Dance and Move Storytime

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

• Opening - Skinnamarink, Sticky Sticky Bubblegum
• Book #1 – Hop Jump by Ellen Stoll Walsh
• Stand-up Activity – Like Leaves In Windy Weather (action chant, no idea where I found this one)

Dance and twirl together

Like leves in windy weather

Puff! Puff! Puff!

All fall down

• Bridge - Open, Shut Them (fingerplay)

Open, shut them
(open and close hands)
Open, shut them
Give a little clap (clap)
Open, shut them

Open, shut them
Put them in your lap
(put hands in lap)

Creep them, creep them
Under your chin
(creep fingers up chest)
Open your mouth, but don't put them in
(do as words say)

Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Give a little clap
Open shut them
Open shut them
Put them in your lap 

• Flannelboard - "Flip Flap Jack" from Dippin' In the Paintbox by Gail and Trisha
• Book #2 – Emily Loves to Bounce by Stephen Michael King
• Activity – "When the Music Stops, Everybody Jump" from Getting Strong: Wiggle and Learn by The Wiggles

• Closing - Tambourines using the music "I Really Love to Dance" from Buzz Buzz by Laurie Berkner
• Art Experience – Coloring sheet

Flying Gizmos Storytime

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

• Opening - Skinnamarink, Sticky Sticky Bubblegum
• Book #1 – Planes Fly! by George Ella Lyon, illustrated by Mick Wiggins
• Stand-up Activity – "The Airplane Song" from Whaddaya Think of That? by Laurie Berkner

• Bridge - Open, Shut Them (fingerplay)

Open, shut them
(open and close hands)
Open, shut them
Give a little clap (clap)
Open, shut them

Open, shut them
Put them in your lap
(put hands in lap)

Creep them, creep them
Under your chin
(creep fingers up chest)
Open your mouth, but don't put them in
(do as words say)

Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Give a little clap
Open shut them
Open shut them
Put them in your lap 

• Book #2 – This Plane by Paul Collicutt
• Activity – The Airplane (action chant I found a long time ago)

The airplane has great big wings

Its propeller spins aroundand sings

Vvvrrruuummmmmm

The airplane goes up

The airplane goes down

The airplane flies high

All over town

• Closing - Rhythm sticks using "Goin' On a Bear Hunt" from Kids In Action by Greg and Steve
• Craft – Glue paper strips onto a helicopter picture for helicopter rotor blades

Horse Storytime

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

• Opening - Skinnamarink, Sticky Sticky Bubblegum
• Book #1 – The Cow Loves Cookies by Karma Wilson, illustrated by Marcellus Hall
• Stand-up Activity – "Wild Running Horses" from Sing It! Say It! Stamp It! Sway It! volume 3 by Peter and Ellen Allard

• Bridge - Open, Shut Them (fingerplay)

Open, shut them
(open and close hands)
Open, shut them
Give a little clap (clap)
Open, shut them

Open, shut them
Put them in your lap
(put hands in lap)

Creep them, creep them
Under your chin
(creep fingers up chest)
Open your mouth, but don't put them in
(do as words say)

Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Give a little clap
Open shut them
Open shut them
Put them in your lap 

• Book #2 – Clip-Clop by Nicola Smee
• Activity – Ponies In a Meadow (fingerplay, I have had this one for a long time, not sure where it came from)

Ten little ponies in a meadow green

Friskiest ponies I've ever seen

They go for a gallop, they go for a trot

They come to a halt in the big feed lot

Ten little ponies fat and well fed

Curl up together in a soft straw bed

• Closing - Rhythm sticks using "Goin' On a Bear Hunt" from Kids In Action by Greg and Steve
• Craft – Color pens on a horse shoe coloring sheet

Little Engineers: Ready to Read

An introduction to technology and engineering skills for young learners (ages 3-6 years old).  Using simple robots and engineering manipulatives to explore STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) concepts.
WHY?  The following activities encourage fine-motor strength and coordination in a STEM environment.  Children practice hand-eye coordination when they reach for, touch,and hold objects purposefully.  They use fingers and whole-arm movements to manipulate and explore objects.  All of this prepares them for reading and working in a school classroom.

After a short story, caregivers and their children were invited to visit each station with a check list

(simplified below).  When done visiting each station, the children received a special treat (we gave out pencils left over from Halloween trick or treating).  This checklist was particularly helpful in spreading everyone out throughout the room and to all of the stations.  The mini robot station could only handle 2 families at a time.  We didn't want everyone crowding this fun station when there were plenty of other activities to do.  The checklist spelled out all the different activities to do while waiting their turn for the robots.

Scissor Station: Apply scissor technology to cut patterns in paper which strengthens small muscles in hands.  

Design a Robot Station: Use craft foam shapes and glue to design a personal robot.  Name and describe the shapes used. Utilize these simple shapes to form larger shapes or images.

Mini Robot Station: Develop scientific investigation skills by constructing a small robot using cubes that perform various tasks.  (Cubelets that came in an engineering kit from Hatch Early Learning.)

Connect the Pieces Station: Explore and investigate ways to make something happen by working with the Zoob Jr. manipulatives to build robot-like figures using diverse parts and joints.  (The Zoob Jr. pieces were also part of the Hatch kit.)

Build Station:  Support fine-motor skills by demonstrating engineering and building techniques with varied opportunities and materials.
- Straw Connectors
- Lego Duplos
- Wood blocks

Overall, this program was easy to create.  My library did spend some money on the Hatch kit, but this program could be recreated without the kit.  The building station and the mini-robot station were equally popular.  The Cubelets were fun to explore, but we only bought 2 sets because of the cost.  We are now trying to figure out how to use these robots in a program for older kids.