December 12th, 2017

The Books We Read:
Hooray for Harry by Kim Lewis
Small Bunny's Blue Blanket byTatyana Feeney
Grumpy Pants by Claire Messer

Songs and Fingerplays:
My Scarf Has Four Corners
My scarf it has four corners, four corners has my scarf.
But if there weren't four corners, it would not be my scarf.

Repeat w/ different objects: blanket, cape, pillow, hat...

Credit:Jbrary

Snowflake Dance
Snowflakes, snowflakes all around. In the air and on the ground.
Some are big and some are small, roll them into a snowball.
But when the sun comes out to play, all the snowflakes melt away.

Credit: Preschooleducation.com

Project—A Quilt for Bear:
We made felt blankets and pillows for our sleepy bears!

December 20th, 2016

The Books WeRead:
Snow Rabbit, Spring Rabbit by Il Sung Na
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Ketas
The Mitten by Eric Carle

Songs & Activities:

Snowflake Dance
Snowflakes, snowflakes, all around.
In the air and on the ground.
Some are big and some are small.
Roll them into a snowball.
But when the sun comes out to play,
All the snowflakes melt away.

Credit: preschooleducation.com

Hibernation Song
Sung to the tune of Allouette

Chorus:
Hibernation. Time for Hibernation.
Hibernation. Time to go to sleep.
In the winter where's the bear?
Sleeping in its log or lair.
Where's the bear? Log or lair. OH!
Chorus
In the winter where's the frog?
Sleeping in a rotten log.
Where's the frog? Rotten log.
Where's the bear? Log or lair. OH!
Chorus
In the winter where's the snake?
In the mud beneath the lake.
Where's the snake? Beneath the lake.
Where's the frog? Rotten log.
Where's the bear? Log or lair. OH!
Chorus
In the winter where's the bat?
In a cave is where it's at.
Where's the bat? Where it's at.
Where's the snake? Beneath the lake.
Where's the frog? Rotten log.
Where's the bear? Log or lair. OH!

Credit: Charles County Public Library

Craft—Mittens

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January 12th, 2016

The Books We Read:
The Mitten by Jim Aylesworth--great alternative read-aloud to Jan Brett's classic.
I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen

Songs and Fingerplays:
Winter Hokey Pokey
Same as the traditional Hokey Pokey, but hats, mittens, and boots instead!

Snowflake Dance
Snowflakes, snowflakes all around; in the air and on the ground.
Some are big and some are small. Roll them into a snowball.
When the sun comes out to play, all the snowflakes melt away.

Credit: Intellidance^TM

Project—Paperbag Hats:

 We used craft paper, dot markers, felt flowers, pom poms, and crayons to make these hats. Fun and easy!

December 10th, 2019

The Books We Read:
Harold Loves His Woolly Hat by Vern Kousky
The Mitten by Jan Brett
Hooray for Hat! by Brian Won

Songs & Fingerplays:
Silly Hat Song
On my head, I wear a hat. It is such a silly hat
that my hat keeps wiggling to and fro.
Where else shall my silly hat go?

On my [fill in body part], I wear a hat...

Credit: Jbrary

Project—Mittens:
We used construction paper, yarn, dot markers, crayons, and sparkly jewels to make colorful mittens.

December 18th, 2018

The Books We Read:
Bear Can't Sleep by Karma Wilson
I Don't Want To Go To Sleep by Dev Petty
Snowballsby Lois Ehlert

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

Snowflake Dance
Snowflakes, snowflakes all around; in the air and on the ground.
Some are big and some are small. Roll them into a snowball.
When the sun comes out to play, all the snowflakes melt away.

Credit: Intellidance^TM

Craft—Winter Scenes
The kids created their own unique wintry scenes using q-tips, paint, sequins, and crayons.

November 17th, 2015

The Books We Read:
Bear Has a Story to Tell by Philip Stead
Brown Bear, Brown Bear by Bill Martin, Jr.
Sleepover with Beatrice and Bear by Mônica Carnesi

Songs and Fingerplays:
Hibernation Song
Sung to the tune of Allouette

Chorus:
Hibernation. Time for Hibernation.
Hibernation. Time to go to sleep.

In the winter where's the bear?
Sleeping in its log or lair.
Where's the bear? Log or lair. OH!

Chorus
In the winter where's the frog?
Sleeping in a rotten log.
Where's the frog? Rotten log.
Where's the bear? Log or lair. OH!

Chorus
In the winter where's the snake?
In the mud beneath the lake.
Where's the snake? Beneath the lake.
Where's the frog? Rotten log.
Where's the bear? Log or lair. OH!

