January 30: Preschool Storytime: Hibernation and Migration

(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 other recommended picture books 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...


INTRODUCTION:
How do we stay warm in winter? How do animals stay warm in winter? We will be practicing the letter Mm for migration.

Held up M and m
Talked about sound of Mm
Talked about things that start with Mm
Make a lowercase m in the air
Put the alphabet chart on the floor. Let each child take the pointer and point to the letter Mm.

INFORMATIONAL TEXT: "Animals in Fall: Preparing for Winter" by Martha E. H. Rustad

BOOK: "The Very Long Sleep" by Polly Noakes 

ACTION SONG (Used shakers for part of it): In advance, I found and printed off pictures of the animals that we would be singing about. As an animal was mentioned, I put the corresponding picture on the floor. You can access the document with all the pictures for this and other songs about migration here.

“Bear is Sleeping”
(Tune: “Are You Sleeping”)

Bear/oso is hibernating
Bear/oso is hibernating
In his cave, in his cave
I wonder when he’ll wake up?
I wonder when he’ll wake up?
In the spring, in the spring.

Frog/rana is hibernating,
Frog/rana is hibernating,
In the mud, in the mud
I wonder when he’ll come out?
I wonder when he’ll come out?
In the spring, in the spring.

Fish/peces are resting,
Fish/peces are resting
In the mud, in the mud
I wonder when they’ll come back up?
I wonder when they’ll come back up?
In the spring, in the spring

Birds/pajaros have flown away
Birds/pajaros have flown away
To somewhere warm
To somewhere warm
I wonder when they’ll come back?
I wonder when they’ll come back?
In the spring, in the spring.

Snakes/serpientes are resting
Snakes/serpientes are resting
Down in a hole, down in a hole
I wonder when they’ll come back up?
I wonder when they’ll come back up?In the spring, in the spring.

BOOK #2: "Bear Has a Story to Tell" by Philip C. Stead

                          

ACTION AND SHAKER SONG: We used some of the pictures in the document mentioned above.

“Migration Song”
(Tune: Are You Sleeping?”)

Time to go, time to go
Mr. Whale/Ballena, Mr. Whale/Ballena
The air is getting colder
The days are getting shorter
Hurry, hurry go
Hurry, Hurry go

Continue with Mr. Butterfly/Mariposa, Mr. Duck/Pato, Mr. Elk/Alce

BOOK #3: "Little Owl's Snow" by Divya Srinivasan

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 rainbow writing page for letter Mm, the Mm dot page, 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 optional.

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

Click here for a link for letter formation prompts for capital and lowercase letters. Children need to spend more time working on the lowercase letters than on the capital letters.


Craft:  Fingerpainting birds flying in a V formation

My examples

Materials:

1. Tempera paint in a variety of colors

2. Small plates for paint

3. Blue construction paper for base

4. Ruler 

5. Pencil

Note: About 75 percent of all birds migrate. Children could pick any kind/color of bird to paint. My top example is of mallard ducks and the bottom one is of flamingos.

Preparation in advance:

Use a rule to draw a V on each child's piece of construction paper.

*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 the additional suggested books that the children didn't pick:

1. "When It Starts to Snow" by Phillis Gershator
2. "Shh! Bears Sleeping" by David Martin
3."The Bears' Winter House" by John Yeoman and Quentin Blake
4. "Snuggle Down Deep" by Diane Ohanesian
5. "Chaucer's First Winter" by Stephen Krensky
6. "Winter Lullaby" by Barbara Seuling
7. "Following Papa's Song" by Gianna Marino
8. "Not a Buzz to be Found; Insects in Winter" by Linda Glaser

January 29: Toddler Storytime: Hibernation and Migration

(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. Additional recommended titles about migration and hibernation for two to three year olds are at the bottom of this post.)

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...

Introduction:
How do we stay warm in the winter? We put on extra layers of clothing, and we have our homes to stay in when it is especially cold. Animals have to stay warm too. To do this, some fly or swim south (migration), some hibernate, and some just adapt.

Information Text: "Animals in Fall" by Martha E. Rustad
   I just talked about the pictures briefly.

Book: "Bear Snores On" by Karma Wilson

I gave each parent a copy of the words to the song that went with the theme. 

Action chant:  In advance, I found and printed off real pictures of the animals mentioned. You can access this document here. Some of the pictures are for songs for preschool storytime.

“Hibernation and Migration Rap”

(In the winter, some animals stay while others go.
If they choose to sleep the whole winter long, we call it hibernation.
If they leave to go somewhere warm, we call it migration.)

When I say bears, you say hibernate.
Bears→Hibernate
Bears→Hibernate

When I say chipmunks, you say hibernate.
Chipmunks→Hibernate
Chipmunks→ Hibernate

When I say geese, you say migrate.
Geese→Migrate
Geese→Migrate

When I say turtles, you say hibernate.
Turtles→Hibernate
Turtles→Hibernate

When I say butterflies, you say migrate.
Butterflies→Migrate
Butterflies→Migrate

When I say bees, you say migrate.
Bees→Hibernate
Bees→Hibernate

When I say blue whales, you say migrate.
Whales→Migrate
Whales→Migrate

Movement song: 

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

Book: "Snow Rabbit, Spring Rabbit" by Il Sung Na

Movement song: Toddlers use a scarf to act out the steps. Babies are held by the parent and lifted up and down.

