September 29th, 2015

The Books We Read:
Big Red Apple by Tony Johnston
Tap the Magic Tree  by Christie Matheson

Songs and Fingerplays:
Found an Apple by Harriet Ziefert--we sang this book for fun!

I Reached Way Up
I reached way up in the apple tree, and picked an apple just for me;
I took a bite, and what did I see? Five little worms a-lookin' at me--yuck!
[Repeat, counting down.]
Credit: Childhood

Project—Tissue Paper Apple Trees:

September 25th, 2018

The Books We Read:
Tap the Magic Tree  by Christie Matheson
Found an Apple by Harriet Ziefert
What's an Apple by Marilyn Singer

Songs and Fingerplays:
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

Found an Apple by Harriet Ziefert--we sang this book for fun!

I Reached Way Up
I reached way up in the apple tree, and picked an apple just for me;
I took a bite, and what did I see? Five little worms a-lookin' at me--yuck!
[Repeat, counting down.]
Credit: Childhood

Project—Magic Apple Trees w/ Fall Surprise
Everyone had a different take on their autumnal apple trees, which we made with tissue paper, dot markers, and lots of glue!

October 15th, 2019

The Books We Read:
Tap the Magic Tree  by Christie Matheson
The Terrible Plop by Ursula Dubosarsky
Found an Apple by Harriet Ziefert

Songs and Fingerplays:
Five Apples in a Basket
Felt Board Activity
The first apple in the basket was bright and shiny red.
The second apple in the basket said, “Oh my, what a cozy bed!”
The third apple in the basket said, “Now we two are a pair.”
The fourth apple in the basket said, “Make room for me in there!”
But the fifth apple in the basket said, “Oh me, oh me, oh my!”
”This basket looks like pastry—I think we’re in a pie!”
Credit: Library Village

I Reached Way Up
I reached way up in the apple tree, and picked an apple just for me;
I took a bite, and what did I see? Five little worms a-lookin' at me--yuck!
[Repeat, counting down.]
Credit: Childhood

Found an Apple by Harriet Ziefert
We sang this book for fun!

Project—Apple Prints
We dipped different sized apples into red and green paint and made unique prints. Messy fun!

September 20th, 2016

The Books We Read:
I Love Bugs! by Emma Dodd
Katy Did It! by Lorianne Siomades
Traveling Butterflies by Susumo Shingo

Songs & Activities:
Felt Board Bugs
We started story time by having volunteers pick an animal friend out of a bag and pin it on the felt board.  The kids had fun describing each animal and deciding which ones (bear, alligator, bird) would NOT be invited to our bug picnic.

Can You Move with Me?
Can you wiggle like a worm, can you squiggle, can you squirm?
Can you flutter and fly like a gentle butterfly?
Can you crawl on the ground like a beetle that is round?
Can you move with me?

Can you flip, can you flop, can you give a little hop?
Can you slither like a snake, can you give a little shake?
Can you buzz like a bee that is flying 'round a tree?
Can you move with me?
Credit: preschooleducation.com

Itsy Bitsy Spider
The itsy bitsy spider went up the water spout.
Down came the rain and washed the spider out.
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain.
And the itsy bitsy spider went up the spout again.
Credit: Childhood

Craft—Egg Carton Insects

Everyone created their own unique and colorful bug. Here is just one example:

September 22nd, 2015

The Books We Read:
Ten LIttle Caterpillars by Bill Martin, Jr. and Lois Ehlert
Traveling Butterlies  by Susumu Shingu
Arabella Miller's Tiny Caterpillar by Clare Jarrett

Songs and Fingerplays:
One Little Caterpillar (fingerplay)
One little caterpillar (crawl fingers up arm)
Made a cocoon one day (fold hands together)
Turned into a butterfly (hook thumbs, spread fingers)
And flew away!
Credit: Storytime Katie

The Caterpillar Song
Let's be caterpillars, wiggle with me (repeat 3x)
What will we be next, darlings?
Now we're a chyrsalis, sleep with me (repeat 3x)
What will we be next, darlings?
We're butterflies now, come fly with me (repeat 3x)
That's what we are now, darlings!
Credit: Storytime Katie

Project—Coffee Filter Butterlies:

October 11th, 2016

The Books We Read:
Bear Has a Story to Tell by Philip Stead
Busy Little Squirrel by Nancy Tafuri
Owl Babies by Martin Waddell

Songs & Activities:
Autumn Leaves Stretch
(To the tune of London Bridges)
Autumn leaves are falling down, falling down, falling down.
Autumn leaves are falling down, it is fall.

Take a rake and rake them up, rake them up, rake them up.
Take a rake and rake them up, it is fall.

Make a pile and jump right in, jump right in, jump right in.
Make a pile and jump right in, it is fall.
Credit: Various sources

Mmm-AH! Went the 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

Five Little Hoot Owls (w/ flannel board)
Five little hoot owls sitting in a tree, one flew away, how many do you see?
[Count down to zero.]
Credit: Sunflower Storytime

Craft—Owl Masks

Inspired by Bill from Owl Babies, the kids made masks with bright, colorful feathers.  Here is a fun example:

October 29th, 2019

The Books We Read:
Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds
Pumpkin Trouble by Jan Thomas
Stumpkin by Lucy Cummins

Songs & Activities:
Open Shut Them
Open, shut them, open, shut them, give a little clap clap clap!
Open, shut them, open, shut them, put them in your lap lap lap.
Creep them, creep them, creep them, creep them, right up to your chin, chin, chin.
Open wide your little mouth, but... do not let them IN!

