Apples

This theme was used in a preschool program.

Books

One Red Apple by Harriet Ziefert
Ned's New Home by Kevin Tseng
Ducking for Apples by Lynne Berry

Songs

Apple Seed
Courtesy of Everything Preschool. 

Five Little Apples
Courtesy of Preschool Education. See Apple Fingerplay. 

Activity

Rhythm Sticks!

If You Have Some Rhythm Sticks
Courtesy of Jbrary 

Bread and Butter
Courtesy of Jbrary

Rainstorm! 
Courtesy of Early Childhood News.

Craft

Caramel Apple!

Supplies:

• Red construction paper
• Brown construction paper
• Red and gold sequins
• Glue
• Popsicle stick

Nocturnal Animals

I used this theme for an evening preschool program.

Books

Little Owl's Night by Divya Srinivasan
It's a Firefly Night by Dianne Ochiltree
Forest Bright, Forest Night by Jennifer Ward

I only read the nighttime portion of Jennifer Ward's book for the program. 

Songs

There's Something in the Nighttime
Courtesy of Miss Barbara at the Library

We discovered an owl, cricket, cat, mouse, and a skunk! I held up a stick puppet of each animal after the kids guessed. 

Sleeping Bats
Courtesy of CanTeach 

We acted out the following movements to the rhyme:

Tune: Frère Jacques
Bats are sleeping,
(place hands together and press against cheek. Pretend to sleep)
Bats are sleeping,
Upside down,
Upside down,
Sleeping in the morning sun,
(make a circle with your arms above your head)
Waiting for the night to come,
(twinkle fingers like stars)
Then they'll fly all around,
(flap arms)
Then they'll fly all around.

Activity

Bubbles

Craft

Hedgehog

 Supplies:

• White cardstock
• Glue
• Google eyes
• Crayons
• Gray and brown construction paper
• Leaf template or stamp

Art and Color

I used this theme in a preschool storytime.

Books

Sky Color by Peter Reynolds
Dog's Colorful Day by Emma Dodd

I created this prop for a colleague's storytime last year. I never had the chance to use it until now. The kids loved it!

Songs

Can You Find?
Courtesy of  Preschool Education

We used the following colors:

• Blue
• Red
• Green
• Yellow
• Purple

I placed large circles around the room in each color. This gave the kids had a specific object to look for.

This is the Way We Paint
Courtesy of Storytime Katie

We performed the following actions:

• Stir the paint
• Dip the brush
• Paint the paper
• Frame the picture
• Hang it high

Activities

Bubble play!

Craft

We created a fall mural! I placed out a large piece of butcher paper and used puffy paint and pom poms to make an apple tree in the center. I punched out Ellison letters to create the phrase "Happy Fall" in the center. I used the Ellison stamp to punch out apples, pumpkins, and leaves. I supplied the kids with stickers, glue, and crayons to decorate the mural.I did not provide an image, since a few of the kids wrote their first and last names on the mural.

Cities!

I've used a city theme in a preschool storytime before. This was the first time I used it in a toddler program. It was just as fun! The kids loved the stories and noisy songs!

Books

City Animals by Simms Taback
Subyway by Anastasia Suen

Songs

Wheels on the Bus

Little Car
Courtesy of DLTK 

Traffic Light

The red at the top tells us to stop!
(hold hand out in front)
The green below tells us to go!
(make a circular motion with arm)

The yellow in the middle tells us to wait.
(put both hands out in front)
Please don't worry you won't be late.
(point to wrist like a watch)

Unfortunately, I can't recall where I heard this wonderful rhyme! 

Activity

Shaker Eggs

Egg Shakers Up!
Courtesy of Jbrary 

Shake, Shake, Shake
Courtesy of Jbrary

Whale Make & Take

This craft was for a family make and take program. Patrons of all ages are invited to drop-in and create a fun craft! This would be a great to use in a summer or beach storytime.

Supplies:

• Paper plate
• Light and dark blue card stock or construction paper 
• Blue tissue paper
• Large wiggle eyes
• School glue
• Black card stock for the mouth 

Instructions:

Draw a flipper on the light blue paper. Trace your hand on the dark blue paper. Draw a mouth on the black card stock. Cut out the shapes. Cut or rip tissue paper into small pieces or squares.  Glue the tail to the side of the plate and the hand print to the top. Glue the tissue paper on top of the paper plate. Glue the eye and mouth on top of the tissue paper.

Marvelous Movement

Books

Drum City by Thea Guidone
Dancing Feet by Lindsey Craig
It's a Tiger! by David LaRochelle

Songs

Go Bananas!
Courtesy of Jbrary

Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes

Let's Get the Rhythm  
Courtesy of Jbrary 

We Can Jump!
Courtesy of Storytime Katie 

Activities

Rhythm Sticks

Billy Goats Go Trip, Trapping
Courtesy of Jean Warren

Rainstorm
(see Pizza Pie Storytime Post)

The Wheels on the Bus
Courtesy of Jbrary

Freeze Dance

I used the song The Freeze by Greg and Steve from the CD Kids in Motion. 

Craft

Rocket Ship

• Card stock
• Rocket clipart
• Star stickers
• Crayons
• Yellow and red streamers
• Large popsicle sticks
• Tape or glue stick 

Outdoor Adventures Storytime

Books

The Best Picnic Every by Clare Jarrett
Duck Dunks by Lynne Berry
It's a Firefly Night by Dianne Ochiltree

Songs

Camping Song
Courtesy of Preschool Education

Let's Pack a Picnic Basket  
Courtesy of Preschool Education

The Wheels on the Bike
Courtesy of Storytime Katie 

Five Little Kernels
Courtesy of Storytime Katie

Activity

Bubbles!

Craft

Campfire

Supplies:

• Black construction paper
• Orange construction paper
• Red construction paper
• Brown construction paper 
• Scissors
• Star stickers
• Small popsicle sticks
• Cotton balls 
• Glue

Instructions:

Trace your hand on the orange and red construction paper. Rip pieces from the brown construction paper. Glue the orange and red hand prints to the black construction paper. Make sure they're staggered.  Glue brown paper to the base of the hands. Glue a popsicle stick near the top of the paper. Glue cotton balls on top of the popsicle stick. Place star stickers on the black paper.