"Elevator Song"        
(Tune: "Do Your Ears Hang Low")

Oh, the city is great and the city is grand (Stand up, and spread your arms out.)
There are lots of tall buildings    (Reach way up high.)
On a little piece of land.             (Bend your knees to make yourself small.)
We live way up on the fifty-seventh floor  (Throw scarf in air.)
And this is what we do
When we go out the door
Take the elevator up, take the elevator down (3 times) (Lift baby/scarf up, lower baby/scarf down)
Then we spin around (spin around)

Movement song using shakers:  I used some of the other pictures in the document linked above.

“Mr. Snake”
(Tune: "Frere Jacques")


Are you resting, are you resting? 
Mr. Snake, Mr. Snake. 
All the snow is falling,
It’s very cold.
Try not to move, try not to move

Repeat with Mr. Raccoon, Mr. Skunk, Mr. Fish, and Mr. Squirrel

*This is a song about animals that rest in the winter but do not actually hibernate.

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: Choice between Duck Migration Scene or Monarch Butterfly Migration Scene

           My examples

Materials for duck scene:

1. Blue construction paper

2. Rule to draw V shape

3. Pencil to draw V shape

4. Duck clip art document

5. Crayons or markers

6. Glue

Preparation required in advance:

1. Draw V shape on blue construction paper using a ruler

2. Cut out ducks (Each child needs 12. Ask coworkers to help cut some.)

Materials for duck scene:

1. White 11 by 17 paper

2. Tree document 

3. Monarch butterfly clip art document

4. Scissors

5. Markers

6. Glue

Preparation required in advance:

1. Run the tree template on 11 by 17 paper

2. Cut out butterflies. (Ask coworkers to help cut out some.)

*All photos are 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. "Winter Dance" by Marion Dane Bauer
2. "Hedge Hog" by Ashlyn Anstee
3 "Sleepover with Beatrice and Bear" by Monica Carnesi
4. "Sleep Tight, Little Bear" by Britta Teckentrup
5. "Go Home, Little One!" by Cate James
6. "Bear Can't Sleep" by Karma Wilson
7. "Don't Wake up the Bear!" by Marjorie Dennis Murray
8. "When Will It Snow?" by Kathryn White
9. "Time to Sleep" by Denise Fleming

January 23: Preschool Storytime: Kindness

(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 other recommended picture books 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 explained that from Monday until Valentine's Day, it is the 100 Acts of Kindness project. I asked the children what it means to be kind. I encouraged them to do many kind things for others. We talked about ways to be kind. I gave the parents the idea of setting up a kindness tree at home.

Held up K and k
Talked about sound of Kk
Talked about things that start with k
Make a lowercase k in the air
Put the alphabet chart on the floor. Let each child take the pointer and point to the letter Kk.



BOOK #1: Everybody's Welcome" by Patricia Hegarty

ACTION SONG using scarves and the sign language for happy:  

First, we sang the words in English and then with two words in Spanish.

"The More We Get Together”

Oh, the more we get together
Together/ juntos, together/juntos
Oh, the more we get together
The happier we'll be
Cause your friends/amigos are my friends/amigos
And my friends/amigos are your friends/amigos
Oh, the more we get together
The happier we'll be.

Oh, the more we learn together 
Together/juntos, together/juntos
Oh, the more we learn together
The happier we'll be
Cause your friends/amigos are my friends/amigos
And my friends/amigos are your friends/amigos
Oh, the more we learn together
The happier we'll be

Oh, the more we play together
Together/juntos, together/juntos
Oh, the more we play together
The happier we'll be
Cause your friends/amigos are my friends/amigos
And my friends/amigos are your friends/amigos
Oh, the more we play together
The happier we'll be.

By the Kaboomers

BOOK #2: "The Monster Who Lost His Mean" by Tiffany Strelitz Haber

SHAKER SONG:

“I Like You” (Dr. Jean song from her Silly Songs CD)
(Tune: "Skip to My Lou")


I like you, there's no doubt about it. 
I like you, there's no doubt about it. 
I like you, there's no doubt about it. 
You are my good friend.


You like me, there's no doubt about it. 
You like me, there's no doubt about it. 
You like me, there's no doubt about it. 
You are my good friend.



BOOK #3: "Superbuns" by Diane Kredensor

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 rainbow writing page for letter Kk, the Kk dot page, 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 optional.

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

Click here for a link for letter formation prompts for capital and lowercase letters. Children need to spend more time working on the lowercase letters than on the capital letters.


Craft:  Painted Bookmark and DIY Puzzle to give away

Materials:
1. White cardstock
2. Bookmark template
3. Scissors
4. Watercolor paint sets
5. Brushes

*Note: I ran the bookmark templates on white cardstock. The children painted it however they wanted. For the DIY puzzle, the children painted a picture of their choosing on white cardstock. The completed image was then cut into 10 pieces.

My example

*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 the additional suggested books that the children didn't pick:

1. "Stellaluna" by Janell Cannon
2. "Extra Yarn" by Mac Barnett
3. "A Sick Day for Amos McGee" by Philip C. Stead
4. "I Know a Lady" by Charlotte Zolotow
5. "A Hat for Mrs. Goldman" by Michelle Edwards
6. "Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon" by Patty Lovell