Down on the farm with toddlers

I did my farm theme today.

I planned to do it just like this 

However, it ended up a bit shorter due to short attention spans.

Books -
Farmyard Beat by Craig
I often do this one with puppets but it works as a book as well. Since I had the puppets for Old MacDonald I opted to read this one.

Stuck in the Mud by Clarke
They like this one. I had to read very loudly and slowly due to the noise level. I didn't say anything and the kids were taken out for a bit. Peer pressure is awesome!

Songs -
Open Shut them
Shake your sillies out - Raffi
If you're happy and you know it
Old MacDonald - with puppets
Down on the Farm - Red Grammer with instruments
What a Miracle - Palmer

Flannel-
Baaa Baa Black Sheep

I did a longer intro that I sometimes do because I had a number of new faces. I might do more with the kids next time...listening ears works well but this bunch was out of control so early I never had the chance. I do think they had fun.

Beach Toddler Storytime

Today seemed like a good day to celebrate the beach!

Songs: Open Shut them
            Shake your Sillies out

            Down by the Sea by Red Grammer

            Surfin' USA by the Beachboys (with shakers)
            What a Miracle
         
Books:
           Fun Dog, Sun Dog by Heiligman
           To the Beach! by Lakin
           Seashore Animals by Galko (selected pages)
           Uh, Oh! by Crum    

Flannels:
           3 Little Jelly fish
           5 Little Ocean Friends


It started out okay but I lost them when we did the shakers. I tried to get them back for Uh, Oh! but they were not having it. I think this book is better one on one. So we just shut the book and went straight to the closing song.
         

Babies storytime - Gardens

Today I am filling in for a colleague in Babies storytime.
I did my Gardens theme.
See where I did it before here.

It went pretty well. I haven't done a Babies for a while so I was a little stiff. Everyone got into it after a bit.

Sports - Toddler storytime

Today I wanted to promote our Summer Reading program - the theme is Ready, Set, Read!

Books:
Stretch by Cronin
Get Up and Go by Carolson
Hop Hop Jump by Thompson

Songs:
Shake your Sillies out
If Your Happy and You Know it
Open Shut Them
What a Miracle

Flannel game/rhyme
Down on the corner at the sporting goods store
was a baseball hat and not one more
Along came someone with a nickle to pay
and they bought that hat and they took it away.

Bat, mitt, jersey, and baseball

I handed out felt nickles and had the kids come up and put their nickle on the flannel board. Each kid got a chance.They loved it!

Parachute
Wheels on the Bus
Itsy Bitsy Spider
Alabama Mississippi
Ring around the Rosie
Grand old Duke of York

We had a good group today. I got very tired from the parachute.

Fun with Food! toddler storytime

I had a great time in storytime today! My theme was Food and it was Fun!

Books:
A Very Hungry Caterpillar by Carle (as a flannel from here)
The Little Kids Table by Riehle
How do Dinosaurs Eat Their Food? by Yolen

Songs:
Aiken Drum (on Uke)
-I ask them to tell me what Aiken Drum's parts are made of and I draw on the white board.
Oats Beets Beans and Barley Grow with instruments
Shake your Sillies out/If You're Happy and You Know It
Open Shut them
What a Miracle

Flannel:
5 Little Hot Dogs (http://flannelfun.weebly.com/5-little-hotdogs.html)
 - They loved this one!

I wonder if I had such a good time because there were 20 kids today. But maybe it was just such a wonderful day and I like this particular theme very much!

Another song I was going to do was this one: I am Hungry
But I did Aiken Drum instead. I know it better and as long as there are alot of kids it goes well. It was a challenge to draw, sing and play all at the same time but I managed!

Jungle Animals for Toddler storytime

I had a big crowd (for me) today. 19 kids and 15 adults.

Here is what I did:
Books:
Tiny Little Fly by Rosen
Orangutangled by Bardhan-Quallan
I'm the Scariest Thing in the Jungle by Derrick


Fingerplay/flannels:
5 Little Monkeys jumping on the bead
5 little Monkeys teasing Mr. Alligator

Songs:
Shake your Sillies out
If you're Happy and You know it
The Lion Sleeps Tonight with shakers (Berkner)
I know a Chicken with shakers (Berkner)
Open Shut them
What a Miracle (Palmer)

Action Rhyme:
I am a big tall giraffe (from Storytime Katie)

This was a fun storytime. I like the books and the songs. The kids were very wound up and some were talking throughout but I just raised my voice and kept going. Not much you can do when a 19 month old is going to talk or scream. I prefer the talking. By the end they were running in circles. I guess all the rain this month is taking its toll. I added a second shaker song because I knew another book was out of the question. After 2 days of outreach and today, my voice is shot. Must rest up for next week. :-)

Dogs! Toddler storytime

I had a great time doing Dogs today!

Books:
Oh No George! by Haughton
- they really got into saying Oh No George!

Please Puppy Please by Lee
- They liked the pictures but not a great hit.

The Pigeon Wants a Puppy! by Willems
-Everyone loves Pigeon

Songs:
Rags (I have a dog his name is rags)
-They weren't very good at the motions but they tried
If you're a Dog and You Know it
Take your Bean Bag by the Learning Station
What a miracle by Palmer

Flannel/song
BINGO
-this one went well
Flannel Book
Dog's Colorful Day by Dodd
-cut it short at 6 spots but still good.

Game-One of these things are not like the other
-This one didn't go so well. It took a little bit to set up and then they really didn't get the concept.I think it is better for preschoolers.

This was a good theme that everyone liked. I will use it for outreach next week as well.