Chorus

In the winter where's the bat?
In a cave is where it's at.
Where's the bat? Where it's at.
Where's the snake? Beneath the lake.
Where's the frog? Rotten log.
Where's the bear? Log or lair. OH!
Credit: Charles County Public Library

Little Green Frog
Mmm ah! went the little green frog one day
Mmm ah! went the little green frog
Mmm ah! went the little green frog one day
and they all went mmm mmm ah!!
But we know frogs go shanananana! shanananana! shanananana!
We know frogs go shanananana!, they don't go mmm mmm ah!

Bloop bloop! went the little blue fish one day
Bloop bloop! went the little blue fish
Bloop bloop! went the little blue fish one day
and they all went bloop bloop bloop!
But we know fish go kissy kissy kiss! kissy kissy kiss! kissy kissy kiss!
We know fish go kissy kissy kiss!, they don't go bloop bloop bloop!

Grrr grrr! went the big brown bear one day
Grrr grrr! went the big brown bear
Grrr grrr! went the big brown bear one day
and they all went grrr grrr grrr!
But we know bears go huggy huggy hug!, huggy huggy hug!, huggy huggy hug
We know bears go huggy huggy hug!, they don't go grrr grrr grrr!
Credit: Jbrary

Project—Hibernating Bears:

November 28th, 2017

The Books We Read:
Bear Has a Story to Tell by Philip Stead
Forever Friends byCarin Berger

Songs and Fingerplays:
Hibernation Song
Sung to the tune of Allouette

Chorus:
Hibernation. Time for Hibernation.
Hibernation. Time to go to sleep.

In the winter where's the bear?
Sleeping in its log or lair.
Where's the bear? Log or lair. OH!

Chorus
In the winter where's the frog?
Sleeping in a rotten log.
Where's the frog? Rotten log.
Where's the bear? Log or lair. OH!

Chorus
In the winter where's the snake?
In the mud beneath the lake.
Where's the snake? Beneath the lake.
Where's the frog? Rotten log.
Where's the bear? Log or lair. OH!

Chorus

In the winter where's the bat?
In a cave is where it's at.
Where's the bat? Where it's at.
Where's the snake? Beneath the lake.
Where's the frog? Rotten log.
Where's the bear? Log or lair. OH!
Credit: Charles County Public Library

Little Green Frog
Mmm ah! went the little green frog one day
Mmm ah! went the little green frog
Mmm ah! went the little green frog one day
and they all went mmm mmm ah!!
But we know frogs go shanananana! shanananana! shanananana!
We know frogs go shanananana!, they don't go mmm mmm ah!

Bloop bloop! went the little blue fish one day
Bloop bloop! went the little blue fish
Bloop bloop! went the little blue fish one day
and they all went bloop bloop bloop!
But we know fish go kissy kissy kiss! kissy kissy kiss! kissy kissy kiss!
We know fish go kissy kissy kiss!, they don't go bloop bloop bloop!

Grrr grrr! went the big brown bear one day
Grrr grrr! went the big brown bear
Grrr grrr! went the big brown bear one day
and they all went grrr grrr grrr!
But we know bears go huggy huggy hug!, huggy huggy hug!, huggy huggy hug
We know bears go huggy huggy hug!, they don't go grrr grrr grrr!
Credit: Jbrary

Project—Hibernating Bears:

November 12th, 2019

The Books We Read:
Bear Has a Story to Tell by Philip Stead
I Don't Want To Go To Sleep!by Dev Petty

Songs and Fingerplays:
Hibernation Song
Sung to the tune of Allouette

Chorus:
Hibernation. Time for Hibernation.
Hibernation. Time to go to sleep.

In the winter where's the bear?
Sleeping in its log or lair.
Where's the bear? Log or lair. OH!

Chorus
In the winter where's the frog?
Sleeping in a rotten log.
Where's the frog? Rotten log.
Where's the bear? Log or lair. OH!

Chorus
In the winter where's the snake?
In the mud beneath the lake.
Where's the snake? Beneath the lake.
Where's the frog? Rotten log.
Where's the bear? Log or lair. OH!

Chorus

In the winter where's the bat?
In a cave is where it's at.
Where's the bat? Where it's at.
Where's the snake? Beneath the lake.
Where's the frog? Rotten log.
Where's the bear? Log or lair. OH!
Credit: Charles County Public Library

Project—Hibernating Bears:

December 15th, 2015

The Books We Read:
Making a Friend by Alison McGhee
Snow Party by Harriet Ziefert

Songs and Fingerplays:
Snowflake Dance
Snowflakes, snowflakes all around; in the air and on the ground.
Some are big and some are small. Roll them into a snowball.
When the sun comes out to play, all the snowflakes melt away.

