Monday, October 25, 2010

FELTBOARD: 5 Little Pumpkins

Once there were 5 orange pumpkins growing in a pumpkin patch.There was a GIANT pumpkin, a LARGE pumpkin, a MEDIUM pumpkin, a SMALL pumpkin and a TINY pumpkin. (Put them on the flannelboard one by one.) 

A man came by and looked at the five pumpkins.  He picked up the giant pumpkin. "This will be a fine pumpkin to put in my store window."  he said.  (Remove the GIANT pumpkin.) 

Soon a woman came by and looked at the four pumpkins still growing in the pumpkin patch. She picked up the large pumpkin.  "This will be a fine pumpkin to set on my doorstep" she said.  (Remove large) 

Next a teacher came by and looked at the three pumpkins still growing in the pumpkin patch.  She chose the medium pumpkin.  "This will be a fine pumpkin  for my classroom!" she said.  (Remove medium) 

Then a baker came by and looked at the two pumpkins still growing in the pumpkin patch.  He found the small pumpkin.  "This will be just fine for a pumpkin pie!" he said. (Remove small). 

Finally a little boy dressed in a ghost costume stopped by the pumpkin patch.  He saw the tiny pumpkin that was left.  "This is just right to take to my Halloween party!" he said. So he took the pumpkin, painted a face on it and said "This is my best Jack-o-lantern ever!"

Pumpkin, Pumpkin

Pumpkin, Pumpkin sitting on a wall;  (have a child sit down) 
Pumpkin, Pumpkin tip and fall; (have child tip over) 
Pumpkin, Pumpkin rolling down the street; (child rolls on floor) 
Pumpkin, Pumpkin trick or treat.

Storytime 10/26/2010

1. Welcome Song "The more we get together"
2. Book: Do not Build a Frankenstein by Neil Numberman
4. Rum Pum Pum Drum
5. Circle Song: Handy Dandy
6. Rhyme: Open Them, Shut Them
7. Book: Boo Bunny by Kathryn O. Galbraith
8. Stand-up: Monster Hokey Pokey
9. Book: Aaaarrgghh! Spider! by Lydia Monks
10. Lullaby: Mr. Sun
11. Feltboard: 5 Donuts
12. Yoga

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Developmental Tips from Mother Goose on the Loose

  • By hearing rhymes, children learn to recognize rhythm and musical patterns
  • Rhymes about every day occurrences and familiar animals may spark a child's general interest in the world around her/him
  • A great way to promote reading is to read books to your child
  • Head and face rhymes encourage awareness of self and capabilities
  • Tickle rhyme's are a lot of fun, and promote bonding and trust between parent and child, while developing their senses at the same time!
  • Fingerplays can be your child's first learning game which introduces new ideas and concepts.  Your child's intellectual horizons are expanded through a simple song like "Itsy Bitsy Spider" which mentions up and down, and draws a connection between the rain coming down and the sun drying everything up.
  • Knee bouncing rhymes can help children to develop an awareness of an underlying beat in music.  This can also be done by rocking and marching.
  • Singing games and group music sessions encourage social responsiveness
  • Circle songs are fun, they include lots of movement, and they are great for large motor coordination
  • By mimicking animal sounds, children become more aware of the sounds around them.  It also promotes the use of voices, and helps to develop self-confidence.
  • Singing songs, rhymes and lullabies trigger speech, provide a valuable source of speech patterning, provide pleasure, and give children a sense of security.
  • Children can easily learn the concepts of high and low through music
  • The use of small percussion instruments helps develop and coordinate muscular development and provides an emotional outlet through music.
  • Listening to music helps develop concentration, prevents boredom, and provides for relaxation
  • Singing a clean- up song makes cleaning up fun for children, and teaches them what we expect when it is time to put something away.
  • Lullabies help babies to remember life in the womb when they were rocked close to mom and could hear her heartbeat.  Lullabies calm children and help them harness their energy so they will be likely to participate in the closing activities.
  • Body awareness shows children that any part of the body can start a movement

Monday, October 18, 2010

Beep Beep!

I’m driving in my car. I’m driving in my car. 
Beep, Beep! Honk Honk! 
I’m driving in my car.
I’m driving very fast. I’m driving very fast.

Beep, Beep! Honk, Honk!
I’m driving very fast.
I’m driving very slow. I’m driving very slow.

