Tag Archives: fall

Fall Family Night

3 Nov

Since all of our children’s classes are during the day when many parents work, we are beginning to offer a once-a-month program for families in the evenings.  In October, I organized a Fall Family Night where we made caramel apples and watched “It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown.”

I charged $1 per person to help defray the costs. Just over 30 people attended, with 25 people making caramel apples.  This was  a larger group than I was expecting!  I meant to take more pictures, but I was so busy I didn’t get a chance too take many.

Here’s what I purchased to make the apples:

  • 26 apples
  • 8 bags of caramel
  • 1 bag of Oreo cookies, crushed
  • 1 can of peanuts, crushed
  • 1 tub of sprinkles
  • Popsicle sticks
  • Disposable bowls

Continue reading →

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Trees

15 Oct

TODDLER STORYTIME

OPENING SONG: The More We Get Together

OPENING RHYMES:

BOOK 1: Fall Leaves Fall by Zoe Hall

FLANNEL RHYME: 5 Little Leaves in the Tall, Tall Tree


Print my 5 Little Leaves clipart here

I’ve previously used this tree for an apple storytime.  It’s nice to have one of these on hand – you can use it for apples, bananas, pears, leaves, birds, etc.

5 little leaves in the tall tall tree
As bright and pretty as they can be
Along came the wind
Blowing all around
And one bright leaf
Fell to the ground

Four little leaves…

FINGERPLAY: Way up high in the apple tree
Way up high in the apple tree,
(Stretch arms in the air.)
Two little apples smiled at me.
(Hold up two fists.)
I shook the tree as hard as I could.
(Shake fists in the air.)
Down came the apples.
(Drop fists to ground.)
Mmm, were they good!
(Pat tummy.)

BOOK 2: Leaves by Ezra David Stein

FLANNEL GUESSING GAME:  Little Bird are you in the Green Tree?
From Mel’s Desk – Get her clipart file here


Say, “Look at all of the trees with different color leaves!  I wonder where Little Bird is?  Can you help me find Little Bird?  Little bird, little bird, are you in the green tree?”  Keep looking until you find little bird.

SONG: Leaves on the Trees
Tune: The Wheels On the Bus

The leaves on the trees turn orange and brown,
orange and brown,
orange and brown,
The leaves on the trees turn orange and brown all over town

The leaves on the trees come tumbling down,
tumbling down,
tumbling down,
The leaves on the trees come tumbling down all over town.

The leaves on the ground go swish, swish, swish,
swish, swish, swish,
swish, swish, swish
the leaves on the ground go swish, swish, swish all through the town.
Credit: Awesome Storytime

CLOSING SONG: Now It’s Time to Say Goodbye to All Our Friends
Tune: “She’ll Be Comin’ Around the Mountain”

Now it’s time to say goodbye to all our friends, “Goodbye!”
clap hands to beat and wave during ‘goodbye’
Now it’s time to say goodbye to all our friends, “Goodbye!”
Now it’s time to say goodbye,
Wave your hands,
Wink your eye,
Now it’s time to say goodbye to all our friends, “Goodbye!”
Credit: Miss Cathy’s Corner

ADDITONAL BOOKS:


CRAFT: Thumbprint Tree

Supplies:

  • White and brown construction paper
  • Paint in fall colors (red, yellow, orange, brown)

Instructions:

  • Cut trees out of brown construction paper.
  • Set out paper plates with red, orange and yellow paint on them.
  • Let children glue trees to white construction paper.
  • Have children dip fingers in paint and press on trees to make colorful fall leaves.

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Boo! It’s Halloween!

24 Oct

TODDLER STORYTIME

Today we had tons of Halloween fun at storytime!  Some storytime friends even came in costume – we had kitty cats, a crayola crayon, a feirce bull fighter, and even a dinosaur.  The kids had lots of giggles trying to scare their parents/cargivers by saying “Boo!”

OPENING SONG: The More We Get Together

OPENING RHYMES:

Two little bats hanging in a cave,
One named Dawn and one named Dave.
Fly away Dawn.  Fly away Dave.
Come back Dawn. Come back Dave. *kiss*

  • If You’re a Ghost and You Know It

Tune: If You’re Happy and You Know It
If you’re a ghost and you know it, just say BOO!
If you’re a ghost and you know it, just say BOO!
If you’re a ghost and you know it and you really want to show it,
If you’re a ghost and you know it, just say BOO!