Credit: Intellidance^TM

Little Snowman
I built a little snowman. He had a carrot nose.
Along came a bunny, and what do you suppose?
That hungry little rabbit, looking for some lunch,
Ate my snowman's nose...nibble, nibble, CRUNCH!
Credit: Unknown

Project—Wintry Snowman:

I made hand stampers ahead of time using 2" sections of paper towel rolls and bubble wrap. The kids dipped their stampers into white paint to create the snow effect, added glitter, and then glued on the rest. Many sequins and buttons went into this activity!

February 14th, 2017

The Books WeRead:
Turtle's Penguin Day by Valeri Gorbachev
A Penguin Storyby Antoinette Portis
Penguin on Vacation by Salina Yoon
Grumpy Pants by Claire Messer

Songs & Activities:
Have You Ever Seen a Penguin Come to Tea?
Have you ever seen a penguin come to tea?
If you look at me, a penguin you will see.
Penguins: Attention!  Penguins: Begin!
Right flipper.
[Start flapping right arm and repeat from the top.  Add left flipper, right arm, left arm, head, turn around, penguin sound.]
Credit: Unknown

Craft—Penguins on Watercolor
There was a huge variety of penguins and backgrounds.  Here is just one, with a heart added in honor of Valentine's Day:

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March 10, 2020

The Books WeRead:
Sergio Makes a Splash by Edel Rodriguez
Grumpy Pants by Claire Messer
Peguins Love Colorsby Sarah Aspinall

Songs & Activities:
I Know a Penguin
Sung (with shaky eggs) to the tune of "I Know a Chicken"

Adapted from: Laurie Berkner

Have You Ever Seen a Penguin Come to Tea?
Have you ever seen a penguin come to tea?
If you look at me, a penguin you will see.
Penguins: Attention!  Penguins: Begin! Right flipper.
[Start flapping right arm and repeat from the top.  Add left flipper, right arm, left arm, turn around, penguin sound.]

Credit: Unknown

Craft—Penguins and Watercolors:
We assembled penguins at one table and then created colorful watercolor backgrounds at another.

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February 19th, 2019

The Books We Read:
Snowmen at Night by Caralyn Buehner
Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner
All You Need for a Snowman  by Alice Schertle

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

My Chubby Little Snowman
My chubby little snowman, had a button nose.
When along came a bunny, and what do you suppose?
That chubby little bunny was searching for some lunch;
And he ate my snowman's nose: nibble, nibble, crunch!

Credit: Various

Snowflake Dance
Snowflakes, snowflakes all around; in the air and on the ground.
Some are big and some are small. Roll them into a snowball.
When the sun comes out to play, all the snowflakes melt away.

Credit: IntellidanceTM

Craft—Puffy Paint Snow Scenes

Kids had fun creating snowy collages with homemade puffy paintand items such as yarn and buttons.  

January 17th, 2017

The Books WeRead:
All You Need for a Snowman by Alice Schertle
Snowmen at Night by Caralyn Buehner
Making a Friend by Alison McGhee

Songs & Activities:
Snowflake Dance
Snowflakes, snowflakes, all around.
In the air and on the ground.
Some are big and some are small.
Roll them into a snowball.
But when the sun comes out to play,
All the snowflakes melt away.
Credit: preschooleducation.com

Five Little Snowmen
Five little snowmen standing in a row;
Each with a hat and a little red bow.
Then out came the sun and it shone all day.
And one little snowman melted away.
[Count down to zero.]
Credit: laptimesongs.com

My Chubby Little Snowman
My chubby little snowman (arms form belly)
Had a carrot nose (put fist in front of nose).
When along came a rabbit (two fingers hopping)
And what do you suppose?
That hungry little bunny (rub belly)
Was looking for some lunch
So he ate my snowman's nose...
Nibble, nibble, CRUNCH!
Credit: Laconia Schools

Craft—Paper Snow Globes

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December 17th, 2019

The Books We Read:
A Hat for Minerva Louise by Janet Stoeke
All You Need for a Snowmanby Alice Schertl

Songs and Fingerplays:
Snowflake Dance
Snowflakes, snowflakes all around. In the air and on the ground.
Some are big and some are small. Roll them into a snowball.
But when the sun comes out to play, all the snowflakes melt away.

Credit: Intellidance

Scarf Play:  Popcorn Kernels

Project—Paper Snowglobes: