Thursday, December 18, 2025

Homeschool Meet-Up: Shrinky Dinks and Block Play

A monthly Thursday morning library program for homeschool families. 

Goals:

·                     Opportunity to explore STEAM concepts in a relaxed setting.

·                     Participants can socialize and connect with other homeschool families.

·                     Students build confidence and cooperative skills by completing tasks together.  

  


Activities of the day:

 “A” is for art and “S” is for science: Shrinky Dinks

I borrowed the library’s toaster oven and brought in “shrinky dink” plastic sheets for the children to design their own little pieces of plastic to watch them shrink in the oven. 

  

“E” is for Engineering: Build with Blocks

I opened up the wood block cabinet for some creative building.  I also brought out the bristle blocks and Unifix cubes to build with. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday, December 15, 2025

Colors of the Rainbow - A Family STEAM & Stories event

This program was intended to introduce STEAM concepts through stories and exploration activity stations to families with children ages 3-8 years old.    

Intro song:  Hello Friends (sign language action song for the words hello, friends, math, fun, and time)

Hello friends,
Hello friends,
Hello friends,
It's time to say hello.

Hello science,
Hello science,
Hello science,
It's time to have some fun.  
 

 

Demonstration and Storytime:


 

·         Read the book What Is a Rainbow? by Harritet Blackford, illustrated by Mike Henson (from the TechTots STEM Science series  

·         Show the word card for rainbow.  Talk about what this word means.

·         Show the word card for colors.  Talk about what the word means.      

·         Show the word card for color spectrum.  Show a color spectrum chart.  Be sure to mention the “ROY G Biv” memory device. 

 


·         Put the color words for ROY G Viv on the white board.  Hand out papers with the colors on it.  (Give the blue, indigo, and violet papers to the older kids.)  Allow the children to tape their paper to the white board under the correct color. 

·         Instruct on how to use the stations. 

 

Stations: 

 


Station #1- Color roll game

The children roll the cloth die.  They then pick an action card that matches the up-top color on the die and do the action.  I used the ThinkFun Roll & Play game. 


Station #2 – Prism play

The children changed look through various shaped prisms to see the color spectrum. 

 


Station #3 – Beaded rainbow sun catcher

The children create a sun catcher using pony beads strong on a length of pipe-cleaners with one prism bead attached at the bottom.  I got this idea from Rhythms Of Play website at https://rhythmsofplay.com/rainbow-pony-bead-prism-suncatcher/.    

 

Station #4 – Lego brick challenge

I found some free printable Lego Rainbow challenge cards from the Little Bins for Little Hands website at https://littlebinsforlittlehands.com/lego-rainbow-build-challenge-kids/.  I set out a large tub of Lego bricks along with these challenge cards.    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friday, December 12, 2025

Snowflakes Falling - Family Storytime

A Tuesday morning storytime for ages 0-6 years old.  

Opening #1: “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” from Songs for Wiggleworms by Old Town School of Folk Music

Opening #2: Roly Poly Oh So Fast (hand rolling body part chant adapted by Carol Hopkins)

Roly poly, roly poly, oh so fast!
Roly poly, roly poly, oh so slowly.
Roly poly, roly poly, up.
Roly poly, roly poly, down.
Roly poly, roly poly, hands on your head.
Roly poly, roly poly, hand on your feet.

(Repeat with other body parts)

Roly poly, roly poly, hands in your lap.

 

 

Literacy activity flannelboard: Snowing Letters (I found this wonderful snowing rhyme flannelboard on the Once Upon a (Story) Time blog that I adapted for my flannelboard)
Directions: I gave each child a snowflake (clip art cut out on paper). Each snowflake had one letter written on the backside corresponding to the letters above in the rhyme. As I said the rhyme, I would then say the first letter of each underlined word. I would also write the letter on the board. The children were to place their snowflakes on the white board (with tape) when I said their letter. This turned out to be a great exercise in letter recognition. 

Snow on my forehead, (F)

Snow on my knee, (K)

Snow on my eyes, (E) 

Getting hard to see.

Snow on my boots, (B)

Snow on my hair, (H)

Snow on my mittens, (M)

Snow everywhere!

 

  

Book #1: Maisy’s Snowy Day by Lucy Cousins

Stand-up activity: Snowflakes Falling (action rhyme I picked up many years ago)

Snowflakes falling down, down, down 
Gently covering all the town 
Swirling, twirling, down they come 
One landed on my tongue!

 

Activity: Itsy-Bitsy Snowflake (fingerplay I found in a Mailbox Preschool magazine, December/January 2007-8, page 26)

The itsy-bitsy snowflake fell down from the sky.
(flutter hands down)
It landed on my nose
(point to nose)
And it bounced upon my eye
(point to eye)
It slid down to my chin
(point to chin)
And it landed on my tongue.
(point to tongue)
Then it melted all away

 

Transition: Tommy & Tammy Thumb (fingerplay)

Tommy Thumb up, 
Tommy Thumb down,
Tommy Thumb dancing all around town.

Tammy Thumb out,
Tammy Thumb in,
Tammy Thumb dancing all in a spin.

Dancing, dancing, dancing,
Dance them on your knees,
Dance them on your head,
Dance them on your shoulders,
Then tuck them into bed.

  

***Parent literacy tip:  When you read picture books to children, you expose them to words they would not hear in daily conversations with adults.  This is important vocabulary building!           

Book #2: In the Snow by Sharon Phillips Denslow, illustrated by Nancy Tafuri

Book #3: Bear & Hare: Snow! by Emily Gravett (I actually thought this book did not work well at storytime)   

Closing music with bean bags: “Rocketship Run” action song from Rocketship Run by The Laurie Berkner Band     

  



Art activity: Paper plate snowflake collage with white glue, cotton balls, Q-tips, and cut up straws

Optional other books:
I’m Going to Build a Snowman by Jashar Awan
One Mitten by Kristine O’Connell George, illustrated by Maggie Smith  

 

 

 

 

 

Monday, December 8, 2025

Snowflakes of Winter - Baby Toddler Storytime

A Tuesday morning storytime for ages 0-2 years old.  

Opening #1: Skinnamarink (action song from Car Songs: Songs to Sing Anywhere by Dennis Buck from Kimbo)

Opening #2: Sticky, Sticky Bubblegum (fingerplay)

Sticky, sticky bubblegum, bubblegum, bubblegum; 
Sticky, sticky bubblegum;
Stuck to your __________.
1, 2, 3, PULL!

(Repeat with more body parts)

 

 

Book: Millions of Snowflakes by Mary McKenna Siddals, illustrated by Elizabeth Sayles

Themed activity #1: Itsy-Bitsy Snowflake (fingerplay I found in a Mailbox Preschool magazine, December/January 2007-8, page 26)

The itsy-bitsy snowflake fell down from the sky.
(flutter hands down)
It landed on my nose
(point to nose)
And it bounced upon my eye
(point to eye)
It slid down to my chin
(point to chin)
And it landed on my tongue.
(point to tongue)
Then it melted all away

 

Themed activity #2: Five Little Snowflakes (fingerplay rhyme written by Cindy Zozak that I found in a snowflake flannelboard kit)

(Count five fingers)

Five little snowflakes,
Fluffy and light,
Made of crystals,
Sparkly and white.

When the wind comes up,
They twirl around,
Then gently float,
Back to the ground. 

 

Lap rhyme #1: Tick Tock (lap bounce)

(bounce baby from leg to leg)

Tick tock, tick tock, I’m a little cuckoo clock.
Tick, tock, tick tock, now it is one o’clock… Cuckoo!
(raise baby up for each cuckoo)

(repeat for other times of day)
Now it is two o’clock… Cuckoo! Cuckoo!

Now it is three o’clock… Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo!

