Bear Story Time – Preschool

December 5, 2013

Introduction: What do we know about bears? Where do they live? What do they like to eat? What do they do in the winter? Learn the sign language sign for bear.

Opening song

Book: Bear Has a Story to Tell by Phillip Stead, illustrated by Erin Stead

Song: “Goin’ on a Bear Hunt” – Greg & Steve: Kids in Action

Book: The Red Sled by Lita Judge

Song: “Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear” – Kimbo International: Teach a Toddler

Book: Maybe a Bear Ate It by Robie H. Harris, illustrated by Michael Emberley

Book: Sleep, Big Bear, Sleep by Maureen Wright

Craft: Bear Masks, decorated with glue and coffee grounds. This was a fun and slightly messy project. Several parents mentioned they were glad we did it at the library instead of at home but really clean-up was a breeze. For my younger group this week, we painted the same masks with a mixture of coffee (for the brown color) & shaving cream – this added texture and dimension and was good fine motor skills practice.

Owl Story Time – Preschool

November 20, 2013

Introduction: What do we know about owls? Where do they live? When do they sleep? What do they eat? Learn the sign language signs for owl.

Opening song

Book: Owl Babies by Martin Waddell, illustrated by Patrick Benson

Book: Moo Hoo by Candace Ryan, illustrated by Mike Lowery

Fingerplay: The Owl
There’s a wide-eyed owl (thumbs and forefingers around eyes)
With a pointed nose, (thumbs and forefingers to make a point)
He has pointed ears (clenched hands, forefingers up for ears)
And claws for toes. (make hands into claws)
He sits in a tree and looks at you; (fingers circles around eyes)
Then flaps his wings and says, (hands to chest and flap elbows)
“whoo, whoo ” (hands cup mouth to hoot)

Book: Little Owl’s Orange Scarf by Tatyana Feeney

Fingerplay: “Two Little Barn Owls” – adapted from Two Little Blackbirds
Two little barn owls sitting on a hill, one named Jack and one named Jill.
Fly away Jack, flay away Jill. Come back Jack, come back Jill . . .

Movie: White Owl, Barn Owl by Nicola Davies, DVD Nutmeg Media

Craft: Fuzzy owl art (Credit: Queen Bee Coupons)

Ocean Story Time – Preschool

November 11, 2013June 29, 2022

Introduction: What kinds of animals live in the ocean? Learn the sign language signs for fish and shark.

Opening song

Book: The Fish Who Cried Wolf by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Alex Scheffler

Song: “The Goldfish” – Laurie Berkner: The Best of the Laurie Berkner Band

Book: Ten Little Fish by Audrey Wood, illustrated by Bruce Wood

Prop story: I’m the Biggest Thing in the Ocean by Kevin Sherry

Song: “Baby Shark” we sang the classic camp song with actions. I like this version from the Learning Station for preschoolers because it ends with everyone safe and sound. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyamCXEqa5g

Book: Commotion in the Ocean by Giles Andreae, illustrated by David Wojtowycz

Craft: Create with sand clay and seashells
There are lots of recipes online for sand dough or sand clay. My version was roughly equal parts sand & flour mixed with enough water to make it play dough consistency. This was a bit time consuming to prepare for 3 days of story times but we had left over sand taking up valuable storage space – and the kids thought it was super fun to play with.

Dance Story Time – Preschool

October 7, 2013

Introduction: Talk about dancing, kinds of dancing

Opening song

Book: Mabel Dancing by Amy Hest, illustrated by Christine Davenier

Song (with wrist ribbons): “Rainbow Dancers” – Pam Schiller: Moving to Math

Book: Brontorina by James Howe, illustrated by Randy Cecil

Song: “All I Want to do is Dance” – Kira Willey: Kings and Queens of the Forest

Song: “Silly Dance Contest” – Jim Gill: Jim Gill Sings the Sneezing Song

Song: “Banana Dance” by Dr. Jean: Better Bodies and Brains

Book: Wiggle by Doreen Cronin, illustrated by Scott Menchin

Movie: Giraffe’s Can’t Dance (Weston Woods, adapted from the book by Giles Andreae)

Craft: Paper plates with streamers

Blue Story Time – Preschool

September 16, 2013September 16, 2013

Opening song

Introduction: Talk about the color blue. What things can we think of that are blue?

