Monthly Archives: November 2019

Mail and Letters – Preschool Storytime

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This time of year is probably when I send the most mail.  Thinking about this, I thought it would be fun to do a mail and letters storytime, especially since I don’t think I’ve ever done one before!

MOVEMENT: Welcome Song*

MOVEMENT:

“Clap Your Hands” from Wiggleworms Love You by Old Town School of Folk Music

INTRO:

I took this great idea from Abby the Librarian.  To kick off storytime, I pulled an envelope out of my bag.  We talked about what it was, the address, the stamp, and the return address.  Then I took out the letter and read it to the group to introduce that storytime today was going to be all about letters and mail.

BOOK:

It Came in the Mail by Ben Clanton

MOVEMENT:

Little Letter Carrier
I am a little letter carrier
Who loves to do nothing better
I walk, walk, walk (walk in place)
to your house to deliver your letter

Other verses:
I run, run, run (run in place)
I hop, hop hop (hop in place)

I opened this up to suggestions from the audience, so we also ended up doing:

Skip
Spin
March
Skip to my Lou (this was an interesting one, that I didn’t know how to do, so I had the suggester demonstrate, and then we all followed)
Drive

FLANNELBOARD STORY:

Lovely Letters in the Mail

For this flannelboard, I used a set that I purchased at Target from their $1-$3 section.  You can sometimes find some really great flannel sets there!  This is actually 2 sets put together.  I got it awhile ago, so I’m not sure it’s still available.  But it wouldn’t be too hard to make envelopes on your own.

I started by saying that I had gotten this bag full of mail delivered.

Then we opened it and counted how many letters were inside, as I placed them on the flannelboard. (All these are the same size, it’s just the weird angle of the photograph that makes them look different):

Then we sang this song:

Lovely Letters in the Mail
(to the tune of “If You’re Happy and You Know It”)

Oh, I got a lovely letter in the mail (clap, clap)
Oh, I got a lovely letter in the mail (clap, clap)
Getting mail is so much fun
Let’s see who sent this one
Oh, this lovely little letter in the mail. (clap, clap)

We opened up the envelope which had a letter inside:

I read the letter aloud without showing the audience, and they could guess which animal friend had sent me the letter.


Once the letter was read, and the audience had guessed, I turned the letter around to share the image of the friend that wrote it.  I got all the images from a google image search.

We then repeated the process, from the song on, until all the letters were open.   Here’s what my letters said:

Mouse
Dear Friend,
If you have any cheese, can you please leave it by my hole? Thank you.
Love, Mouse

Bear
Dear Friend,
I’m looking forward to sleeping all winter.
Love, Bear

Dog
Dear Friend,
Maybe we can play fetch soon?
Love, Dog

Cat
Dear Friend,
Let’s have fish lunch together!
Love, Cat

Fish
Dear Friend,
I’m lonely.  Can you please put a friend in my bowl?
Love, Fish

Bird
Dear Friend,
Can you please visit me in my tree?  I want you to see my new nest.
Love, Bird

MOVEMENT:

“Shake My Sillies Out” from More Singable Songs by Raffi

BOOK:

Millie Waits for the Mail by Alexander Steffensmeier

VIDEO:

“A Letter to Amy” from The Ezra Jack Keats Collection based on the book by Ezra Jack Keats

MOVEMENT: Storytime’s Over*

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:

Book: The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt, pictures by Oliver Jeffers
Book: Can I Be Your Dog? by Troy Cummings
Book: Send It! by Don Carter
Book: Stanley the Mailman by William Bee
Book: A Letter for Leo  by Sergio Ruzzier
DVD: Hail to the Mail from Reading Rainbow

OTHER AWESOME RESOURCES:

– Abby the Librarian – Preschool Storytime: Mail
– Handly Regional Libraries Youthscope Blog – You’ve Got Mail Storytime
– Madelyn’s Library Programming – Toddler Storytime – Mail Time
– Read It Again! – Flannel Friday: Mailing Letters
– storytime katie – mail!
– storytime katie – Flannel Friday: Six Little Valentines
– Verona Story Time – Mail Story Time – Everybody
– The Wielded Pen – Children’s corner – You’ve Got Mail Storytime

HOW IT WENT:
Today was a fun storytime and a great theme.  Since I had such a small group, it was great that a lot of the kids got to participate in sharing ideas or guesses.   I hardly ever think up my own original flannelboard stories, so I was probably overly proud of myself when this one just came to me as I was prepping for the storytime.  The flannelboard took a little longer to present than I anticipated, but the kids were having fun with it, so I think it was fine.

