Tuesday, November 19, 2024

Passive Craft Table: Paper Plate Snakes

 


This past summer, I had a live animal presentation planned for my library that got cancelled at the last moment.  Since we knew many people would be coming for the event, I was asked to put out a craft table to give those who showed up something to do. With less than one hour to plan, I looked at our craft supplies and decided to create a paper plate snake craft activity.  I relied heavily on the MomBrite website (at https://www.mombrite.com/paper-plate-snake-craft/) to write the craft directions.  I put out the supplies, the branch staff quickly made a few examples, and then I left the table out for the rest of the day.  The intention was to treat this as a passive table where children walk up and help themselves to the intended craft.  

Supplies:

-         Paper plates

-         Googly eyes and eye stickers

-         Coloring pens

-         Bingo dabber pens

-         Small pieces of scrap construction paper (for the tongue)

-         White glue and scissors 

 

Everyone was happy with the results of this craft table.  Families who showed up expecting a program still had something to do.  The activity was not a strain on the staff.  Plus, there were some adorable snakes created!  






Friday, November 15, 2024

Passive Craft Table: Peacock Paper Craft

This past summer, I put out a craft table that was available all day long.  The intention of this passive table was to walk up and help yourself to the intended craft.  


 

This craft table was put up to create a paper peacock.  I found it online at Krokotak (https://krokotak.com/2016/08/glue-less-printable-peacock/ ).

 Supplies:

-         Printed template from the website

-         Coloring pens, including some metallic ones

-         Feathers

-         White glue

 

It turns out, folding these peacocks was a little tricky, but the results were beautiful.  They were a low cost, low staff intensive activity with fun results!  







Monday, November 11, 2024

Passive Craft Table: Turtle Craft


 

This past summer, I put out a craft table that was available all day long.  The intention of this passive table was to walk up and help yourself to the intended craft.  

This craft table was put up to create a turtle.  I found it online at Crafty Morning (https://www.craftymorning.com/cupcake-liner-turtle-craft-kids/ ).

Supplies:

-         White cupcake liners

-         Coloring pens

-         Green strips of craft foam (the website suggested using paper, which I think is a better option, but I had craft foam I wanted to use up)

-         Googly eyes

-         Rubber stamps and stamp pads

 

These turtles were very simple to make and decorate.  They were a low cost, low staff intensive activity with fun results!  






Thursday, November 7, 2024

Thank You - 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: Thank You Bees by Toni Yuly

Stand-up activity:  “If You’re Happy And You Know It” traditional action song from Songs for Wiggleworms

 Sit-down activity: Ten Fat Turkeys (not sure where I picked up this fingerplay)

(Count fingers)
Ten fat turkeys standing in a row.
They spread their wings and tails just so.
They look to the left,
They look to the right,
When they strut their stuff, they're quite a sight!
But you won't see them on Thanksgiving Day,
'Cause one by one they'll run away.  

 

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: Frog Jump Over the Great Big Stick (lap bounce action rhyme written by Carol Hopkins)

Frog be nimble, frog be quick,
Frog jump over the great big stick.
(lift baby/arms up)

Frog be nimble, frog be slick,
Frog swim under the great big stick.
(make swimming motions with arms)

Frog be nimble, frog go click,
Frog almost falls off the great big stick.
(pretend to fall off lap)

Frog be nimble frog be fine,
Frog gets a kiss at storytime.
(blow kisses)

 

Lap rhyme #3: Roly Poly (hand rolling opposites action rhyme)

Roly poly, roly poly, up, up, up.
Roly poly, roly poly, down, down, down.
Roly poly, roly poly, out, out, out.
Roly poly, roly poly, in, in, in.
Roly poly, roly poly, clap, clap, clap.
Roly poly, roly poly, tap, tap, tap.
Roly poly, roly poly, fast, fast, fast.
Roly poly, roly poly, slow, slow, slow.
Roly poly, roly poly, I love you!

 

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.

 

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) 

 

***Literacy tip: Readers are made in the laps of their loved ones.  This special connection is a huge part of their future success when learning to read. 

Letter of the day: "T is for turkey or thankful or Thanksgiving

 

 

Flannelboard: Turkey’s Tail (a story I adapted and shortened that tells how turkey got his colorful tail feathers)

Closing song with Scarves: “Around and Around” from Welcome from Miss Carole by Carole Peterson

Optional book:
The Thank You Book by Diana Smith, illustrated by Juliana Perdomo (board book)

 

 

 

Saturday, November 2, 2024

Giving Thanks - 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: Runaway Cookies (flannelboard story I adapted from another story that I found)

The cookie jar people hopped out one night,
When the cookie jar lid was not on tight.

The frosted bunny twinkled his nose,
And danced around on his cookie toes.

The cinnamon bear could only grunt,
For he was too fat to do a stunt.

The gingerbread man opened his eyes,
And looked about in great surprise.

The sugary duck began to quack,
And shake the sugar off his back.

The coconut lamb jumped up so high,
That his little white tail flew toward the sky.

They were all so happy/thankful to be at play,
That they danced and danced and danced away.

They danced away so very far,
That they were so very thankful,
Not to be eaten from the cookie jar. 

 

***Parent literacy tip:  Readers are made in the laps of their loved ones.  This special connection is a huge part of their future success when learning to read. 

 

 


Book #1: Grandma’s Tiny House by JaNay Brown-Wood, illustrated by Priscilla Burris

Stand-up activity: “If You’re Happy And You Know It” from Wee Sing Children’s Songs & Fingerplays

Sit-down activity: Love Grows (fingerplay I found at https://veronastorytime.com/family-story-time-everybody-3/)

Love grows one by one,
Two by two,
And four by four
. 
Love grows round like a circle,
And comes back knocking at your front door. 

 

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) 

  

Book #2: The Thank You Book by Danna Smith, illustrated by Juliana Perdomo (board book)

Closing music with rhythm sticks: “Goin’ On a Bear Hunt” from Kids in Action by Greg & Steve

  



Art activity: Use pinecones to paint a turkey outline

Optional books:
Bear Says Thanks by Karma Wilson, illustrated by Jane Chapman
Someone Builds the Dream by Lisa Wheeler, illustrated by Loren Long
Thanks for Thanksgiving by Julie Markes, illustrated by Doris Barrette

 

 

Tuesday, October 29, 2024

Passive Craft Table: Dinosaur Paper Craft

 


This past summer, I put out a craft table that was available all day long.  The intention of this passive table was to walk up and help yourself to the intended craft.  

This craft table was put up to create and decorate a standing dinosaur with zero glue.  I found it online at Krokotak (https://krokotak.com/2016/05/glue-lee-printable-dinosaur/ ).

Supplies:

-         Paper dinosaur template printed on various colored paper

-         Coloring pens

-         Jewel stickers

-         Bingo dabber pens

 

While these dinosaurs were a little tricky to fold, they truly did not need any glue to stand up on their own.  They were a low cost, low staff intensive activity with fun results!