Book: Blue Chameleon by Emily Gravett

Song: “Color Game” by Jim Gill: Jim Gill Sings Do, Re, Mi on His Toe, Leg, Knee

Book: Have You Seen My New Blue Socks? by Eve Bunting, illustrated by Sergio Ruzzier

Fingerplay: “Two Little Bluebirds”
Two little bluebirds sat on a hill,
One named Jack and one named Jill.
Fly away, Jack; fly away, Jill,
Come back, Jack; come back, Jill.

Book: Blue Sea by Robert Kalan, illustrated by Donald Crews

Song: “Over the Deep Blue Sea” by Susan Salidor: Come and Make a Circle

Book: Grumpy Bird by Jeremy Tankard

Prop story: It Looked Like Spilt Milk by Charles Shaw (prop kit purchased from lakeshorelearning.com)

Movie: Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey (Scholastic Video Collection)

Craft: Blue collage

Pirates Story Time – Preschool

August 15, 2013August 15, 2013

Opening Song

Book: How I Became a Pirate by Melinda Long, illustrated by David Shannon

Flannel: Pirates Wear Patches

Pirates wear patches
and on their hand, hooks
Pirates love to mismatch
And give dirty looks
Pirates wear white shirts
with big puffy sleeves
Pirates are scoundrels
And rascals and thieves!
Pirates wear black hats
with a skull and cross bones
Pirates yell “Avast”!
And “Ahoy, thar she blows!
Pirates have long hair
they decorate with beads
Pirates aren’t rare
When you’re sailing the seas!
Pirates have a pet bird
and tie the best knots
Pirates are quite absurd
X marks the spot!

(Credit: Miss Meg’s Storytime)

Song: “Captain Feathersword Fell Asleep on his Pirate Ship” – The Wiggles: Toot, Toot!

Song: If you’re a pirate and you know it
If you’re a pirate and you know it, swab the deck (swish, swish)
If you’re a pirate and you know it, swab the deck (swish, swish)
If you’re a pirate and you know it, then you’ll hear the sea winds blowin.
If you’re a pirate and you know it, swab the deck (swish, swish)

verses two and three
If you’re a pirate and you know it, walk the plank (stomp, stomp)…
If you’re a pirate and you know it, say ahoy Ahoy! (with arm movement)…

(Credit: Born Librarian blog)

Movie: Timmy Time: Timmy Finds Treasure

Craft: Black paper pirate hats with skull-and-crossbones die-cut, plus parrot to color and tape onto child’s shoulder

Garden Story Time – Preschool

August 15, 2013August 15, 2013

Opening Song

Book: What’s in the Garden? by Marianne Collins Berkes, illustrated by Cris Arbo

Rhyme: Garden Snail

Slowly, slowly, very slowly, creeps the garden snail. (Move hands down legs)
Slowly, slowly, very slowly, up the wooden rail. (Move hands up legs)
Quickly, quickly, very quickly, runs the little mouse, (down legs)
Quickly, quickly, very quickly, in his little house. Squeak! (up legs and body, make ears)

Song: “In our Garden” – Raffi: One Light, One Sun

Book: My Garden by Kevin Henkes

Song (with shaky eggs): “Fruit Salad Salsa” – The Laurie Berkner Band: Victor Vito

Book: Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds, illustrated by Peter Brown

Movie: Planting a Rainbow

Craft: Creepy carrots

Construction Story Time – Preschool

August 15, 2013

Opening Song

Book: What Can a Crane Pick Up? by Rebecca Kai Dotlich, illustrated by Mike Lowery

Book: Roadwork by Sally Sutton, illustrated by Brian Lovelock

Song: “Construction Worker Song”
This is the way we pound our nails, pound our nails, pound our nails
This is the way we pound our nails, so early in the morning
(Saw the wood, stack the bricks, stir the paint, paint the walls)
(Credit: Everything Preschool)

Song: “Jumping and Counting” – Jim Gill: Jim Gill’s irrational anthem and more salutes to nonsense

Movie: Goodnight, goodnight, construction site