Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Bear-tastic Books!

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Bears are cuddly and lovable (the stuffed ones, anyway), so today we read several books about... You guessed it, BEARS!  And we had a bear-y good time.


The Three Bears by Byron Barton
While three bears are away from home, Goldilocks ventures inside their house, tastes their porridge, tries their chairs, and finally falls asleep in Baby Bear's bed.



Thank You Bear by Greg Foley
Despite the criticism of others, a bear finds the perfect gift for his mouse friend.




Just Like Bossy Bear by David Horvath
Bossy Bear always wants things his way, but when his best friend Turtle starts acting just like him, Bossy Bear tries to change.




Goldilocks and Just One Bear by Leigh Hodgkinson
Little Bear, all grown up, finds himself lost in a noisy, busy city where he happens to bump into someone with golden hair who remembers exactly how he likes his porridge.



Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear Action Rhyme:
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear turn around
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear touch the ground
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear jump up high
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear touch the sky
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear get down low
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear touch your toes
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear turn out the light
Everybody say "Shhhhh"
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear say goodnight

"If You're Happy and You Know It"

If you're happy and you know it clap your hands
If you're happy and you know it clap your hands
If you're happy and you know it then your face will surely show it
If you're happy and you know it clap your hands

Additional verses:

  • stomp your feet
  • shake your head
  • shout Hooray!
 
We created Bear Bookmarks during Craft Time today!
He hugs your spot so you don't forget where you left off.


 

Friday, December 7, 2012

Hello Around the World

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

We traveled all around the world at Story Time today, learning to say "hello" and "goodbye" in many different languages with the following books:



 

Say Hello! by Rachel Isadora
A little girl greets people in her neighborhood in many different languages!
Hello, Hello by Miriam Schlein
Explore how many different animals greet each other!





Say Hello by Jack and Michael Foreman
Written when the author was ten years old, this book tells of a dog and a boy who are both lonely until they are included by others.


Hello, Day! by Anita Lobel
Various animals greet the sunrise in their own unique voices, except for the owl who welcomes the night.


How Do You Say Hi? Action Rhyme:
Hey!  Hi!  Howdy!  Yo!
There are many ways to say hello!
Wave your hand.  Nod your head.
Smile big or wink instead.
Blow a kiss.  Tip your hat.
Shake your hands.  Give a pat.
Of all the ways to say hello,
Here's the way I like to go...  HELLO!

"Hello" Song:
(from Multi-cultural Children's Songs by Ella Jenkins)
Hello, Hello
Hello and how are you?
I'm fine, I'm fine
I hope that you are too!
We made these "hello" and "goodbye" hand
collages during Craft Time today!
Arrivederci!

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Winter Wonderland

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Bundle up and snuggle in to read these winter-themed books!  Today at Story Time we explored... 

The Hat by Jan Brett
When Lisa hangs her woolen clothes in the sun to air them out for winter, the hedgehog, to the amusement of the other animals, ends up wearing a stocking on his head.

Polar Bear Night by Lauren Thompson
After wandering out at night to watch a magical star shower, a polar bear cub returns home to snuggle with her mother in their warm den.



Snowballs by Lois Ehlert
Pull on your mittens and head outside with Lois Ehlert for a snowball day! Grab some snow and start rolling. With a few found objects, like buttons and fabric and seeds, and a little imagination, you can create a whole family out of snow.

No Two Alike by Keith Baker
This story follows a pair of red birds on a snowflake-filled journey through a winter landscape, where everything everywhere, from branches and leaves to forests full of trees, is unique.


Winter Fingerplay:
Winter is cold (hug yourself and shiver)
There is snow in the sky (flutter fingers above your head)
The squirrel gathers nuts (pretend to gather nuts)
And the wild geese fly (flap arms)
The fluffy red fox (cup hands over head to form ears)
Has his fur to keep warm (stroke arms as if stroking fur)
The bear's in her cave (form cave with your arms)
Sleeping all through the storm (fold hands under cheek)

Winter Hokey Pokey:
You put your right mitten in
You take your right mitten out
You put your right mitten in
And you shake it all about
You do the winter pokey (shiver)
And you turn yourself around
That's what it's all about
Other Verses --
left mitten
right boot
left boot
long scarf
ear muffs
snowsuit


We decorated these awesome mitten ornaments
for our craft today!

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Birds of a Feather

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

This morning at Story Time, we had a special visitor from the Children's Museum: Miss Tiffany! She told us about upcoming events at CMH, including Santa visits beginning on Friday, November 23rd. Today's theme was "for the birds." We read...
 
