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?)

Burnham Bunch: Halloween Part Deux

Halloween = PARTY!

Read: There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bat! by Lucille Colandro and Spooky Wheels on the Bus by J. Elizabeth Mills (super-cute non-scary Halloween book!)

Flannel Board: Bring out our Old Lady again and also used The Spooky Wheels on the Bus. 

No craft today because we must focus on all the super-cute costumes the kiddos are wearing, as well as our snacks and dancing. In years past, we would plan a party, for our kiddos and their families, on the Saturday prior to Halloween. But, it was usually at lot of work (and money!) with a little showing. So, last year we decided to just have a party during storytime...and it is a total success. Plus it gives the parents a chance to get some mileage out of these costumes! Let's party! Woo Hoo!

Burnham Bunch: Spiders

Halloween = Creepy, Crawly Spiders

Read: Aaaarrggh! Spider! by Lydia Monks and A Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle.

I storytime time is typically a great mix of kiddos between two and five years old. But, this year, the two's outweigh the group. I also have a pretty large Wednesday session. So, I am finding that the simpler the craft the better. I was trolling Pinterest for some inspiration, when I found this super-easy spider craft from my fav blogger No Time For Flash Cards.

Craft: Spotty Spider from No Time for Flash Cards

• Need: Paper plates, circle stickers, pipe cleaners and sticker-eyes.
• Prior to storytime, punch four small holes at the edge of the plate (both sides).
• Set out materials: At each craft seat place one plate, two sheets of dot stickers, two sticker-eyes and four pipe cleaners.
• Instruct the children to spotify their spider. When they have finished, stick on their sticker-eyes.
• Then have their parent help to thread the pipe cleaners through the holes.
• There you have it!

Burnham Bunch: Pumpkins

Pumpkins

Read: Pumply, Dumply Pumpkin by Mary Serfozo, Pumpkin Day, Pumpkin Night by Anne Rockwell, Five Little Pumpkins illustrated by Ben Mantle

I have a horrible head cold. So, I used one of my easiest craft options. Sticky-back paper and tissue paper. Really, it can't get much easier than this. Little prep and clean-up. Perfect ....

Craft: Pumpkins

• Need: Sticky-back paper, pumpkin pattern, tissue paper (I used a orange/black tissue paper that I had lying around) and a brown crayon.
• Prior to storytime cut a pumpkin shape and then cut out the middle. Place shape, face down, on sticky-back paper (not including the stem). Trim tissue paper into small squares.
• At each craft seat, lay out the pumpkin -- sticky side up. Instruct children to cover the entire shape with tissue paper.
• When completed, trim and have them color in stem brown.