Burnham Bunch: Valentine's Day

XO XO

Read: A Kiss Like This by Mary Murphy, Big Hugs, Little Hugs by Felicia Bond and Ten Things I Love About You by Daniel Kirk

Flannelboard: Six Little Valentine's find it on Pinterest from Flannel Friday

Six Little Valentines were sent to my house,
The first one said, "I love you, From Mouse."
Five little Valentines in my mailbox,
The second one said, "Be mine, Love Fox."
Four little Valentines full of love,
the third one said, "you are sweet, From Dove."
Three little Valentines just for me,
The fourth one said, "Be my honey, Love Bee."
Two little Valentines mailed with care,
The fifth one said, "Here's a hug, From Bear."
The last little Valentine, from my friend Jay,
This one said, "Happy Valentine's Day!"

Need: Construction paper in red, pink and white. Pipe cleaners, glue sticks and pencil.

• Prior to storytime, my assistant cut out hearts of various shapes and colors:
• Large = red
• Medium = white
• Small = pink
• Super-small = pink
• She also cut out a butterfly body shape with a 2 slits for the pencil to fit in. 
• She trimmed the pipe cleaners and hot glued the super-small pink hearts onto the tips.
• At storytime, I had the kiddos glue together their Love Bugs ...
• At the end we slipped a pencil into the body.

Burnham Bunch: The Mitten

The Mitten

Read: The Mitten by James Aylesworth and One Mitten by Kristine O'Connell George

Story-extender: I found this swell idea via Pinterest from Teach Preschool.

Instead of using our flannel board, I recreated a "mitten" on the carpet using masking tape. I have more kiddos than animal characters, so I made a few character cards of each animal: squirrel, rabbit, fox, bear and a mouse. As the story progresses, the "animals" climbed into our "mitten." At the end, when the mouse sneezes ... all the children hopped out! So, FUN! Thank you Teach Preschool!

Craft: Icy Painting found via Pinterest from Hands On: As We Grow

Need: Epsom salt, white glue, sturdy blue paper, popsicle sticks.

• At each craft seat, I laid out a tray with a piece of blue paper, a cup of glue, a popsicle stick, and a cup of Epsom salt.
• I asked the kiddos to load up their stick with glue and let it just drip all over the paper -- encouraging them to make big blobs and lines.
• Then the magic! The kiddos then sprinkled the salt on to the glue. Voila! And icy masterpiece!
• Helpful hint: I have these great trays that I use for messy projects. Using these will help with the clean-up of the salt -- especially because you know that A BUNCH of salt will be overused. 

Burnham Bunch: On Hiatus

Why? Oh, why?

For the last whatever-many years, I have planned a storytime for January. In one form or another, I have offered something for the preschoolers and their parents/caregivers. I have organized the traditional sign-up storytime, a drop-in storytime, a kid and parent meet 'n greet and a few more.... and you know what no one shows up.

January is hard. Either the kiddos, their parents, or siblings are sick. Maybe the moms' just want to stay inside on a cold day or wind-down after the hub-bub of the holidays? Perhaps, there is lots of wintry weather, which causes us to either cancel or makes it difficult for parents to get out and to the library on-time. So, this year I decided not to offer anything and take the time to plan the next few months of storytime. I also intend to make a large dent in planning Summer reading.

Last week I received a phone call from one of the twenty parents whose kiddo comes to storytime. She was very upset and angry -- basically disgruntled over the lack of storytime for January. I can see her point, it is cold out and they are in want for an activity and time for her child to socialize with other children her age. I tried to explain that statistically nobody comes out to storytime in January and stated all the reasons that I mentioned above. She was NOT happy! I could mention all the things that she said, but I will just get upset again!!

In the end, I have to wonder why ONE disgruntled person can make me feel this upset. While the other TWENTY parents are so wonderfully-kind and supportive. Why? Oh, why? Oh, why?

Burnham Bunch: Christmas Tree

Oh, Christmas Tree

Read: Christmas Eve Good Night by Doug Cushman and Ten Little Christmas Presents by Jean Marzollo

Flannel Board: Ten Little Christmas Presents

Craft: Christmas Tree

Need: Green, yellow, brown and blue craft paper, Q-tips, paint, paper plates and glue sticks.

• Prior to storytime cut green paper into shapes -- see directions here at FrogPond. Also, cut brown paper into rectangle for trunk, cut yellow into a star.
• Using the blue paper as the background, have the kiddos glue the tree together and then paint on the ornaments using Q-tips-stamps.
• Annnnnnddddddd, there you go!

I'm in love ....

Here are some new books that I have just fallen in love with ...

He does .. and it is so cute

Any parent will tell you this is true. Love the steaming "to-go" cup!

I will ALWAYS be a dancer at heart. 

Just look at the cover .... 'nuff said.

Cozy. Christmas.

Oh, Scaredy Squirrel! He is just bananas.

Zzzzzzzzzzzz

Burnham Bunch: Reindeer

Run, Run Rudolph!

Read: Dream Snow by Eric Carle and Shhh! by Julie Sykes

Flannel Board: Rudolph, Rudolph via SoTomorrow

Craft: Rudolf the Red-nosed Reindeer inspired by Kerry's Craft Blog

Need: Brown, red and black craft paper, sticker-eyes and glue sticks

• Prior to storytime, we cut the brown paper in half and formed a tube shape for the reindeer body. We also cut out the red into circles for noses and the black for antlers.
• Have kiddos glue it together  ...... THE END!

Burnham Bunch: Snowmen

Snowmen time of year again ...

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

Flannel board: Using The First Day of Winter 

Craft: Mosiac snowman inspired by The Elementary Art Room

Need: White, orange and black craft paper, glue sticks and chalk/white crayon.

• Prior to storytime, have your super-awesome assistant rip white paper into pieces, cut orange pieces into a carrot shape and black paper into squares. We also, used white crayon to draw a half-circle shape as a guide for the kiddos to place their white paper.
• I instructed the kiddos to glue their white paper into the half-circle outline. 
• Then they glued on their nose and eyes and mouth.
• I also handed out white crayons so they could draw snowflakes ....