time for Inch by Inch by Leo Lionni.

Poem: Step Gently Out

Goodbye Songs - It is Time to Say Goodbye to All Our Friends
-and-
Wave your wings goodbye.
Wave your antennae goodbye.
Wave your sticky fingers goodbye.
Wave your legs goodbye.
Wave your abdomen goodbye.
Wave your hands and say goodbye.

Next Week!!! We will have a special guest, Dana McCarthy! He will come perform and entertain! Free for all ages! Visit his website http://www.jumpupfamilymusic.com/about.php and we will see you next week at 9:30am. Also, remember that we are CLOSED next Monday and Tuesday due to re-arranging. We will re-open on Wednesday.

I Dig Up, Down, All Around

We had a smaller crowd yesterday, probably due to the amazing weather and the fact that I had been out ill for a few days. But we still had fun and even had some new faces!

Hello, How are You? Welcome Song

Scarlette Beane by Karen Wallace

Then we played a few parachute games as we listened to Tom Pease's song Turn the World Around.

Tops and Bottoms by Janet Stevens

Song Corn, Beans, & Squash on the CD Pickin & Grinnin by Music for Little People. I passed out photos of corn, beans, and squash and we danced around.

Subway by Anastasia Suen

We ran out of time for Find Rain Forest Animals: Up, Down, Around by Janice Behrens. (Sorry, Ms Behrens.)

We finished up with the poem Skies and Seas by Amy LV and it can be found here. I split it up into a two person poem and called for an adult volunteer to help me read it aloud. The highlighted and underlined sections denote who read which section, with some parts being read by both people.

Skies and Seas

A boat and an airplane fell in love
From afar and away and afar
but the boat couldn't fly
and the plane couldn't swim so
They stayed where they were they are.

The plane looked down
And the boat looked up
Writing love letters on the blue
In wisps of white and watery waves.
I love you. I love you. I love you.

Minutes months and decades passed.
They grew old in love and apart.
The plane swam skies.
The boat flew seas.
Each with a broken heart.

Next Wednesday is our final Storytime until our Storytime with Teachers on August 21 and 28. Join us July 31 for I Dig for Treasure as we read about pirates, treasure, and more! Each child will be able to participate in a scavenger hunt and go home with a special surprise as a thank you for an amazing session of Storytime. We had records numbers at storytime all summer and we hope to see you during the school year as much as possible!

I Dig Big Rigs Storytime - July 17

Welcome Song: Hello, How are You? by Dr. Jean

Poem: Three Loud Trucks from Truckery Rhymes by Jon Scieszka I had a picture of three semis, whenever I held the picture up, we shouted "THREE LOUDS TRUCKS!"

Demolition by Sally Sutton

Then we danced and played instruments to "Momma Don't Allow No Tractor Songs" from the CD Crazy About Tractor Songs

The Ugly Truckling by David Gordon

Then, using an example of the craft we made at the end of storytime, we sang
Bumpin up and down in my little orange tractor,
Bumpin up and down in my little orange tractor,
Bumpin up and down in my little orange tractor
All through the big corn field.

Then we made up verses on our own. I believe they were:

1. Green truck in a flower field.
2. Purple dumptruck in a pumpkin field.

We finished up with our craft.

Next week: I Dig Up, Down, All Around

We have only two storytimes left: July 24 and July 31. The final two Wednesdays in August will feature local school teachers during 9:30am Storytimes.

July 10 Storytime - I Dig Gardening

Welcome Song: Hello, How are You? by Dr. Jean

Fingerplay: Plant a Little Seed
Dig a little hole (dig with hands)
Plant a little seed (place "seed" in ground)
Pour a little water (pretend to pour)
Pull a little weed (pull "weeds" up)
Here comes the sun (arms in circle)
Warms seeds below (hug self)
Up springs the seed (jump to feet)
See it grow grow grow (reach up high)

One Mole Digging a Hole by Julia Donaldson

Song with large felt and construction paper leaves: The Garden Song from Rosenshotz's CD Rosenshotz Tickles You

Rabbit and Squirrel: A Tale of War & Peas by Kara LaReau

Then we did our chorale reading selection, The Carrot Seed, using an audio-recording of it.

Chicken Said "Cluck" by Judyann Ackerman Grant

Parts of a Flower by Dr. Jean - after Jenna's flub of the actions, we got it under control!

Poem: 4 Seeds in a Hole
4 seeds in a hole.
4 seeds in a hole.
1 for the mouse
1 for the crow
1 to rot
and 1 to grow!

Then we repeated Plant a Little Seed

Goodbye Songs

Next week: I Dig Big Machines!

Storytime Setlist Update

June 19 - I Dig Getting Dirty

Welcome song: Hello, How are You? by Dr. Jean

Fingerplay: 1 Little 2 Little 3 Little Bubbles
1 little 2 little 3 little bubbles. 4 little 5 little 6 little bubbles. 7 little 8 little 9 little bubbles. 10 bubbles in the air.
10 little 9 little 8 little bubbles. 7 little 6 little 5 little bubbles. 4 little 3 little 2 little bubbles. 1 bubbles on the ground. POP!

I'm Dirty by Kate and Kim McMullan

Felt: 5 Pigs so Squeaky Clean
5 pigs so squeaky clean.
Cleanest pigs you've ever seen.
Wanted to go outside and play
IN THE MUD!
1 jumped into the mud,
Landed with a great big THUD
Now there are 4 pigs squeaky clean.
4...3...2...1

Splish! Splash! Animal Baths by April Pulley Saye

Chorale Reading: The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss

Song with Scarves: Dirt by Phish (if you have not listened to Phish before, please be aware that many songs are not public library children's program appropriate)

10 Dirty Pigs, 10 Clean Pigs by Carol Roth (i did cut this one out as we ran out of time)

Bubble Bath Pirates by Jarrett Krosoczka

Repeat the Bubble Song - tried blowing bubbles at the kids, but it was all sorts of wrong as my bubble wand did not work well. On the list for purchase: a bubble blower!

