November 27: Toddler Storytime: Thanksgiving and Turkeys

(Reminder note: When it is time to read a story, I read the titles of three books and then display them. The children pick which one we read. The ones listed below are the ones they picked.)

Opening song:                                (Tune: The Farmer in the Dell")

             We tap hola like this

             We tap ho la like this

                 Hi-ho cherry

             We tap hola like this

               Continue with other verses:

                  We drop hola like this...

                   We circle hola like this...

                 We spin hola like this...

                We toss hola like this..

                 We roll hola like this....

                     We stomp hola like this...

Story: "Run Turkey Run!" by Diane Mayr

Shaker song:

(I found a clip art of a turkey without feathers. I enlarged it in Microsoft Word. As we sang each verse, children took turns adding a feather to the turkey.)) 

“Turkey Wore His Red Feather”
(Tune: “Mary Wore a Red Dress”)

Turkey wore his red feather, red feather, red feather.
Turkey wore his red feather, all day long!


Turkey wore his orange feather, orange feather, orange feather.
Turkey wore his orange feather, all day long.


Turkey wore his yellow feather, yellow feather, yellow feather.
Turkey wore his yellow feather, all day long.


Turkey wore his green feather, green feather, green feather.
Turkey wore his green feather, all day long.



Additional verses:
Turkey wore his blue feather…
Turkey wore his purple feather…
Turkey wore his white feather…
Turkey wore his pink feather…


Last verse:
Turkey wore his rainbow feathers, rainbow feathers, rainbow feathers. 
Turkey wore his rainbow feathers, all Thanksgiving long!
Action Song:

“If You’re Thankful and You Know It”
(If You’re Happy and You Know It”)

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

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

If you’re thankful and you know it, shout “I am!” If you’re thankful and you know it, shout “I am!” If you’re thankful and you know it, then your face will surely show it. If you’re thankful and you know it, shout “I am!”

If you’re thankful and you know it, do all three. If you’re thankful and you know it, do all three. If you’re thankful and you know it, then your face will surely show it. If you’re thankful and you know it, do all three.

Dance with me around the room (The children and parents stand up and line up behind me. I use an oatmeal container as a drum.):
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, kick, kick
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, spin, spin
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, hop, hop
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, fly, fly
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, walk sideways, walk sideways
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, walk backwards, walk backwards
Hop all the way back to your spot.

     

Story: "Bear Says Thanks" by Karma Wilson

Shaker song:

“Albuquerque Turkey”(Tune: "My Darling Clementine")

Albuquerque is a turkey And he's feathered and he's fine.
He wobbles, and he gobbles And he's absolutely mine!

He's the best pet you can get yet Better than a dog or cat He's my Albuquerque turkey And I'm awfully proud of that!

And my Albuquerque turkey Is so happy in his bed 'Cause for our Thanksgiving Dinner We have spaghetti instead!

Goodbye Song:

 (Tune: "The Farmer in the Dell")

We tap adios like this

 We tap adios like this

Hi-ho cherry

  We tap adios like this

Continue with other verses:

We drop adios like this...

   We circle adios like this...

  We spin adios like this...

   We toss adios like this...

  We roll adios like this...

           We stomp adios like this...

Craft Time: Turkey Place Mats

    Materials:

• Paint in a variety of colors
• 11 by 17 inch white paper
• Feathers
• Markers
• Glue
• Brushes to paint hands

While making an example, I talked about what a turkey looks like. I described the snood and the wattle. I talked about what color each part of a turkey generally is, but I told the children they could make their turkey any color they wanted,

My example

*All photos are with parental permission.

Additional suggested stories we didn't pick today:

1. "I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Turkey" by Alison Jackson

2. "I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie" by Lucille Colandro

3. "Turkey Trouble" by Wendi Silvano

November 21: Preschool Storytime: Thanksgiving and Turkeys (Tt)

(Reminder note: When it is time to read a story, I read the titles of three books and then display them. The children pick which one we read. The three fictional ones listed below are the ones they picked. Additional picture book ideas are listed at the bottom.)

Opening song:                                  (Tune: "The Farmer in the Dell")

                         We tap hola like this

                         We tap hola like this

                          Hi-ho cherry

                          We tap hola like this

                          Continue with other verses:

                          We drop hola like this...

                          We circle hola like this...

                          We spin hola like this...

                          We toss hola like this...

                           We roll hola like this...

Letter Tt and its sound
Found it on the Alphabet chart
Talked about things that start with Tt
Made lowercase t in the air


I explained that Thanksgiving is next Thursday. I talked about how we celebrate Thanksgiving including some of the foods we typically eat on this day.
                     


Book: "The Very Stuffed Turkey" by Katharine Kenah

I passed out copies of the words to the two songs. I told the children to search for and show their parents a Tt on the page.

Song using clip art of 5 turkeys:

“5 Little Turkeys”

Five little turkeys/Cinco pequeños pavos sat in their pen. "Hide, turkeys/pavos, hide!", said the little red hen. One little turkey/pavo hopped out the door, And when he was gone, there were four.


Four little turkeys/Cuatro pequeños pavos sat in their pen. "Hide, turkeys/pavos, hide!", said the little red hen. One little turkey/pavo flew far away But the other three decided to stay.

Three little turkeys/Tres pequeños pavos sat in their pen. "Hide, turkeys/pavos, hide!", said the little red hen. One little turkey/pavo flapped her wings and flew. And when she was gone, there were two.

Two little turkeys/Dos pequeños pavos sat in their pen. "Hide, turkeys/pavos, hide!", said the little red hen. One little turkey/pavo flew far away. But the last one decided to stay.

One little turkey/Un pequeño pavo sat in his pen. "Hide, turkey/pavo, hide!", said the little red hen. The last little turkey/pavo ran away. For soon it will be Thanksgiving Day.

Book: "Sometimes It's Turkey, Sometimes It's Feathers" by Lorna and Lecia Balian

Action song:

“Six Little Turkeys”(Tune: "Six Little Ducks")

Six little turkeys/Seis pequeños pavos
that I once knew Fat ones, skinny ones Brown ones too.

But the little turkey/pequeño pavo with the Funny red wattle He led the others with his Gobble, gobble, gobble.

He led the other with his Gobble, gobble, gobble.
Over the rocks and through the trees Turkeys/pavos wobbling in the breeze,

But the little turkey/pequeño pavo with the Funny red wattle, He led the others with his Gobble, gobble, gobble.

Book: "Fancy Nancy: Our Thanksgiving Banquet" by Jane O' Connor

Goodbye song:                               (Tune: "The Farmer in the Dell") 

                         We tap adios like this

                         We tap adios like this

                          Hi-ho cherry

                          We tap adios like this

                          Continue with other verses:

                          We drop adios like this...

                          We circle adios like this...

                          We spin adios like this...

                          We toss adios like this...

                           We roll adios like this...

Craft Time:  

I modeled the Tt dot page, the rainbow writing page for letter Tt and the craft before the children starting working on them. Before starting the craft, the children write the given letter using 3 different colors of crayons. I have attached a link to the free rainbow writing letters I used. Completing the dot page is now optional.

You can find the free rainbow writing letters here. Since they are free, they lack a dot for where to start. I print one off, add the dots with a black marker, and then make copies of that one. You can find the dot pages here. 

Craft: Thankful cards with a turkey on the front

         Materials:

• Paint
• Markers
• Cardstock folded in half
• Word Wall with words such as mother, father, grandma, grandpa, I love you, and Happy Thanksgiving displayed for the children to copy
• Thumb for turkey body
• Index finger for feathers
• Sponge brushes for those that don't want to get paint on their fingers
• Googly eyes
• Glue

My examples 
(The top one is painted using thumb and index finger.
The bottom one is painted using sponge brushes for all the feathers.)

*All photos are with parent permission.

I always let the children pick which three books I read from the ones I bring with me. These are some additional suggested books that the children didn't pick:

1. "Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving" by Dav Pilkey
2. "One is a Feast for Mouse" by Judy Cox
3. "Gus, The Pilgrim Turkey" by Teresa Bateman

November 20: Toddler Storytime: Family

(Reminder note: When it is time to read a story, I read the titles of three books and then display them. The children pick which one we read. The ones listed below are the ones they picked.)

Opening song:                                (Tune: The Farmer in the Dell")

             We tap hola like this

             We tap ho la like this

                 Hi-ho cherry

             We tap hola like this

               Continue with other verses:

                  We drop hola like this...

                   We circle hola like this...

                 We spin hola like this...

                We toss hola like this..

                 We roll hola like this....

                     We stomp hola like this...

Story: "All the Families" by Margaret Wise Brown

Shaker song:

“With My Family”
(Tune: “The Muffin Man”)

Tell me what you like to do
Like to do, like to do.
Tell me what you like to do
With your family.

( *) likes to (go swimming, go the park, etc.**)
Go swimming, go swimming.
(*) likes to go swimming
With her family.
* insert child’s name
** insert chosen activity

( *) likes to (read a book**)
Read stories, read stories.
(*) likes to read stories
With her family.
* insert child’s name
** insert chosen activity


(We continued until each child had a turn to tell me something he or she likes to do with his/her family, and we sang a verse about each child. For the youngest children, the parent provided the information.)



Action Song:

“Daddy Finger”

Daddy finger, daddy finger where are you?
Here I am, here I am, how do you do?

Mommy finger, mommy finger, where are you?
Here I am, here I am, how do you do?

Brother finger, brother finger, where are you?
Here I am, here I am, how do you do?

Sister finger…

Baby finger…


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvhvntsK6sY

     

Story: "Baby Animals and Their Families" by Suzi Eszterhas

Dance with me around the room (The children and parents stand up and line up behind me. I use an oatmeal container as a drum.):
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, kick, kick
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, spin, spin
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, hop, hop
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, fly, fly
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, walk sideways, walk sideways
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, walk backwards, walk backwards
Repeat first 2 all the way back to your spot

Shaker song:

“I Love Mommy”
(Tune: "Frere Jacques")

I love Mommy, I love Mommy 
Yes, I do; yes, I do. 
And my mommy loves me, 
Yes, my mommy loves me,
Loves me too; loves me too.

