Summer Bunch: Rockets

Rockets

Read: Sheep Blast Off! by Nancy Shaw and Roaring Rockets by Tony Mitton and Ant Parker

Flannel board: Five Astronauts at Play from In the Children's Room

One astronaut went out to play,
Upon the great big moon one day.
He(She) had such enormous fun,
that he called for another astronaut to come.

Repeat 2, 3, 4, 5

Five astronauts went out to play,
Upon the great big moon one day.
They had such enormous fun,
But there weren't any more astronauts to come.

I visited Google images and found clipart of a man and woman astronaut. Using Microsoft Publisher, I added a text box in the middle of each astronaut with a 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.

Craft: Shape Rockets borrowed from Toddler Approved

Need: Red, gray, orange and yellow craft paper, star stickers, and glue sticks.

• Prior to storytime, I cut out three shapes out of the craft paper: Red = triangle, Gray = rectangle, and Yellow = square. I used the orange for the "flames." So, I cut a square and then "fringed" it.
• At storytime, we constructed our rockets as I called out the shapes -- Find the gray rectangle ....
• After the rockets were all glue together, I they decorated the rockets with the shiny stars.

  

Summer Bunch: Summer

Summer

It is seriously HOT! here in Connecticut today. So, this is the perfect story and craft to start off our Summer Bunch storytime.

Read: Summer is Summer by Phillis and David Gershator and Summer Days and Summer Nights by Yee

Flannel Board: Down Around the Corner at the Ice Cream Shop shared with Flannel Board Friday by Miss Mollie in her blog What Happens at Storytime ...

Craft: Suns shared via Pinterest

Need: Cardstock, yellow paint, orange and yellow crayons, gold glitter and forks

• Prior to storytime I a large circle (used a paper "cake" plate as guide) on a piece of heavish white paper.
• I asked the kiddos to color in the circles, using their yellow AND orange crayons.
• When all the kiddos were finished coloring. We painting on some rays using a fork dipped in yellow paint.
• And the finishing touch? A bit of gold glitter sprinkled onto the paint.

Burnham Bunch: Sharks

Vacation = Sharks?

Well, this is it. The final week of Burnham Bunch Storytime -- for this school year. Summer Bunch begins June 21st. But, until then, we will be in a mad-frenzy of summer reading preparation! Lots and lots to do!

Our final storytime theme is usually vacation and trips. But, this year I am just all tapped out of ideas. I can't focus on the now. Instead, I am focused on all there is to do to prepare for summer Reading. So, as I was surfing Pinterest for inspiration, I found this cute idea. Seriously, thank the stars for Pinterest. So, I guess, sharks it is ....

Read: Commotion in the Ocean by Giles Andrea and Never Take a Shark to the Dentist by Jane Judy Barrett

Flannel Board: We Dove in the Ocean - via Valley Storytime

Craft: Shark!! found via Pinterest from Almost Unschoolers

Need: Blue and red craft paper, white sticker eyes, small paper plates, glue sticks.

• Prior to storytime, I sketched a shark shape and cut shape from blue paper (and shark fin from the scraps). I then cut some toothy-grins from small paper plates. And cut tongues from the red paper.
• Have the kids glue together.
• D.O.N.E.

Burnham Bunch: Colors

Color me Fabulous!

Read: Purple Little Bird by Greg Foley and Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see? by Bill Martin

Flannel board: Purple Little Bird by Greg Foley

Craft: What is YOUR favorite color? Painting

Need: White crayon, water color paints, easel paper, sponge brushes and cups.

• Prior to storytime, I wrote each child's name in white crayon on white paper. (I also wrote their name in pencil at the bottom corner of the paper)
• As the children arrived, I asked them each to choose their favorite color crayon and place it at their craft seat. This way, my assistant could have the colors prepared. 
• I told the kiddos that there was a secret message written on each paper. And, as they paint their paper, the secret would be revealed.
• Seriously, how simple can you get??! (Really and truly, I am fried!)

Burnham Bunch: Gardens and Snails and Storytime Tales

Slowly but surely ....

Well, just three weeks left of school-year storytime. Some of my kiddos are moving on to Kindergarten. *sigh* I will miss them so much. Luckily, most of them have younger siblings. I keep telling the mom's that they must keep having children, so that they will never leave me!

Read: A Green, Green Garden by Mercer Mayer and Snail's Good Night by Ann Whiteford Paul

Craft: Paper plate snail found via Pinterest

Need: Paper plates, multi-colored squares of tissue paper, white glue, sponge brush, green craft paper and sticker-eyes (of course!!)

• Prior to storytime, I cut some snail "bodies" out of the green craft paper and glued them on to the plates. And that is ALL the prep work needed.
• I had the kiddos "paint" their paper plate with the glue (and then set the glue aside -- otherwise tissue paper + glue = big ol' mess!)
• Then, I instructed the kiddos to place all the multi-color pieces of tissue paper onto their plate.
• Last touch, sticker eyes.

He is pretending he is Luke Skywalker in his Stormtropper "costume" LOVE IT!