I’m also trying to incorporate better parent patter and tips into my storytimes.  I’m not confident enough in that, but I know it’s something I need to do, so I’m trying.  This time, I made sure to ask some engaging questions after the video, to show that these can spark communication similar to how books can.

ATTENDANCE: 13 (adults and children.  It was slow this morning, since it was the Saturday after Thanksgiving)

DATE PRESENTED: Saturday, November 30, 2019 @ Children’s Room

*To see the words to these movements and activities I use frequently, please visit my
A-capella Movements Section on my Storytime Movements and Music Page

Squirrels – Preschool Storytime

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It’s Fall, and I haven’t done a squirrel storytime sine 2010!  That was pre-blogging times for me.  It seemed like it time to revisit these frisky friends.

MOVEMENT: Welcome Song*

MOVEMENT:

“Clap Your Hands” from Wiggleworms Love You by Old Town School of Folk Music

BOOK:

Where Are My Books? by Debbie Ridpath Ohi

MOVEMENT:

Frisky Squirrel
taken from Miss Kate’s Storytime Wiki
(to the tune of “The Grand Ol’ Duke of York”)

Oh the frisky little squirrel
He gathers nuts and seeds
He hides them for the winter months
So he’ll have all he needs.

Refrain:
Oh up-up-up he goes (stretch up to the sky)
And down-down-down he comes (bend/squat down to the floor)
He runs around (turn around)
Goes up-and-down (stretch up and then bend/squat down quickly)
His work is never done.

Repeat refrain.

 

FLANNELBOARD STORY:

5 Little Squirrels
(to the tune of “Five Little Ducks”)
song taken from Storytime Stuff
template taken from Preschool Favorites: 35 Storytimes Kids Love by Diane Briggs, illustrated by Thomas Briggs.

1 little squirrel went out to play
Up in the branches one autumn day.
He had such enormous fun,
he called for another little squirrel to come.

2…
3…
4…

5 little squirrels went out to play
up in the branches on chilly day.
They had such enormous fun,
Then they all scurried home ’cause winter had come.

FLANNELBOARD STORY:

5 Little Acorns
(to the tune of “Five Little Ducks”)
song taken from Story Time Secrets
template taken from Preschool Favorites: 35 Storytimes Kids Love by Diane Briggs, illustrated by Thomas Briggs.

Down around the corner by the big oak tree
Sat five little acorns looking so yummy
Along came a squirrel with a big busy tail
He took one acorn and ran off down the trail.

4…
3…
2….
1…

MOVEMENT:

“Shake My Sillies Out” from More Singable Songs by Raffi

BOOK:

My Cousin Momo by Zachariah OHora

VIDEO:

“Squirrel for a Day” from Curious George: Zoo Night and Other Animal Stories

MOVEMENT: Storytime’s Over*

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:

Book: Acorns Everywhere! by Kevin Sherry
Book: Squirrels Leap, Squirrels Sleep by April Pulley Sayre, illustrated by Steve Jenkins
Book: Ol’ Mama Squirrel by David Ezra Stein
Book: Cyril and Pat by Emily Gravett
Book: Nuts to You! by Lois Ehlert

OTHER AWESOME RESOURCES:
Storytime Stuff – Squirrely Squirrels Storytime
Story Time Secrets – Story Time Starter: Squirrels
The Wielded Pen – Squirrels! – A Storytime Outline
LiBrionyian – Squirrels – Preschool
storytime katie – Squirrels!
Verona Storytime – Squirrels Story Time – Toddler
one little librarian – toddler time: feeling squirrelly

ATTENDANCE: 36 (adults and children)

DATE PRESENTED: Saturday, November 16, 2019 @ Children’s Room

*To see the words to these movements and activities I use frequently, please visit my
A-capella Movements Section on my Storytime Movements and Music Page

(Not So) Scared – Preschool Storytime

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You know when you sort of have a storytime slump, and don’t know what theme you want to do?  I was in that, and then thought about the time of year we are in.  I went to jbrary’s 2018 Favourite Storytime Picture Books list for inspiration.  I saw Are You Scared, Darth Vader? by Adam Rex at the top of the list.  Then I thought about all the scary things that are around this time of year.  And knowing how to deal with the feeling of being scared is part of social emotional understanding.  So, I figured I would do a storytime not about scary things, but about being scared.  Here’s what we did.

