Preschool outreach - Dance

This was the same as toddlers with different books.

Catty Jane Likes to Dance by Gorbechev
Hilda Must Be Dancing by Wilson
Duck Sock Hop by Kohuth

It went very well but could have had another story. The other stories I had with me were very similar to these so I decided just to dance. 😊

Dance - Toddler storytime

Well, after last week's problems with kids not paying attention, I decided to do my dance theme since that would get them up and moving. I used books that can include movement. The weird thing was that while they paid attention to the books some, they were up and moving around constantly. When I put in the Mexican Hat Dance and threw a hat on the floor they were sitting quietly on their parents lap. Then I did one more book and they were up and moving again.

Weird...I think I will try doing a more babish program next time and see if that works.

Books:

The Croaky Pokey by Long
Wiggle by Cronin
Hilda Must Be Dancing by Wilson

Songs:
List of Dances by Gill
Hokey Pokey on uke
Shake your sillies out on uke
Happy and you know it
Shake Shake by Litwin with shakers
Mexican Hat Dance

Early Head Start - Hugs and Kisses

As usual I had just a few kids but I had very enthusiastic adults because the teachers were being observed today. They asked me to wash my hands which they have never done before.

I did a valentiny program.

Books:

A kiss like this by Murphy
How do dinosaurs say I love you by Yolan
How do you hug a porcupine by Isop
I am going to give you a bear hug by Cooney

Songs:
Alabama Mississippi
Skidamarink
Shaking Everywhere (with shakers)
Shake your Sillies out on uke
Hokey pokey on uke
If you're happy and you know it
May there always be sunshine on uke

Fingerplay
5 little valentines

It was pretty good. By the end I only had 3 (our of 7) listening to the books but I felt the pressure to do an entire 30 minutes so I did an extra story.

Valentines - hugs and kisses

Books
How do you hug a Porcupine by Isop
Hug a Bug by Spinelli
A Kiss Like This by Murphy

Songs
Skidamarink
There's a little wheel a turnin' in my heart (Berkner) with instruments
You're my Rainbow on uke
plus the usual

Fingerplay
Little Heart

Flannel
5 little hearts

I had some trouble keeping their attention. I am catching a cold so I was not quite as peppy as usual.

There was one screamer/taker. She wanted my uke so I had to stop her. Made the whole thing better when she left but I couldn't get their attention. Sad...

Dragon Toddler Storytime

I have done dragons before but have had some difficulty finding toddler level books. I found a couple so I decided to give it a go.

Songs:

Open Shut them

Shake your Sillies out/If you’re happy and you know it

Do the Dragon Dance by Ronno

Puff the Magic Dragon with scarves

What a Miracle by Palmer

Books:

The Best Pet of All by LaRochelle

-this was a hit

Oh No Little Dragon by Averbeck

-cute!

Hush Little Dragon by Ashburn

 - this one had a little too much eating of people in it but they weren't really paying much attention so I shortened it

Puppet Show/Book

Not Your Typical Dragon by Bar-El http://storytimewithmisstara.blogspot.com/2013/09/dragons.html

- I have done this as a puppet show with preschoolers but not toddlers. It was a bit long for this age so I shortened it quite a bit.

Finger Play

5 Green Dragons

Five green dragons making such a roar.
One danced away and then there were four.
Four green dragons dancing around a tree.
One danced away and then there were three.
Three green dragons dancing around you.
One danced away and then there were two.
Two green dragons dancing in the sun.
One danced away and then there was one.
One green dragon having lots of fun
She danced away and then there were none.

A pretty lively group but with some criers. After the first book they got tired, I think.

Outreach to preschool - Farm

I love going to this preschool. It is a small group - 9 kids and the adults are so welcoming it really sets the moon.

I did my farm storytime but substituted longer books since this group is 4s and 5s.

Books:
Down by the barn by Hillenbrand
Book Book book by Bruss
I Spy on the Farm by Gibbs - with puppets not book
Click, Clack, Moo Cows that Type by Cronin - not sure the understood what a typewritter is but they liked it anyway.
Farmyard Beat by Craig with puppets - I wasn't going to do this one but I have it memorized and I had some extra time so I did it anyway. A hit as usual!

I did I Spy like a game where they guessed what animal it was by seeing one small part. Very popular.

Songs:
Old MacDonald - with puppets
The Tractor on the Farm - with uke
If your happy and you know it - with uke
May there always be sunshine - with uke
Jump up, turn around by Gill
I know a chicken by Berkner with shakers

It was a very full storytime and I had a great time!

Toddler storytime - Farm

An old favorite. I changed the books to the following:

I Spy on the Farm with puppets.
This would be better with preschoolers. The only kids who were getting it were older siblings.

Cock a Doodle Quack Quack by Baddiel
This was a good one to start with, longer but not too long.

Chicken, Chicken, Duck by Krilanovich
Not a favorite. Only the last page got some interest.

Farm Yard Beat  by Craig
I often do this one as a puppet story but I had 2 other puppet things so I opted to read it.

Everything else was the same as this one