Beep, Beep! Honk, Honk! I’m driving very slow.

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Twinkle, twinkle, little star
How I wonder what you are!
Up above the world so high
Like a diamond in the sky
Twinkle, twinkle, little star
How I wonder what you are

Zoom, Zoom, Zoom

Zoom, zoom, zoom
We're going to the moon
Zoom, zoom, zoom
We're going to the moon
If you want to take a trip
Climb aboard my rocket ship
Zoom, zoom, zoom
We're going to the moon
10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1.........Blast Off!

Mr Sun

Mister sun, sun, mister golden sun
Please shine down on me
Mister sun sun, mister golden sun,
Hiding behind a tree
These little children are asking you
To please come out so we can play with you
Oh mister sun, sun, mister golden sun
Please shine down on me

Where is Thumbkin?

Sing to the tune of Frere Jacques:
Start with hands behind your back

Where is thumbkin?
Where is thumbkin?
Here I am!
Here I am!
How are you today sir?
Very well I thank you
Run away, run away


Go though with Pointer, Tall Man, Ring Man, Pinkie, and Family (all 5 fingers)

Tommy Thumbs

Tommy thumbs up and
Tommy thumbs down
Tommy thumbs dancing
All around the town
Dance them on your shoulders,
Dance them on your head
Dance them on your knees and
Tuck them into bed!

2010, 10/19 Storytime Script

1. Welcome Song
2. Book: The Birthday Box by Leslie Patricelli
3. Rhyme: The Wheels on the bus
4. Rum Pum Pum Drum
5. Book: Old MacDonald by Jessica Souhami
6. Stand-up:Two Little Blackbirds Soft Loud Variation
7. Book: Dinnertime by Sue Williams
8. Lullaby: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
9. Feltboard: Ice Cream Cones
10. Yoga

This will be the first storytime I am trying since taking the wonderful Mother Goose on the Loose workshop last week.  I am restructuring a little with the largest change being parents taking part in the program.  Usually they hang in the back and rarely participate, but I am going to take away most of the stools so that they are forced to sit with their kids on the story time carpet.  Not all of the Mother Goose program applies to my style but their are bits and pieces I just love, especially the use of musical instruments and graphics on the feltboard.

While most of the children who attend are ages 3-4 I do have several 2's and a couple babies. I struggle to find a perfect balance to please all the age groups.  Mother Goose seems a viable choice.  I can read longer stories with my kids and blend music and feltboard visuals for all ages.   I will let everyone know how it went tomorrow!

Colored Scarves Activities

Wind, oh wind, oh wind, I say.
What are you blowing away today? (sway scarves around)
Scarves, oh scarves, oh scarves, I say.
I am blowing the scarves away. (hold up scarf and blow, let fall to the ground)

Scrunch up scarf like it is a washcloth:

This is the way we wash our necks, wash our necks, wash our necks
This is the way we wash our necks early in the morning.
(follow with different body parts)

Put Away

Bells away, bells away, put your bells away today (can substitute any toy or instrument you are using)

Ring Your Bells, Ring Your Bells

To the tune of jingle bells:

Ring your bells, ring your bells, ring your bells today.
Oh, what fun it is to ring, ring your bells today, ay!
Ring your bells, ring your bells, ring your bells today.
Oh what fun it is to ring, to ring your bells today!

Handy Dandy

Handy dandy sugar and candy we all jump in
Handy dandy sugar and candy we all jump out
Handy dandy sugar and candy we all jump up
Handy dandy sugar and candy we all sit down

London Bridge

Hold hands in a circle:

London Bridge is falling down, falling down, falling down. (hold hands and walk in circle)
London Bridge is falling down, my fair lady
Build it up with sticks and stones, sticks and stones, sticks and stones. (everyone take one step into circle and raise hands up together while still holding hands)
Build it up with sticks and stones my fair lady (everyone steps back)

Marching to the Drum

Now we are going to march around the circle together and when it is time to stop, each child will have a chance to hit "stop" on the drum.

We're marching to the drum; we're marching to the drum.
Hi-ho the derry-o we're marching to the drum.
We're marching around the room; we're marching around the room.
Hi-ho the derry-o we're marching around the room.
We're marching to the drum, we're marching to the drum.
Hi-ho the derry-o we're marching to the drum
and the drum says STOP! (go around the circle and give each child a chance to hit the drum)

As each child hits the drum reward them with a positive word

* Can use the variations of running, creeping, tiptoeing,

Rum Pum Pum Drum Sequence

From "Mother Goose on the Loose"

Start by hitting drum or tambourine and saying:

Rum pum pum, this is my drum.  Rum pum pum, this is my drum.
My name is ____________, whats your name?

I'm now going to come around the circle, and I'd like each child to tap out their name on the drum, using syllables.  If your child is too young to do it alone take their hand and direct it so they may tap our their own name.  This is a great way to introduce phonics!

Walk around circle encouraging children to tap out their name.  Repeat each child's name and say good morning.

Grand Old Duke of York

Oh, the Grand Old Duke of York, he had ten thousand men.
He marched them up (feet up) to the top of the hill, and marched them down (feet down) again.
And when they were up, they were up (up)
And when they were down, they were down (down)
And when they were only half way up (half way up), they were neither up (up) nor down (down)

* Can also be done standing

Mother and Father John went to town

Mother and Father and Uncle John went to town one by one (bounce legs seated at the same time)
Mother fell off (lean) and father fell off (lean to the other side),
but Uncle John went on and on and on and on (bounce knees going faster)

*Great for babies on laps as well

The Great Big Spider

Do to the tune of Itsy Bitsy Spider:

The great big spider climbed up the water spout (use arms real wide as the spider and sing in deep voice)
Down came the rain and washed the spider out
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain and
The great big spider climbed up the spout again

Round and Round the Garden Goes

Round and round the garden goes the teddy bear (circle your finger on open palm)
One step, two step, tickle him under there! (creep finger up arm and tickle armpit)

VARIATION:

Round about, round about goes the wee mouse (circle your finger on open palm)
Up a step, up a step, all around the house! (creep finger up arm and tickle armpit)

My Little Turtle

I had a little turtle, he lived in a box.
He swam in the water and he climbed on the rocks.
He snapped at a minnow, he snapped at a flea, he snapped at a mosquito, and he snapped at me.
He caught the minnow, he caught the flea, he caught to mosquito, but he didn't catch me!

Two Little Blackbirds

Two little blackbirds sitting on a hill (use pointer fingers, bounce up and down)
One named Jack and the other named Jill (bring pointer up higher than other finger when each name is spoken)
Fly away Jack (put finger behind back)
Fly away Jill (put finger behind back)
Come back Jack (bring finger back)
Come back Jill (bring finger back)
Two little blackbirds sitting on a hill

VARIATION:


Two little blackbirds sitting on a hill (use pointer fingers, bounce up and down)
One named Soft and the other named Loud (bring pointer up higher than other finger when each name is spoken, say each name in either a loud or soft voice)
Fly away Soft (put finger behind back, say name softly)
Fly away Loud (put finger behind back, say name very loudly)
Come back Soft (bring finger back, say name softly)
Come back Loud (bring finger back, say name very loudly)
Two little blackbirds sitting on a hill

Goosey Gander

Goosey, goosey gander, where do you wander?
Upstairs, downstairs, and in my lady's chamber. (use fingers to go upstairs and downstairs)

Old Mother Goose

Old Mother Goose when she wanted to wander
would fly through the air on her very fine gander.

(have children use arms as wings)

Musical Instruments: We Ring our Bells Together

We ring our bells together,
We ring our bells together,
We ring our bells together because it's fun to do.

Ring them up high, (alter voice in a high pitch)
Ring them down low,(alter voice in a low pitch)
Ring them in the middle,

We ring our bells together because it's fun to do.


Tuesday, October 12, 2010

FELTBOARD: Mrs. Wishy-Washy



"Oh lovely mud," said the cow
and she jumped in
"Oh lovely mud," said the pig
and he rolled in it
"Oh lovely mud," said the duck
and she paddled in it
Along came Mrs. Wishy-Washy
"Just look at you!" she screamed
"In the tub you go."
In went the cow, wishy-washy, wishy -washy
In went the pig, wishy-washy, wishy-washy
In went the duck, wishy-washy, wishy-washy
"Thats better," said Mrs. Wishy Washy
and she went into the house
Away went the cow
Away went the pig
Away went the duck
"Oh, lovely mud," they said

* A very fun feltboard to do. Get the audience to sit and twist like a washing machine when the cow, pig and duck are being wishy-washy in the tub. A great companion to a messy storytime.