Puppies & Dogs

I'm bacckkkkk!

After a much needed month long break i'm back int he swing of toddler storytime! Today are theme was puppies and dogs.  I'm trying to start out this semester with an opener so the kiddos know when it's time to settle down and get ready for the stories. I use the classic Open them, Shut them.

Today, we were able to read three stories and do a flannel board since they were so receptive.

First book up to the plate was Dog's Colorful Day by Emma Dodd. They liked this one and I tried to pause before saying which spot number we were on so they could shout it out.

Second, was Bark, George by Jules Feiffer. This one is hysterical and let me play it up using alot of exaggeration when it came to the noises george would make and how far the doctor had to reach for the animals.

We did the Doggy, Doggy Where's your Bone? flannel board inspired by 1234morestorytimes. After the second time through, they got comfortable saying which animal we should pick next. They would giggle when they found out who had the bone!

Last story was Waggle! by Sarah McMenemy. Another cute one. All though this one is a little longer we went ahead and read it any way because we had more than enough time and the kids were digging it.

Our craft this week was a puppy puppet made using an envelope. When the kids would should me their puppet we'd see what noise he would make much like George did in the book.

Going Buggy!

Well my second story time ( and my last until September) centered around BUGS!

Our first book for this session was Beetle Bop by Denise Fleming. The reception was luke warm on this one and I was disappointed since i'd heard such good things.

For my story board, I did the rhyme Colorful Butterflies.  I put some magnet tape on the back after finding a butterfly clipart I liked afterI colored and  laminated them. I was sitting on the floor close to the chalkboard which made it easy for me to flick my wrist and have butterflies look like they were flying out of my hand onto the board! Sounds nerdy but I enjoyed it and so did the kids. 

Colorful Butterflies

The first to come to the garden bed

Is a lovely butterfly of brilliant RED

Then in comes another and that makes two

Fly right in my friend of BLUE

“The garden is fine, the best I’ve seen”

Says the butterfly of softest GREEN

Our garden needs a sunny fellow

Fly in butterfly with wings of YELLOW

Little friend of PURPLE, fly in too

The garden is waiting for a color like you

ORANGE, orange you’ve waited so long

Fly right in where you belong

Butterflies, butterflies, you’re such a sight

Flying together – what a delight!

Next we read I Love Bugs! by Emma Dodd. The kids (mostly thew little girls) screamed when we saw the spider page so we scared him away by turning the page.  

The last book was Jump! By Scott Fischer. It was an absolute HIT! The giggled and rolled and got into by helping shout out "jumped" at the appropriate parts. 

For our craft we did Ants on a Hill. I had the kids draw the legs and antennas as well as a treat to carry into the queen. Some things the kids drew include a chocolate cookie, a strawberry and of course a slice of watermelon.

I loved this activity because when some of the kids weren't focusing and getting kind of fussy, I got down on the ground and colored along side them!