December 2, 2015 Story Time - Hibernation

If you missed this weeks story time here is what we did:

*marks the books we read

Hibernation  by Margaret Hall*
Wake me in Spring  by James Preller
Animal Hibernation  by Jeanie Mebane
Every Autumn Comes the Bear  by Jim Arnosky*
Over and Under the Snow  by Kate Messner
Animals are Sleeping  by Suzanne Slade*
Time to Sleep  by Denise Fleming

For our craft we made a picture like this one from:http://goo.gl/vRh8oU

Extra activities:
Where is bear?
(substitute any hibernating animal - sung to "Where is Thumbkin?")
Where is bear? Where is bear?
here I am, here I am
How are you this winter?
very tired, thank you
go to sleep
go to sleep
(other animals you can use in the song: badger, chipmunk, groundhog, turtle, frog, bat, etc)

Bear is sleeping
(sung to "Frere Jacques")
Bear is sleeping, bear is sleeping
let it snow! let it snow!
sleeping all the winter, sleeping all the winter
snug and warm, snug and warm
bear is sleeping, bear is sleeping
in a cave, in a cave
I wonder when he'll come out, wonder when he'll come out
in the spring, in the spring

November 25, 2015 Story Time - Turkeys

If you missed this weeks story time here is what we did:

*marks the books we read

Gobble Gobble  by Cathryn Falwell*
Turkey Day  by Grace Maccarone
Turkeys Never Gobble!  by Joan Holub
Run, Turkey, Run!  by Diane Mayr*
10 Turkeys in the Road  by Brenda Reeves Sturgis
I'm No Turkey!  by Hans Wilhelm
This Is The Turkey  by Abby Levine*
Turkeys That Fly and Turkeys That Don't  by Allen Fowler
10 Fat Turkeys  by Tony Johnston

For our craft we made a paper turkey that looked like this:
http://goo.gl/6T9ljV

Extra activities

We talked about the parts of a turkey; head, body, beak, tail, wings, legs, etc and what people and turkeys have/don't have in common

Five Little Turkeys
Five little turkeys by the barn door
one waddled off, then there were four
four little turkeys out under the tree
one waddled, off, then there were three
three little turkeys with nothing to do
one waddled off, then there were two
two little turkeys in the noonday sun
one waddled off, then there was one
one little turkey - better run away!
soon it will be Thanksgiving day

If You're Thankful (sung to "If You're Happy and You Know It")
If you're thankful and you know it clap your hands
if you're thankful and you know it clap your hands
if you're thankful and you know it
then your face will surely show it
if you're thankful and you know it clap your hands
(repeat with other actions like; stomp your feet, slap your knees, say "hurray")

November 18, 2015 Story Time - Time for Thanks and Thanksgiving

If you missed this weeks story time here is what we did:

Thanks for Thanksgiving  by Julie Markes
The Great Thanksgiving Escape  by Mark Fearing
The Thankful Book  by Todd Parr
The Best Thanksgiving Ever  by Teddy Slater
Thanksgiving Is For Giving Thanks  by Margaret Sutherland
Grace's Thanksgiving  by Lisa Bullard
Thank You, Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving for Emily Ann  by Teresa Johnston
Thanksgiving Is Here!  by Diane Goode

For our craft we colored a Thanksgiving turkey doorknob hanger

November 10, 2015 Story Time - Squirrels

If you missed this weeks story time here is what we did:

*marks the books we read

Squirrels and Their Nests  by Martha E. H. Rustad*
The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin  by Beatrix Potter
I See a Squirrel  by Alex Appleby*
One Wide Sky A Bedtime Lullaby  by Deborah Wiles
The Very Best Bed  by Rebekah Raye*
Earl the Squirrel  by Don Freeman
Nuts to You!  by Lois Ehlert*

For our craft we colored a picture of a squirrel, pasted on the letter "S" for it's tail and taped it to a craft stick to make a puppet.

Extra activities

Help your child think of words that start with the letter "S"

Help your child think of words that rhyme with the foods that squirrels eat; "nuts", "seeds", etc

Five Little Squirrels Fingerplay
Five little squirrels sitting by the door,
One ran away and then there were four.
Four little squirrels climbing up a tree,
One ran away and then there were three.
Three little squirrels with coats so new.
One ran away and then there were two.
Two little squirrels warming in the sun,
One ran away leaving only one.
One little squirrel wasn't having any fun,
He ran away and then there were none.

November 4, 2015 Story Time - Birds

If you missed this weeks story time here is what we did:

*marks the books we read

Birds  by Kevin Henkes*
Bring on the Birds  by Susan Stockdale*
Mama Built a Little Nest  by Jennifer Ward
Birds and Their Nests  by Linda Tagliaferro*
Have You Heard the Nesting Bird  by Rita Gray
"I'm Not Cute"  by Jonathan Allen*

For our craft we glued birds onto a nest and covered them with feathers

Extra activities:

We talked about how birds are different than we are, we have skin to cover our bodies and birds have feathers; we have mouths and birds have beaks, etc

Little birds, little birds
Little birds, little birds, jump up and down
little birds, little birds, don't make a sound!
little birds, little birds, tip-toe to me
little birds, little birds, bend your knees!
little birds, little birds, peep, peep, peep
little birds, little birds, sleep, sleep, sleep
little birds, little birds, fly to the leaves!
little birds, little birds, sit down, please

October 28, 2015 Story Time - Pumpkins

If you missed this weeks story time here is what we did:

*marks the books we read

Pick a Perfect Pumpkin  by Robin Koontz*
The Runaway Pumpkin  by Kevin Lewis
Pumpkin Time  by Erzsi Deak
Ten Orange Pumpkins A Counting Book  by Stephen Savage*
Apples and Pumpkins  by Anne Rockwell
Fall Pumpkins Orange and Plump  by Martha E. H. Rustad
Pumpkin Trouble  by Jan Thomas*
Pumpkin Cat  by Anne Mortimer
Jack-'o-lanterns  by Megan Cooley Peterson

For our craft we made a pumpkin like the ones found here:
http://goo.gl/DuumoJ


Extra activities

We cut open a pumpkin so we could view and touch the seeds and guts inside

We did a science experiment with a pumpkin like the one found here:
http://goo.gl/YHWrSE

Five Little Jack-o'lanterns 
Five little jack-o'lanterns glowing by the door
father took one and that left four
four little jack-o'lanterns, a sight to see
mother took one and that left three
three little jack-o'lanterns lit through and through
brother took one and that left two
two little jack-o'lanterns greeting everyone
sister took one and that left one
one little jack-o'lantern with a great big grin
I picked him up and took him in

October 12, 2015 Story Time - Leaves

If you missed this weeks story time here is what we did:

*marks the books we read

Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf  by Lois Ehlert*
Pumpkin Man  by Judith Moffatt*
What Small Rabbit Heard  by Sheryl Webster & Tim Warnes
Dappled Apples  by Jan Carr*
Leaves  by David Ezra Stein*

For our craft we made a fall wreath (like this one: http://goo.gl/2Ajk5g) by covering a paper plate with paper leaves. Then tied on a piece of yarn for hanging.

Extra activities

Five Little Leaves
Five little leaves up in a tree
one little leaf said, "Look at Me!"
the leaf let go and down he fell
"EEEEEEE"
ouch! He didn't feel so well
(repeat with four, three, etc)

Yellow Leaves (sung to "London Bridge)
Yellow leaves are falling down,
falling down, falling down
yellow leaves are falling down,
leaves are falling
(repeat with other colors like: orange, red, brown, green, etc)