MOVEMENT: Welcome Song*

MOVEMENT:

“Clap Your Hands” from Wiggleworms Love You by Old Town School of Folk Music

BOOK:

Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall

MOVEMENT:

“Shake My Sillies Out” from More Singable Songs by Raffi

MOVEMENT: My Wiggles*

FLANNELBOARD STORY:
The Fearsome Beast
story and template taken from Judy Sierra’s Flannel Board Storytelling Book.

This is a fun folktale about Caterpillar who climbs into Rabbit’s log home when Rabbit is out.  When Rabbit returns Caterpillar puts on a loud voice and says,

“I am a great warrior, son of the long one.
I crush the rhinoceros to the earth,
and I make dust of the elephant.
I am invincible!”

Of course, no one wants to tangle with whoever is in the log – certainly not rhino or elephant – and it’s not until Frog comes along that Caterpillar’s jig is up.

MOVEMENT: 
If You’re Brave and You Know It
(to the tune of: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”

If you’re brave and you know it, clap your hands. (clap, clap)
If you’re brave and you know it, clap your hands. (clap, clap)
If you’re brave and you know, then your face will surely show it.
If you’re brave and you know, clap your hands. (clap, clap)

If you’re brave and you know it, stomp your feet. (stomp, stomp)
If you’re brave and you know it, stomp your feet. (stomp, stomp)
If you’re brave and you know, then your face will surely show it.
If you’re brave and you know, stomp your feet. (stomp, stomp)

If you’re brave and you know it, say “I am!” (say “I am!” and flex arms over head)
If you’re brave and you know it, say “I am!” (say “I am!” and flex arms over head)
If you’re brave and you know, then your face will surely show it.
If you’re brave and you know, say “I am!” (say “I am!” and flex arms over head)

BOOK:

Snip Snap! What’s That? by Mara Bergman, illustrations by Nick Maland

VIDEO:

“Scaredy Squirrel” from Scaredy Squirrel and Bink & Gollie Double Feature based on the book by Mélanie Watt

MOVEMENT: Storytime’s Over*

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:


Book: Are you Scared, Darth Vader? by Adam Rex
Book: I Am (Not) Scared by Anna Kang, illustrated by Christopher Weyant
Book: Max the Brave by Ed Vere
Book: The Terrible Plop by Ursula Dubosarsky
Book: Brave Squish Rabbit by Katherine Battersby
Book: Stormy Night by Salina Yoon
Book: Let’s Sing a Lullaby with the Brave Cowboy by Jan Thomas

Movement/Flannelboard:
5 Itty Bitty Monsters
by Dino o’Dell from the album Itty Bitty Monsters

Five itty bitty monsters lying underneath the bed.
“Go out and scare some kids out there,”
The littlest monster said.
1 monster took off to scare some kids,
So that left….. (continue with 4, 3, 2, 1)

1 itty bitty monster, lying underneath the bed.
“I’m scared to be alone,
Please come home,”
The littlest monster said.

Taken from Sunflower Storytime

Movement/Flannelboard:
Five Little Flowers
Five little flowers growing in a row (hold up five fingers, gesture to row)
The first one said, “We need rain to grow.” (hold up 1 finger, imitate rain falling)
The second one said, “Yes, we need water!” (hold up 2 fingers, nod head)
The third one said, “Whew, it’s getting hotter!” (hold up 3 fingers, wipe brow)
The fourth one said, “Look, there are clouds in the sky.” (4 fingers, point to sky)
The fifth one said, “I wonder why?” (5 fingers, hold palms out questioningly)
Then “BOOM” went the thunder! (clap hands together loudly)
And “ZAP” went the lightening! (draw zig-zag in air)
That springtime storm was kind of frightening! (shiver)
But were the flowers scared? No, no, no. (shake head)
They knew they needed rain to grow, grow, grow. (hold hand above ground & raise)

Taken from Harford County Public Library

OTHER AWESOME RESOURCES:
Yogibrarian – Feeling Scared
Sunflower Storytime blog – Monsters Don’t Scare Me!

ATTENDANCE: 25 (adults and children)

DATE PRESENTED: Saturday, October 19, 2019 @ Children’s Room

*To see the words to these movements and activities I use frequently, please visit my A-capella Movements Section on my Storytime Movements and Music Page