Campfire Stories

July 2nd, 2019

The Books We Read:
We're Going on a Bear Hunt by 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.

Blast Off!

June 25th, 2019

The Books We Read:
Roaring Rockets by Tony Mitton
Fox and the Jumping Contest by Corey Tabor
It’s Only Stanley by Jon Agee

Songs & Activities:
We Clap and Say Hello
To the tune of "The Farmer in the Dell"
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

Zoom Zoom Zoom
Zoom, zoom, zoom we’re going to the moon.
Zoom, zoom, zoom we’re going to the mon.
If you want to take a trip, climb aboard our rocketship.
Zoom, zoom, zoom we’re going to the moon.

Far, far, far we’re soaring to the stars...

Fun, fun, fun we’re flying to the sun...
Credit: Jbrary

Craft—TP Rockets:
Look what we made with TP tubes and assorted materials!

Dinosaurs (2019)

April 30, 2019

The Books We Read:
Tyrannosaurus Rex vs. Edna the Very First Chicken by Douglas Rees
Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs by Byron Barton
T is for Terrible by Peter McCarty

Songs & Activities:
Dino Chant
Dino ditty ditty dum ditty doo;
Singing dino ditty ditty dum ditty doo.
A hungry T-rex was a-walking down the street,
Singing dino ditty ditty dum ditty doo.
Looking around for something good to eat,
Singing dino ditty ditty dum ditty doo.
[call and response]:
He was HUGE! [arms out]
He was STRONG! [show muscles]
Won't be hungry very long. [wag finger]
Singing dino ditty ditty dum ditty doo.

Credit: Jbrary

Dinosaurs in the Swamp
[Sung to the tune of Wheels on the Bus]
The Pteradactyl's wings go flap, flap, flap...all through the swamp.
The Tyrannosaurus rex goes roar, roar, roar...all through the swamp.
The Brachiosaurus goes munch, munch, munch...all through the swamp.
The Stegosaurus' horns go poke, poke, poke...all through the swamp.

Credit: Kidsparkz.com

Craft—Construction Paper Dinosaurs:

Kids used dot markers, jewels, crayons and feathers to jazz up their plant-eating dinos.

Some dinosaurs had more "bling" than others...

Colors

April 16, 2019

The Books We Read:
Bear Sees Colors by Karma Wilson
Maybe Something Beautiful by F. Isabel Compoy

Songs & Activities:
What Color Are You Wearing?
If you're wearing red today, red today, red today;
If you're wearing red today, please stand up!

Repeat with different colors and actions (touch your elbow, turn around, stand on one foot...)

One Bright Scarf
One bright scarf waiting for the wind to blow.
Wiggle it high (reach to ceiling) and wiggle it low (down by your toes).
Shake it fast and shake it slow.
Where did it go? (Hide scarf in hands, behind back, etc.)
One, two, three ... release scarves into the air!
Credit: Jbrary

Craft—Coffee Filter Butterflies
Look at all the colorful creations we made with markers, water, and a little salt:

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Five Senses (2019)

April 9th, 2019

The Books We Read:
Rain by Manya Stojic
Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Little Pea by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Songs & Activities:
My Five Senses
To the tune of "Old Macdonald"
On my face I have two eyes, I use them every day.
And with my eyes I can see when I work and play.
With a look, look here and a look look there, here a look, there a look, everywhere a look, look.
On my face I have two eyes, I use them every day.

On my face I have a nose, I use it carefully.
I sniff the air so I can tell if something is smelly.
With a sniff, sniff here and a sniff, sniff there, here a sniff, there a sniff, everywhere a sniff, sniff.
On my face I have a nose, I use it carefully.

In my mouth I have one tongue, I use it when I eat.
And with my tongue I can taste salty, sour, and sweet.
With a taste, taste here and a taste, taste there, here a taste, there a taste, everywhere a taste, taste.
In my mouth I have one tongue, I use it when I eat.

On my head I have two ears, I listen all day long.
And if I didn't have them there, I couldn't hear this song!
With a listen here and a listen there, here a listen, there a listen, everywhere a listen.
On my head I have two ears, I listen all day long.

On my body I have some skin that feels the cold and heat.
It stretches from atop my head, all the way to my feet.
With a touch, touch here and a touch, touch there, here a touch, there a touch, everywhere a touch, touch.
On my body I have some skin that feels the cold and heat.
Credit: preschooleducation.com

Five Senses
To the tune of "Where is Thumbkin?"
Five senses, five senses. We have them. We have them.
Seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, and touching.
There are five. There are five.
Credit: Miss Sarah's Storytime

Sensory Table
We set out a variety of "Guess Whats?" to get the kids using their senses:


What's in the bag? (Touch)  What's that smell? (Smell)  What's in the container? (Sound)

Craft—Touch Collage:

In the Forest

March 26th, 2019

The Books We Read:
The Foggy Foggy Forest by Nick Sharratt
Bear Wants More by Karma Wilson
A Tree is Nice by Janice May Udry

Songs & Activities:
Gray Squirrel
Gray squirrel, gray squirrel, swish your busy tail.
Gray squirrel, gray squirrel, swish your busy tail.
Wrinkle up your little nose, put a not between your toes.
Gray squirrel, gray squirrel, swish your busy tail.

