tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76473201704393523742024-03-06T12:02:08.724-08:00Read, Sarah, Read!Sarah Mchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746680312783947853noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7647320170439352374.post-13684106281006680902013-02-07T15:16:00.000-08:002013-02-08T17:51:25.624-08:00Flannel Friday: Winter tree & forest animalsThis is not my idea! All credit goes to Linda Meuse from <a href="http://meusenotes.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-sheltering-tree.html" target="_blank">Notes from the Story Room</a> and her blog post on 12-1-12. Linda, awesome story & idea - love it. The story is called the Sheltering Tree; it is about a little fur tree who kept a host of animals warm on a snowy winter day. Linda's story is draw and tell, but I changed mine a bit by making a larger tree and having little "lift the flap" holes. The tree is green posterboard and the flaps were cut with an exacto knife. The animal pictures are from Google images. I hot glued popsicle sticks to the back of the tree to give it some sturdiness, and a toilet paper roll (ha!) is also glued to the back to act as a "handle." <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIuwULB1CGOVB0Mi0Wfnmn_31EGQEajxE0yuyzG0gmzSYGknqy9koWnklUzAypsI885T07TwilgKgF8kOIGSV4hkHlCsO-KavYq2-UwJaaLbPqrpwBeiGPp7BLopEY2rUeuVDUugeGK9F6/s1600/Winter+tree+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIuwULB1CGOVB0Mi0Wfnmn_31EGQEajxE0yuyzG0gmzSYGknqy9koWnklUzAypsI885T07TwilgKgF8kOIGSV4hkHlCsO-KavYq2-UwJaaLbPqrpwBeiGPp7BLopEY2rUeuVDUugeGK9F6/s640/Winter+tree+1.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
I have a mixed age group of kids at a local daycare, and they respond really well to this type of activity. Walking around the room and letting the children see inside the holes was a lot of fun and the kids loved it. <br />
<br />
I used Linda's original story, delightfully simple and easy to tell, and it's available in a Google document from <a href="http://meusenotes.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-sheltering-tree.html" target="_blank">her blog post</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpRfus2UmpMRV5r5kJLIeMqpouLIJC66nqyfOv_e42qw3heKO-e0DaDeuDLWPqxyTdmSRGgCvFBwUQT0PUP78wuvtm4dipJJZwROhkV8dlVma8tEyTNPiFw0lOstpLIt0wfbWD6x4LJ9K/s1600/Winter+tree+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpRfus2UmpMRV5r5kJLIeMqpouLIJC66nqyfOv_e42qw3heKO-e0DaDeuDLWPqxyTdmSRGgCvFBwUQT0PUP78wuvtm4dipJJZwROhkV8dlVma8tEyTNPiFw0lOstpLIt0wfbWD6x4LJ9K/s640/Winter+tree+3.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-XTlqqaHhAiDmflMlL49W4TcZU7cdPFycd_JFIT67zx4dPPTglHot9CF0_62i8HN1rhZvyGwlVgPiZ3jf7by6UjPZhNfzp8ZPx7z0xltJhrM8xBZ0TrwKoysTPZQU87XWDNnCWjl9STte/s1600/Winter+tree+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-XTlqqaHhAiDmflMlL49W4TcZU7cdPFycd_JFIT67zx4dPPTglHot9CF0_62i8HN1rhZvyGwlVgPiZ3jf7by6UjPZhNfzp8ZPx7z0xltJhrM8xBZ0TrwKoysTPZQU87XWDNnCWjl9STte/s640/Winter+tree+2.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://neverlandarling.blogspot.com/2013/02/flannel-friday.html" target="_blank">Miss Courtney</a> is our Flannel Friday host today & all information about Flannel Friday and all its goodness can be found on its <a href="http://flannelfridaystorytime.blogspot.com/2012/02/welcome-to-flannel-friday.html" target="_blank">site</a>.</div>
Sarah Mchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746680312783947853noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7647320170439352374.post-73938565694159923282012-11-16T09:31:00.002-08:002012-11-16T09:31:13.626-08:00There was an old lady who...swallowed a pieHappy Thanksgiving! Here's my favorite story to tell: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Know-Lady-Swallowed-Picture-Puffins/dp/0140565957/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1353086303&sr=8-1&keywords=there+was+an+old+lady+who+swallowed+a+pie" target="_blank">I know an old lady who swallowed a pie</a> by Alison Jackson. <br />
<br />
No surprise and I'm sure some of you talented people have flannelized it. I enjoy telling this with my old lady puppet. My pieces are laminated paper and they slide (pretty) easily into her belly. The kids get a MAJOR kick out of seeing the 10 layer cake, especially, go all the way down. (The words to the story, by the way, are written on the backs of all these pieces. Shhhhhh!)<br />
<br />
There are some fun storytelling techniques you can do with this story. The kids always repeat the final refrain "that Thanksgiving pie that was MUCH TOO DRY!" As the story progresses and you are adding more and more items, I also like to sway from side to side as I'm telling it and the kids join in on this. It is also fun to do a low and grumbly voice for the cider "that wiggled and jiggled and tickled inside her."<br />
<br />
Older preschool children enjoy this and I've found it to be absolutely perfect for kindergarten and first grade.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiknG0ktP9dcqhu0iq-l3JOvwQt9D3DBpX1Heh9_C9G-hUjAlzsCKrTebAAwuTbHxfw0s5yGnQVn_t97PWu45r5zw9LBRJQDRVSHeHLSz4wNpqA2Jvt-2PNn8VCx0SNxKrudThDkHWPFruv/s1600/old+lady.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiknG0ktP9dcqhu0iq-l3JOvwQt9D3DBpX1Heh9_C9G-hUjAlzsCKrTebAAwuTbHxfw0s5yGnQVn_t97PWu45r5zw9LBRJQDRVSHeHLSz4wNpqA2Jvt-2PNn8VCx0SNxKrudThDkHWPFruv/s640/old+lady.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpk8_Bb_8zJHiAwSlv-XquuPjDSKTr2Arjklv3tlwS0fngaFPSpDjKQsBkbsO8qMwPsXWpgeAoCH_vwIe5px0pAxCCjUauWTCcK98l4YvZq2mqotZ0Lk_Ks4vmM4e65SmazQJ3wqBDk3f0/s1600/lady+who+swallowed+a+pie.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpk8_Bb_8zJHiAwSlv-XquuPjDSKTr2Arjklv3tlwS0fngaFPSpDjKQsBkbsO8qMwPsXWpgeAoCH_vwIe5px0pAxCCjUauWTCcK98l4YvZq2mqotZ0Lk_Ks4vmM4e65SmazQJ3wqBDk3f0/s640/lady+who+swallowed+a+pie.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Flannel Friday is today! The Flannel Friday website is a great place for information. Tracey at <a href="http://1234morestorytimes.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">1234 More Storytimes</a> is the lovely hostess for today.Sarah Mchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746680312783947853noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7647320170439352374.post-14904962219580340992012-10-19T12:22:00.003-07:002012-10-19T12:22:44.970-07:00Flannel Friday: Pizza Chant!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ii2e-eLB521dvL1KWuM5byyRa-XOtH8Uwm1J15HiP1oFiTpRe9H-1QYJjYGI2aOJty9QJTgqvKEiXv3xZ6yEr2HyZ6QbjJkrXF3d5eoWuEHDCxr3NMeOeIkktzBxenD7h-8OtOpwj__a/s1600/pizza+collage.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ii2e-eLB521dvL1KWuM5byyRa-XOtH8Uwm1J15HiP1oFiTpRe9H-1QYJjYGI2aOJty9QJTgqvKEiXv3xZ6yEr2HyZ6QbjJkrXF3d5eoWuEHDCxr3NMeOeIkktzBxenD7h-8OtOpwj__a/s640/pizza+collage.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<strong>Pizza Chant</strong><br />
<br />
8 pieces of pizza<br />
tasty as can be,<br />
______ can eat a slice<br />
but leave some for me!<br />
<br />
Yum, yum, that was fun!<br />
We love a pizza party.<br />
<br />
Today is <a href="http://flannelfridaystorytime.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Flannel Friday</a>! Check that link for more info. <a href="http://storytimewithmissmollie.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Miss Mollie</a> is the hostess for today and all contributors will be pinned on our <a href="http://pinterest.com/flannelfriday/" target="_blank">Pinterest </a>page - yay!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Sarah Mchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746680312783947853noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7647320170439352374.post-73515174958854699822012-10-12T20:12:00.001-07:002012-10-12T20:12:22.323-07:00Flannel Friday: 5 Little Turtles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgzaF3cKomqVcn1CnWyxexHj-TAceVrsQaHZmY-jp7ZkbYbyWvlWYBhkUB4wzPp81IXpXHkNA0RC1ziKlPkwmPV1ohvlcG3fSQ0jRCSkGOkTGpgN_HJHoFcVr9CIN450Y9d-qcN66jmurz/s1600/turtles2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgzaF3cKomqVcn1CnWyxexHj-TAceVrsQaHZmY-jp7ZkbYbyWvlWYBhkUB4wzPp81IXpXHkNA0RC1ziKlPkwmPV1ohvlcG3fSQ0jRCSkGOkTGpgN_HJHoFcVr9CIN450Y9d-qcN66jmurz/s640/turtles2.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
These are dollar store turtles sunning themselves on "rocks" by the "lake". They're having a GREAT day until, uh oh!, who is that sneaking out from the grass? Ssssss...it's Mr. Snake! "Agh! said the turtle and he jumped in the lake!"<br />
<br />
How many turtles are left? Let's count them.<br />
<br />
I didn't use a specific rhyme for this - instead, we just talked through our turtles sitting in the sun on the rocks until Mr. Snake comes by to cause trouble! Then we recounted turtles and so on. I did this for all three age groups & it was successful - the pre-k got into it the most & that was great. This was a bit of a last minute effort that turned out, for the most part, pretty well! The group I visited today doesn't do well with longer puppet shows, so my standby option of the Tortoise and the Hare was out.<br />
<br />
If you are curious about the prop itself - that's just a box covered with paper and gray felt rocks.<br />
<br />
I am happy to be hosting <a href="http://flannelfridaystorytime.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Flannel Friday</a> today; a dream come true! Check out the FF page for all the details and the<a href="http://pinterest.com/flannelfriday/" target="_blank"> Pinterest page</a> is beyond fab!Sarah Mchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746680312783947853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7647320170439352374.post-55337862067562280822012-10-11T08:26:00.000-07:002012-10-13T09:32:39.047-07:00Flannel Friday Roundup: 10-12-12What an honor to be hosting Flannel Friday today - dream come true! So many wonderful treasures for all of us to be inspired by.<br />
<br />
There's cute sheep to count over at <a href="http://missmaryliberry.wordpress.com/2012/10/12/flannel-friday-counting-sheep/" target="_blank">Miss Mary Liberry</a>. The activity was inspired by a book but turned into a color AND number recognition game. She even shares her super cute pattern!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://neverlandarling.blogspot.com/2012/10/flannel-friday-community-helpers.html" target="_blank">Miss Courtney</a> has a match game for community helpers and the tools they might use. She uses community helper puppets as flannel pieces and handmade tools to visually describe their work. She's also got a good song to use for this theme (we may need more info on the "firefighter pokey"!)<br />
<br />
Lisa at <a href="http://lisaslibraryland.blogspot.com/2012/10/flannel-friday-props.html" target="_blank">Libraryland</a> presents some marvelous storytime props inspired by Future Librarian Superhero. She's got a house with windows, a barn, and a black one for stick puppets. Isn't Flannel Friday so amazing for inspiration?<br />
<br />
