Monsters Family Storytime

Monsters can be scary for kids so I love to take this opportunity to look at some cute monsters. This week we read:

• The Problem With Being Scared of Kids by Dan Richards
• How to Catch a Monster by Adam Wallace
• Go Away Big Green Monster by Ed Emberley

My Outline:

• Song: Shake Your Sillies Out by Raffi
• Literacy Tip Explain: Let's talk about vocabulary. Having a large vocabulary helps children understand what they hear and in return aids in learning. 
• Letter Activity: I do this every storytime. I pick two letters to focus on usually having to do with the theme, this weeks was M and G. I have the letter printed BIG on a popsicle stick (one upper case and one lower case). We talk about the name of the letter, the sound it makes, what the upper case and lower case look like, I ask for examples for words that start with the letter and then we sing a remixed version of Where is Thumbkin that goes like this:

(put both pictures behind back)
Where is letter M

Where is letter M

Here I am (bring out upper case letter)

Here I am (bring out lower case letter)

How are you today dear

Very well I thank you

Run away (put upper case behind back) 

Run away (put lower case behind back)

Then Repeat with second letter having the same conversations about the name, sound, and words.

• Read book one: The Problem with Being Scared of Kids 
• Rhyme: One Little Monster, (I should mention here that I always print out the rhymes or new songs on a big 30"x40" foam board so that all the parents can participate.)

One little, two little, three little monsters.

Four little, five little, six little monsters.

Seven little, eight little, nine little monsters.

Ten little monsters in the dark.

• Literacy Tip Example: Books will introduce words that your child does not typically hear in conversations. When you come across a word that may be unusual don't replace it, ask if they know what it means and then explain it if they don't. 
• Read book two: How to Catch a Monster
• Rhyme: Monster on the Floor, sung to the tune of If You're Happy and You Know It and taken from Christi H, Johnson County Library

There's a monster on the floor, on the floor
There's a monster on the floor, on the floor
It just scuttled in the door, that hairy monster on the floor
There's a monster on the floor, on the floor!
Now the monster's on my leg, on my leg
Now the monster's on my leg, on my leg
Oh, I wish I had some Raid for this monster on my leg
Now the monster's on my leg, on my leg!
Now the monster's on my neck, on my neck
Now the monster's on my neck, on my neck
Oh, I'm gonna be a wreck, I've got a monster on my neck
Now the monster's on my neck, on my neck!
Now the monster's on my face, on my face
Now the monster's on my face, on my face
Oh, what a big disgrace, I've got a monster on my face
Now the monster's on my face, on my face!
Now the monster's on my head, on my head
Oh, I wish that he were dead, I've got a monster on my head
Now the monster's on my head, on my head!
"But he jumped off....."

Transition Song: Quiet Hands (there are a few versions of this song out there but this is what I use)

My hands upon my head I'll place. 

Upon my shoulders, on my face, 

At my waist and by my side, 

Then behind me they will hide. 

Then I'll raise them way up high, 

And let my fingers fly, fly, fly, 

Then clap, clap, clap them-- 

One - Two -Three! 

Now see how quiet they can be.

• Read book three: Go Away Big Green Monster - For this I used a felt board which the kids always love.
• Literacy Tip Empower: Remember that books and nursery rhymes are great ways to build up your child's vocabulary. I want to encourage you to take home some books today that are new and when reading them be aware of words that may be less common in everyday conversations. Just as have today, take a moment to stop and explain what the word means. 
• Closing Song: Bean Bag Rock by Georgiana Liccioine Stewart
• Craft: Monster Coloring Sheet

Colors Family Storytime

This is a theme that is easy to use when I have little planning time because there are so many options out there! Including some great songs. The books I ended up choosing this time for Colors were:

• Every Color Soup by Jorey Hurley
• Dog's Colorful Day by Emma Dodd
• and Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh

My Outline:

• Song: Shake Your Sillies Out by Raffi
• Literacy Tip Explain: Concepts is a term that is used to speak of things that we believe to be fundamental to our children's understanding and learning. This includes things like counting, days of the week, emotions, and colors. Most of these can fit into the category of background knowledge and are important for understanding and interacting with the world.
• Letter Activity: I do this every storytime. I pick two letters to focus on usually having to do with the theme, this weeks was C and P. I have the letter printed BIG on a popsicle stick (one upper case and one lower case). We talk about the name of the letter, the sound it makes, what the upper case and lower case look like, I ask for examples for words that start with the letter and then we sing a remixed version of Where is Thumbkin that goes like this:

Where is letter C (put both pictures behind back)

Where is letter C

Here I am (bring out upper case letter)

Here I am (bring out lower case letter)

How are you today dear

Very well I thank you

Run away (put upper case behind back) 

Run away (put lower case behind back)

• Read book one: Every Color Soup
• Song: Who's Wearing Yellow  by Sarah Barchas
• Rhyme: Colors Up in the Rainbow (Everything Preschool)

Red and orange, green and blue,
shiny yellow, purple too!
These are the colors that we know,
way up high in the great rainbow.
Red and orange, green and blue,
shiny yellow, purple too!

• Literacy Tip Example -Colors are fun for kids to learn because they are everywhere and we can easily make them to relate to our children. Our next book is a cute story about a dog who gains colorful spots.
• Read book two: Dog's Colorful Day
• Puppet Rhyme: BaaBaa Black/White Sheep

Baa, baa, black sheep, have you any wool?

Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full!

One for the master, one for the dame,

And one for the little boy who lives down the lane

Baa, baa, black sheep, have you any wool?

Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full.

Baa, baa, white sheep, have you any wool?

Yes sir, yes sir, three needles full.

One to mend a jumper, one to mend a frock,

and one for the little girl, with holes in her sock.

Baa, baa, white sheep, have you any wool?

yes sir, yes sir, three needles full.

• Transition Song: Quiet Hands 

My hands upon my head I'll place.
Upon my shoulders, on my face,
At my waist and by my side,
Then behind me they will hide.
Then I'll raise them way up high,
And let my fingers fly, fly, fly,
Then clap, clap, clap them--
One - Two -Three!
Now see how quiet they can be.

• Read book three: Mouse Paint (I was fortunate enough to have a kit to use with this book which was a lot of fun!) 
• Literacy Tip Empowerment: I want to encourage you this week to talk about different colors with your kids. Play I spy or quiz them on what  colors make when they get mixed. So much fun can be had with colors! 
• Closing Song: Bean Bag Rock by Georgiana Liccione Stewart
• Craft: Colored Noodles on Lett C paper