If you’re a black cat and you know it, say MEOW……
If you’re a skeleton and you know it, Shake your bones……
If you love Halloween and you know it, clap your hands…….

BOOK 1: Mouse’s First Halloween by Lauren Thompson

FINGERPLAY: The Itsy Bitsy Spider, The Great Big Spider, and the Teeny Weeny Spider
A variation on the Itsy Bitsy Spider:  Sing this song three times, using a “great big scary spider voice” and a “teeny weeny spider voice” on those verses.
The itsy bitsy spider went up the water spout.
Down came the rain and washed the spider out.
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain,
And the itsy bitsy spider went up the spout again.

The great big spider went up the water spout . . .
The teeny, weeny spider went up the water spout. . .

FINGERPLAY: Two Little Ghosts
Before doing this rhyme, it’s important to practice saying “BOO!” so that the children will know when to expect it and will not be scared.  “Turn to your parent/caregiver and say Boo! to them.”  Then practice the line tippytoe, tippytoe, tippytoe….Boo!

A very old witch was stirring a pot (make stirring motion)
Ooooo-0000! Ooooo-oooo!
Two little ghosts said, “What has she got?” (shrug shoulders)
Tippytoe, tippytoe, tippytoe……. (walk fingers up arm)
Boo! (Clap)


BOOK 2: Brooms are for flying by Michael Rex
An interactive book that will have children on their feet following along with the actions!

FLANNEL STORY: Mouse’s Halloween House
Template and story from: Mother Goose’s Playhouse by Judy Sierra
In this story, little mice nibble windows and doors in their big orange house until it becomes a Jack-o-lantern.

SONG/CD: Five Green Goblins (from Fisher Price Halloween Sing-a-long CD, Listen to the song here)
This is the Halloween version of ’5 little monkeys jumping on the bed.’  A great one to get the wiggles out – It will inspire lots of jumping!

FINGERPLAY: The Ghost
I saw a ghost (fingers circle eyes)
He saw me too (point to yourself)
I waved at him (wave your hand)
But he said “BOO!” (try to scare person next to you)

CLOSING SONG: We Wave Goodbye Like This

SNACK: For a sweet treat, I made up some Oreo cookie spiders. Here are some fun kid-friendly instructions. For these treats you will need:

  • Oreos (preferably the ones with orange filling)
  • Icing (tinted orange)
  • Pretzel sticks
  • M&Ms


HALLOWEEN CARDS: I made these cute little bat cards to hand out.  All you need is black paper, lollipops and a silver or white paint pen!  Template and instructions from: Better Homes and Gardens, Halloween Fun: 101 Ideas to Get in the Spirit.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

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Pumpkin Time

22 Oct

TODDLER PROGRAM

I was unable to be with all of my storytime friends this week, so Ms. Kim led this Pumpkin Storytime.  There are just too many fun things to do for Halloween, so I decided to stretch things out a bit by making this week’s theme Pumpkins and next week’s theme Halloween.  Isn’t fall wonderful?

OPENING SONG: The More We Get Together

OPENING RHYMES:

In place of the usual “Emotion Faces” that I use for this song, I used Pumpkin Emotion Faces!  Ask children “Which pumpkin is happy?’ or “How does this pumpkin feel?”

BOOK 1: It’s Pumpkin Time by Zoe Hall

FINERPLAY: Once there was a pumpkin
Once there was a pumpkin (Make circle with hands)
And it grew, and it grew, and it grew (With each “grew” make circle bigger)
Now it’s a jack-o-lantern smiling at you! (With a smile, point to children)

FLANNEL SONG: 5 Little Pumpkins
Flannel printables available from DTKL.   Raffi performs this on his Singable Songs for the Very Young CD. 

Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate.
The first one said, “Oh my, it’s getting late!”
The second one said, “There are witches in the air.”
The third one said “But we don’t care.”
The fourth one said “Let’s run and run and run!”
The fifth one said “Isn’t Halloween fun?”
Then Woooooo went the wind
And OUT went the lights (clap)
And five little pumpkins rolled out of sight. (roll hands)


BOOK 2: Piggies in the Pumpkin Patch by Mary Peterson

FINGERPLAY SONG: Pumpkins on the Ground
(Tune: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star)
Pumpkin, pumpkin on the ground (Crouch down)
How’d you get so big and round? (Stretch arms out wide and then make circle)
Once you were a seed so small (Pretend to hold a seed)
Now you are a great big ball! (Make huge circle with arms)
Pumpkin, pumpkin on the ground (Crouch down)
How’d you get so big and round? (Stretch arms out wide and then make circle)

CLOSING SONG: We Wave Goodbye Like This

CRAFT: Pour red and yellow paint into ziplock bags and let children mix them until they are orange.  Parents can help draw jack-o-lantern faces on them with permanent markers.

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The Moon

22 Oct

TODDLER STORYTIME

Fall seems like the perfect time for a storytime all about the moon.

OPENING SONG:The More We Get Together

OPENING RHYMES:

BOOK 1: Kitten’s First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes
One of my all-time favorite books!  The story follows “poor kitten” through a series of humorous mishaps as she goes in search of the moon, which she has mistaken for a bowl of milk.  Simple text and gorgeous black and white illustrations will make this 2005 Caldecott winner a favorite for years to come.

FLANNEL RHYME: Hey Diddle Diddle
You can print my clipart file here.

Hey diddle diddle,
The cat and the fiddle,
The cow jumped over the moon.
The little dog laughed to see such sport,
And the dish ran away with the spoon.

FINGERPLAY: Sun and Moon
For moon: Hold hand to form crescent, For sun: spread five fingers for sun’s rays
Moon comes out (Hold hand to form a crescent.)
Sun goes in. (Place other hand behind back)
Here is a blanket to cuddle your chin. (Place hands under chin.)
Moon goes in. (Place moon hand behind back.)
And Sun comes out. (Hold hand out with fingers extended)
Throw off the blankets and bustle about! (Fling arms out wide and wiggle body.)

SONG: Moon, Moon, Moon (From Laurie Berkner’s CD Victor Vito)
This is a sweet and simple song, but be forewarned – it’s one that tends to get stuck in your head!  I use motions to go along with the song.

Listen or download the song here.

Moon, moon, moon (form arms in circle over head)
Shining bright (wiggle fingers like they are sparkling)
Moon, moon, moon (form arms in circle over head)
My night light (act like turning off a light)
Moon, moon, moon (arms in circle over head)
I can see, (point to eyes)
Moon, moon, moon
You’re taking care of me. (hands to heart)
Look up, it’s the moon (point and look up)
Look up, it’s the moon up in the sky
It’s big and round (make circle with arms over head)
And I have found,
That it looks just like a pizza pie! (make circle with arms in front of you)

BOOK 2: I Took the Moon for a Walk by Carolyn Curtis
A charming rhyme accompanied by Alison Jay’s unique folk-like illustrations.

FINGERPLAY AND SONG: Twinkling Stars
At night I see the twinkling stars (wiggle fingers)
And the great big shining moon (arms overhead in circle)
My mama tucks me into bed (fists under chin)
And sings this goodnight tune
(Sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star)

CLOSING SONG:  We Wave Goodbye Like This

CRAFT: Provide children with pre-cut yellow moons and foil stars to glue to sheets of black paper.  Use white and yellow crayons and glitter to decorate your night sky picture. (sorry, forgot to take a picture of this one!)

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Fall Leaves Fall

11 Oct

TODDLER STORYTIME

OPENING SONG: The More We Get Together

OPENING RHYMES:

We added a new verse today for fall:
Two little blackbirds in the corn crop,
One at the Bottom and the other at the Top.
Fly away Bottom.  Fly away Top.
Come back Bottom. Come back Top.

BOOK 1: Fall Leaves Fall by Zoe Hall

SONG: Autumn Leaves (Tune: Mary Had a Little Lamb)

Autumn leaves are falling down, (Flutter fingers down)
Falling down, falling down.
Autumn leaves are falling down,
Falling on the ground.

