Storytime--Back To School

I didn't have anyone at storytime until about 5 minutes before we started, when a whole bunch of families showed up! It was great. I talked to the kids about who is going into preschool and who has older siblings going to school. It turned out really well; I was happy.

Books:

Clark the Shark by Bruce Hale
Wow School! by Robert Neubecker
Foxy by Emma Dodd
Mouse's First Day of School by Lauren Thompson

Fingerplay:

Way up high in the apple tree,  (Point up high)

Five red apples looked at me.  (Hold up five fingers)

I shook that tree as hard as I could,  (Pretend to shake the tree with both hands)

Down came an apple,  (Wiggle fingers down from the air)

Mmmm, it was good. (Rub tummy!)

(http://www.teachpreschool.org/2013/09/15-fabulous-fingerplays-and-facts/)

Flannelboard:

Apple/Worm Hiding Game

The worm hides behind an apple, the kids have to find it!

Action Activity:

If you like red, you like red, you like red, you like red,
If you like red red red put your finger on your head!

If you like blue, you like blue, you like blue, you like blue,
If you like blue blue blue put your finger on your shoe!

If you like black, you like black, you like black, you like black,
If you like black black black put your hands behind your back!

If you like white, you like white, you like white, you like white,
If you like white white white stomp your feet with all your might!


If you like yellow, you like yellow, you like yellow, you like yellow,
If you like yellow yellow yellow smile like a happy fellow!


__________________________________

I adapted this one, but the original is here:

(http://teachingmama.org/10-preschool-transitions-songs-and-chants-to-help-your-day-run-smoothly/) 


Craft:

Storytime--Pigs

Storytime is so weird. Two weeks ago I had 35-plus people at my storytime--today I had 6. They were 6 very young and shy children too, so I ended up cutting it a little short because it was just not working. It's too bad, because I really liked the storytime I put together. I'll have to try it again later down the road.

Books:

The Three Little Pigs and the Somewhat Bad Wolf by Mark Teague
I Know A Wee Piggy by Kim Norman
Pigs to the Rescue by John Himmelman
A Big Guy Took My Ball! by Mo Williams

Fingerplay:

Five little pigs rolled in the mud  (hold out 5 fingers)
 Squishy, squashy, felt so good.  (roll arms)
The farmer took one piggy out.   ("you're out!" gesture)
"Oink, Oink, oink," the pig did shout!  ("blah, blah, blah" gesture)

Continue with four, three, two, one...

No little pigs rolled in the mud.  ("safe!" gesture)
They all looked so clean and good.  (hand out at sides, presenting gesture)
The farmer turned his back and then,  (turn around in chair)
Those pigs rolled in the mud again. (roll arms)

(From Grayslake Area Public Library District, http://www.grayslake.info/youthfingerplayfive.htm)


Flannelboard:



(Tune: “Five Green and Speckled Frogs)
Five pigs so squeaky clean
Cleanest you’ve ever seen
Wanted to go outside and play
Oink! Oink!
One jumped into the mud
Landed with a big THUD
Then there were four clean squeaky pigs.

Action Activity:

Pigs to the Rescue!

We are the pigs coming to the rescue! Are you ready? The family needs help to....

DIG THE FIELD!!
WATER THE PLANTS!!
WAKE EVERYONE UP!!
REMEMBER THE BIRTHDAY!


Craft:

Shape Pigs



(From Creative Preschool Resources http://creativepreschoolresources.com/2012/05/02/simple-pig-craft/ )

Storytime--Sheep!

Today I had a small group, which coming off of last week's giant group I didn't mind! I had a new family visit the library for the first time right before storytime, and they stayed and had a great time. The best book was Sneaky Sheep for sure, but The Sheep Fairy also went over well.