I love Daddy, I love Daddy. 
Yes, I do; yes, I do. 
And my daddy loves me, 
Yes, my daddy loves me, 
Loves me too; loves me too.

I love my sister, I love my sister. 
Yes, I do; yes, I do, 
And my sister loves me, 
Yes, my sister loves me, 
Loves me too; loves me too.

I love my brother, I love my brother. 
Yes, I do; yes, I do, 
And my brother loves me, 
Yes, my brother loves me, 
Loves me too; loves me too.

Goodbye Song:

 (Tune: "The Farmer in the Dell")

We tap adios like this

 We tap adios like this

Hi-ho cherry

  We tap adios like this

Continue with other verses:

We drop adios like this...

   We circle adios like this...

  We spin adios like this...

   We toss adios like this...

  We roll adios like this...

           We stomp adios like this...

                                  

Model the craft and then parents help their children complete it.

Craft: My family ornament

       Materials:

1. Paint in variety of colors
2. 6 craft sticks
3. Brushes
4. Cardstock cut in squares to fit inside the box created by the four popsicle sticks
5. Crayons
6. Ribbon
7. My Family November 2019 template

                                                            .

My example

*All pictures are with parent permission.

              
                           

November 12: Preschool Storytime: Nocturnal Animals

(Reminder note: When it is time to read a story, I read the titles of three books and then display them. The children pick which one we read. The three fictional ones listed below are the ones they picked. The main exception to this is when I use an information text to teach about a concept such as a type of animal. Additional picture book ideas are listed at the bottom.)

Opening song:                                 (Tune: "The Farmer in the Dell")

                         We tap hola like this

                         We tap hola like this

                          Hi-ho cherry

                          We tap hola like this

                          Continue with other verses:

                          We drop hola like this...

                          We circle hola like this...

                          We spin hola like this...

                          We toss hola like this...

                           We roll hola like this...

I reminded that last week we talked about spiders as an example of an animal that sleeps during the day and is awake at night. We call animals that do this nocturnal. I said that today we are going to talk about lots of other nocturnal animals.

Letter Nn and its sound
Found it on the Alphabet chart
Talked about things that start with Nn
Made lowercase n in the air

I used books including the two listed below to show the children pictures of some of the nocturnal animals that they might not be familiar with. I also showed pictures of a skunk, a badger, and a raccoon. 

                     

           

Book: "The Moon Man" by Isabel Harris

Song using shakers:

“Little Hoot Owl”

(Tune: "Six Little Ducks")
Who flies around in the dark of night/noche? 
Who glides on wings over silent night/noche? 
Who eats his dinner by late moonlight? 
It's a little hoot owl with his owl eyesight!

Who-who, who-who, little hoot owl/búho. 
Who-who, who-who, little owl/búho. 
Who-who, who-who, little owl/búho. 
It's a little hoot owl/ búho with his night vision.




Book: "The Bravest of the Brave" by Shutta Crum

Action song:

“Raccoon”
(Tune: "Kookaburra")

Raccoon sleeps in a hollow tree
While the sun shines on you and me.
Sleep, raccoon/mapache.
Sleep, raccoon/mapache.
Warm and cozily.

In the darkest part of night
Raccoon has the best eyesight.
Look, raccoon/mapache,
Look, raccoon/mapache.
My, your eyes are bright.

Raccoon hardly makes a sound
When he prowls all around.
Hunt, raccoon/mapache,
Hunt, raccoon/mapache
Find food on the ground.

Book: "Owl Babies" by Martin Waddell"

Goodbye song:                               (Tune: "The Farmer in the Dell") 

                         We tap adios like this

                         We tap adios like this

                          Hi-ho cherry

                          We tap adios like this

                          Continue with other verses:

                          We drop adios like this...

                          We circle adios like this...

                          We spin adios like this...

                          We toss adios like this...

                           We roll adios like this...

Craft Time:  

I modeled the Nn dot page and the craft before the children starting working on them. I added in a new writing component called rainbow writing. Before starting the craft, the children write the given letter using 3 different colors of crayons. I have attached a link to the free rainbow writing letters I used. Completing the dot page is now optional.

You can find the free rainbow writing letters here. Since they are free, they lack a dot for where to start. I print one off, add the dots with a black marker, and then make copies of that one. You can find the dot pages here. 

Craft: Paper plate hedgehog

          Materials: paper plate
                          googly eyes
                          markers
                          scissors
                          glue
                          crayons

 I modified a craft found here.

These are my examples.

*All photos are shown with parental permission.

I always let the children pick which three books I read from the ones I bring with me. These are some additional suggested books that the children didn't pick:

1. "Fox Explores the Night" by Martin Jenkins
2. "Prickly Hedgehogs" by Jane McGinness
3. "Stellaluna" by Janell Cannon