Autumn leaves are whirling round, (Twirl in a circle)
Whirling round, whirling round.
Autumn leaves are whirling round,
All over town.

FINGERPLAY: This Little Squirrel
This little squirrel said, “Let’s run and play.” (point to each finger in turn)
This little squirrel said, “Let’s hunt nuts today.”
This little squirrel said, “Yes, nuts are good.”
This little squirrel said, “Mmm, they’re my favorite food.”
This little squirrel said, “Come climb this tree.” (hold arm up; run fingers up to top)
“And crack these nuts, 1-2-3.” (clap)

BOOK 2: Mouse’s First Fall by Lauren Thompson

FINGERPLAY: Brown Squirrel, Brown Squirrel
Brown squirrel, brown squirrel  (Stand with hands in front of chest and bend knees twice)
Swish your bushy tail.  (Wiggle bottom)
Wrinkle up your little nose,  (Wrinkle or point to nose)
Hold a nut between your toes.  (Point to toes)
Brown squirrel, brown squirrel  (Stand with hands in front of chest and bend knees twice)
Swish your bushy tail.  (Wiggle bottom)

FINGERPLAY: Autumn Leaves
Leaves are falling from the trees (Flutter fingers down)
Yellow, brown and red.
Falling, falling from above.
One landed on my head! (Hands on head)

SONG: Leaves Are Twirling
(Tune: Frere Jacques)
Leaves are twirling, leaves are twirling
All around, all around
They are falling softly, very, very softly
To the ground, to the ground.

FLANNEL GAME: Little Mouse, Little Mouse

Printables available here

Hide the little mouse under one of the colored houses on the flannel board.   Then say, “Little mouse, little mouse. Are you in the . . . what color?  …Red house?”   Repeat until you find the little mouse.

CLOSING SONG: We Wave Goodbye Like This

CRAFT: Leaf rubbings.  Have each child place a leaf under a piece of paper, and rub the paper with crayons, and the leaf shape will appear!  This works best with green leaves, but use fall-colored crayons (brown, yellow, red, orange.)

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Apples

22 Sep

TODDLER STORYTIME

It was wonderful to see all of my storytime friends again this morning!  Today’s theme was juicy, crunchy, yummy Apples!

OPENING SONGS: The More We Get Together

OPENING RHYMES:

FLANNEL RHYME: Five Little Apples

I introduced Mr. Slinky Worm today (a laminated worm on a Popsicle stick) who loooves to eat crunchy apples. I used a tree and five red apples on the flannel board as we chanted this rhyme.
You can print my Red Apples and Mr. Slinky Worm clipart here.

Five little apples hanging in a tree,
Teasing Mr. Slinky Worm “You can’t eat me!”
Along comes Mr. Slinky Worm as quiet as can be. . .
And . . . CRUNCH!
(Repeat with 4, 3, 2, 1)

“How many people here like apples?  Reach up as high as you can, and pick a red and juicy apple.  Now take a bite.  Mmm let’s take another bite.  Crunch, crunch, crunch . . .don’t for get to swallow . . Gulp!  Clap your hands if you have ever been apple picking.  We are going to read a book about going to an orchard and picking apples.”

BOOK 1: Apples and Pumpkins by Anne Rockwell

FINGERPLAY: Apples
Way up high in the apple tree   (Stretch arms in air)
Two little apples smiled at me (Make two fists)
I shook the tree as hard as I could   (Shake arms in air)
And down came the apples   (Drop fists to floor)
Mmmmm, they were good!   (Rub tummy)

FLANNEL SONG/CD: “5 Green Apples”  from the CD Mainly Mother Goose by Sharon, Lois, and Bram
Pattern for flannel board can be found here (along with lots of other great apple ideas).
Or you can print the Green Apple Template here.


BOOK 2: Ten Red Apples by Pat Hutchins
A very interactive book.  Children love making all of the farm animals noises that go along with the story.

CLOSING SONG: We Wave Goodbye Like This

CRAFT: Apple Matching Pattern
Print full sheet apple pattern on white paper.  Cut out red apple shapes, green leaves, and brown stems.  Let children glue them to the apple patterns and decorate.


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