Amanda at <a href="http://toddlertalesfun.blogspot.com/2012/10/week-1-introduction-and-songbirds.html" target="_blank">Trails and Tales</a> has great ideas for birds and extended ideas helping the children interact with their environment. She includes a link to a chickadee pattern that is oh so lovely and includes an adorable bird's nest being built on her head!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://storytimewithmissmollie.blogspot.com/2012/10/flannel-friday-way-up-high-in-apple-tree.html" target="_blank">Miss Mollie</a> has a flannel version of Way up High in the Apple Tree - a storytime favorite for sure!<br />
<br />
Dorothy of the <a href="http://the-wielded-pen-childrens-corner.blogspot.com/2012/10/who-am-i-chameleon-fun-flannel-friday.html" target="_blank">Wielded Pen</a> has an ever changing chameleon to share with everyone. She brings up something very important, too: don't forget about animal print flannel pieces...they're a resource!<br />
<br />
Lucy at <a href="http://inthechildrensroom.blogspot.com/2012/10/flannel-friday-lots-o-dots.html" target="_blank">In the Children's Room</a> brings you an easy, colorful idea for presenting dots and art in storytime. What a great reminder that art can be found in so many places, even for the little guy who can only draw a squiggly line.<br />
<br />
Sarah at <a href="http://misssarahsstorytime.blogspot.com/2012/10/flannel-friday-fair-food.html" target="_blank">Read it Again</a> has a timely flannel (at least in my state where the Fair opened this weekend!) She was inspired by Ram Sam Storytime to create fair food on a stick and sing about it to a catchy tune. She also reminds us that craft foam is a lovely alternative to flannel, in case anyone wants to branch out (check out her pizza made of craft foam...YUM!)<br />
<br />
Katie at <a href="http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/2012/10/flannel-friday-gumballs-in-dish.html" target="_blank">Story Time Secrets</a> says G is for Gumball. She was inspired by a jump rope rhyme you might remember, too, and she has a great idea that works on many levels. And all kids like gumballs, right?<br />
<br />
Carolyn at <a href="http://riskingfailure.blogspot.com/2012/10/nonfiction-bear-magnet-board.html" target="_blank">Risking Failure</a> brings us just a lovely idea for bears (non fiction) and uses (what looks to be) cookie sheets as magnetic backdrops so the kids can move things around and match facts as they see fit. A very lovely job indeed!<br />
<br />
Everybody's favorite cat is back! That's Pete the Cat and his four groovy buttons brought to us by <a href="http://storytiming.com/2012/10/12/flannel-friday-pete-the-cat-and-his-four-groovy-buttons/" target="_blank">Cate of Storytiming</a>. We all love you, Pete!<br />
<br />
I'm Sarah, your happy hostess, and my <a href="http://readsarahread.blogspot.com/2012/10/flannel-friday-5-little-turtles.html" target="_blank">Flannel Friday contribution</a> for this week is a little prop I used successfully for 5 Little Turtles.<br />
<br />
Thanks, everyone, for stopping by!<br />
<br />
<br />Sarah Mchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746680312783947853noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7647320170439352374.post-41413830784545041542012-10-04T17:51:00.003-07:002012-10-23T11:53:18.432-07:00Ten Timid Ghosts: Flannel Friday Halloween!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_SqVeIMw7C6xH2koAdIB3t6RSyp4F4wKh_v5gIHq3yn1t8ai6rf5Hnln1mw2PHsRD386hsY5sqFMRd-WT6uDxFSo1zepY6pFtIQNvdKQ1MpHbGKai1YQnJ91g8zv0oWoIr6hRbuVBpVp/s1600/Haunted+House.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_SqVeIMw7C6xH2koAdIB3t6RSyp4F4wKh_v5gIHq3yn1t8ai6rf5Hnln1mw2PHsRD386hsY5sqFMRd-WT6uDxFSo1zepY6pFtIQNvdKQ1MpHbGKai1YQnJ91g8zv0oWoIr6hRbuVBpVp/s640/Haunted+House.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
I bought <em>Ten Timid Ghosts</em> by Jennifer O'Connel for my son at a grocery store checkout line (ha!) and I tell ya, he loooves it. I've wanted to "make" it for over a year and I finally did it! In the story, a witch moves into a haunted house that 10 ghosts live in. She gets the ghosts out by scaring them with her spooky props (or dressing up as something spooky - like a vampire). It was a pinch labor intensive, but I think I'll get some wear out of it. Though I love the book and intended the house to be FOR the book, I have found it cumbersome to actually use. <strong>I've updated this post below and added a ghost rhyme a co-worker found online for me, and it seems to work a lot better.</strong><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6cVBsVRHWFJMCfBJZaPN74nrPbJm70LuEN7bfrQq5qeeOBxhti3ueEijDRF7tJYZ5_dlAyLX3qSkb6Kuc4T68tzODbfpwL9CQEJ3guL-lzo7ubVnFqi6w4XmZcuWsXHwWo3POmYfSe0gn/s1600/Halloween+faces.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6cVBsVRHWFJMCfBJZaPN74nrPbJm70LuEN7bfrQq5qeeOBxhti3ueEijDRF7tJYZ5_dlAyLX3qSkb6Kuc4T68tzODbfpwL9CQEJ3guL-lzo7ubVnFqi6w4XmZcuWsXHwWo3POmYfSe0gn/s320/Halloween+faces.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn1zDMOOsV41o3wGMaKdYMD010m_iiVDRW3r7wKiBPAcze6ptaeLojQBX0fj9U4rYY0lFxStuuWFvJ4wTAwTqppdNVH4cLfP3csms6Z5KnxLGcebXkAR4vJdf6ZhDksHEUXKP-xiH1F8KE/s1600/ten_timid_ghosts_cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn1zDMOOsV41o3wGMaKdYMD010m_iiVDRW3r7wKiBPAcze6ptaeLojQBX0fj9U4rYY0lFxStuuWFvJ4wTAwTqppdNVH4cLfP3csms6Z5KnxLGcebXkAR4vJdf6ZhDksHEUXKP-xiH1F8KE/s320/ten_timid_ghosts_cover.jpg" width="314" /></a></div>
<br />
The haunted house itself is made of a box lid. The ghosts in the haunted house are made of cardstock with a small magnet on the bottom. I needed a way to get them in and out pretty easily, and magnets just seemed to be a good idea. The back of the house is below. The ghosts extend past the curtains by a bit so they are easy to take off as they get scared away.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiplC-eZD-mJM3uBCSm7Mo-ekygqYenwV-3o18Wlx-Lz9nLKewMXwdiCHR255NElnCQnyRq7YaF-OazGYCDrHJrqqh65SDTsepxIOkrT0iMffVVScIXB_jf7r6jHRcblKqUn1jljs3-keH2/s1600/Back+of+house.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiplC-eZD-mJM3uBCSm7Mo-ekygqYenwV-3o18Wlx-Lz9nLKewMXwdiCHR255NElnCQnyRq7YaF-OazGYCDrHJrqqh65SDTsepxIOkrT0iMffVVScIXB_jf7r6jHRcblKqUn1jljs3-keH2/s400/Back+of+house.JPG" width="298" /></a></div>
<br />
Here is a cute ghost rhyme found on <a href="http://twigglemagazine.com/">Twigglemagazine.com</a> that turns out to be super cute for this house. Obviously, you'll change it to <strong>Ten Little Ghosts</strong> and adjust accordingly. I added my felt faces to sticks so they can pop out, scare the ghost, and then be put back. All in all, this rhyme works better than the original idea I had - one of those cases where the book works better on its own!<br />
<br />
<strong>Five Little Ghosts </strong> <br />
Five little ghosts in a haunted house at play, <br />
Along came a funny skeleton and chased one ghost away. <br />
Four little ghosts in a haunted house at play,<br />
Along came a giant monster and chased one ghost away. <br />
Three little ghosts in a haunted house at play,<br />
Along came a tiny spider and chased one ghost away. <br />
Two little ghosts in a haunted house at play,<br />
Along came an ugly witch and chased one ghost away. <br />
One little ghost in a haunted house at play,<br />
Along came a big fat cat and chased the ghost away. <br />
Can you find the ghosts and say:<br />
1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ghosts come back and play!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://flannelfridaystorytime.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Flannel Friday</a> is having a Halloween Extravaganza today; <a href="http://missmaryliberry.wordpress.com/2012/10/04/flannel-friday-roundup-for/" target="_blank">Miss Mary</a> is hosting the Boo Bash! You can get overloaded with Flannel Friday fun over at <a href="http://pinterest.com/flannelfriday/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>. Happy Halloween, everyone!Sarah Mchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746680312783947853noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7647320170439352374.post-82696581028735309732012-09-21T14:24:00.001-07:002012-09-22T18:52:17.949-07:0012 Little Donuts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyUv2CpcSZtq2TI1gS6Xo-3aIRBrL8AE66c2hw0f7f1erZpnO0J_teGBLdfsNc29r8eln0v1Ev3WU-4PaDIi-Hy7-GETV40byWBJK6VsDe4E3fHZwGIj-BiJnYMSpSiOUbEiSXMKRsSDM-/s1600/donut+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyUv2CpcSZtq2TI1gS6Xo-3aIRBrL8AE66c2hw0f7f1erZpnO0J_teGBLdfsNc29r8eln0v1Ev3WU-4PaDIi-Hy7-GETV40byWBJK6VsDe4E3fHZwGIj-BiJnYMSpSiOUbEiSXMKRsSDM-/s640/donut+3.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I found this idea on <a href="http://innerchildfun.com/2011/11/play-donuts-from-dollar-store-socks.html" target="_blank">Inner Child Fun</a> and it is basically cute overload. These donuts {please do not fall out of your chairs!} are made of socks from the dollar store. You cut the toe off, roll them, and decorate - check out the Inner Child Fun link for the details.<br />
<br />
I adapted the familiar rhyme so many of us use already:<br />
<br />
12 little donuts in the donut shop<br />
Yummy and warm with sprinkles on top<br />
____ came along with a quarter to pay<br />
She took one home and ate it right away...Yum! Yum!<br />
<br />
Don't eat too many donuts!<br />
<br />
Flannel Friday is what today is about and you can read about it on <a href="http://flannelfridaystorytime.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Flannel Friday's own website</a>! Sharon at <a href="http://storytime.readingchick.com/" target="_blank">Rain Makes Applesauce</a> is today's round-up hostess, and <a href="http://pinterest.com/flannelfriday/" target="_blank">Pinterst </a>is THE place for Flannel Friday overload!<br />
Sarah Mchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746680312783947853noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7647320170439352374.post-25443726731985028752012-09-06T13:57:00.000-07:002012-09-06T19:54:34.394-07:00Not Flannel Friday: Dear Zoo in 3D<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTn-puP-PUJ66zXSsU6b2KXMOEaPN8Z4SESxy4DqWl4kfrOILIgTS37Q45ccYYAfdTBpPOE49rhdhPGUxRpPvPuErnOpaQPG7sATUBMrPUosntHEDntuAwkx2U77hSmm8kll7K9Wro6CQz/s1600/Dear+zoo+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTn-puP-PUJ66zXSsU6b2KXMOEaPN8Z4SESxy4DqWl4kfrOILIgTS37Q45ccYYAfdTBpPOE49rhdhPGUxRpPvPuErnOpaQPG7sATUBMrPUosntHEDntuAwkx2U77hSmm8kll7K9Wro6CQz/s640/Dear+zoo+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I thought it might be fun to do a 3D version of the classic <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dear-Zoo-Lift---Flap-Book/dp/141694737X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1346964323&sr=8-1&keywords=dear+zoo" target="_blank">Dear Zoo</a>, using some of the finger puppets I have on hand. I tried really hard to find a small finger puppet snake, but I had to settle for a rubber one instead. I found this cute box at the Dollar Tree and shoved my little animals in there (verrry tight squeeze!) I'm going to have my eye out for a bigger box.<br />
<br />
In telling the story, I just repeated the refrain from the book using the animals I chose. It's a flexible way to tell it, and you can use any animals you have on hand.<br />
