The Read Abouts: September

The Read Abouts

Kindergarten and First Grade Story-sharing.

We tried Kindergarten Storytime last year ... with no success. But, if at first you don't succeed ..... I changed-it-up by included first grade and describing it as story sharing and....... we had eight children at our first meeting! Wahoo! (yes, eight is a large number for us) They had a great time and really enjoyed the "art" aspect of our activity. I may try to make the activity more arty than crafty, hmmmm? We will see.......

Fall/Autumn/Leaves

Read: Fletcher and the Falling Leaves by Julia Rawlinson

Song: It is Autumn (To the tune of If You're Happy and You Know It)

It is Autumn and it is time to rake the leaves.

It is Autumn and it is time to rake the leaves.

It is Autumn that's the season,

We don't need another reason.

It is Autumn and it's time to rake the leaves.

(at the end of the song, surprise children by tossing leaves out into the crowd)

Craft: Coffee filter leaves.

• Need: Leaf templates, coffee filters, yellow, orange and red watercolor paint, droppers.
• Prior to storytime, cut out various coffee filter leaves. Lay out paper towels on top for mess-control and paper plates to transfer leaves home.
• Instruct children on how to use the dropper and paint leaves. As they finish each leaf, have them place onto paper plate.
• Give them ideas on how to display when dry: lay around pumpkin, thread to make a mobile, tape to window....etc. 

Coffee Filter Leaves



Burnham Bunch: Apples

Apples

Read: Ten Red Apples by Pat Hutchins and The Apple Tree by Lynley Dodd

Story board/extender: Felt tree and apples numbered 1-10. Using Ten Red Apples by Dodd, count down from 10 to zero with the farmer.

Craft: Apple Printing

• Need: Apples cut in half, poster paint (green, red, yellow) and craft paper, foam paint brush (less messy if children paint apples rather than dipping apples in paint). Brown and green markers.
• Have children paint apple (use one color per apple, unless you want brown apples!)
• Instruct them how to stamp apple onto paper.
• Wipe apple with paper towel and have them paint it another color. Stamp again. Wipe, paint and stamp again.
• While children are enjoying free play (i.e. all ten children fighting over the train table), draw on a brown stems and green leaves. Easy-Peasy.





Burnham Bunch: Fall Leaves

Fall/Autumn/Leaves

Read: Footballs and Falling Leaves by Rebecca Fjelland Davis, The Autumn Leaf by Carl Emerson and Mouse's First Fall by Lauren Thompson

Story extender/ Story board: Using Footballs and Falling Leaves as prompt I or children add a story-piece as the book progresses.

Craft: Sticky-back paper leaves

• Need: Sticky-back paper, tissue paper (red, yellow, brown, orange). Leaf template.
• Prior to storytime, I cut tissue paper into pieces and separate into baskets by color. Tape sticky-back paper to leaf template and then tape to the craft table.

• Have children choose colors and adhere them to the magic sticky paper. Instruct them to raise their hand when finished to be dismissed from the table for free play.
• While they are playing, fold the other half of sticky-back over the tissue-crafted side and then cut around template.

Burnham Bunch: Trucks

Trucks

Read: Trucks, Roll! by George Ella Lyon and The Three Little Riggs by David Gordon

Craft: Cut 'n Paste Shape Truck (No Time for Flash Cards)

• Need: Construction paper cut into squares, rectangles, half-circle shapes (red, blue, yellow orange), black paper into circles (tires) and brown paper ripped into bits. Crayons..
• Instruct the children to design a truck using the various shapes.... I could not believe how well they did.

Check this one out!!! Really he did it without any help.....Can't you just feel his concentration! After he was done he said that he forgot to put on a flashing light....

Burnham Bunch: Welcome Back

Welcome Back

Read: Lola at the Library and Lola Loves a Story by Anna McQuinn

Discuss libraries, behavior in the library, reiterate elevator procedures....

Song: Our "Theme" Song

Craft: Create a storytime journal

• Need scrapbooking paper (from Target $1 bin, too excited for words),  hole-punch, ads, lined paper (made mine), title page with place for child's name, crayons, and stickers.
• Prior to storytime, fold and construct a booklet for children to decorate. Send home with children as a storytime "extender."

A lot of my mother's are teachers...I think they will really get into this idea of a storytime extender. I used brads, so they can add their own pages, pictures etc.....

Our "Theme" Song

Welcome Everyone!

We started singing this song two years ago and what a HIT! Believe me, if I forget to sing it one week....they will never let me forget again! I usually let the children settle-in and play with the toys (i.e. The Train Table), and interact with their storytime friends. When I am ready to begin storytime, I instruct them all to get their story carpets (carpet remnants) and be seated. After the children settle down, we begin by singing:

(In the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star)

Welcome, welcome everyone
Now you're here let's have some fun
We will work and we will play
We'll have fun in many ways
Here is what we're going to do
Listen and you'll have fun too

               -- Jean Warren at Preschool Express

If we have a newbie or visitor, who may not be aware of the lyrics, it is easy for them to hum the tune along with us (because EVERYONE knows the tune to Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star!!! - right?).
Then, after we finish singing, I introduce our story theme for the week. We may have a little bit of discussion and begin our story.....