Cookie Crunch Storytime

This is a new storytime series I created. The program is held after school for children ages 5 to 8. It was a great program! The kids and parents had a great time. Afterwards I served cookies!

Books

Hooray for Hat! by Brian Won
Purple Little Bird by Greg Foley
The Three Little Pigs and the Somewhat Bad Wolf by Mark Teague 

Warm Up Song

Let's Get the Rhythm
Courtesy of Jbrary.

Rhythm Sticks

 Rainstorm
(See post in Pizza Pie Storytime for more details) 

Billy Goats
(Courtesy of Jean Warren from Preschool Express)

In our version we do not follow a tune. We acted out the swaying of the bridge as well.

BINGO
I found this rhythm stick activity on YouTube. The video is titled Rhythm Sticks Mary Mac and Bingo. 

Activity 

Freeze Dance

I used the song Freeze Dance by The Fresh Beat Band.

Craft

Owl Bag Puppet

 Supplies:

• Brown sandwich bag
• Orange cupcake wrappers
• Google eyes
• Orange and yellow construction paper
• Doilies
• Feathers
• Glue stick

Pizza Pie Storytime

This program was for children ages 3 to 6. I used this theme before with an older crowd. It's a wonderful, fun topic with lots of exciting songs and activities.

Books

Ding Dong! Gorilla by Michelle Robinson
Pete's a Pizza by William Steig
Pizza at Sally's by Monica Wellington 

Songs & Fingerplays

Pizza Man
Courtesy of Storytime Katie

If You Want to Eat Some Pizza
Courtesy of Storytime Katie

I incorporated the following movements:
Raise your hand
Clap your hands
Stomp your feet
Rub your tummy

Pizza Man, Pizza Man
Courtesy of Storytime Katie

Activity 

Rhythm Sticks

If You Have Some Rhythm Sticks
Courtesy of Jbrary.

Rainstorm
This activity is from 101 Rhythm Instrument Activities for Young Children by  Abigail Flesch Connors.

One day I was sitting in my house.
(place the rhythm sticks on your lap)
It was very quiet.
All of a sudden, I heard some light raindrops on my roof.
They sounded like this.
(tap sticks softly and slowly).

After a while, the rain got a little heavier,
(tap sticks a little louder and faster)
And then a little heavier.
(tap sticks a little louder and faster)
Then it turned into a rainstorm!
(tap sticks loud and fast)
Then it stopped!
(stop tapping and place sticks on lap)

Bread & Butter
Courtesy of Jbrary

Craft

Make a Pizza Pie!

• Small paper plate
• Glue 
• Scissors
• White yarn for cheese
• Red construction paper, cut into a circle, for sauce
• Green construction paper, cut into strips, for peppers
• Black pom poms for olives
• Brown crayon for crust
• Mushroom clip art (courtesy of My Cute Graphics)

 

Frosty Tales!

This program was for children ages 3 to 6.

Books

Winter is the Warmest Season by Lauren Stringer
Snow Happy! by Patricia Hubbell

Snow Happy has great rhyming and repetition. Every time I read "snow happy", I asked the group to join in.

Songs

Warm Mittens
Courtesy of Can Teach

View the posting titled Winter Wonderland for more details.

There's Something in the Snow
Courtesy of Storytime Katie

Animals & Noise:

Wolf-Howl, Howl
Polar Bear-Grrr, Grr
Penguin-Waddle
Snow Owl-Hoot, Hoot
Snow Bunny-Thump, thump, thump

The kids loved this rhyme! I created a prop using our plot printer and clip art. I made a little snow mound and printed images of the animals. After we made the sound, I asked the group "Which animal do you think makes that noise?". They would shout the answer and I would show them the picture. Then the animal would "hide" in the snow. This is a great way to incorporate stick puppets and flannel boards.

Polar Bear, Polar Bear
By Jean Warren, courtesy of Preschool Express

Activity

Bubbles!

I used the song Icky Sticky Bubble Gum from the CD Action! Fun! Dance! 


Craft

Ice Skates

• Ice skate clip art
• Jumbo Popsicle Sticks
• Glue
• Stickers
• Crayons
• Sequins

Winter Wonderland!

Although it is rather warm in New Jersey today, I had a Winter Wonderland Storytime! This program was for children ages 3 to 6.

Books

Snowmen at Night by Caralyn Buehner
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats.

These are two of my favorite winter books. The kids always love the silly activities of the snowmen in Snowmen at Night. The Snowy Day is a true classic. It's a sweet story about a boy named Peter and his snow day adventures. I like to engage the kids during this book. I'll ask questions like "Do you make snow angels like Peter?" or "How many of you have built a snowman?". When Peter puts the snowball in his pocket, it disappears. I'll ask, "What do you think happened to the snowball?". The kids love to tell you about their own snow day activities!

Songs

Warm Mittens
Courtesy of CanTeach

In our version, we repeat the first verse at the end. We also have actions for each movement.

I wiggle my left hand,
(shake left hand)
I wiggle my right,
(shake right hand)
Inside of my mittens,
(give yourself a hug)
So warm and so tight.
I wiggle my pinkie.
(wiggle pinkie)
I wiggle my thumb,
(wiggle thumb)
so when I make snowballs,
(pretend to make snowball)
my hands don't get numb.
(rub hands together)
I wiggle my left hand,
(wiggle left hand)
I wiggle my right,
(wiggle right hand)
Inside of my mittens,
So warm and so tight.
(give yourself a hug)

Polar Bear, Polar Bear
By Jean Warren, courtesy of Preschool Express.

Hey! Mr. Snowman
Courtesy of the blog Storytiming

I made the prop using our large plot printer and clip art.

Activity

If You Have Some Rhythm Sticks
Courtesy of Jbrary

The Wheels on the Bus
Courtesy of Jbrary

Bread & Butter
Courtesy of Jbrary

Craft

Polar Bear and Snow Globe

We made two crafts with this program!

Supplies:

• Paper plate
• White card stock or construction paper
• Black pom poms
• Google eyes
• School Glue
• Cotton balls

 Supplies:

•  Two shades of blue card stock 
• Cotton balls
• Sequins
• Snowflake stickers
• White card stock or construction paper
• Black and orange markers for the snowman

Bubblegum & Bubbles!

This program was for children ages 3 to 6. It was a lot of fun! Who doesn't like bubbles?

Books

Bubble Gum, Bubble Gum by Lisa Wheeler
Harry and Horsie by  Katie Van Camp

Songs & Fingerplays 

Sticky, Sticky Bubble Gum
Courtesy of Jbrary

In our version we stick our hands to our head, hips, knees, shoulders, and feet.

Bubble Gum, Bubble Gum

We sang the classic song Bubble Gum, Bubble Gum in a Dish. During the rhyme, we bumped our fists on top of the other. I started with three pieces of bubble gum. We clapped every time we counted each number. We repeated the song, adding a piece of bubble gum each time. We only went up to number 6. 

I Had a Little Turtle
Courtesy of Jbrary.
Activity

Bubbles!

I used the song Icky Sticky Bubble Gum from the CD Action! Fun! Dance!


Craft

Bubble Machine!

Supplies:

• Paper plates
• Glue sticks
• Pom poms
• Red construction paper
• Gray construction paper

Bedtime & Blankets

This theme was used in a toddler program.

Books

KiKi's Blankie by Janie Bynum
Bears in Beds by Shirley Parenteau

Songs & Fingerplays

Five Little Monkeys

This is the Way We Yawn & Stretch
Inspired by Mel's Desk

In our version we end the song with a hug goodnight. I have the kids give themselves a hug.

Time for Bed
Courtesy of Child Care Lounge

Activity

Shaker Eggs!

Egg Shakers Up!
Courtesy of Jbrary

In our version the kids put their hands behind their back, or cross their arms, when putting the egg to bed.

If You're Happy and You Know It
Courtesy of Library Land

For free dance, I used the song Rockin' Robin by Bobby Day from the CD A Child's Celebration of Rock N' Roll.

Image courtesy of Clipart Panda.
 

Twisted Fairytales!

I hosted a Twisted Fairytale storytime in the past. I decided to host another one, since it was such a hit. This program was for children ages 3 to 6.

Books

The Three Little Pigs and the Somewhat Bad Wolf by Mark Teague
The Boy Who Cried Bigfoot by Scott Magoon
The Foggy, Foggy Forest by Nick Sharmatt

The kids really loved The Foggy, Foggy Forest! It was my first time using it. It's a wonderful, interactive book that explores a variety of fairytale characters.

I've used the other titles for storytimes and outreach events. They usually get a few chuckles.

Songs & Fingerplays

Goldilocks
Courtesy of Let's Play Music

Hickory Dickory Dock
Courtesy of Jbrary

We only go up to the number 3 in our version.

Activity

Freeze Dance!

After the songs and fingerplays we played a round a freeze dance. I used the song Freeze Dance by The Fresh Beat Band.

Craft

Fire-breathing Dragon!

Supplies:

• Green paper cups
• Pom poms for the nose
• Sequins
• Stickers
• Red and orange streamers
• Sticker or google eyes
• Green card stock or construction paper
• School glue or a glue stick
• Scissors

Instructions:

Cut a hole in the bottom of the cup. I used a box cutter, but an exacto knife would work. I prepped this prior to the program. Then cut a few pieces of streamer and glue them on the inside of the small opening. Cut small circles from the green paper. This will be the base of the eye. Glue the paper on the cup, then place the sticker or google eye on top. Place two pom poms near the mouth for the nose. Then decorate with stickers, sequins, or gems if you have them. If you blow through the back, it will move the streamers. Voilà ! A fire-breathing dragon.