<br />
I wrote to the zoo to send me a pet<br />
and they sent me ____________!<br />
He was too _______ , so I sent him back.<br />
<br />
(you end with a dog - who is "perfect!" and you keep him!)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKfnjgxqh9qlO0sM9hbK6cgy8yNJE2wlVFQdgbIOH0WR4M7gmfPN3ztrVR4dSEiv5GFEwo1K1YAYcl6qDpSdprKnzNDhYOGYNEOQa-aZ1cWqj3EizxN0QAvgs5WUAn2wu9rJU8Qah7n2zP/s1600/Dear+zoo+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKfnjgxqh9qlO0sM9hbK6cgy8yNJE2wlVFQdgbIOH0WR4M7gmfPN3ztrVR4dSEiv5GFEwo1K1YAYcl6qDpSdprKnzNDhYOGYNEOQa-aZ1cWqj3EizxN0QAvgs5WUAn2wu9rJU8Qah7n2zP/s640/Dear+zoo+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Wtvb6V-Qup9NhIqUUMpEFxj9hbJSZnmFdqeUgfmroghWlrVAbzQCprRDDnJm7TuwCJbqOeg9QgC03ax70wMvIw56BKJ76C-cuWSOMdkZ9seeGj2nHsZUyuB7ySY2tZzveJss-f5b0yUM/s1600/Dear+zoo+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Wtvb6V-Qup9NhIqUUMpEFxj9hbJSZnmFdqeUgfmroghWlrVAbzQCprRDDnJm7TuwCJbqOeg9QgC03ax70wMvIw56BKJ76C-cuWSOMdkZ9seeGj2nHsZUyuB7ySY2tZzveJss-f5b0yUM/s640/Dear+zoo+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Flannel Friday is the fun we are having today - you can read about it <a href="http://flannelfridaystorytime.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">here</a>. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://loonsandquines.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Loons and Quines</a> is our host for the day.<br />
<br />
And <a href="http://pinterest.com/flannelfriday" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>, of course, is the place for the best Flannel Friday eye candy!Sarah Mchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746680312783947853noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7647320170439352374.post-37796317496685844912012-08-30T10:48:00.000-07:002012-09-02T19:57:27.134-07:00Sssss...Snakes!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYCM2Xt5O5l_v_c_qNMWHC1t91HUwKzP6dWX-twBZLT2ES6JWOCPKOlnQ_OO5GzuVxldOlp4mFQD1WC9RfwTLHthQDEnhqhcAzifYZj1OdhvOspQZwCfiWbz6RQiCSVyltag2TZ3HY4zzv/s1600/snakes.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYCM2Xt5O5l_v_c_qNMWHC1t91HUwKzP6dWX-twBZLT2ES6JWOCPKOlnQ_OO5GzuVxldOlp4mFQD1WC9RfwTLHthQDEnhqhcAzifYZj1OdhvOspQZwCfiWbz6RQiCSVyltag2TZ3HY4zzv/s640/snakes.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Lots of slithery, snakey fun with this rhyme: <br />
<br />
ONE little snake looking for something to do<br />
He finds another and that makes TWO.<br />
Two little snakes wrapped around a tree,<br />
Another slithers up and that makes THREE.<br />
Three little snakes by the garden door,<br />
They see another and that makes FOUR.<br />
Four little snakes notice one more arrive,<br />
Basking in the sun, the snakes make FIVE.<br />
(rhyme credit: Storytime Magic)<br />
<br />
And here's a good song to use, which you could also use various flannel pieces for:<br />
<br />
The snake in the grass went ssss, ssss, ssss, the snake in the grass went ssss, all day long.<br />
The turtle on the rock goes snap, snap, snap . . .<br />
The frog in the pond goes ribbit, ribbit, ribbit . . .<br />
The bee in the tree goes buzz, buzz, buzz . . .<br />
The rabbit in the hole goes hop, hop, hop. . .<br />
<br />
Today's flannel friday is hosted by <a href="http://meusenotes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Notes from the Story Room</a>, and the<a href="http://flannelfridaystorytime.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"> Flannel Friday website</a> is always a great place for details!Sarah Mchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746680312783947853noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7647320170439352374.post-63614175659390300862012-08-16T11:13:00.000-07:002012-08-16T11:17:00.173-07:00Pete the Cat<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNeIcpCVp3Zmu6pGqAHuGQM3M6Eh9J-ZDntCev4T0k1oJjlz1dHXlD7Rh8LhzamFukya1-O8oCO2E7k2Qq0wjixtLY91B-p-OE8wuZN4C6Drq4TMlJHVwriQTZGYh0Iv1XJ75_hWbsmAgx/s1600/PetetheCat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNeIcpCVp3Zmu6pGqAHuGQM3M6Eh9J-ZDntCev4T0k1oJjlz1dHXlD7Rh8LhzamFukya1-O8oCO2E7k2Qq0wjixtLY91B-p-OE8wuZN4C6Drq4TMlJHVwriQTZGYh0Iv1XJ75_hWbsmAgx/s640/PetetheCat.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
No new ideas here, but I still wanted to share my version of ol' Pete the Cat! I used the "stiff" felt from Hobby Lobby - they sell it in the most perfect shade of blue for cool Pete. Can't wait to use it this fall!<br />
<br />
Check out <a href="http://flannelfridaystorytime.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Flannel Friday's website</a> for more information on Flannel Friday; <a href="http://storytimewithmissmollie.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Mollie</a> is this week's host!Sarah Mchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746680312783947853noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7647320170439352374.post-56485052206049552952012-07-25T12:00:00.000-07:002012-07-25T12:02:11.338-07:00Manners Storytime<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Manners is a fun storytime option, but it kept my wheels turning for a while, particularly on a flannel option. I decided upon Bears on Chairs, a darling book and good for a range of ages. My flannel version reminds me of a question I ask myself a lot "does this extend or enhance the book itself?" You know, some books really are best as books! I don't ever want to make a flannel for the sake of making it - I like to make it if it extends the chance of interaction with the kids, extendes their chance of interacting with the story, or if it might enhance the process (visual or otherwise) of telling it to a large group.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl72GVv6r0ncHSz13mgaleE5cIzltV6odsJInOxdxtfoxoy92XnalB2BHDFSnFXuoghaXQ_avSBTqx0W37j5763C2xRT0ih-2bl9Q5TEKfvkzM3oQXjNU4I8ivAFzr4zddZoEJv5EWAyRW/s1600/bears+on+chairs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl72GVv6r0ncHSz13mgaleE5cIzltV6odsJInOxdxtfoxoy92XnalB2BHDFSnFXuoghaXQ_avSBTqx0W37j5763C2xRT0ih-2bl9Q5TEKfvkzM3oQXjNU4I8ivAFzr4zddZoEJv5EWAyRW/s640/bears+on+chairs.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
What ended up working for me was to just interact with the bears and their chairs, without using the (great!) rhyming text from the book. When I tried it with the text, it seemed forced because I was trying to move bears and chairs a bit too much. The older toddlers responded the best to the bears, counting chairs and then ultimately having them share. It is an easy and cute story to just talk through, ask open ended questions, and let your kids watch the final resolution and cheer for bears who share.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV1HKXa_6Mb-l15EuhWLRmc3bi3o0DvnR1RS6YOrrmDLxz58WjC7fOeyEaFOIcuzLqyyLwjl5Inn_CUWxxY2O0V1NLRaRck_G9p_HGWAmffFxiGkhc0AxXd9NXhPY76NLJ1C_KpRD4Q8I0/s1600/3+nice+mice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV1HKXa_6Mb-l15EuhWLRmc3bi3o0DvnR1RS6YOrrmDLxz58WjC7fOeyEaFOIcuzLqyyLwjl5Inn_CUWxxY2O0V1NLRaRck_G9p_HGWAmffFxiGkhc0AxXd9NXhPY76NLJ1C_KpRD4Q8I0/s640/3+nice+mice.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I brought out my 3 mice friends to sing this adorable song:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
3 Nice Mice</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
3 Nice Mice</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
See how nice they are</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
See how nice they are</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
They're always polite when they nibble their cheese</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
They never forget to say thank-you or please</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
They cover their noses whenever they sneeze</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
ahchoo! ahchoo! ahchoo!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
3 Nice Mice</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
3 Nice Mice</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
source: <a href="http://www.preschooleducation.com/smanners.shtml" target="_blank">http://www.preschooleducation.com/smanners.shtml</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Funny mouse stories: the baby group seemed a bit frightened of the mice - something that <span style="color: orange;">never</span> crossed my mind! If the mouse in the middle looks more loved than the others, the middle mouse is a a most-important member of my own family, while the other two are "library mice."</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Line-up of great book options:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpC9sFPHxeTK6x9Uso2PsRks2tPvjZdxqzIt-yJPGwAWaclwVdUG1ersDXj1kvuE6LJ_54CGLtTwRX2tkfpJ8kCMgcM3cCiasShYUobmXdMW0K7TSgZ433o5KU8ZBFXZZ5CdjiuY07iMpv/s1600/manners+book+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpC9sFPHxeTK6x9Uso2PsRks2tPvjZdxqzIt-yJPGwAWaclwVdUG1ersDXj1kvuE6LJ_54CGLtTwRX2tkfpJ8kCMgcM3cCiasShYUobmXdMW0K7TSgZ433o5KU8ZBFXZZ5CdjiuY07iMpv/s640/manners+book+collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Sarah Mchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746680312783947853noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7647320170439352374.post-27279631759697664742012-06-29T19:07:00.000-07:002012-06-29T19:07:02.081-07:00Flannel Friday: Ocean ideas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZQ-BJm8BLZUk5P9ShCNRHnVfoMYUqk0cOlp6wutCJo-BE_NlZBEUJSgq0KjXRmJlePTSOn2xVHk5JzBEpfYDiti8HWlZbCLMz0fadAxiww_fS8vffvWPJZxXyadNEBsyaugxYtdmGA3r/s1600/MitchtheFish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZQ-BJm8BLZUk5P9ShCNRHnVfoMYUqk0cOlp6wutCJo-BE_NlZBEUJSgq0KjXRmJlePTSOn2xVHk5JzBEpfYDiti8HWlZbCLMz0fadAxiww_fS8vffvWPJZxXyadNEBsyaugxYtdmGA3r/s640/MitchtheFish.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
This story, <em>Mitch the fish</em>, is from the lovely <a href="http://storytiming.com/2011/05/26/flannel-friday-mitch-the-fish/" target="_blank">Storytiming</a> blog. I made the story prop bigger to suit my audience a bit better. Mitch the Fish is a fish who changes colors with the swish of his tail. He has a cute song he sings and he turns the colors of other things he sees in the ocean. The full story is on the <a href="http://storytiming.com/2011/05/26/flannel-friday-mitch-the-fish/" target="_blank">Storytiming</a> blog. The fish scene is made out of a box lid covered in paper. The string you see went around my neck, so I could have both of my hands free to change Mitch's color and be more interactive with the kids. This was a really fun story to tell, and the kids really enjoyed the fish changing colors. A lot! Sweet preschoolers think of you as a magician when you pull your storytime tricks out.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSqCYOwRWHLmW9M5i_k3iOG0GWWqr7gzkOPcSWVWNCHsjVdGIaO-RtD4c8cosAXuSInT1JNZshnGrR0d9ormwgrfRAT8HhO4SH7YJI2ahGhNtHG7O71Zy9ZOWFvhyBpVOtVV9ofFAvWxe6/s1600/Mitch+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSqCYOwRWHLmW9M5i_k3iOG0GWWqr7gzkOPcSWVWNCHsjVdGIaO-RtD4c8cosAXuSInT1JNZshnGrR0d9ormwgrfRAT8HhO4SH7YJI2ahGhNtHG7O71Zy9ZOWFvhyBpVOtVV9ofFAvWxe6/s640/Mitch+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Another popular rhyme was the 5 Little Jellyfish rhyme from <a href="http://nikarella.wordpress.com/2011/08/26/flannel-friday-five-little-jellyfish/#" target="_blank">Nikarella</a>. These were so fun to make! Definitely use wrapping paper ribbon (twirling ribbon) because it gives the jellyfish some great movement.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: orange;"><strong>Five Little Jellyfish</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: orange;">5 little jellyfish swimming by the shore, the yellow one got lost and that left 4.</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;">4 little jellyfish swimming in the sea, the bright blue one swam far away and that left 3. </span><br />
