March 6, 2018

The Books We Read:
We're Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen
The Umbrella by Ingrid Shubert

Songs & Activities:
We Clap and Say Hello
We clap and say hello! We clap and say hello!
With our friends at storytime, we clap and say hello!

We [wiggle, jump, hop, stomp, dance, spin, whisper] and say hello...
Credit: Jbrary

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.
5-4-3-2-1 blast off!!!

Zoom, zoom, zoom, we're going to the stars...
Zoom, zoom, zoom, we're going to the sun...
Credit: Jbrary

Craft—An Umbrella Adventure
Everyone created a different scene featuring the little dog from The Umbrella.  We used cupcaker liners for the umbrella, cotton balls for clouds, and lots of shiny shapes we found in the craft drawer for scenery!

 

July 2nd, 2019

The Books We Read:
We're Going on a Bear Huntby Michael Rosen
A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee by Chris Van Dusen
Maisy Goes Camping by Lucy Cousins

Songs & Activities:
Little Bunny Foo Foo
Little Bunny Foo Foo went hopping through the forest,
Scooping up the field mice and bopping them on the head.
Then down came the Good Fairy, and she said:
"Litte Bunny Foo Foo, I don't like to see you
Scooping up the field mice and bopping them on the head.
I will give you three chances to behave, and if you don't,
I will come back and turn you into a GOON!"
[Repeat two more times, counting down chances,
and finally turning Little Bunny Foo Foo into a goon.]
Credit: Childhood

Craft—Glow-in-the-Dark Lanterns:
We used fluorescent and glow-in-the-dark paint to turn old jars into lanterns.

July 28th, 2015

The Books We Read:
Curious George Goes Camping by Margaret Rey
Maisy Goes Camping  by Lucy Cousins

Song:
We're Going on a Bear Hunt

We acted out the entire adventure, with inspiration from Michael Rosen's own wonderful performance of his picture book with Helen Oxenbury!

Project—Glow-in-the-dark Lanterns:

The kids painted the inside of mason jars with glow-in-the-dark paint and attached colorful coated wire to the lids to create a handle.

July 19th, 2016

The Books We Read:
Curious George Goes Camping by Margaret Rey
Among a Thousand Fireflies by Helen Frost
Maisy Goes Camping  by Lucy Cousins

Songs & Activities:
We Are Going Camping
To the tune of "I'm a Little Teapot"
We are going camping, it's time to pack:
A tent, a sleeping bag, and a snack.
We'll sit by the campfire, so warm and bright,
And snooze in our tent 'til the morning light.
Credit: Adapted from preschooleducation.com

Little Bunny Foo Foo
Little Bunny Foo Foo went hopping through the forest,
Scooping up the field mice and bopping them on the head.
Then down came the Good Fairy, and she said:
"Litte Bunny Foo Foo, I don't like to see you
Scooping up the field mice and bopping them on the head.
I will give you three chances to behave, and if you don't,
I will come back and turn you into a GOON!"
[Repeat two more times, counting down chances,
and finally turning Little Bunny Foo Foo into a goon.]
Credit: Childhood

Project—Glow-in-the-dark Lanterns:

The kids painted the inside of mason jars with glow-in-the-dark paint and added colorful beads and coated wire to the lids to create a handle.

July 26th, 2016
 

The Books We Read:
Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey
The Umbrella by Ingrid and Dieter Schubert

Songs & Activities:

We're Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen
We acted out the entire adventure, with inspiration from Michael Rosen's own wonderful performance of his picture book with Helen Oxenbury!

The Noble Duke of York
The Noble Duke of York, he had 10,000 men;
He marched them up the hill and then he marched them down again.
For when you're up, you're up;
And when you're down, you're down.
And when you're only halfway up, you're neither up nor down.
Credit: Childhood

Craft—Rock Painting

We had a blast using acrylic paint to decorate rocks from Lake Champlain!

July 25th, 2017

The Books WeRead:
Rattletrap Car by Phyllis Root
Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall
And Then Comes Summer by Tom Brenner

Songs & Activities:

We Clap and Say Hello
We clap and say "hello!"
We clap and say "hello!"
With our friends at storytime,
We clap and say "hello!"

We [fill in action--stomp, spin, jump, hop] and say "hello!"
...
Credit: Jbrary

Bread and Butter
Bread and butter, marmalade and jam,
let's say "goodbye" as loud as we can.
Bread and butter, marmalade and jam,
let's say "goodbye" as quiet as we can.

Continue with more opposite pairs... fast/slow, serious/silly, high/low, etc.
Credit: jbrary

Craft—Ice Cream Cones!
Today we made delicious-looking ice cream cones, with tissue paper and paper sprinkles. The kids used forks and paint to create a waffle pattern on their cones.


 

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September 19th, 2017

The Books We Read:
Supertruckby Stephen Savage
Daredevil Duck by Charlie Alder

Songs & Activities:
Superhero, Superhero
Superhero, superhero turn around;
Superhero, superhero touch the ground;
Superhero, superhero put on your suit;
Superhero, Superhero put on your boots.

Superhero, superhero turn around;
Superhero, superhero touch the ground;
Superhero, superhero jump to the sky;
Superhero, superhero fly, fly, fly!
Credit: Jbrary

Craft—Superhero Masks
We had a ball customizing our masks with jewels, lightning bolts, feathers, and our own individual touches!

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July 23rd, 2019

The Books We Read:
Daredevil Duck by Charlie Alder
The Astonishing Secret of Awesome Man by Michael Chabon
Supertruckby Stephen Savage

Songs & Activities:
Superhero, Superhero
Superhero, superhero turn around;
Superhero, superhero touch the ground;
Superhero, superhero put on your suit;
Superhero, Superhero put on your boots.

Superhero, superhero turn around;
Superhero, superhero touch the ground;
Superhero, superhero jump to the sky;
Superhero, superhero fly, fly, fly!
Credit: Jbrary

Craft—Superhero Masks
The kids created their own secret identities.  Who ARE these masked heroes??

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June 23rd, 2015

The Books We Read:
Awesome Manby Michael Chabon
Timothy and the Strong Pajamas  by Viviane Schwarz

Song:
Did You Ever See A Hero?
Did you ever see a hero, a hero, a hero,
Did you ever see a hero, flying through the sky?
Fly this way and that way, and that way and this way.
Did you ever see a hero flying through the sky?

Verses: Putting on their cape, hopping on one foot, saving the day, twirling around.
Credit: Jbrary

Superhero, Superhero...
Superhero, superhero turn around;
Superhero, superhero touch the ground;
Superhero, superhero put on your suit;
Superhero, Superhero put on your boots.
Credit: Jbrary

Project—Superhero Masks:

We had lots of fun decorating our masks with lightning bolts, feathers, and jewels.  No superhero was alike!

June 26, 2018

The Books We Read:
Sam and Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnett
How I Became a Pirate by Melinda Long

Songs & Activities:
We Clap and Say Hello
We clap and say hello! We clap and say hello!
With our friends at storytime, we clap and say hello!

We [wiggle, jump, hop, stomp, dance, spin, whisper] and say hello...
Credit: Adapted from Jbrary

Craft—Treasure Maps

We had a great time creating our own authentic treasure maps bedecked in gold paint and lots of sparkling jewels!