Storytime and Social Hour are Back! Today: Animals

We re-opened storytime and social hour with animals. We talked a bit about the new Storybook Trail at Beaver Creek Reserve, which inspired many of the social hour activities after storytime.

New Welcome Song: (adapted from JBrary found here)
The more we get together, together, together
The more we get together the happier we'll be.
For your friends are my friends and my friends are your friends.
The more we get together the happier we'll be.

The more we read together, together, together
The more we read together the happier we'll be.
Read big books and small books read short books and tall books
The more we read together the happier we'll be.

The more we sit together, together, together
The more we sit together the happier we'll be.
Sit down with your friends and stay til the end
The more we sit together the happier we'll be.

Book: What to Do if an Elephant Stands on Your Foot

Song with shaker eggs: Laurie Berkner's "I Know a Chicken"


















Book: Little Mouse by Alison Murray

Fingerplay/Song: 5 Jungle Monkeys by Colleen and Uncle Squaty













Book: The Big Wide-Mouthed Frog by Ana Martin Larranaga

Song: I can sound Like ...
(using my tree see in picture... i rotate the animal by spinning the circle)

Goodbye Song: You Are My Sunshine (adapted from the traditional)
NEW! I'M PLAYING MY UKE WHILE WE SING THE SONG!!
You are my sunshine my only sunshine.
You make me happy when skies are grey.
You'll never know dear how much I love you.
Please don't take my sunshine away.

You are all special so very special.
You're growing up every day.
You're learning lots and making friends.
Please come back again to play.

(We ran out of time for The Busy Tree.)

Social Hour Activities:

Follow the Animal Tracks - I taped animal footprints down, starting from the same table. Follow the tracks to see which animal left them.

Pretend to be an animal and read books about animals together...or check them out.

Pretend to be an animal who burrows underground.


















Next Week: Being Brave and a special visit from Family Resource Center Playgroup Coordinator, Sharon Ivers!

Remember, all ages and abilities are welcome at Storytime and Social Hour. We look forward to meeting you!

Amazing Animals!

Storytime is back! Playgroup is back! I was actually, factually skipping around the house yesterday morning because I was so excited! Our theme for the week was "amazing animals" or animals who are heroes in one way or another. We borrowed the Large Motor Kit and the Build It Kit from IFLS.

Welcome Song: Hello Friends (tune of Goodnight Ladies) - found on this website

















Book: Paul Meets Bernadette by Rosy Lamb
(because a good friend is a hero)

Fingerplay: (introduction:) I know a story about a small guy who learned how to face his fears and be his OWN hero. I bet you know the story, too.. Can we sing The Itsy Bitsy Spider together?

Book: Domino by Claire Masurel








Movement Activity with shaker eggs: Animal Eggs Shaker Song (made up by ME!)

Book: Little Pink Pup














Interactive Story: Chickens to the Rescue by John Himmelman - We had pre-cut chicken finger puppets (no...not chicken fingers. finger puppets) and whenever I read "Chickens to the rescue!" they joined in and held up their puppets. During playgroup, they had the option to color them before taking the puppets home.














Poem: Flying Cows (i had them guess "What kind of gas made
them fly?" and then we talked about the last two lines)

Goodbye Song: Tickle the clouds - also from this website

(standby book was A Sick Day for Amos McGee)

Playgroup Activity: color your finger puppet

Playgroup activity: water play - wash plastic animals

Playgroup activity: bristle blocks and clear stackers

Playgroup Activity: put on animal masks and look at books with an adult (or on your own)

Mice Are Nice Storytime - April 1

No April Fools today... just some cute little mice.

Good Morning Song

Book: I Miss You Mouse by Greg Foley













Felt/Fingerplay: 10 Little Mice











Book: The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson

Song: The Old Gray Cat (from Very Ready Reading Program manual)
The old gray cat is sleeping, sleeping, sleeping.
The old gray cat is sleeping in the house.
The little mice are creeping, creeping, creeping.
The little mice are creeping through the house.
The old gray cat is waking, waking, waking.
The old gray cat is waking in the house.
The old gray cat is chasing, chasing, chasing.
The old gray cat is chasing through the house.
All the mice are squealing, squealing, squealing.
All the mice are squealing through the house.

Felt story: Adapted from Little Mouse's Big Secret - I handed out the animals (except the mouse) and then I told the story. The children quickly caught on to "It's my secret and I'll never tell."








Book: Mouse Paint

Song: 3 White Mice (also from Very Ready Reading Program Manual)
(tune of 3 Blind Mice)
3 white mice, 3 white mic,
See how they dance, see how they dance.
They danced around for the farmer's wife.
Who played for them on a silver fife,
Did you ever see such a sight in your life
As 3 white mice?

Goodbye Songs and Bubbles.

For storytime, I left Little Mouse's Big Secret out. We also did chalk+water drawing. I also made felt play of Mouse Count - 10 mice, a snake, and a cup as props that they could play with and tell the story with their caregivers.

 Next Week: Feelings!

Science Stars Storytime July 16

Lots of science topics today: water, animals, poop, colors, experimenting, using clues, shapes, size.....

Welcome Song: Let everyone clap hands like me

Book: All the Water in the World by George Ella Lyon

Song: Water Wheel Song by Kenn Lonnquist - we danced with ribbon wands

Book: Poopendous by Artie Bennett

Song and Felt: 5 Tall Giraffes by Colleen and Uncle Squaty

Book: Brief Thief by Michael Escoffier

Goodbye Song: Can't wait to celebrate

NO BUBBLES! Gasp! We painted instead. I showed them a variety of tools and shapes they could paint with: loofah, sponges, paintbrushes, dishwashing items, and a plastic flower. Then they went WILD! It was great. I had not done this activity in a while and am pleased I chose it. I think they enjoyed themselves and making different-looking strokes and shapes.

We have creative kids... and parents!

Next storytime is at Tiny Tots on July 22 at 2:30pm. Theme is Count on It. The next Library storytime, July 23, is Dinosaurs!

Around the World Storytime November 7

This was a fun one! I had a large map from National Geographic magazine taped on my felt wall. I also had a globe nearby, that we usually keep in the adult area shelving. After singing our good morning song, we talked about the map (thanks, Dora), the globe, and where we are located on both of them.

Hello, How are You?

The Big Trip by Valerie Gorbachev

Where Do We Come From? with Tom Pease and Stuart Stotts - egg shakers and hip shaking during this song!

Hush! A Thai Lullaby by Minfong Ho Before reading, I pointed out where we are and where Thailand is on the map and globe. The children joined me when i said "Hush" and put my fingers to my lips.









Penguin Song (a favorite from when i worked at Camp) Before singing, we pointed out where penguins live.
Chorus: Have you ever seen a penguin come to tea?
Take a look at me a penguin you will see.
Penguins attention.
Penguins begin.

Right arm (flap arm up and down on your side)
Chorus.

Left arm (flap both)
Chorus.

Right leg (move leg to side a bit and down and still arms)
Chorus.

Left leg (add left leg to the mix)
Chorus.

Bob your head (do all)
Chorus.

Walk around (walk around like a penguin)
Chorus.

Instead of saying "penguins begin" end with "penguins sit down."

Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers

The Story of Grandfather Bear, told aloud (Native American traditional)

Roll the globe to the song Walk Tall from Ziggy Marley & Paul Simon (We used a cloth globe as we took turns rolling the globe to one another.)

Who is the Beast? by Keith Baker

Goodbye Songs








Next week we will read books about Llamas! Don't forget, we will be closed the Wednesday immediately before Thanksgiving.