Diary of a Spider

Library program for children ages 4 to 12 and their families.

The program starts off with a viewing of the movie Diary of a Spider produced by Weston Woods, based on the book by Doreen Cronin.

The movie was followed by 3 stations:

1. Itsy Bitsy Spider - Children color and cut out a house, then slide a spider ring onto a bendable straw. Now the straw is taped to the house to resemble a water-spout. Move the spider up and down the spout while singing the song! (The house for this craft project came from Mailbox Preschool magazine October/November 2007, page 25.)

2. Pin the spider on the web - A large spider web was drawn onto a large piece of black paper with a silver marker. Children had spider cut outs to add pieces of double sided tape onto. Blind fold the children up and watch how close to the spider web they can stick that spider.

3. Spider hat - Measure long, thick black rectangluar strips of paper around child's head, overlap and tape ends together to create a headband shape. Cut out and decorate small colored square pieces to make eyes. Glue eyes to the hat band. Take 8 long, skinny colored rectangular strips for spider legs. Glue one end of each skinny strip to the inside edge of the hat band. Decorate and wear your hat to celebrate our spider friends.

Boats Storytime

Storytime for 1-1/2 to 3 year olds:

• Opening - Skinnamarink, Sticky Sticky Bubblegum
• Book #1 – I'm Mighty by Kate and Jim McMullan
• Activity - "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" from Songs for Wiggleworms
• Flannelboard/Math Activity - My Big Blue Boat (song)

I love to sail in my big blue boat, big blue boat, big blue boat;
I love to sail in my big blue boat far across the sea.

My big blue boat has 2 red sails, 2 red sails, 2 red sails;
My big blue boat has 2 red sails far across the sea.

So come for a ride in my big blue boat, big blue boat, big blue boat;
So come for a ride in my big blue boat far across the sea.

• Book #2 - Boats by Anne Rockwell
• Activity - This Is the Boat, The Golden Boat (fingerplay, I first heard this one at a workshop by Jane Cobb)

This is the boat, the golden boat,
(Cup hands together palms down)
That sails on the silvery sea,
(Undulate hands like waves)
And these are the oars, the ivory oars,
(Interlace fingers with thumbs sticking out to the sides)
That lift and dip, that lift and dip.
(Lower and raise fingers)
And here are the ten little Ferrymen
(Show 10 fingers up high)
Running along, running along,
(Make fingers run)
To take the oars, the ivory oars
(Interlace fingers with thumbs sticking out to the sides)
That lift and dip, that lift and dip,
(Lower and raise fingers)
That move the boat, the golden boat,
(Move cupped hands gently back & forth)
Over the silvery sea.
(Undulate hands like waves)

• Closing - Rhythm sticks to the song " Goin' On a Bear Hunt" (found in Kids In Action by Greg and Steve)
• Craft - Glue sails onto boat bottoms and color with crayons