<span style="color: orange;">4 little jellyfish in the ocean bule, the purple one took a seahorse ride and that left 2.</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;">2 little jellyfish swimming in the sun, the oragne one took a dive and that left 1.</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;">1 little jellyfish swimming all alone, it was time for him to go home and that left none!</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1TBG3ODIq3zglflNY9PRKKqTVkXqkr6IuQkLSGhPi6MxNfHdIPor18_Y4FTef0c6jznCjOvAaNUiWgQ0WdKM9rb-S7o9_inWrkMTrBPwGGDXcGUdXwHNtnIPPYrSKlZIoZwqsyvUWFpyl/s1600/jellyFish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1TBG3ODIq3zglflNY9PRKKqTVkXqkr6IuQkLSGhPi6MxNfHdIPor18_Y4FTef0c6jznCjOvAaNUiWgQ0WdKM9rb-S7o9_inWrkMTrBPwGGDXcGUdXwHNtnIPPYrSKlZIoZwqsyvUWFpyl/s640/jellyFish.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I had a giant sea shell that I brought out for this song. I held it to my ear and pretended it was telling me about the creatures in the ocean. The idea was to pass out the ocean animals and when I called a particular animal, those children would hold them up and show me their animal's "movement." Well, since the audience is a large daycare, this didn't work out as great as it might in an audience with more parental help. Sooo, in the subsequent tellings, I kept the props with me and after singing the sea shell's song, I held up the ocean creature and we all did the movement together.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: orange;">Sea shell, sea shell, sing a song for me</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;">Tell me about the ocean</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;">Tell me about the sea.</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;">In my ocean, there's _______.</span><br />
<br />
In my ocean - there's a seahorse (bob up and down), a whale (make a big "thwack!" with your hands for a tail), a fish (fish face), an octopus (octopus arms), a starfish (arms like a starfish), and a shark (chomp, chomp!)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCWaIkS68zFb0tou6N7DwiNe6NOJmwg2YOGXD7WSNgvUXN1zdwb7QT1klix4Ss_ciYQ28bHU4sAzfOKMXVegLFBzjbGoodW5DIXQPSdAHcDxuZFgHGJMRsUTy1Bm0jgPUR_ZiST4PbkCX6/s1600/ocean.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCWaIkS68zFb0tou6N7DwiNe6NOJmwg2YOGXD7WSNgvUXN1zdwb7QT1klix4Ss_ciYQ28bHU4sAzfOKMXVegLFBzjbGoodW5DIXQPSdAHcDxuZFgHGJMRsUTy1Bm0jgPUR_ZiST4PbkCX6/s640/ocean.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Sarah Mchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746680312783947853noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7647320170439352374.post-76220572030271710072012-06-12T14:46:00.001-07:002012-06-12T14:46:36.568-07:00Fried ham, fried ham<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQbgFP7XNxsYc0QFAM35eVgKcV-JfajY9vqvIF5BiIZbEnuWWjYyDnXEkKY0q0eQ4-e302-7YdtGKoLRI4QNfCJt81FhEGja0A78x1rtcabhp-qKKzCjtGY4iGBX_z6rEBmleCLjQw1pZO/s1600/51rpPp5XYUL__SL500_AA300_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQbgFP7XNxsYc0QFAM35eVgKcV-JfajY9vqvIF5BiIZbEnuWWjYyDnXEkKY0q0eQ4-e302-7YdtGKoLRI4QNfCJt81FhEGja0A78x1rtcabhp-qKKzCjtGY4iGBX_z6rEBmleCLjQw1pZO/s400/51rpPp5XYUL__SL500_AA300_.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
This <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lisa-Loebs-Silly-Sing-Along-Disappointing/dp/1402769156/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1339537512&sr=8-6" target="_blank">book</a> is full of fun songs for sing alongs and the fried ham song, in particular, made me want to share and have fun with school age groups. If you aren't familiar with this song, you sing it in different ways to make it terribly silly. It goes "next verse same as the first, Texas accent makes it worse (or, underwater makes it worse; or, opera voice makes it worse.)" I gathered images of the items (some Microsoft Word images, some Google images) and turned it into a poster via Microsoft Publisher. I've done it with a field trip and a class visit and <em>success</em>! The best part of sharing this silly poster was the kids easily started volunteering their own ideas for singing it - including pirate accent and with dentures. HA!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNPmWbjxt1vJhqYdjI1mz4a7Rewp3q12sOOAfo9A1b_8pqCiznZUx9GE605wqqIBIJK2iVNcgPFPfLNVEgAACSwkV-3LEYoK2Glx21C-kKwlIDCHLL_0MkYQW2Pj3IXdF_aKmWwOhhnkR8/s1600/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNPmWbjxt1vJhqYdjI1mz4a7Rewp3q12sOOAfo9A1b_8pqCiznZUx9GE605wqqIBIJK2iVNcgPFPfLNVEgAACSwkV-3LEYoK2Glx21C-kKwlIDCHLL_0MkYQW2Pj3IXdF_aKmWwOhhnkR8/s400/photo.jpg" width="307" /></a></div>Sarah Mchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746680312783947853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7647320170439352374.post-35871404357555544902012-05-31T08:53:00.000-07:002012-06-01T19:25:57.367-07:00Flannel Friday: 5 Ferocious LionsI made these not-so-ferocious lions to go with a rhyme from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Finger-Tales-Joan-Hilyer-Phelps/dp/1579500730/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1338477607&sr=8-2" target="_blank">Finger Tales</a> by Joan Hilyer Phelps.<br />
<br />
Deep in the jungle<br />
What did I hear?<br />
Five ferocious lions<br />
roaring loud and clear.<br />
"ROAR!" said the lions<br />
"SCAT!" said I.<br />
And one ferocious lion<br />
ran away...Good bye!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzE8MgQjfP3PNnDIgxTkpxyd6rqO36_EJCDpjhpaqCJQ3mrVznoU_W4QuI91Jw4oOMiUrb3RCNzCNV3wPVZUpE86eGlfwiFjPJ-kE88snPYGrHKnGD8nALhpYKEMGISW8ieQVuu5auI3gL/s1600/0529021343.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzE8MgQjfP3PNnDIgxTkpxyd6rqO36_EJCDpjhpaqCJQ3mrVznoU_W4QuI91Jw4oOMiUrb3RCNzCNV3wPVZUpE86eGlfwiFjPJ-kE88snPYGrHKnGD8nALhpYKEMGISW8ieQVuu5auI3gL/s400/0529021343.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This lion craft is also from the book above. These required some prep work for my daycare group, but they really enjoyed them and I think they're cute, cute! The kids' versions, of course, were colored and WAY better than mine.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9iZBP3KOGZECM8kY0tKKM186qNQQ8H-twKMRV6btWtliwCJ2hWmETKS7jztpfKRqyv9hH3BDbwgilWWVoSkMuhJlarJkjruUtByB1ytQcTlE3VCJ4xawgL3X91YIJvl-zh9nzacGVtVi/s1600/0529021346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9iZBP3KOGZECM8kY0tKKM186qNQQ8H-twKMRV6btWtliwCJ2hWmETKS7jztpfKRqyv9hH3BDbwgilWWVoSkMuhJlarJkjruUtByB1ytQcTlE3VCJ4xawgL3X91YIJvl-zh9nzacGVtVi/s320/0529021346.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
Books used for lion storytime:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Roar-A-Noisy-Counting-Book/dp/006028384X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1338478867&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Roar! A noisy counting book</a> by Pamela Edwards. A lion tries to find friends, but his roar scares them away before he finds a friend. I jumbled laminated numbers 1-10 at the bottom of my magnet board. After each grouping of animals, one child came up, found the number and we put our numbers in order 1 to 10 on the board. This was a fun way to extend the story and get some number practice in.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEr8z3XTAuZeWYUtJ1IBJ2qvfl0PiMKQxblBdA40ndoQrKwuCeknPfjXuY9NBQjnHsvWdV0zrUmESjWVVjrKupDdON5PfvSaTsbodJxMfjGVtiIOdj0TlNqptQZM9YQkhuKn41eryA8wxp/s1600/1223736.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEr8z3XTAuZeWYUtJ1IBJ2qvfl0PiMKQxblBdA40ndoQrKwuCeknPfjXuY9NBQjnHsvWdV0zrUmESjWVVjrKupDdON5PfvSaTsbodJxMfjGVtiIOdj0TlNqptQZM9YQkhuKn41eryA8wxp/s200/1223736.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sitting-Down-Eat-Bill-Harley/dp/0874836034/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1338478706&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Sitting down to eat</a> by Bill Harley. This features a lion and way too many other guests coming over for a party.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqDMh6WCJpj1L4DvVSdcmHTDfG6RnyDke49fj16FEwgm4xkzpZx810O2qzPStvtSWCqMCzxNmwhyphenhyphenWdPyDVxgNuWI2tBZ0c9Nd6yKqCn_Q7QE9P8CgiV5eYf21d0161UfQmMN634Dnilp_8/s1600/sitting-down-eat-bill-harley-paperback-cover-art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqDMh6WCJpj1L4DvVSdcmHTDfG6RnyDke49fj16FEwgm4xkzpZx810O2qzPStvtSWCqMCzxNmwhyphenhyphenWdPyDVxgNuWI2tBZ0c9Nd6yKqCn_Q7QE9P8CgiV5eYf21d0161UfQmMN634Dnilp_8/s200/sitting-down-eat-bill-harley-paperback-cover-art.jpg" width="155" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Were-Going-Lion-Margery-Cuyler/dp/0761454543/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1338478355&sr=1-1" target="_blank">We're going on a lion Hunt</a> by Margery Cuyler. We didn't read this one, but acted it out instead. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9ryb95t0vAOm3SKVz6_e4mk6s7OoIuFTiNYaEoqis9E2bHaZHbgJifoaTyJIUZO8jNzVT4HFc3mxnbRKK3MCruj0nnYrlKU2u_VZpUeGtoO0ozdTkVdu5ovqIwOLN0r961CY_DcUjpHA/s1600/Lion-Hunt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9ryb95t0vAOm3SKVz6_e4mk6s7OoIuFTiNYaEoqis9E2bHaZHbgJifoaTyJIUZO8jNzVT4HFc3mxnbRKK3MCruj0nnYrlKU2u_VZpUeGtoO0ozdTkVdu5ovqIwOLN0r961CY_DcUjpHA/s200/Lion-Hunt.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<br />Sarah Mchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746680312783947853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7647320170439352374.post-1519988763849155322012-05-22T11:28:00.000-07:002012-05-22T11:28:10.988-07:00Flannel Friday: Monday the Bullfrog<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjiIL8Ixqpvs_8d2vDxl7BfcdSzOUIzb9e3SKhDquxMB7FZirgpHiJndZmGskxDzcR6mugpklt2mjJTVQXbLSnJOAGtwzaVSmblBTFt2er1iMoZCRBBnwmcL7MfUcgv4jYhKdZB21TlBw3/s1600/0522021312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjiIL8Ixqpvs_8d2vDxl7BfcdSzOUIzb9e3SKhDquxMB7FZirgpHiJndZmGskxDzcR6mugpklt2mjJTVQXbLSnJOAGtwzaVSmblBTFt2er1iMoZCRBBnwmcL7MfUcgv4jYhKdZB21TlBw3/s400/0522021312.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Here's a cute little story that I originally got from this cute frog book that my son received when he was a tiny baby: <em>Monday the Bullfrog</em> by Matthew Van Fleet.<br />
<br />
In short, Monday is a very hungry bullfrog, and he eats something different on each day of the week. The story gives you clues like "crunchy and red" (a crab) or "furry and white" (mouse). I cheated a teensy bit with the caterpillar and bee - changed those from the book, but for the life of me, I could NOT make a firefly out of flannel on the day I made this set! I think it's fun to have the animal-food-items poking out of their paper pockets, just a bit, so the kids get a small clue of what they'll be. I tell this story with a frog puppet, but you could also use just a flannel frog. The big surprise at the end is that on Saturday, Monday the bullfrog wants something sweet to eat . . . so he eats "you!" In the back of the book itself there is a mirror; I use a little dollar store variety. (Mine is a bit big, but it is easier for the kids to get the idea, I think). <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMJgI5vWBA82BUEDAMVYUFo6PGsGD_9mePEJlujau8FMg7FhuFg52KvOeFn6cES23Vq9etdRsKt0KTFFhlkJHgWiHwVe3Bg7fXbdldfh8miEmj2kJsjA2vXPck3SzSUcogNZcg3BsIKbB8/s1600/0522021305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMJgI5vWBA82BUEDAMVYUFo6PGsGD_9mePEJlujau8FMg7FhuFg52KvOeFn6cES23Vq9etdRsKt0KTFFhlkJHgWiHwVe3Bg7fXbdldfh8miEmj2kJsjA2vXPck3SzSUcogNZcg3BsIKbB8/s400/0522021305.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii2yt6MKiM_S0ojUe16J7i2WQZuJ-0RShuYWy5kw9E5Sp8dFGAZ1qMpKeiBTaBQgtKufab0lZyjmT72l-JDsHbojOKZBjUq_x2bLHf4ibgjs6YKedgapScuBoNhWXnqpzGTcE9LxSKzVAG/s1600/0522021307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii2yt6MKiM_S0ojUe16J7i2WQZuJ-0RShuYWy5kw9E5Sp8dFGAZ1qMpKeiBTaBQgtKufab0lZyjmT72l-JDsHbojOKZBjUq_x2bLHf4ibgjs6YKedgapScuBoNhWXnqpzGTcE9LxSKzVAG/s400/0522021307.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>Sarah Mchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746680312783947853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7647320170439352374.post-46150351668064607922012-05-02T15:14:00.000-07:002012-05-02T15:14:00.018-07:00Three Little Pigs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYEH6xYD_h_Tz8w-zXXmv9vN2zTdTsL3FwoozHifM1jt5xyhgqIyud-gIX-YaZrZvAS0LiS57u0w0CdtfJtpM8POhKEC78jKmmlg_hjosbRcsB88C_YdL0uPED7oK8DcOhYJM0hsv34s4_/s1600/0502021659.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYEH6xYD_h_Tz8w-zXXmv9vN2zTdTsL3FwoozHifM1jt5xyhgqIyud-gIX-YaZrZvAS0LiS57u0w0CdtfJtpM8POhKEC78jKmmlg_hjosbRcsB88C_YdL0uPED7oK8DcOhYJM0hsv34s4_/s400/0502021659.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I did a Pig Storytime this week and we had a good time with the Three Little Pigs. I have some fabric houses that I use for a variety of things, but they were originally made for this story and these finger puppets. The fabrics are representational, ah hem, of bricks, sticks and straw.<br />
<br />
Doing a finger puppet show for a group of kids is not the best medium, but I did it on purpose. I did it to model for them what they could do with their craft for the day. I think that's important. Yes, we do a lot of really neat things in storytime and we have kinds of neat props and puppets. I told them "those finger puppets are really silly, aren't they? But they're so fun! And YOU can do this <em>yourself </em>at home!"<br />
<br />
My group is a daycare, so the teachers took their "stick puppets" to pass out later in the day. Oh my, these kids were sooo excited over them, and I had little voices ringing out all over asking "where's my pigwolf??"<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyXU5V5Tka3ZlR_JG95xdf5OuSVaK1Z9B5GYmt13OORS679joyD6L2XhoMl18uj7Pg8a1djutUmSa1pD0co5S7R3y48-bwxly4jDhMtgHe85gR5374L0yDmkvsNDa5w6W9jEpLByhr0r-Q/s1600/0501021620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyXU5V5Tka3ZlR_JG95xdf5OuSVaK1Z9B5GYmt13OORS679joyD6L2XhoMl18uj7Pg8a1djutUmSa1pD0co5S7R3y48-bwxly4jDhMtgHe85gR5374L0yDmkvsNDa5w6W9jEpLByhr0r-Q/s400/0501021620.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhezPdJ9b-FDITrbaIOrLuKNepHgAixr8m9ofJM12iJLEa7ifz-qHTZtJz4Fvb-gRfMGEZy6HpezyHNAvKX4xKqBdYeT1t634lMKG0gjRL9fBfjtslt4R7xs7s-Zj_hvmdOoBPZXzoART6W/s1600/0501021621.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhezPdJ9b-FDITrbaIOrLuKNepHgAixr8m9ofJM12iJLEa7ifz-qHTZtJz4Fvb-gRfMGEZy6HpezyHNAvKX4xKqBdYeT1t634lMKG0gjRL9fBfjtslt4R7xs7s-Zj_hvmdOoBPZXzoART6W/s400/0501021621.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Sarah Mchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746680312783947853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7647320170439352374.post-41138160476006411342012-04-26T15:05:00.000-07:002012-04-26T15:05:18.179-07:00Flannel Friday: Trashy Town<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Trashy-Town-Andrea-Zimmerman/dp/0060271396/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1335473142&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Trashy Town</a> is one of my favorite books - I love the rhythm and the option for motions and movements. For trash storytime, I made signs for each of the stops Mr. Gilly makes in the book, and I placed some "trash" near the location. I place these all around our program room. As we read the story, we stop, look for the given place (the doctor's office, the pizza parlor, etc) and selected kids get up and pick up the trash for me. I have a big dump truck that the kids put the trash in (sorta like a garbage truck!) and then we do the refrain together, making appropriate motions as we go:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange;">"Dump it in! Smash it down! Drive around the trashy town!"</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;">I've done this storytime several times and the kids really get into picking up the trash and doing the refrain of the book. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivACuXnrvI0XRZugCavxqu0aYhqn4SgPlQBClNq_YSw7ypdDoZ6-6RYyohKsLJyOeHCvYHAgpA4x0QFLzw1_f6CcvcGTAIw-i5tIjVW3RKsPLgYoVnrL4Xo8f-YLmcyYrprO2g7IzQU8RX/s1600/0426020956.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivACuXnrvI0XRZugCavxqu0aYhqn4SgPlQBClNq_YSw7ypdDoZ6-6RYyohKsLJyOeHCvYHAgpA4x0QFLzw1_f6CcvcGTAIw-i5tIjVW3RKsPLgYoVnrL4Xo8f-YLmcyYrprO2g7IzQU8RX/s400/0426020956.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip3sAfmpzCOroTlwfgFxF2-ULRAdcA59yMrSssPVIZKmRxKgf3E3_M9OefVKp4b2pYR1HmxQEXfUBldJNkDAo_38dPvb7-KyTXflu71fXjELMUyw98ZcXp1T_Muk4bxf5EvRWFY9ixATtd/s1600/0426020959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip3sAfmpzCOroTlwfgFxF2-ULRAdcA59yMrSssPVIZKmRxKgf3E3_M9OefVKp4b2pYR1HmxQEXfUBldJNkDAo_38dPvb7-KyTXflu71fXjELMUyw98ZcXp1T_Muk4bxf5EvRWFY9ixATtd/s400/0426020959.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
I'm afraid I don't have a source for this cute rhyme; I've had it in my rhyme box for a while. It has some great action elements to it that the kids really got into when I did it in storytime. The trucks were drawn, but the "look" of them is clearly based off of Mr. Gilly's trash truck.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange;">Five little Garbage trucks painted green</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange;">Picking up trash to keep the town clean</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange;">They work and they work until they fill up</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange;">Now one of the garbage trucks drives to the dump!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange;">Back up!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange;">Beep! Beep! Beep!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhegLaJuyDauKcJ8Hs5nJO4ZtKqpWp3-TvADrnvV65zheRBe25o4AMchi7KIuUZepuYyvtICx0JnJl2RnrZ_dSDX44HHSgKxVNAjlJMZkargH1Uffwlq273JdbJ6dFl9fE7c2NU4FV6EPpb/s1600/0426021005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhegLaJuyDauKcJ8Hs5nJO4ZtKqpWp3-TvADrnvV65zheRBe25o4AMchi7KIuUZepuYyvtICx0JnJl2RnrZ_dSDX44HHSgKxVNAjlJMZkargH1Uffwlq273JdbJ6dFl9fE7c2NU4FV6EPpb/s400/0426021005.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Here's another rhyme; it's from <a href="http://awesomestorytime.wordpress.com/2010/01/27/stinky-smelly-storytime/" target="_blank">Awesome Storytime</a>. This is a great action rhyme that the kids just loved. I borrowed a cute trash can from a coworker and gave each child a colored piece of trash. I then called up each color, the kids put the trash in the trash can, and we acted out this rhyme.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange;">Pick up garbage and throw it in the bin!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange;">Push it down, and stomp it in!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange;">Carry the cans to the street</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange;">for the garbage trucks to eat.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange;">When the truck comes roaring by,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange;">workers lift the can up high.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange;">Garbage falls in to the back.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange;">Crush it, mash it, smash it flat!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange;">Set the cans down with a thump.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange;">Now drive that garbage to the dump!</span></div>
<br />
Super cute craft idea that I cannot take credit for! It came from <a href="http://awesomestorytime.wordpress.com/2010/01/27/stinky-smelly-storytime/" target="_blank">Awesome Storytime</a>, too.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAb-LPQV1ZG4bobrRiid19QEOaY9KTbwmVPYdIan-VhO7YYTXRrB0RldxsSGnCjdfMirpVo1FO5ekCj5MeDmA-ZNj9-5c1w7n1P6dDOaX1H62thsw_2PJwHxjnObgnJcvB9wLu7r-F-ng3/s1600/0426021004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAb-LPQV1ZG4bobrRiid19QEOaY9KTbwmVPYdIan-VhO7YYTXRrB0RldxsSGnCjdfMirpVo1FO5ekCj5MeDmA-ZNj9-5c1w7n1P6dDOaX1H62thsw_2PJwHxjnObgnJcvB9wLu7r-F-ng3/s400/0426021004.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