Credit: Childhood

Craft—Pumpkin Painting!

October 18th, 2016

The Books We Read:
Possum's Harvest Moon by Anne Hunter
Found an Apple by Harriet Ziefert
Racoons and Ripe Corn by Jim Arnosky

Songs & Activities:
I Reached Way Up
I reached way up in the apple tree, and picked an apple just for me;
I took a bite, and what did I see? Five little worms a-lookin' at me--yuck!
[Repeat, counting down.]
Credit: Childhood

This is the Way (Corn Song)
This is the way we plant the corn, plant the corn, plant the corn.
This is the way we plant the corn, so early in the morning.
This is the way we
...water the seeds.
...hoe the weeds.
...pick the corn.
...shuck the corn.
...eat the corn!
Credit: Adapted from Various Sources

Craft—Apple Collage
A great example of what we did.  Notice the many-eyed worm!

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:

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!

October 25th, 2016

The Books We Read:
The Runaway Pumpkin by Kevin Lewis
Ten Orange Pumpkins by Stephen Savage
The Little Old Lady Who Wasn't Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams

Songs & Activities:
Open Shut Them
Open, shut them, open, shut them, give a little clap, clap, clap!
Open, shut them, open, shut them, put them in your lap, lap, lap.
Creep them, creep them, creept them, creep them, right up to your chin, chin, chin.
Open wide your little mouth, but... do not let them in!
Credit: Various Sources

Five Little Pumpkins
Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate.
The first one said, "Oh my, it's getting late!"
The second said, "There are witches in the air!"
The third one said, "Oh, we don't care!"
The fourth one said, "It's time to go home!"
The fifth one said, "Don't leave me alone!"
Oooooh ooooh, went the wind, and out went the light,
and the five little pumpkins rolled out of sight!
Credit: Childhood

Craft—What's Inside a Pumpkin??
This was a hugely fun project. Kids decorated their pumpkin face however they liked and then glued pumpkin "guts" (yarn and seeds) on the inside!  Here is one example:

October 20th, 2015

The Books We Read:
The Runaway Pumpkin by Kevin Lewis
Ten Orange Pumpkins by Stephen Savage

Songs and Fingerplays:
Pumpkin Vine Song
I looked in the garden and what did I find?
Green leaves a-growin' on my pumpkin vine (repeat).
I looked in the garden and what did I find?
... Yellow flowers blooming on my pumpkin vine (repeat).
... Busy bees a-buzzing on my pumpkin vine (repeat).
...Little pumpkins growing on my pumpkin vine (repeat).
...Big fat pumpkins growing on my pumpkin vine (repeat).
Credit: Life Lab

Five Little Pumpkins
Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate. The first one said "Oh my, it's getting late."
The second one said "There are witches in the air!"
The third one said "Oh, we don't care."
The fourth one said "It's time to go home!"
The fifth one said "Don't leave me alone!!"
"Oooooh," went the wind and OUT went the light;
And the five little pumpkins rolled out of sight!
Credit: Childhood

Project—Mason Jar Jack-o-Lanterns:

October 31st, 2017

The Books We Read:
The Little Old Lady Who Wasn't Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams
Ten Orange Pumpkins by Stephen Savage
Pumpkin Trouble by Jan Thomas

Songs & Activities:
Five Little Pumpkins
Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate.
The first one said, "Oh my, it's getting late!"
The second said, "There are witches in the air!"
The third one said, "Oh, we don't care!"
The fourth one said, "It's time to go home!"
The fifth one said, "Don't leave me alone!"
Oooooh ooooh, went the wind, and out went the light,
and the five little pumpkins rolled out of sight!
Credit: Childhood

Craft—Jack-o-Lantern Lanterns

We had fun with mod-pudge and tissue paper, creating funny and fearsome pumpkin faces. A great project for Halloween day!

October 30th, 2018

The Books We Read:
Stumpkin by Lucy Cummins
Ten Orange Pumpkins by Stephen Savage
Runaway Pumpkin by Kevin Lewis

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

Open Shut Them
Open, shut them, open, shut them, give a little clap clap clap!
Open, shut them, open, shut them, put them in your lap lap lap.
Creep them, creep them, creep them, creep them, right up to your chin, chin, chin.
Open wide your little mouth, but... do not let them IN!
Credit: Childhood

Craft—What's in a Pumpkin?

We had fun decorating paper pumpkins, both outside...

and in...

September 26th, 2017

The Books We Read:
Leaf Man by Lois Ehrlet
Leavesby David Ezra Stein
The Tree by Layton Neal

Songs & Activities:
Autumn Leaves
Autumn leaves are falling down, falling down, falling down.
Autumn leaves are falling down, it is fall.

Other verses:
Take a rake and rake them up...
Make a pile and jump right in...
Credit: Jbrary

Craft—Leaf Collages
We made our own fall pictures out of leaves, flowers and acorns.  Thanks to Lois Ehlert for the inspiration!

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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: