Monthly Archives: July 2016

“Inch by Inch” Story Explorers pre-k book club

Felt Board – Bookworm
Bookworm, bookworm, playing hide and seek
Are you behind the (blue) book?
Let’s take a peek!
Source: Jbrary

Then we read Inch by Inch by Leo Lionni.

We made little inchworm friends out of pipe cleaners and beads, like this post from Craftulate. We used the rulers to measure our pipe cleaners.

We then used the rulers to measure gummy worms, both regular and sour, like this post from Kids Activities Blog. Which is longest? Which is shortest? Stretch your gummy worm, and measure again. Take a bite, and measure again.

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“Letter V” preschool storytime

Opening Song
I wiggle my fingers. I wiggle my toes.
I wiggle my ears. I wiggle my nose.
I wiggle my shoulders. I wiggle my chin.
I stretch my arms wide and pull them back in.
I wiggle my elbows. I wiggle my knees.
I hop like a bunny. I smile and say, “Cheese!”
Now I have no more wiggles left in me
And I sit on the floor as still as can be.
Source: Storytime with Jason

Alphabet Monster (with puppet)
I’m the Alphabet Monster
And nothing tastes better
To the Alphabet Monster
Than eating a letter.
Today I will eat a “V” if I may
With the million more letters
I munch every day.
I’m hungry now. What shall I do?
I think I’ll eat a “y” an “o” and a “u” . . . . . . That means YOU!
Source: Storyblocks (adapted)

Book – The Man with the Violin by Kathy Stinson
*I play the My First Violin album while reading this story. It’s amazing how the music keeps the kids enthralled during a book I wouldn’t normally choose for storytime.

Song – “Beethoven’s Five Fingerplay” by Jim Gill

I’m a Little Vacuum
I’m a little vacuum,
Hear me vroom,
Over the floor and
All across the room.
When I get all revved up,
See me work,
Cleaning up the carpet,
And sucking up the dirt.
VROOM!
Source: Measured Mom

Book – Beep, Beep, Vroom, Vroom! by Stuart J. Murphy

Song – Ralph’s World – “Driving in my Car”

Take Me Riding in the Car
American Sign Language: Car, Train, Boat, Airplane, Ride
Take me riding in the car, car;
Take me riding in the car, car;
Take you riding in the car, car;
I’ll take you riding in my car.
Source: King County Library System

Book – The View at the Zoo by Kathleen Long Bostrom

Zoo Animals
(Tune: If You’re Happy and You Know It)
If you want to be a monkey, jump up high
If you want to be a monkey, jump up high.
If you want to be a monkey,
If you want to be a monkey,
If you want to be a monkey, jump up high.
Eagle…flap your wings
Elephant…swing your trunk
Lion…roar out loud
Giraffe…stand up tall (stretch high)
Snake…slither and hiss
Source: Adapted Traditional

Old Volcano
Old volcano is asleep
(rest cheek on prayer hands)
Shhh, don’t wake him;
let him sleep! (put finger to lips)
Rumble, rumble, rumble, when will it stop? (pound feet on floor)
Look, old volcano has blown his top! (thrust arms up and out)
Source: King County Library System

Goodbye
Bread and butter, marmalade and jam
Let’s say good-bye as high as we can
Good-bye! (in high, squeaky voice)
Bread and butter, marmalade and jam
Let’s say good-bye as low as we can
Good-bye! (in a deep voice)
Bread and butter, marmalade and jam
Let’s say good-bye as fast as we can
Good-bye! (very quick)
Bread and butter, marmalade and jam
Let’s say good-bye as slow as we can
Good-bye! (very slowly and drawn out)
Bread and butter, marmalade and jam
Let’s say good-bye as quiet as we can
Good-bye! (in a whisper)
Bread and butter, marmalade and jam
Let’s say good-bye as loud as we can
GOOD-BYE! (yelling)
Source: Jbrary

Early literacy tip: V is for visual literacy! Visual literacy is the ability to obtain meaning from images. To develop your child’s visual literacy skills, read wordless picture books, visit art museums, play games like “I Spy,” and practice drawing.
Source: Being Visual (link broken)

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Other titles that could work for V
The Visitor – Antje Damm

“Tortoise and the Hare” yoga storytime

Opening – How I explain the rules of yoga storytime: stay on your mat and keep your hands to yourself.
(Skip to my Lou – from Jim Gill)
Stomping feet, one and two
Stomping feet, one and two
But if my feet were covered in glue
I’d stick to the glue, my darling.

Clapping hands, one and two
Clapping hands, one and two
But if my hands were covered in glue
I’d stick to the glue, my darling
(hands in Anjali mudra, or prayer position)

Extend and Stretch
Frere Jacques
Extend and stretch (sit in sukasana – easy seated pose, or crisscross applesauce- and do seated side bends)
Extend and stretch
Twist and turn (seated twists)
Twist and turn
This is yoga, (hands overhead on “this,” then bring to prayer position on “yoga”)
This is yoga
Om sweet om, (hands in prayer, bow forward)
Om sweet om
Source: I got this from Kids Yoga Guide teacher training, but here is another from Be Grace Yoga

Sun Salutations
I use a call and response version of Sergeant Salutations from Kidding Around Yoga. I canged the lyrics for this one to say, “Bunnies hop up. Turtles slow down.”

Song: Kira Willey’s “Stop and Go”

Book – Hurry Up and Slow Down! by Layn Marlow
Hare in a hurry – hopping up and down
Tortoise sleeps late – turtle pose then stretch when waking up
Cross the stream – paschimottonanasana/ seated forward fold
Bunny chasing a butterfly – baddha konasana/bound angle pose
Tic Tac Toe – five pointed star pose and toe balance (without the half lotus) like x’s and o’s
Open the Book while the turtle is reading –Arms, legs, both. Close the book. Open the book. Turn the page. Start seated with arms stretched out in front of you, palms touching. To “open the book,” stretch the arms wide. To close it, bring them back together. To “turn the page,” open just the right arm and close it, then the left arm and close it. Repeat “turning pages” until the kids giggle. Repeat the whole sequence using legs instead of arms. Then try arms and legs together.

Bean Bag Experiment
Stand on one side of the room. Place the bean bag on your head, and drop your hands by your sides. Try to run to the other side of the room, keeping the bean bag on your head (without touching it). Then place the bean bag on your head, and walk slowly across the room. Explain how when our movements are slow and mindful that it is easier to maintain balance.

Song: “Slow and Fast” – Hap Palmer

Hoberman Sphere breathing ball

Savasana This was a guided savasana. We thought about how sometimes we move so fast adn hope around like the hare, but that it’s ok

Peace begins with me
Hold both hands overhead. On the word “peace,” touch the thumbs and pinky fingers together. On the word “begins,” touch the thumbs and ring fingers. On the word “with,” touch the thumbs and middle fingers. On the word “me,” touch the thumbs and pointers. Repeat this four times, the first time loudly and hands overhead. The second time, bring the hands down a little and speak a little softer. The third time, bring hands lower and whisper. The last time, bring hands to knees and speak words silently to self.
Source: Kids Yoga Guide Teacher Training

Floating Turtle Craft

Namaste!

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“Blackout” preschool book club

We talked about what happens when the power goes out. Some kids have never had that happen! Then we read Blackout by John Rocco.

We turned out the lights in 1/2 the room so the kids could play with flashlights and shadow puppets.

We also made star jars using foil, ball jars, and golf tees to poke holes, kind of like this post from Design Mom.

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“Letter U” preschool storytime

Alphabet Monster (with puppet)
I’m the Alphabet Monster
And nothing tastes better
To the Alphabet Monster
Than eating a letter.
Today I will eat a “U” if I may
With the million more letters
I munch every day.
I’m hungry now. What shall I do?
I think I’ll eat a “y” an “o” and a “u” . . . . . . That means YOU!
Source: Storyblocks (adapted)

Book – A Unicorn Named Sparkle by Amy Young

I Wish I were a Unicorn
(Tune of “If You’re Happy and You Know It”)
Oh, I wish I were a lovely unicorn.
Oh, I wish I were a lovely unicorn.
Oh, I’d frolic and I’d play.
And I’d dream the day away.
Oh, I wish I were a lovely unicorn.
Source: DLTK Teach

Tommy Thumbs Up
Tommy thumbs up
Tommy thumbs down
Tommy thumbs dancing all over town
Dance them on your shoulders
Dance them on your head
Dance them on your knees
And tuck them into bed.
Source: King County Library System

Book – Up, Tall, and High (But Not Necessarily in that Order) by Ethan Long

Way Up High in the Apple Tree
Way up high in the apple tree
Some little apples smiled at me
I shook that tree as hard as I could
Down fell the apples
Mmmm they were good
Source: King County Library System

Umbrellas Go Up
Umbrellas go up, umbrellas go down
When rain clouds are dark,
All over the town.
One raindrop and two
Two raindrops and three
My up and down umbrella, is up over me.
Four raindrops and five
Six raindrops and seven
Raindrops are tumbling,
Down from the heaven.
Drip, drip, drip, drip! I am dry as can be
My up and down umbrella, is up over me!
(With each “up” throw your arms over your head and jump up. With each “down” bring your arms down to your sides)
Source: King County Library System

Song – “Leaky Umbrella” by Jim Gill

Book – What Color is your Underwear? by Sam Lloyd

Ugly Underwear
(Tune: If You’re Happy & You Know It)
Oh, I’m glad I don’t have ugly underwear;
Oh, I’m glad I don’t have ugly underwear!
It would make me switch and twitch;
And maybe even itch;
Oh, I’m glad I don’t have ugly underwear!
Source: DLTK Teach

Early literacy tip: U is for uninterrupted sustained silent reading! Each day, a child needs some quiet time to “read” independently. (Pre-readers can look at pictures/ look at wordless picture books.) Set up a time and place for this for the whole family!

Teaching Early Literacy by Diane Barone et al

Other books on this theme:
Donut: the Unicorn who Wanted to Fly – Laura Gehl
(Kind of a cheat, but…) You Do You-nicorn by Erin Vanessa

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“Letter T” preschool storytime

Alphabet Monster (with puppet)
I’m the Alphabet Monster
And nothing tastes better
To the Alphabet Monster
Than eating a letter.
Today I will eat a “T” if I may
With the million more letters
I munch every day.
I’m hungry now. What shall I do?
I think I’ll eat a “y” an “o” and a “u” . . . . . . That means YOU!
Source: Storyblocks (adapted)

Book – If I had a Tail by Karen Clemens Warrick

Ears and Whiskers, Tail and Feet
(Tune: Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes)
Ears and whiskers, tail and feet, tail and feet.
Ears and whiskers, tail and feet, tail and feet.
Pet my fur and give a little squeak!
Ears and whiskers, tail and feet, tail and feet.
Source: Adapated Traditional from King County Library System

Coffee
Use your arms as train wheels that slowly rotate into action.
Coffee, coffee, coffee (say the words and move your arms very slowly)
Fish and chip, fish and chips, fish and chips (a little faster)
Cheese and crackers, cheese and crackers, cheese and crackers (even faster)
Meat and potatoes, meat and potatoes, meat and potatoes (faster still!)
Soup! Soup! Soup! (Mimic a train whistle)
Source: King County Library System

Song – “Two for Tea” – Jim Gill

Book – The Gobble Gobble Moooooo Tractor Book by Jez Alborough

Song: Mr. Eric’s “One Two Three Whee!”

Turn Around (Frere Jacques)
Turn around, turn around
Touch your toes, touch your toes,
Do a little jumping, do a little jumping,
Squat down low, squat down low.
Source: King County Library System

Book – It’s a Tiger! by David LaRchelle

Three Terrifying Tigers
Three terrifying tigers.
Terrifying teeth.
Terrifying nails.
Terrifying toes.
Terrifying tigers.
Three totally terrifying tigers.
Source: King County Library System

T-I-G-E-R
There was a big cat had some stripes and TIGER was his name-o.
T-I-G-E-R, T-I-G-E-R, T-I-G-E-R and
Tiger was his name-o.
Source: Adapted Traditional from King County Library System

Early literacy tip: T is for thematic exploration! One way for families to integrate children’s literacy experience is through thematic exploration. For example, family members can read, draw, build, explore, and talk about anything related to a topic: summer, robots, weather, travel, food, camping, etc. This way books and reading become more relevant to children’s lives!

Teaching Early Literacy by Diane Barone et al
Other books that could work for this theme:
Tumble by Adriana Hernádez Bergstrom

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Nursery Rhyme Obstacle Course

This month, in keeping with the Summer Reading theme of “On Your Mark, Get Set, Read,” we set up a Nursery Rhyme Obstacle Course, both in the library and at one of our outreach stops in Severance.

The Grand Old Duke of York
Oh, The grand old Duke of York,
He had ten thousand men;
He marched them up to the top of the hill,
And he marched them down again.

And when they were up, they were up,
And when they were down, they were down,
And when they were only half-way up,
They were neither up nor down

We SLOWLY climbed to the top of the hill and down again. .

Hickory Dickory Dock
Hickory, dickory, dock.
The mouse ran up the clock.
The clock struck one,
The mouse ran down,
Hickory, dickory, dock

We raced the mice up the clock!

Little Miss Muffet
Little Miss Muffet
Sat on a tuffet,
Eating her curds and whey;
Along came a spider
Who sat down beside her
And frightened Miss Muffet away

We sat on and crushed our “tuffet” (the cup).

Humpty Dumpty Egg Races
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the king’s horses and all the king’s men
Couldn’t put Humpty together again.

We placed egg shakers on plastic spoons and tried to walk over the “wall” without dropping them.

Jack be Nimble
Jack be nimble,
Jack be quick,
Jack jump over
The candlestick.
We jumped over all the candles!

Wee Willie Winkie pillow case races
Wee Willie Winkie runs through the town,
Up stairs and down stairs in his night-gown,
Tapping at the window, crying at the lock,
Are the children in their bed,
for it’s past ten o’clock?

Who can hop the fastest to in the pillow cases? (This was the least favorite activity. I didn’t know so many kids would be afraid to get into the pillow cases!)

Jack and Jill’s Bean Bag Pail Toss
Jack and Jill went up the hill
To fetch a pail of water.
Jack fell down and broke his crown,
And Jill came tumbling after

We threw the bean bags in the pails!

Rub a Dub Dub
Rub a dub dub,
Three men in a tub,
And who do you think they be?
The butcher, the baker,
The candlestick maker.
Turn them out, knaves all three

We used the scarves to “wash” in the tub. (By far, everyone’s favorite activity.)

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“Thank You, Jackson” preschool book club

We began our discussion talking about how saying please and thank you is polite and makes people feel good. We played a version of Simon Says, in which I asked the kids to “please jump up and down,” “please spin in a circle,” or “blink your eyes.” The kids could only do the actions in which I said please.

We then read Thank You, Jackson by Niki and Jude Daly.

We then had a “picnic” of pictures of foods taped to paper plates, like this post from Things to Share and Remember. The kids had to share. If they wanted the goldfish, they had to ask using the words please and thank you.

We made thank you cards however and for whomever the kids wanted, using supplies from our craft closet.

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“A Seed is Sleepy” Story Explorers pre-k book club

We began our discussion talking about seeds and how they are baby plants. They need sun, water, and dirt to grow. We talked about how some animals eat seeds because they are very nutritious. Even people eat seeds! I passed out sunflower and pumpkin seeds for the kids to eat.

We then read A Seed is Sleepy by Dianna Hutts Aston and Sylvia Long.

Sun in the Sky
(tune of Skip to my Lou)
Sun in the sky; shine, shine, shine.
Sun in the sky; shine, shine, shine.
Sun in the sky; shine, shine, shine.
Help me with my garden.
Rain from the clouds, drip, drip, drip.
Seeds in the dirt, grow, grow, grow.
Source: Preschool Express

We wrote our names or drew pictures with glue and then poured bird seed over the glue. When it dried, we shook off the excess seeds to see our picture.