And the lovely books we used:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNEl7rGSO9HVw1jtRe0k8SOBfbZ2MExgr6djRBcEypUO7z5qlZ5G4emdq8FIUwHEPhqSyIfrrnFa9yzNfIV-EIbEktYLEKYNkP8jEzoEDFgLNQU_-E3UeA5_lvAod-jYpEOHGuqaS2tev9/s1600/51AL0FmyNNL__SL500_AA300_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNEl7rGSO9HVw1jtRe0k8SOBfbZ2MExgr6djRBcEypUO7z5qlZ5G4emdq8FIUwHEPhqSyIfrrnFa9yzNfIV-EIbEktYLEKYNkP8jEzoEDFgLNQU_-E3UeA5_lvAod-jYpEOHGuqaS2tev9/s200/51AL0FmyNNL__SL500_AA300_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdkcDcF0CpY6CUmeDXAnnkVh8TFf4008_0Bpk-WFjZav3DG6UAwKoXhjb8JcM3MC0oN83EPGtcOWNjYNFmnu500lCBPcUXYMWnCtKY0mpm8Xq-TyORKRFB5J3cHTv20M8WrFBlYj3_6kWs/s1600/201841.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdkcDcF0CpY6CUmeDXAnnkVh8TFf4008_0Bpk-WFjZav3DG6UAwKoXhjb8JcM3MC0oN83EPGtcOWNjYNFmnu500lCBPcUXYMWnCtKY0mpm8Xq-TyORKRFB5J3cHTv20M8WrFBlYj3_6kWs/s200/201841.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga9ccixrijNIn7E8IpLMEtKQvuhmnQNvPH-y4wwDP56Wwo3uSjBICpaf5bMoAypKzrSGoF_eYuf_PAQ0udatmRYd9gAIg4CQjt2GADdguDTPCxbcRCZ4hLm_dz6nmbySJBT45Gvq5Qi3As/s1600/bigsmelly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga9ccixrijNIn7E8IpLMEtKQvuhmnQNvPH-y4wwDP56Wwo3uSjBICpaf5bMoAypKzrSGoF_eYuf_PAQ0udatmRYd9gAIg4CQjt2GADdguDTPCxbcRCZ4hLm_dz6nmbySJBT45Gvq5Qi3As/s200/bigsmelly.jpg" width="160" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjcBzoxMPw8E9B7Ia66UoNh0qWV4NZbdnXYM-Db2DebtOqJHDdKeChZhgbUZ-DRo2vzeA4sTbntHLFyrLBdu9zBqBgJdULq8VEXvRkJnCPpBr-8C0lsXFoJh2G8ZCgwn-ppL70-4L1oQjs/s1600/books_I_Stink-pict.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjcBzoxMPw8E9B7Ia66UoNh0qWV4NZbdnXYM-Db2DebtOqJHDdKeChZhgbUZ-DRo2vzeA4sTbntHLFyrLBdu9zBqBgJdULq8VEXvRkJnCPpBr-8C0lsXFoJh2G8ZCgwn-ppL70-4L1oQjs/s200/books_I_Stink-pict.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />Sarah Mchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746680312783947853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7647320170439352374.post-68879090150267219332012-04-12T20:30:00.000-07:002012-04-12T20:30:12.679-07:00Caterpillars & ButterfliesI tend to take on ideas in the 11th hour. Bad news for getting things like statistics done but good news for my storytime audiences! This idea, orignially from <a href="http://misssarahsstorytime.blogspot.com/2011/10/flannel-friday-five-butterflies.html" target="_blank">Read it Again</a> is GENIUS, and even though it was not my original plan, it was too darling to pass up. I had already been inspired by <a href="http://missmaryliberry.wordpress.com/2012/02/10/flannel-friday-5-little-caterpillars5-little-butterflies/" target="_blank">Miss Mary Liberry's butterfly</a> design.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6wSKx0FYk-2grSQeFvehGjYsM5zEjX-sE9vGjBo_JTRefvRC8Db673qE5SO8JcNMkJ_3zLzfOITDmpWWdhuO-9Yb5p1ypBr0yoziD2qCMmjkr48bgiSCzgJnnWQfcNhcZ_qR5Io6GmvRv/s1600/DSC_0052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6wSKx0FYk-2grSQeFvehGjYsM5zEjX-sE9vGjBo_JTRefvRC8Db673qE5SO8JcNMkJ_3zLzfOITDmpWWdhuO-9Yb5p1ypBr0yoziD2qCMmjkr48bgiSCzgJnnWQfcNhcZ_qR5Io6GmvRv/s400/DSC_0052.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I got 5 booktape boxes and covered them in black construction paper. I put velcro dots on the front and back. The caterpillars start out on the front of the boxes, and we use the rhyme "5 little caterpillars and not one more, spun a cocoon and then there were 4." {Rhyme from the book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Storytime-Magic-Fingerplays-Flannelboards-Activities/dp/0838909779/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1334279851&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Storytime Magic</a>.} Replace each caterpillar with a cocoon as you go, placing the caterpillar in your box. <br />
<br />
To finish, you can use "then one cocoon opened up in the sun / a butterfly came out and that makes one..." But, I really liked the idea of clapping for the butterfly while it came out & that is what I did today, just letting the rhyme drop after the cocoon line and having the kids clap so the butterfly will emerge. Each of the butterflies has fishing line taped to its back, so you just grab the line from the back of your board and give it a tug. Since the butterflies are flannel, they lightly stick to the board and the string doesn't have to be held taut. The part I love the most about this idea is how visual and symbolic it is for the actual caterpillar/cocoon process - I feel like it is a great way to help kids visualize it and the surprise of a butterfly is truly surprising and delightful.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCk57UXZxmjBFq5jWy8Wc_gyiLXHbu55LihJIzW6h8HcKSEFySlCGVvY6G3vB9w2g4o66QdwrHRn5sPCMujMEIuBdSUpeGu9HKxjF17oVtNtIwd23SFVtSGqKdtx9qh8llTSiQqFU_3iNn/s1600/DSC_0055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCk57UXZxmjBFq5jWy8Wc_gyiLXHbu55LihJIzW6h8HcKSEFySlCGVvY6G3vB9w2g4o66QdwrHRn5sPCMujMEIuBdSUpeGu9HKxjF17oVtNtIwd23SFVtSGqKdtx9qh8llTSiQqFU_3iNn/s400/DSC_0055.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh94GNY_bl5K7dyNwphQhYa3pZ6VvxbrhGw1kYXqdXzHCxPvPtoH6LsP8jvKoZY1Fr0-Jin8BFzdrQR0VXXWhI4eZ8pTfPsk5PYrGdpsfNQSVGvoFAH5qY2pT4uhE18X7EiLV0lL6za7j-A/s1600/DSC_0067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh94GNY_bl5K7dyNwphQhYa3pZ6VvxbrhGw1kYXqdXzHCxPvPtoH6LsP8jvKoZY1Fr0-Jin8BFzdrQR0VXXWhI4eZ8pTfPsk5PYrGdpsfNQSVGvoFAH5qY2pT4uhE18X7EiLV0lL6za7j-A/s400/DSC_0067.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
This set for the Very Hungry Caterpillar was one of the first things I made when I started at the library - it is showing its age, but it was a labor of love at the time. When I tell this story, I keep the pieces in my lap, hold them up at their time, and have the caterpillar munch through them. When done, I just set them on the floor or a chair beside me. I think the size of my pieces are the main appeal, as well as cute Mr. Caterpillar. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl3AsgFkbUEQWZYH6vcG0DFB93s0DBsr8e12KGsXLKPI-NPWoQWSYfipDuissQ58kXDfKO0jj8fNmI7lfXcmk1slNso-v4Eq5rvSbxrghj-9GV9Uh6-W24lGdLRMmupcfvB-3mvO5Hpjwb/s1600/DSC_0061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl3AsgFkbUEQWZYH6vcG0DFB93s0DBsr8e12KGsXLKPI-NPWoQWSYfipDuissQ58kXDfKO0jj8fNmI7lfXcmk1slNso-v4Eq5rvSbxrghj-9GV9Uh6-W24lGdLRMmupcfvB-3mvO5Hpjwb/s400/DSC_0061.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGXQYYYd9Cx5Lu02oi2ThCfOtOhwg-gSLFYfdpfR2Ml4x8BNHPkolmyH0E7Acn2t1RyJFSeD52eSG2L5j2bu7Nxf0QHFN3ofmXxlKwSYBK_JvW7x6rl1URKAAawfcdPKF76Tf7rong9w2g/s1600/DSC_0064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGXQYYYd9Cx5Lu02oi2ThCfOtOhwg-gSLFYfdpfR2Ml4x8BNHPkolmyH0E7Acn2t1RyJFSeD52eSG2L5j2bu7Nxf0QHFN3ofmXxlKwSYBK_JvW7x6rl1URKAAawfcdPKF76Tf7rong9w2g/s400/DSC_0064.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>I have a piece of brown suede fabric that I use for the cocoon, just wrapping it around him and mentioning that he fell asleep for two weeks. Then the warm sun comes out and little caterpillar begins munching his way out of the cocoon and, surprise, butterfly wings! Anyone who reads this story loves it, of course, but it is a tribute to the story itself that it is so flexible. It can be done from young gradeschool down - even babies - you just limit the details and even edit out some of the food if needed. But the story stands on its own, to be sure, and is a <em>delight</em>.<br />
<br />
And here's a classic bee rhyme, just for fun:<br />
<br />
<span style="color: orange;">Here is a beehive</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;">But where are the bees?</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;">Hidden inside where nobody can see.</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;">Let's count the bees as they come out of the hive -</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;">1, 2, 3, 4, 5!</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;">Buzzz!</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFsFg0WWJiJzLjdS1-9izuzP58ISXs2HeRqghkHXNAMRC-6vhGS7reHS81hkvRu_87w2hDUCbQkeBJATmYL3OP36AdboPWz3vpxMRw1N8VMwUb5Lez36G5MRxsiM54mQZe6ZcVMg-ZGNFp/s1600/DSC_0058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFsFg0WWJiJzLjdS1-9izuzP58ISXs2HeRqghkHXNAMRC-6vhGS7reHS81hkvRu_87w2hDUCbQkeBJATmYL3OP36AdboPWz3vpxMRw1N8VMwUb5Lez36G5MRxsiM54mQZe6ZcVMg-ZGNFp/s400/DSC_0058.JPG" width="265" /></a></div>Sarah Mchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746680312783947853noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7647320170439352374.post-76245147658393122712012-04-06T09:59:00.000-07:002012-04-06T09:59:03.153-07:00Flannel Friday: Rain, Clouds & RainbowsI had so many ideas for this storytime that I actually FORGOT to do the one I was most excited about! Too many fun things (pretty sure it is the rainbow...it distracts me!)<br />
<br />
<span style="color: orange;">Interactive Rhyme.</span> I did an interactive version of 10 Little Raindrops and 10 Little Umbrellas. I had 10 kids be umbrellas (sitting on the floor) and 10 kids be raindrops (standing above them) and we went through our rhyme. I also counted down, so that the raindrops went away - the sun came out and then we counted down our umbrellas and put them "away."<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8tveR-GHIQiIBsEU_tTyQ2iVpmbfEngBjBVRDysvry7IQnBaKFz9g5qsahm14mNb5-DhHZAdN0qV-9yD_5aUUVAX-5ST7JkgHG6T8_DA_ryt57fJfT0URR-xJEcorLucnylRIvGT2WT3_/s1600/0328021123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8tveR-GHIQiIBsEU_tTyQ2iVpmbfEngBjBVRDysvry7IQnBaKFz9g5qsahm14mNb5-DhHZAdN0qV-9yD_5aUUVAX-5ST7JkgHG6T8_DA_ryt57fJfT0URR-xJEcorLucnylRIvGT2WT3_/s400/0328021123.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWlqAVnxU1HZdI3RFuEVSDRgs79c4oJsubDJWzTIa6XARGXrbqmNctbTBtn1mEYJ6-pZmKlgGT0vlpcM1lTa5baLkjMVTVUGwHOpnc-PAyLlx2TKeHuymhyNFgEEsZ5kzakQOhL4bGns2K/s1600/0328021125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWlqAVnxU1HZdI3RFuEVSDRgs79c4oJsubDJWzTIa6XARGXrbqmNctbTBtn1mEYJ6-pZmKlgGT0vlpcM1lTa5baLkjMVTVUGwHOpnc-PAyLlx2TKeHuymhyNFgEEsZ5kzakQOhL4bGns2K/s400/0328021125.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The raindrops were made with kebab skewers and fishing line. The number of raindrops on the line reflected what number it was (#1 had one raindrop, #2 had two, etc., all the way up to 10.) The raindrops were really fun to look at and shake - they had a great rain effect. {Be warned: they are prone to twisting & tangling!}<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3_soGZvfa7JW4GLvIU241-UuMDEYlrl8MHe6JQKyERDGNOc1IKXBnk7gMBKZPakJ-jdMc34PqjBjIgJjZeEtlwyMImcs88GXvOVh6aVpnIEAcuE1tY9_7TVUTylxDEKOgqMucX_Wcpn11/s1600/0328021120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3_soGZvfa7JW4GLvIU241-UuMDEYlrl8MHe6JQKyERDGNOc1IKXBnk7gMBKZPakJ-jdMc34PqjBjIgJjZeEtlwyMImcs88GXvOVh6aVpnIEAcuE1tY9_7TVUTylxDEKOgqMucX_Wcpn11/s400/0328021120.jpg" width="282" /></a></div><br />
Here's the scoop on this kind of activity. Honestly, a bit of an overreach for my audience, which is a daycare. They don't have the immediate parental support of a mom nudging them and saying "it's okay!" And some of them are younger and not the best age for this activity - which is probaby best for older 3's and even better for 4's. Super fun to do and they did like it, but I could see it was pushing them and possibly would be better in an audience with more parent support and fewer tiny ones.<br />
<br />
Rainbow Stew is the adorable activity I forgot (and had been so excited about). I first saw it <a href="http://rovingfiddlehead.com/kidlit/?p=1849" target="_blank">here</a>. Just too cute! Put all those pieces in a pot & use this rhyme (also from Roving Fiddlehead Kitlit).<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange;">Take an apple<br />
Put it in the pot<br />
Stir it, stir it, stir it a lot.<br />
Take it out. What will it be?<br />