Poem: Dirty Face by Shel Silverstein

Goodbye Songs

June 26 - I Dig the Earth

Welcome Song: Hello, How are you? by Dr. Jean

Fingerplay: Wiggle Worms
1 little 2 little 3 little wiggle worms. 4 little 5 little 6 little wiggle worms. 7 little 8 little 9 little wiggle worms. 10 wiggle worms in the ground. 10 little 9 little 8 little wiggle worms. 7 little 6 little 5 little wiggle worms. 4 little 3 little 2 little wiggle worms. 1 wiggle worm in the ground.

No Place Like Home by Jonathan Emmett

Song with scarves: Oh Groundhog on Catch the Moon by Lisa Loeb and Elizabeth Mitchell

A Look Inside a Burrow by Richard Spilsbury

Chorale Reading: The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss

Next, i brought out a child's play tunnel wrapped up in brown packaging paper ("soil") and we took turns crawling through it as everyone sang this song:
I can be a bunny.
I can be a mole.
Isn't it funny
Crawling through a hole?

We had SO many friends at the Library, we ran out of time for Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin.

Then we repeated the Wiggle Worm fingerplay.

Goodbye songs

This Wednesday, our theme is "I Dig Gardening" See you at 9:30am!

The Art Cart

Starting today, your children (and you!) can come in to make their own art creation. Please be respectful and supervise children as they use the art supplies and clean up afterward. The Art Cart will be available whenever Jenna is in the Library (except during library events and programs).

During the Summer, Jenna will typically be in the Library every other Monday all day, Tuesdays all day, Wednesday mornings, and Thursdays all day.

Come on in! Let your imagination run free in the Library!

Items will be periodically replenished and switched out.

Find The Art Cart near the Children's DVDs!

Storytime Is Back with a ROAR!

Our summer edition of storytime began today with I Dig Dinosaurs!

Hello, How Are You? by Dr. Jean

Fingerplay:
A dino lies under the surface
A dino lies under the sands
A dino lies under the surface
So let's dig it up with our hands.
Dig up, dig up, dig up this dino with me, with me.
Dig up, di up, oh dig up this dino with me.

Dinosaur Vs. the Library by Bob Shea - we all roared together!

Inside Outside Dinosaurs by Roxie Munro

With instruments and dancing, we listened to Joanie Bartel's song"Dinosaur Rock n Roll" on the CD Dancin' Magic

Chorale Reading Selection: Dinosaur Roar! by Paul and Henrietta Stickland

Game: One Dinosaur Went Out to Play - we sang the song and parents/children took turns with a dinosaur puppet in the middle of the circle. Excellent sharing and patience today!
One dinosaur went out to play
Upon a grassy hill one day
(S)He had such enormous fun
That (s)he called for another dinosaur to come.
HEY DINOSAUR
(stomping feet)

After everyone had a turn:
All the dinosaurs went out to play
upon a grassy hill one day
They had such enormous fun
and, tired, they laid down in the sun.

Stomp, Dinosaur, Stomp by Margaret Mayo

Repeat the first fingerplay

Then we read a few selections from Robert Weinstock's Can You Dig It

Next week, our theme is I Dig Getting Dirty! Come join us!

June Book Club Choices!

As part of our 2013 Summer Reading Program, we have started BRAND NEW book clubs! Find your age group below to learn more then contact Fall Creek Public Library to pre-register. Don't forget to order or purchase your book and read it ahead of time.

Each book club will feature age-appropriate discussions followed by snacks, activities, and games related to the book! Much fun will be had!

An adult is not required to attend, but is recommended for elementary age children.

And without further ado...

Thursday, June 13 4pm Grades 9 - 12

Unwind by Neal Shusterman

http://www.more.lib.wi.us/search~S43?/tunwind/tunwind/1%2C9%2C16%2CZ/frameset&FF=tunwind&4%2C%2C7

This novel is featured in many young adult lists, including YALSA's Top Ten Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers.

Tuesday, June 18 5-545pm Grades K - 3

Trouble with Trolls by Jan Brett

Enjoy this picture book as a read-aloud or have your child read it on his or her own! Mischief will be had in the library at our book club party! http://www.more.lib.wi.us/search~S43?/ttrouble+with+trolls/ttrouble+with+trolls/1%2C1%2C4%2CB/frameset~b1224517&FF=ttrouble+with+trolls&2%2C%2C4/indexsort=-

Tuesday, June 25 230-330 Grades 4 - 6

Dragonbreath: Lair of the Bat Monster by Ursula Vernon

This is book 4 in a series, but you do not need to read the first three in order to appreciate this humorous and adventurous book!

http://www.more.lib.wi.us/search~S43?/tdragonbreath+curse/tdragonbreath+curse/-3%2C0%2C0%2CB/frameset&FF=tdragonbreath+new+york+n+y++++4&1%2C1%2C/indexsort=-

 

Thursday, June 27 4pm Grades 6+

Holes by Louis Sachar

http://www.more.lib.wi.us/search~S43?/tholes/tholes/1%2C12%2C37%2CB/frameset&FF=tholes&5%2C%2C20

A highly popular book by an even more popular author! We will have WAY too much fun at our party with this one!

So there you are! Sign up today by calling 715.877.3334 or using our sign up sheets outside the Library door!