Books:

The Sheep Fairy by Ruth Louise Symes 
Sheep in a Jeep by Nancy Shaw
Sneaky Sheep by Chris Monroe
No Sleep for the Sheep by Karen Beaumont


Fingerplay:

“The Lamb Went”

The lamb went…
Around the cow in the corn (trace circle in palm)
Under the haystack (go under the hand)
Up the hill and down the hill (go up the arm and down the arm)
Over the fence (go above the hand)
Through the door (slide hands and clap)
And was back in time to meet the teacher (trace circle in palm)

(From Storytime Katie http://storytimekatie.com/2011/03/03/sheep/)


Flannelboard:

Color and Number Sheep Memory




We first talked about the colors and numbers on the sheep, then I had them close their eyes while I took one away.

(From Miss Mary Library https://missmaryliberry.wordpress.com/tag/flannelboard/)


Action Activity:

Sleeping Sleeping, All the Children Are Sleeping!

Sleeping, sleeping, all the kids are sleeping, and when they woke up they were.....

Sheep!
Cows!
Dogs!
Kitties!
Sheep!
Sitting, ready for the last story!

(Adapted from Fairy Twins Book Time http://fairytwinsbooktime.blogspot.com/2014/01/cows-preschool-story-time.html)


Craft:

Cotton Ball Sheep




Sheep outlines + glue +cotton balls = adorable sheep!

Storytime--Smokey the Bear/Bears

Wow, what a storytime! I had a HUGE group today. The oldest child there was 9, and the youngest was a baby--talk about an all-ages storytime! I had received materials for a Smokey the Bear storytime, including take-home books for the kids, bookmarks, an oversize book for me, and giant flashcards portraying good and bad fires. The flashcards took the place of my usual fingerplay, and the oversize book was my first book. I invited the park naturalist from one of the nearby state parks to the library as a guest reader, which added something special. She read the books, while I did the activities in between and the craft.


Books:

 Smokey Bear Story from the USDA and the USDA Forest Service
I Miss You Mouse by Greg Foley
We're Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen
Corduroy by Don Freeman


Flannelboard:





 Ten in the Bed



Ten in the bed and the little one said:
"Roll over! Roll over!"
So they all rolled over and one fell out!




Action Activity:

We acted out the story from We're Going On A Bear Hunt


Craft:






Fluffy Paint Bears

I made my storytime fluffy paint (shaving cream, glue, whatever food coloring you want), and let the kids go to town. Of course this was the day we had 80 million kids and it was crazy, but it was wonderful. My example got lost somewhere in the chaos, so here is one of the kid's creations.

Storytime--Cows

I had some new faces at storytime today, which was great! Everyone was very into the books, which makes my job so enjoyable. All the books were hits; that doesn't happen very often! I was lucky to have wonderful co-workers from a different library give me the books from a storytime they did. It was so nice of them, and I thought it was neat that this storytime has been performed at three libraries, each with their librarian's personal spin and additional elements,.


Books:

Moo by David La Rochelle
Millie Waits For The Mail by Alexander Steffensmeier
Is Everyone Ready For Fun by Jan Thomas
What the Ladybug Heard by Julia Donaldson

Fingerplay:

This Little Cow (count on fingers)
This little cow eats grass
This little cow eats hay
This little cow looks over the hedge
This little cow runs away
And this BIG cow does nothing at all
 But lie in the fields all day!

(From Perry Public Library http://www.perrypubliclibrary.org/webfm_send/45)


Flannelboard:

 Hey Diddle Diddle

My second re-using of a flannelboard, pretty exciting! This was originally used in the Nursery Rhyme storytime


Action Activity:

Acting out Is Everyone Ready For Fun?

Is everyone ready for fun?
It's time to JUMP!
Up and down, up and down, let's all JUMP up and down!

Is everyone ready for MORE fun?
It's time to DANCE!
Back and forth, back and forth. Let's all DANCE back and forth!

Is everyone ready for EVEN MORE FUN?
It's time to WIGGLE!
To and fro, to and fro, let's all WIGGLE to and fro!

There's only one thing left to do! Is everyone ready?
It's time to NAP!

(Adapted from Is Everyone Ready For Fun by Jan Thomas)


Craft:



Torn-Paper Cows

I used my handy-dandy torn paper, and let the kids color and decorate their own cows! Mine was the only one with black spots, everyone else's cows were much more creative and colorful than mine.