The prettiest red you ever did see.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU2IsBEG1z1ZBIRi1PygdotkVFkLgJ6vzY3Xy65v3O86dHV5tk8-JAG8EXziUkmXLxKE1ykUIZBdfhX-1LSV7b6EA-qVlHCl4gfBDO7kZubEfanuTrbeWuE7RCNQ47oLi73RO4grEOHAfG/s1600/0328021130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU2IsBEG1z1ZBIRi1PygdotkVFkLgJ6vzY3Xy65v3O86dHV5tk8-JAG8EXziUkmXLxKE1ykUIZBdfhX-1LSV7b6EA-qVlHCl4gfBDO7kZubEfanuTrbeWuE7RCNQ47oLi73RO4grEOHAfG/s400/0328021130.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: orange;">Puppet Activity.</span> Today the kids helped Woolly find the most appropriate shoes to wear in the rain. I used some flannel pockets and put the shoes in the pocket. Selected children got to pull the shoe out and tell us if it was a good rain shoe or not. In the end, Woolly was SUPER excited because the rain boots we found for him matched an umbrella he already has - way to coordinate, Woolly!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz86SfNAoGpW9DFdPfwWi02-ynhn_pY9T72ajPh57v7qtezhcn5XiCyB0BX8btk6ga_W3XvI4zKmuNWi0hp8uPL8zrQpybYJb7RBBsXs7xe8WUJtQvv4bKYBUa4H0w1FFQv-YLl_HV1rCm/s1600/0406020959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz86SfNAoGpW9DFdPfwWi02-ynhn_pY9T72ajPh57v7qtezhcn5XiCyB0BX8btk6ga_W3XvI4zKmuNWi0hp8uPL8zrQpybYJb7RBBsXs7xe8WUJtQvv4bKYBUa4H0w1FFQv-YLl_HV1rCm/s400/0406020959.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-GZPtRmNpQ0yvNrhKtMYiodwLUVV6VCwnmIvctillYHwQ2H6DnC0FhJMTKIeiNxer0joVnbGb8PdHoL-7ib78MBJAuWJIpFU5CuxiMGkwi2i2KPAf9Fgf49Z_3lvRPK301WeRugfh6P9/s1600/0406020954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-GZPtRmNpQ0yvNrhKtMYiodwLUVV6VCwnmIvctillYHwQ2H6DnC0FhJMTKIeiNxer0joVnbGb8PdHoL-7ib78MBJAuWJIpFU5CuxiMGkwi2i2KPAf9Fgf49Z_3lvRPK301WeRugfh6P9/s400/0406020954.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgotI8c1Nd4hRNvAK4ogc29FYyPN9uJCktl9Vxn2YfrHDQRKXa-kybiqRRCwcPn3H3_0WSiVXhKZCAABZddKnW3Y-ITC-3cj6uh-4fM6x3OCZ_VYKwtLxwvvL1sknE-wew7IfZTIklRIQSt/s1600/0406021135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgotI8c1Nd4hRNvAK4ogc29FYyPN9uJCktl9Vxn2YfrHDQRKXa-kybiqRRCwcPn3H3_0WSiVXhKZCAABZddKnW3Y-ITC-3cj6uh-4fM6x3OCZ_VYKwtLxwvvL1sknE-wew7IfZTIklRIQSt/s400/0406021135.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: orange;">Craft</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The craft was such a huge hit! Oh my - I saw this in a catalog of all things a few years back (like, just a decoration in a staged children's bedroom.) I used wrapping paper tissue for the rainbow streamers, but you could also use crepe paper / streamers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyzTjds0RwVODJfHAgOqhl8JhZGXYv-2Z0FdIm0z0M329nQ9id6ebpSZlcR5TQx3DL_egHHOmgP-_b_iUqrCa1beIs3svdXacbez9StxY-MqHmLrUPCbeZw-tlJI9kFUUcdCZjSCOagWdr/s1600/0328021134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyzTjds0RwVODJfHAgOqhl8JhZGXYv-2Z0FdIm0z0M329nQ9id6ebpSZlcR5TQx3DL_egHHOmgP-_b_iUqrCa1beIs3svdXacbez9StxY-MqHmLrUPCbeZw-tlJI9kFUUcdCZjSCOagWdr/s400/0328021134.jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: orange;">Books</span> we read are below - both really fun with great language and rhythm. It was definitely a <span style="color: purple;"><strong>full </strong></span>storytime!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggowCphCcWNB_S76ULz_lan6rVi1W-t7p6kRhC8VoKVBzzSDffpZkiPdBYRiybpohYs50UmhmPjhaZ3oAl360AQBjVFMrHl6jKehA7onLH482Ww1j9IU9f2lGVLTFoPyobJSEn6h6YWnD7/s1600/51p7000sjgl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggowCphCcWNB_S76ULz_lan6rVi1W-t7p6kRhC8VoKVBzzSDffpZkiPdBYRiybpohYs50UmhmPjhaZ3oAl360AQBjVFMrHl6jKehA7onLH482Ww1j9IU9f2lGVLTFoPyobJSEn6h6YWnD7/s200/51p7000sjgl.jpg" width="158" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidBXZl7-U2-KJ26KgEqmDTSGNITWk9sxyMmHrWweVwdoQrBTldO-BrIKO3CeSRCaZEAPb9nOIkGOFMpuK2NFbAXC1NBkPTHvWal-EHi4pSFC881-j1kGpaKWz4vH3w0wLerU23mZce4pc6/s1600/wow-said-the-owl-image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidBXZl7-U2-KJ26KgEqmDTSGNITWk9sxyMmHrWweVwdoQrBTldO-BrIKO3CeSRCaZEAPb9nOIkGOFMpuK2NFbAXC1NBkPTHvWal-EHi4pSFC881-j1kGpaKWz4vH3w0wLerU23mZce4pc6/s200/wow-said-the-owl-image.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Sarah Mchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746680312783947853noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7647320170439352374.post-26110304650612355602012-03-22T10:44:00.001-07:002012-03-22T12:14:48.505-07:00Flannel Friday: Princess and the PeaNot truly a flannel contriubtion today, but I feel like it does fit the overall spirit of Flannel Friday! Here's a fun way to tell the story of the Princess and the Pea. I'm sure the idea is not original, but I did not base my particular idea on anyone else.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGiREg1yTdiVpmjkV7pEpJibOj6Gv6jNCfIKc1S4tv7VN8iBWfhJuXuUmFK_2usq_83YIhcKBrJSs5dbLXDXN6y2dI5wz349ruOXyyFcrAupLmPIaoHSJZi5j6RtMxUZqAVZi6WJqFktNa/s1600/0322021139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGiREg1yTdiVpmjkV7pEpJibOj6Gv6jNCfIKc1S4tv7VN8iBWfhJuXuUmFK_2usq_83YIhcKBrJSs5dbLXDXN6y2dI5wz349ruOXyyFcrAupLmPIaoHSJZi5j6RtMxUZqAVZi6WJqFktNa/s400/0322021139.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFdQxBJcsqdFf0NrsOeuZblkxeGTDdS1DC-GhQq8uo75ncusCuHz_FbbsV7B7rdF9Rq_1a_Bzy2XfWoOQI4maxylxxIFz_LNHiUyRt7gfhKe9MAChYDSg4S-xwgAo75Qfm4jCUdsA2WH3e/s1600/0322021141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFdQxBJcsqdFf0NrsOeuZblkxeGTDdS1DC-GhQq8uo75ncusCuHz_FbbsV7B7rdF9Rq_1a_Bzy2XfWoOQI4maxylxxIFz_LNHiUyRt7gfhKe9MAChYDSg4S-xwgAo75Qfm4jCUdsA2WH3e/s400/0322021141.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Start saving your cereal boxes! (And oatmeal, and envelopes, and Lean Cuisine!) Behind each piece of fabric is any random box, as seen here. I considered making them all match size-wise, but really thought the mismatched pattern was more fun. Because the boxes are different depths, this mattress stack ends up being a bit tall - typically taller than your average storytime guest while seated on their bottom. I think that height makes the story more enchanting - truly "bigger than life" to them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
As you tell the story, you'll place your pea under the first box. It's never tipped over on me, but just practice to make sure you get it balanced. My little pea is made of play-doh and left to dry (sorry, the picture isn't great.) Once dry, it was painted with fabric paint (no reason...just what I had) to give it a better green color. The princess on top is a random (old) princess doll that we happen to have at our Library. I am sure you have one, too. You could also use a Barbie, if you had one of those sitting around somewhere.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic12cehyphenhyphenDjDCouJgTAiRW9vBoYkVhecES8oZvvTPgPziqKaXsHO7dw_l4nNcrHVkLc7iwUyOIGka6dpSrq-M3Bo-3hfcj5i8RXf7-7oZzUfPHq-sBC4-IcxF3Z3xjrsDVJ3rZmtlaq2DYk/s1600/downsized_0322021204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic12cehyphenhyphenDjDCouJgTAiRW9vBoYkVhecES8oZvvTPgPziqKaXsHO7dw_l4nNcrHVkLc7iwUyOIGka6dpSrq-M3Bo-3hfcj5i8RXf7-7oZzUfPHq-sBC4-IcxF3Z3xjrsDVJ3rZmtlaq2DYk/s400/downsized_0322021204.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If anyone would like the text that I use when telling the story, I would be happy to send it to you (just leave me a comment). It is a very simple text that emphasizes the Prince's search for a real Princess. In the pouring down rain, a girl comes to the door claiming to be a princess, and the mother of the prince (skeptical) goes to hide the pea beneath all the mattresses -the best mattresses, covered in her finest fabrics. You can have the kids help you make rain and thunder for the storm, knock on the castle door, and feel the soft fabrics of the mattress. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This story has been a huge hit whenever I use it. It is very appealing to young gradeschool class visits, as well as storytimes for the preschool age. It is a good reminder of how powerful storytelling can be...no book, just the power of a great story. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div>Sarah Mchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746680312783947853noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7647320170439352374.post-89215621146531739062012-03-14T13:45:00.001-07:002012-03-15T11:48:49.989-07:00Flannel Friday: Hidden in the green grassI planned this to go along with a green storytime theme. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLrLon3lCWjElCjCAkfTuMNykDlmpDx0UT6GEI8NxGdj_Wk7HEKx-5g9UOFh5ZB5aXQxoF9S5Fvs6klh8EkTg9OzcOGidv8cAxEKjKG1LlyQa30MAxyeYor3qiM09d21RSE9PcxBo023Ld/s1600/0314021147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLrLon3lCWjElCjCAkfTuMNykDlmpDx0UT6GEI8NxGdj_Wk7HEKx-5g9UOFh5ZB5aXQxoF9S5Fvs6klh8EkTg9OzcOGidv8cAxEKjKG1LlyQa30MAxyeYor3qiM09d21RSE9PcxBo023Ld/s400/0314021147.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Made up this little song / rhyme:<br />
<br />
Behind the green grass<br />
You just never know<br />
What you might see<br />
Or what might grow.<br />
<br />
The kids and I sang this together, and they guessed what we might find in the grass. You could also name the object (perhaps hiding it in the room) and choose a child to go find it. I had too many kids to do that successfully, but this was still fun. I got a few guesses that I didn't have (mouse, rabbit, leaf), but I just suggested a close alternative or looked in my grass and said "Nope! They're not in here!"<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3GOxtdxo97CzyZfZLmvF02gtpaJ4B_U8pJc4Jo3wCHFwGOn5Qw2QLtszSvG0rpeSHX633C8NP0geQ1b6Zc9R0VadLm4yhc2_0t96w1Ue1zNPwgioJR6ByI83iAhLybH4yi5DOkq74haPL/s1600/0314021151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3GOxtdxo97CzyZfZLmvF02gtpaJ4B_U8pJc4Jo3wCHFwGOn5Qw2QLtszSvG0rpeSHX633C8NP0geQ1b6Zc9R0VadLm4yhc2_0t96w1Ue1zNPwgioJR6ByI83iAhLybH4yi5DOkq74haPL/s400/0314021151.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
In my grass was a ladybug, baseball, snake, caterpillar, ant, butterfly, frog, turtle, bee, flower and rock. There is definitely room for other creatures or items...I think the surprising ones are particularly fun (like the baseball).<br />
<br />
Now, I got super lucky on this because a coworker has the little grass arrangement you see in the photo. I've seen these around, but I've never thought about using it for storytime. I used bamboo skewers (like for veggie kebabs) and they easily poke through the grass. If you don't have a coworker with a box of fake grass, you can easily make one with a small box. Not quite as darling, I agree, but it would still work (if you forgot all about the awesome fake grass!)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizkrx1h6fCxvWVFl3zP9Z8Gay2NhUDWekg4F7HUQ_fH3Cvt_YidBoNKU6cqzZmy0P2MxbzmW6QAMSRs3zOFJqa3vNsm_JCyW9juvABBpTuJ_1MpY8CvgXNaIod9tmtUv4dX7UnePfabbpQ/s1600/0314021239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizkrx1h6fCxvWVFl3zP9Z8Gay2NhUDWekg4F7HUQ_fH3Cvt_YidBoNKU6cqzZmy0P2MxbzmW6QAMSRs3zOFJqa3vNsm_JCyW9juvABBpTuJ_1MpY8CvgXNaIod9tmtUv4dX7UnePfabbpQ/s400/0314021239.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Sarah Mchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746680312783947853noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7647320170439352374.post-61811355473524649622012-03-14T13:34:00.002-07:002012-03-15T12:52:50.226-07:00Let's go GREEN!I like doing storytimes that focus on a single color because it allows you to bring in many variations on a theme and you get some unexpected combinations. For Saint Patrick's Day, this is particularly fun and helpful because I'm not a huge fan of any St. Patrick's Day books. (I'm sure there are some gems out there that I'm completely missing.) <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Books for green storytime:<br />
Where is the green sheep by Mem Fox<br />
Green eggs and ham by Dr. Seuss<br />
<br />
Flannel Story:<br />
Rattlin bog. I had a version of this, but I gave it up for Melissa's one <a href="http://melissa.depperfamily.net/blog/?p=1473" target="_blank">here</a>, because it was better!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigk9S9KVpyF2HN_ygymlvaPFgPMYlUr0OSLfqe6DcHRC7OrD9OQiMO002NLmaMzWmwoJhmR7x1EJKi8cO87L9xxRAuoe0g-_P8GRdx1biykmlBzgceixb85H9aPwphyphenhyphenC4vsffO259xZsEQ/s1600/0314021512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigk9S9KVpyF2HN_ygymlvaPFgPMYlUr0OSLfqe6DcHRC7OrD9OQiMO002NLmaMzWmwoJhmR7x1EJKi8cO87L9xxRAuoe0g-_P8GRdx1biykmlBzgceixb85H9aPwphyphenhyphenC4vsffO259xZsEQ/s400/0314021512.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Game:<br />
Green eggs and ham game, (again) thanks to Melissa of <a href="http://melissa.depperfamily.net/blog/?p=3418" target="_blank">Mel's Desk</a>. This was so fun and such a good extension of the book. Ours very quickly turned into a chant and the kids loved coming up when their color was called. (I made 25+ so each child had a turn.)<br />
<br />
Songs / Rymes:<br />
5 Green and Speckled frogs (of course!)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0fcFSg3STyU3-n_jCxVjS6-iXCMIUUnGfvhvY-djHoZNsZJPfTlGBtmG9T589vVl3BLOsgSYWNCa0iLA5PlRifI4ELhs6rU7LGi6DZOw-O5HTnPJXcTpkB2RhI1rXrtwPZPPWJeAvFkwR/s1600/0314021147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0fcFSg3STyU3-n_jCxVjS6-iXCMIUUnGfvhvY-djHoZNsZJPfTlGBtmG9T589vVl3BLOsgSYWNCa0iLA5PlRifI4ELhs6rU7LGi6DZOw-O5HTnPJXcTpkB2RhI1rXrtwPZPPWJeAvFkwR/s400/0314021147.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Interactive Rhyme:<br />
Hidden in the Green grass. This will be my Flannel Friday contribution for <a href="http://readsarahread.blogspot.com/2012/03/hidden-in-green-grass-not-flannel.html" target="_blank">this week</a>, and we really had fun with it! If you don't have time to make one, you can probably pull from various animals, bugs, items that you already have flannel-ized, and even just use grass on your flannel board.<br />
<br />
Behind the green grass<br />
You just never know<br />
What you might see<br />
Or what might growSarah Mchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746680312783947853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7647320170439352374.post-12399581608349825582012-03-08T18:17:00.000-08:002012-03-08T18:17:06.339-08:00Flannel Friday: House storytimeI love houses! (real kind & flannel kind)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX4nPXzlxh7U7ydkgl_8hSwAVRQNvfo0aLdmxB1DYrT3u-s2W1u9fKwxOpVdfqNq4dOZz_2Mgdur1QFR_3NGt2hqHcUGTdCr5Pp5spS5btV9ViUJo1RVajau9MwDYPcFCa_veMyBPQEVUQ/s1600/0307021106a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX4nPXzlxh7U7ydkgl_8hSwAVRQNvfo0aLdmxB1DYrT3u-s2W1u9fKwxOpVdfqNq4dOZz_2Mgdur1QFR_3NGt2hqHcUGTdCr5Pp5spS5btV9ViUJo1RVajau9MwDYPcFCa_veMyBPQEVUQ/s400/0307021106a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Here's a cute little rhyme from <em>Finger Tales</em> by Joan Phelps where you build a house with shapes:<br />
<br />
Some Houses are wood,<br />
And some are stone.<br />
But let's build one<br />
With shapes alone.<br />
Start with a square<br />
But we won't stop.<br />
Add a triangle <br />
up on the top.<br />
Then a rectangle<br />
for the door.<br />
Now square windows<br />
1, 2, 3, 4!<br />
A little circle<br />
just for fun.<br />
Now our shape house<br />
Is all done!<br />
<br />
Though I like the rhyme, I sort of threw it out the window and had the kids help me build the house. We talked about which shapes were which and where they would go. It was so adorable because one little girl put a window on the roof (you know, an attic window!) and another little girl had a fit over that idea - "no, no! we need four windows on the bottom!" <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBDzYbANsnVK2bpU6FyejORuCh0sCCWo_gVa4wFnORnGePBO7j86_9z60IQZTABIzOjAtzcaAf8qleVo2ZzrekitKDyhoJ09ydGUYPAXQ2y1Xuof31wJ8vs-Ryubpn_MNykkgMaJU8_YSU/s1600/0307021128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBDzYbANsnVK2bpU6FyejORuCh0sCCWo_gVa4wFnORnGePBO7j86_9z60IQZTABIzOjAtzcaAf8qleVo2ZzrekitKDyhoJ09ydGUYPAXQ2y1Xuof31wJ8vs-Ryubpn_MNykkgMaJU8_YSU/s400/0307021128.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>This little flannel is for matching the animal to its home. I had the homes on the board and then the kids guessed what animals lived inside. Bee & hive, rabbit & his hole in the grass, turtle and its shell, horse and barn, dog and his dog house, and a bird and her nest. (Not pictured: an owl and a tree). I made up a little song to introduce the houses:<br />
<br />
Oh I have a house, a very fine house<br />
And this house is called a ______ (hive)<br />
Who, who lives in a hive?<br />
Who, who lives in a hive?<br />
<br />
I repeated the last lines until a child was chosen and they picked out the correct animal. Though the song was made up (and not very good!) many kids caught on and were singing with me by the 2nd or 3rd animal.Sarah Mchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746680312783947853noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7647320170439352374.post-7726216468108775122012-03-01T12:49:00.001-08:002012-03-02T12:09:41.171-08:00The MittenMy favorite version of The Mitten is by <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mitten-Jim-Aylesworth/dp/0439925444/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1330633407&sr=8-5" target="_blank">Jim Aylesworth</a>. I love the context of the grandmother and grandson and the knitted mittens; the details of Barbara McClintock's illustrations are stunning (like the knitted mitten exploding onto the snow into a million yarn pieces). The story is a classic and so adaptable to many types of tellings. In one of my very first storytimes, I got a giant piece of flannel or fleece fabric and cut out a mitten the size of a small child. I then used our storytime puppets to go inside the mitten and I can still (to this day!) remember seeing those kids respond to the animals being tossed out of my giant, hot-glued mitten.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjklscBNg1zVPl9NgkUbyb87AeBGNUw4NWCbicdu7dMpvOjuKlgl9yct9ZLk9EevuXqCvVUa2ocu1erczZjeS8xNVc2bp9vIWkBQi2_nP2GzcESkdQpsv3nZmYSs6OdExSl6QupePfyKUJE/s1600/0222020923.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjklscBNg1zVPl9NgkUbyb87AeBGNUw4NWCbicdu7dMpvOjuKlgl9yct9ZLk9EevuXqCvVUa2ocu1erczZjeS8xNVc2bp9vIWkBQi2_nP2GzcESkdQpsv3nZmYSs6OdExSl6QupePfyKUJE/s400/0222020923.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
This version is smaller but still cute. We have this <a href="http://www.folkmanis.com/handpuppet_detail.php?item_no=5006=" target="_blank">Folkmanis Puppet</a> that comes with an array of forest animal finger puppets. I made a felt mitten and embroidered the edge of both mitten halves for some extra detail. I then hot-glued all of it but one side, and, on that side, I glued velcro tabs so that it can "burst open" and the animals can fall out. Honestly, I love making things like this, but this book can easily stand on its own with no help from me. Still, it is fun to try it different ways and see if it alters the response of the audience.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8nsxF25G1uPaiRfGTscUmIJyXD_kC12Ast890_WdQm03IdIeC9HWQftXgnYtFYPpOpugkOI4uQS9Myb5V8ZXGP0Q3LnrqXrVUf9ekbJxWK9893zXFDUp65MAST-4xIAkjfJJWOtSwnuJ/s1600/0222020927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8nsxF25G1uPaiRfGTscUmIJyXD_kC12Ast890_WdQm03IdIeC9HWQftXgnYtFYPpOpugkOI4uQS9Myb5V8ZXGP0Q3LnrqXrVUf9ekbJxWK9893zXFDUp65MAST-4xIAkjfJJWOtSwnuJ/s400/0222020927.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Sarah Mchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746680312783947853noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7647320170439352374.post-61741500969277750932012-02-22T09:34:00.000-08:002012-02-22T18:23:20.135-08:00(Not) a Flannel Friday: a clothespin story<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lets-Play-Forest-While-Around/dp/0439823234/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1329529421&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Let's play in the forest while the wolf is not around</a> by Claudie Rueda is a fun enough book to read, but let me tell you, turn it into a clothespin story and it might change your storytelling life! A class of kindergarten and first graders liked this so much, I had them begging to do it again (and we did!)<br />
<br />
This can be a "call and response" story, with you saying "Let's play in the forest while the wolf is not around," and the kids saying "Wolf! Are you there?" The wolf then answers (in your wolfiest voice, of course) by saying he is putting various things on, his underwear, his t-shirt, his pants, his backpack, etc.<br />
<br />
I drew the images for his clothes, adding cut paper to enchance them. I made a color photocopy of the Wolf's head and put it on a long stick so that I could move him easily and have his ears only pop up as he said "I'm putting on my _____." As the wolf said each thing, I'd clothespin each item to the twine. The whole wolf does not pop out until the final word of the story: "pancakes!"<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjspU_NCZL-EobfhgJxo6PYVKbYROaCzZCpr8GePGQwUCBV7nEQlC8BFCUWFtcmlRM3obOWMy53Zt4w9H58ighHTFvRC_rQzzBYAwJbNIoZOVRAFSof4qhy9bfA7ECIeuDqoC_eOKZx3rMp/s1600/0222021109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjspU_NCZL-EobfhgJxo6PYVKbYROaCzZCpr8GePGQwUCBV7nEQlC8BFCUWFtcmlRM3obOWMy53Zt4w9H58ighHTFvRC_rQzzBYAwJbNIoZOVRAFSof4qhy9bfA7ECIeuDqoC_eOKZx3rMp/s400/0222021109.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Since I wanted the wolf to remain hidden, I got a box lid and covered it in brown paper. With some simple rigging, a box lid will stand up by itself and allow you to sit behind it. (I used a good sized novel to "weight" my box lid down and ensure it didn't do any tipping during the story.) I hot-glued a piece of twine to go across the box lid and serve as my clothesline. [Just a tip - the box lid is very handy! I like it because it provides a very simple "stage" that you can sit behind or even put on your lap, and it can be used for smaller stories where you need to "hide" things. A larger stage would really overwhelm this little story.]<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjenDJ6zQZsEAcmdhsR0-Nwsgs_GPjK4jrRW0rAv5FzXIdq8yIokikpbi7AM7ExfHukD7LqNW4aHfvnRZBSV5q7qGT-XGIuU27dkKsO7Qox21raWxJREQFphbGBGCKfkYz71uV7AufpoBn5/s1600/0222021107a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjenDJ6zQZsEAcmdhsR0-Nwsgs_GPjK4jrRW0rAv5FzXIdq8yIokikpbi7AM7ExfHukD7LqNW4aHfvnRZBSV5q7qGT-XGIuU27dkKsO7Qox21raWxJREQFphbGBGCKfkYz71uV7AufpoBn5/s400/0222021107a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
A slight change that I plan to make before doing this one again: I'm going to make the pancakes larger and put them on a stick. It makes more sense for the pancakes to appear as the wolf says the word and to not be "pinned" on the clothes line.Sarah Mchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746680312783947853noreply@blogger.com5