 

Lap rhyme #2: Counting Bubbles (counting rhyme I learned during a BrainDance workshop)

One bubble, two bubbles, three bubbles, top.
(pat legs with hands for each number chanted, then place hands on top of head)

Three bubbles, four bubbles, five bubbles, drop.
(pat legs with hands for each number chanted, then drop hands to lap)

Six bubbles, seven bubbles, nine bubbles, pop.
(pat legs with hands for each number chanted, then clap hands loudly in front of body)

Ten little bubbles floating down!
(twinkle hands down to floor)

Now let’s blow _____ bubbles.
(This is a breath exercise.  Pick a number and pretend to blow that number of bubbles through hand.  Don’t forget to pop the bubbles with a loud clap after blowing it up.  I count the bubble while I do the clap.) 

 

Lap rhyme #3: Gregory Griggs (lap bounce rhyme I first saw as a Jbrary video at https://youtu.be/ntrcaKL_esA?si=twwqYr0wAanW2hrJ)

Gregory Griggs, Gregory Griggs,
Had 27 different wigs. 
He wore them up. (lift baby up)
He wore them down. (bring baby back down)
To please the people of the town.
He wore them east. (tip baby to one side)
He wore them west. (tip baby to the other side)
But which one did he love the best?
This one! (hug or tickle baby)

 

Lap rhyme #4: Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes (traditional body parts action song)

Head, shoulders, knees, and toes,
Knees and toes.
Head, shoulders, knees and toes,
Knees and toes.
And eyes and, ears and, mouth and nose.
Head, shoulders, knees and toes,
Knees and toes.

   

***Literacy tip: When you read picture books to children, you expose them to words they would not hear in daily conversations with adults.  This is important vocabulary building!           

Transition: Tommy & Tammy Thumb (fingerplay)

Tommy Thumb up, 
Tommy Thumb down,
Tommy Thumb dancing all around town.

Tammy Thumb out,
Tammy Thumb in,
Tammy Thumb dancing all in a spin.

Dancing, dancing, dancing,
Dance them on your knees,
Dance them on your head,
Dance them on your shoulders,
Then tuck them into bed.

 

Letter of the day: "W” is for winter

 

 

Flannelboard: Five Little Snowflakes (as found at https://storytimekatie.com/2012/01/27/flannel-friday-five-little-snowflakes/ ) 

One little snowflake with nothing to do,
Along came another and then there were…two!

Two little snowflakes laughing with me,
Along came another and then there were…three!

Three little snowflakes looking for some more,
Along came another and then there were…four!

Four little snowflakes dancing a jive,
Along came another and then there were…five!

Five little snowflakes, having so much fun!
Out came the sun, and then there were none!

 

Closing song with scarves: “The Ponies Are Walking” from Baby’s Boat: The Best of Kathy Reid Naiman   



 

 

 

 

Thursday, December 4, 2025

Music & Sounds - Baby Toddler Storytime

A Tuesday morning storytime for ages 0-2 years old.  

Opening #1: Skinnamarink (action song from Car Songs: Songs to Sing Anywhere by Dennis Buck from Kimbo)

Opening #2: Sticky, Sticky Bubblegum (fingerplay)

Sticky, sticky bubblegum, bubblegum, bubblegum; 
Sticky, sticky bubblegum;
Stuck to your __________.
1, 2, 3, PULL!

(Repeat with more body parts)

 

 

Book: Pots and Pans by Patricia Hubbell

Themed activity #1: Here Goes Turtle (action chant, not sure where I picked up this one)

Here goes turtle down the hill,
Creeping, creeping, creeping.

Here goes frog up the hill,
Boing, boing, boing.

Here goes elephant down the hill,
Thud, thud, thud.

Here goes snake up the hill,
Slither, slither, slither.

Here comes a rock down the hill,
Rolling, rolling, rolling,… Crash!

 

Themed activity #2: Quiet Mouse (adapted from a fingerplay rhyme I found at Mel’s Desk blog at http://melissa.depperfamily.net/blog/baby-storytime-noisy-and-quiet/)

Here’s a quiet little mouse that goes
“Squeak! Squeak!”
(Show fist and sign language for “mouse”)

Living in a quiet house
(Place fist inside other hand)

When all was quiet as could be…
Out they popped!
To tickle you under there…

 

Lap rhyme #1: Tick Tock (lap bounce)

(bounce baby from leg to leg)

Tick tock, tick tock, I’m a little cuckoo clock.
Tick, tock, tick tock, now it is one o’clock… Cuckoo!
(raise baby up for each cuckoo)

(repeat for other times of day)
Now it is two o’clock… Cuckoo! Cuckoo!

Now it is three o’clock… Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo!

 

Lap rhyme #2: Counting Bubbles (counting rhyme I learned during a BrainDance workshop)

One bubble, two bubbles, three bubbles, top.
(pat legs with hands for each number chanted, then place hands on top of head)

Three bubbles, four bubbles, five bubbles, drop.
(pat legs with hands for each number chanted, then drop hands to lap)

Six bubbles, seven bubbles, nine bubbles, pop.
(pat legs with hands for each number chanted, then clap hands loudly in front of body)

Ten little bubbles floating down!
(twinkle hands down to floor)

Now let’s blow _____ bubbles.
(This is a breath exercise.  Pick a number and pretend to blow that number of bubbles through hand.  Don’t forget to pop the bubbles with a loud clap after blowing it up.  I count the bubble while I do the clap.) 

 

Lap rhyme #3: We’re Making a Purple Stew (story time song I saw a in a video from New York Public Library)

We’re making a {_purple_} stew,
Whip-whip-, whip-whip.
(pretend to stir a big pot in front of your body)

We’re making a {_purple_} stew,
Scooby-dooby-doo.

With {_purple_} potatoes,
(use one hand to pretend to throw potatoes from your shoulder into the pretend pot)

And {_purple_} tomatoes,
(use your other hand to pretend to throw tomatoes from your shoulder into the pretend pot)

And even a {_purple_} you!
(tickle baby’s tummy)

**What other colors should we do?
(repeat the song with other colors)

 

Lap rhyme #4: Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes (traditional body parts action song)

Head, shoulders, knees, and toes,
Knees and toes.
Head, shoulders, knees and toes,
Knees and toes.
And eyes and, ears and, mouth and nose.
Head, shoulders, knees and toes,
Knees and toes.

   

***Literacy tip: Teachers like to say rhymers are readers because they have an easier time hearing word patterns.  So read lots of rhyming books with your child.          

Transition: Come 'A' Look And See (fingerplay song I first picked up at a workshop conducted by Jane Cobb but can also be found on the music CD The Baby Record by Bob McGrath)

Come a' look a' see, here's my mama, 
(point to thumb)
Come a' look a' see, here's my papa, 
(point to index finger)
Come a' look a' see, my brother tall, 
(point to tall finger)
Sister, baby, 
(point to ring, then baby finger) 
I love them all. 
(Kiss the fingertips of your finger family) 

 

Letter of the day: "P” is for pots and pans

 

 

Flannelboard: Fingerband Is Coming to Town (flannelboard rhyme I found at https://veronastorytime.com/music-story-time-preschool/ to the tune of “Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush”)

The finger band is coming to town,
Coming to town, coming to town.
The finger band is coming to town
So early in the morning.

This is how they strum their guitar,
Strum their guitar, strum their guitar.
This is how they strum their guitar
So early in the morning.

This is how they play their flute,
Play their flute, play their flute.
This is how they play their flute
So early in the morning.

This is the way they bang the drums,
Bang the drums, bang the drums.
This is the way they bang the drums
So early in the morning.

(Repeat for different instruments, putting each instrument on the flannel board as you go.)

 Oh my! Look at the time, the band has played all day. It’s time for them to go!
The finger band is going away,
Going away, going away.
The finger band is going away,
They’ve played all day!

 

Closing song with egg shakers: “Bublebee Buzz Buzz” from Buzz Buzz by Laurie Berkner