Repeat, substituting humming for each successive line until entire song is hummed.

Credit: Childhood

Craft—Tubular Trees
Kids used paper towel tubes and construction paper, paint, and tissue paper to create their own mini forests!

Big and Little

March 19th, 2019

The Books We Read:
The Super Hungry Dinosaur by Martin Waddell
The Three Billy Goats Gruff by Jerry Pinkney
I'm the Biggest Thing in the Ocean by Kevin Sherry

Songs & Activities:

This is Big
This is big, big, big. [stretch arms out wide]
This is small, small, small. [cup hands together]
This is short, short, short. [hold hands close together, palms facing]
This is tall, tall, tall. [spread hands toward floor and ceiling, palms facing]
This is fast, fast, fast. [circle fists around each other, quickly]
This slow, slow, slow. [circle fists around each other, slowly]
This is yes, yes, yes. [nod]
This is no, no, no. [shake head]

Credit: Mel's Desk (Melissa Depper)

Craft—I'm the Biggest Thing Collages

We used bubblewrap, plastic forks, and other shapes to create an underwater world, complete with a giant squid and other sea creatures--inspired, of course, by I'm the Biggest Thing in the Ocean!

Surprise!

March 12th, 2019

The Books We Read:
The Giant Jumperee by Julia Donaldson
I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen
A Perfect Day by Lane Smith

Songs & Activities:

One Bright Scarf
One bright scarf waiting for the wind to blow.
Wiggle it high (reach to ceiling) and wiggle it low (down by your toes).
Shake it fast and shake it slow.
Where did it go? (hide scarf in hands, behind back, etc.)
One, two, three ... release scarves into the air!

Popcorn Kernels (w/ scarves)
Popcorn kernels, popcorn kernels, in the pot, in the pot.(Crunch scarf into a ball)
Shake them, shake them, shake them,
Shake them, shake them, shake them
'Til they POP, 'til they POP! (Release scarf into the air!) 

Credit: Jbrary

Craft—Shaving Cream Art

This project was perfect for our theme of surprise endings.  Scraping away the shaving cream revealed a magical surprise each and every time!

Snow!

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 paint and items such as yarn and buttons.  

Hearts & Hugs

February 12th, 2019

The Books We Read:

Hugless Douglas by David Melling
Elmore by Holly Hobbie
Valentine Surprise by Corinne Demas
The Chilly Penguin  by Constanze Von Kitzing

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

One Bright Scarf
One bright scarf waiting for the wind to blow.
Wiggle it high (reach to ceiling) and wiggle it low (down by your toes).
Shake it fast and shake it slow.
Where did it go? (hide scarf in hands, behind back, etc.)
One, two, three ... release scarves into the air!

Popcorn Kernels (w/ scarves)
Popcorn kernels, popcorn kernels, in the pot, in the pot.(Crunch scarf into a ball)
Shake them, shake them, shake them,
Shake them, shake them, shake them
'Til they POP, 'til they POP! (Release scarf into the air!) 

Credit: Jbrary

Craft—Watercolor Painting

Friends enjoyed painting with liquid watercolors and salt. Some added a penguin and/or hearts in honor of our theme and the hero of The Chilly Penguin.

Things That Go!

January 29th, 2019

The Books We Read:
Rattletrap Car by Phyllis Root
Supertruck  by Stephen Savage
Go!Go!Go!Stop!  by Charise Mericle Harper

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

Walking Song
Walking, walking, walking, walking.
Hop, hop, hop, hop, hop, hop.
Running, running, running, running, running, running.
Now we STOP! Now we STOP!

2nd verse: Substitute "Tiptoe" for "Walking"

3rd verse: Substitute "Marching" for "Walking"

Credit: Jbrary

Craft—Shapes Collages

This was process art at its best! We put out scissors, glue, pre-cut shapes, paper, cotton balls, and crayons, and the kids created collages of "things that go."

On the Farm

January 22nd, 2019

The Books We Read:
A Hat for Minerva Louise by Janet Stoeke
The Fox and the Hen by Eric Battut
Stuck in the Mud by Jane Clarke

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

One Bright Scarf
One bright scarf waiting for the wind to blow.
Wiggle it high (reach to ceiling) and wiggle it low (down by your toes).
Shake it fast and shake it slow.
Where did it go? (Hide scarf in hands, behind back, etc.)
One, two, three ... release scarves into the air!

Popcorn Kernels (w/ scarves)
Popcorn kernels, popcorn kernels, in the pot, in the pot.(Crunch scarf into a ball)
Shake them, shake them, shake them,
Shake them, shake them, shake them
'Til they POP, 'til they POP! (Release scarf into the air!)

Credit: Jbrary

Five Pigs So Squeaky Clean
Five pigs so squeaky clean, cleanest you've ever seen
Wanted to go outside and play.
One jumped into the mud and landed with a great big THUD,
Then there were four clean squeaky pigs. OINK! OINK!
[Count down until all the pigs are dirty.]

Credit: Storytime Katie

Craft—3D Chickens
Kids used assorted materials (crayons, dot markers, feathers, and glitter) to decorate their chickens.

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