Merry Christmas

Burnham Bunch will resume in February! For the month of January we will be hosting a Winter Blahs at Burnham drop-in storytime. I am not expecting many attendees? But, I may post a picture or two along the way. Until then wishing you a .....

and a Happy New Year!

Burnham Bunch: Santa and his Reindeer

Reindeer

Read: There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bell by Lucille Colandro and Christmas Eve Good Night by Doug Cushman

  

Flannel board: Using There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bell! hand-out story pieces and have kiddos put on our Old Lady during prompts.

Craft: Reindeer Food

• Need: Oats, gold glitter, and different color sprinkles, clear bags, labels, and stapler.
• Using the Avery postcard template, I designed and printed a bag topper.
• I set up different stations:Station #1 = Oats, Station #2 = Gold Glitter, Station #3 Red Glitter, Station #3 Bag Stapling Station.
• At each station, the children will measure the right amount into their bags and move on to the next. 
• When then have completed all their stations, they returned to their seat and applied a few stickers.
• And that is about it!

Merry Christmas to all! And to the reindeer, good flight!

Burnham Bunch: Let it snow?

Let it snow?

Now that it is time that we would expect some snow, we haven't had a flake! (well we had a "dusting" but that doesn't count!) It is SUPER cold so we are going to go ahead and make some snowmen!!

Read: Snow Happy! by Patricia Hubbell and The First Day of Winter by Denise Fleming

Flannel Board: Using The First Day of Winter as the book progresses children will place items during prompts.

Craft: Snowmen inspired by Evenings & Weekends

• Need: Cotton rounds (cosmetic wipes), glue, bits and bops to decorate the snowman, and craft paper.
• I am not even going to give directions, because a picture says a thousand words:

Love the jaunty belt and hat!

Burnham Bunch: Christmas

Christmas Star

Read: Suzy Goose and the Christmas Star by Petr Horacek and 10 Trim-the-Tree'ers by Janet Schulman.

Feltboard: Using 10 Trim-the-tree'ers.

Craft: Winter Snowflake/Christmas Star Ornament

• Need: Popsicle sticks, glitter, white glue and jewels.
• Prior to storytime, hot glue 3 popsicle sticks into a snowflake/star shape.
• Hoping to keep this project relatively neat. I set up glitter stations: 1 red, green, gold. At each station, I placed a tray with a piece of copy paper and a cup of glitter. 
• At each child's craft seat, I set a plate with one of the ornaments. I asked each child to "paint" their ornament with white glue.
• After that step was completed, the kiddos proceeded to the glitter station of their choice.
• With the help of their parent/care-giver, they sprinkled the glitter onto their ornament.
• Then carefully place the ornament back onto the plate to dry.
• When completely dry, I will hot-glue a sting/yarn to the back as a hanger.

I had to include this. Seriously! How precious is this? *sigh*

 

Burnham Bunch: Hibernation

Hibernation

Read: Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson and Animals in Winter by Martha E.H. Rustad. Another great pick is Snow Rabbit, Spring Rabbit: A Book of Changing Seasons by II Sung Na

 I just love Bear and Karma Wilson always a favorite pick!

Flannel Board: Time for Hibernation borrowed from Story Time Secrets

Craft: Hibernating Bear inspired by Preschool Playbook

• Need popsicle sticks, black tissue paper, white glue, paper cup, cut-out copy of a sleeping bear and brown crayon. Prior to storytime, I poked a hole into the bottom of each cup.
• Before we went to the craft table, I told the kiddos that we were going to do a craft with lots of "steps." And announced when we were beginning each step.
• Step One: Each seat had a paper plate with a bear (to color) and a brown crayon. I asked each of them to color the bear and then set their crayon and bear on the table above the plate.
• Step Two: I passed out the glue and popsicle sticks. Glue the sleeping bear to the tippity-tip of the popsicle stick and then set aside to dry.
• Step Three: I handed out the black tissue paper. I asked the children to tear the paper into strips.(Even the littlest of the group did a great job with tearing!)
• Step Four: Handed out paper cups and instructed them to "paint" the cup with their glue. Then place black tissue paper.
• Step Five: From the inside, slide (mostly with the parent's help) the popsicle stick into the hole on the bottom of the cup.
• Done!

Now if we only had some cold weather! Yesterday, I actually saw a forsythia bush in bloom. Unbelievable. But, I am sure we will be complaining soon enough of the cold and snow. So, I will just be thankful for the mild weather we are having here in good ol' Connecticut.

Burnham Bunch: Thanksgiving

Turkeys

Read: 10 Turkeys in the Road by Brenda Reeves Sturgis and Gobble Gobble Crash! by Julie Stiegemeyer

 

Craft: Clothespin Turkey inspired by No Time for Flashcards

• Need: Clothespins, paper plates (ideally Chinet), brown, red, orange, yellow and green paint, brown and orange construction paper, sticker-eyes, glue sticks and foam paint brushes.
• Prior to storytime, paint one side of the clothespins red, orange, yellow and green (four of each color per child). Also cut out head and beaks.
• Lay paper plate at each craft seat. (use a heavy-duty paper plate like Chinet -- I didn't and had to layer a few of the cheapo plates together).
• Have kiddos glue head and beak onto the back of the plate and adhere the sticker-eye.
• Then instruct them to paint the plate brown.
• After they completed painting their plate, I sent them to wash their hands (what a mess!!) and I wiped down the table.
• When all our little fingers were clean, I had them clip their turkey-feather clips onto the plate.

Such a cute project. Another fave from No Time for Flashcards!