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!

Burnham Bunch: Color Me Fabulous

What to Wear?

Read: Froggy Gets Dressed by Jonathan London and Ella Sarah Gets Dressed by Margaret Chodos-Irvine.

Flannel Board: Mary Wore a Red Dress inspired by Miss Mary Liberry

Craft: Color me Fabulous!

I drew a figure of a person -- to make it a girl I added a bit of hair and eyelashes (I know, so clever) I also drew a dress for the girls and a shirt for the boys.

After we read the above books and sang four-hundred verses of Mary Wore a Red Dress (and before I dismissed them to the craft table) I asked each kiddo to tell me their favorite color (of course, over the years, I pretty much know their favorite!!) As they settled into their craft seats, I handed out copies of the person-figure, dresses and shirts. I asked each child to use their favorite color crayon to color their item of clothing. After they completed their coloring, I asked them what color they used and then wrote it on their paper.

Snow in October!!??!!

All library activities were cancelled this week because New England has been hit by a freak snowstorm which has downed trees and power lines. Most towns are without electricity....including us! Trick-or-treating was cancelled or postponed for most towns. And Bridgewater's town Trunk-or-Treat was moved to the Burnham School parking lot.

We were finally "back on the grid" as of noon yesterday! So, the library staff is catching up on work -- weeding shelves, cataloging books, cleaning up Halloween and putting up Thanksgiving bulletin boards and books.

Storytime will resume next Wednesday ... same time, same place! (Hopefully?)