Insects Storytime - October 2

Last week, we focused our play and reading on insects! One of my favorites!

Good morning song

Book: Can You Make a Scary Face? by Jan Thomas

Song: We used pom pom balls to sing A Fly is on My Toe

A fly is on my toe, on my toe.

A fly is on my toe, on my toe.

A fly is on my toe.

-Nose

-Leg

-Knee

-Arm

-Elbow

-Neck

-Face

-Head

-Then I did random body places, including armpit, kneepit, ankle, bellybutton.

Book: Aaaaargh! Spider! by Lydia Monks - Whenever I said, "Aaaargh! Spider!" the kids would follow with "Out You Go!"

Book: Mr. Mosquito Put on His Tuxedo by Barbara Olenyik Morrow

Felt: Bug in the Rug

Song: Ants to softly round and Round - We walked in a circle, then crawled. They enjoyed it so much we did it three or so times.

Ants go softly round and round

Shhh! Shhh!

Ants go softly round and round

Shhh! Shhhh!

Ants to softly round and round

Crawling all across the ground

getting closer to the picnic feast.

Goodbye Songs & Bubbles

Playgroup activity: Worm in the Mud painting

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.

Insects Storytime

This was our second to last storytime. Again, we sat in a circle! Exciting stuff!

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

Then we played a guessing game with the same insects I used later for "There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Bugs" by Johnette Downing. I asked basic questions about each insect/critter (is the slug an insect??) and then put them on the felt.

Chorale Reading: I Like Bugs by Margaret Wise Brown. The kids are getting used to following directions and the parents used to reading along with me. Over the summer, we'll read the same book multiple times. Then the children will start memorizing the words and it will be great!

Book on CD: Bugs! Bugs! Bugs! by Weston Woods and Bob Barner

Song: The Bumble Dance on The Bee's Knees CD "We Share the Earth" Because of lower numbers, we were able to use TWO instruments to dance with!

Book with felt pieces: There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Bugs by Johnette Downing - As i read the story, the children took turns placing their insect on the felt. Each child was able to to do two insects.

Book: I Love Bugs! by Philomen Sturges

Song: The Itsy Bitsy Spider. We sang it through the "correct" way, then replaced rain with snow, sleet, and jellybeans. Then we replaced the word sun with pizza. Then we sang it with rain and sun, again.

Poem: Oh, Fly on page 6 in Jane Yolen's 'Bug Off! Creepy, Crawly Poems'

We ran out of time for the song Head, Thorax, Abdomen on Johnette Downing's CD "Boogie Woogie Bugs"

Goodbye Songs:
We waved buggy parts instead of human parts yesterday :)

Next week is our final school year storytime. We will have a party complete with treats, freebies, and an activity! We will resume again in June. Remember, the whole family is welcome to attend storytime. If you have an older child that might tag along, we always have books to read and other stuff set aside.