Wow! Said the Owl by Tim Hopgood
A curious little owl decides to stay awake to find out how the things he sees at night look during the daytime.






 
The Little Red Hen:  An Old Fable retold by Heather ForestA rhymed retelling of the traditional tale about the industrious little red hen and her lazy friends.


Turkey Trouble by Wendi Silvano
As Thanksgiving Day approaches, Turkey nervously makes a series of costumes, disguising himself as other farm animals in hopes that he can avoid being served as Thanksgiving dinner.


 
 
Two Little Blackbirds Fingerplay:
Two little blackbirds, sitting on a hill
One named Jack, one named Jill
Fly away Jack, fly away Jill
Come back Jack, come back Jill
Two little blackbirds, sitting on a cloud
One named Quiet, one named Loud
Fly away Quiet, fly away Loud
Come back Quiet, come back Loud
Two little blackbirds, sitting in the snow
One named Fast, one named Slow
Fly away Fast, fly away Slow
Come back Fast, come back Slow
 
Five and Five Eggs Fingerplay:
Five and five eggs, that makes ten
Sitting on top is the mother hen
Crackle, crackle, crackle
What do I see?
Ten fluffy chickens, as yellow as can be!
 
In the morning session, Tiffany showed us
how to make contact paper collages!

This afternoon, we created "thankful" turkeys,
listing something we are grateful for on each feather!


Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Cookie

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Today I put on my apron to read some very tasty storybooks about...  cookies!  Is anyone else getting hungry?

Who Ate All the Cookie Dough? by Karen Beaumont
Kanga and her friends try to discover who ate all her cookie dough.
When You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff
Ever wonder what other requests a mouse is likely to make after you oblige him with a cookie?
The Cow Loves Cookies by Karma Wilson
While all the other animals on the farm enjoy eating their regular food, the cow chooses to eat the one thing that she loves best.



Big Cookie Fingerplay:
I am a great big cookie (circle hands over head)
Chocolately and round, (extend hands to sides)
Filled with lots of chocolate chips, (point to self in a few places)
The best that can be found. (rub tummy)
I am a great big cookie, (circle hands over head)
Take a bite of me.  (pretend to take a bite)
Tasty, sweet, delicious, (extend hands to sides)
I'm oh-so-yummy! (rub tummy)
I WAS a great big cookie, (circle hands over head)
The very best around. (extend hands to sides)
Now there's nothing left of me, (shake head)
Just crumbs upon the ground. (sit down)


Making Cookies Fingerplay:
I am making cookie dough, (point to self)
Round and round the beaters go (mover hands in circles)
Add some flour from a cup, (pretend to pour)
Stir and mix the batter up. (pretend to stir)
Roll them, cut them, nice and neat, (pretend to roll out dough)
Put them on a cookie sheet. (pretend to transfer cookies)
Bake them, count them, one, two, three, (pretend to count cookies)
Then serve them to my friends for tea. (pretend to pass cookies around)




It was fun to make our very own chocolate chip cookie
refrigerator magnet at craft time!

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Bark!

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Today we had a special visit from Scrappy the dog, who helped us read these "paw"esome storybooks!

Bark, George!  by Jules Feiffer
George the puppy's mother is in for a big surprise when she takes him to the veterinarian to find out why he does not bark.

Doggone Dogs! by Karen Beaumont
Ten unruly dogs get loose at the park, and when they are captured by the dog-catcher, they work together to effect their escape and return home.

The Pigeon Wants a Puppy by Mo Willems
Pigeon really wants one and he'll take good care of it--but does he know what he's getting into?



Ten Little Doggies Fingerplay:
Ten little doggies went out one day (hold up 10 fingers)
To dig in the dirt and play, play, play (pretend to dig)
Five were spotted, and five were not (show one hand at a time)
And at dinner time they ate a lot! (pretend to eat)

Little Puppies Fingerplay:
Little puppy one fell asleep in the sun (pretend to sleep)
Little puppy two likes to play with my shoe (point to shoe)
Little puppy three always kisses me (point to cheek)
Little puppy four ran out the door (fingers "run")
Little puppy five watched a crow dive (hands dive)
Little puppy six likes to do little tricks (pretend to sit up like dog)
Little puppy seven counted stars in heaven (look to sky and count)
Little puppy eight jumped over the gate (jump)
Little puppy nine sat down to dine (pretend to eat)
Little puppy ten fell asleep in the den (pretend to sleep)
Can you count the puppies? 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10!


Check out the puppets we made during craft time!