Winter Wonderland Guest Reader for 1st Grade Class

The day before Winter Break started I was invited to be a guest reader for a first grade class.  It was part of their "Winter Wonderland" celebration.  I read these fun books:

   

A Big Bed for Little Snow by Grace Lin 

Cookie Count: A Tasty Pop-up by Robert Sabuda (pop-up)

Froggy Gets Dressed by Jonathan London, illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz

 

Rhinos Who Snowboard by Julie Mammano 

The Snowmen: Pop-up Book by Caralyn Buehner and Mark Buehner (pop-up) 

Minecraft Build Competition: Winter Break Edition

Theme: Ice Mansion

Hosted another successful (yet low attended) Minecraft Build Competition during the holiday break. (To read how I run my Minecraft program, please read my past post on the topic.) This program is still a lot of fun to offer. 

How the children interpreted this theme was very interesting.  I would not necessarily call the buildings they built as mansions.  But it was fun watching the children work out how to place snow and fire next to each other. Also, many of the children found creative ways to add blocks that looked like snow but wasn't ice blocks.  

  

Bugs Bugging You Preschool Storytime

Storytime for 3 to 5 year olds:

• Opening - "A Tooty Ta" from Dance Like This by Mr. Al

• Literacy activity - Crunching Caterpillar 

I handed every child one colored leaf.  When I said their color, each child brought up their leaf to place on the board.  We then counted the leaves at the end.  I adapted this idea from something I saw in a Preschool Mailbox magazine (April/May 2008, page 34).

(sung to the tune of "Did You Ever See a Lassie")

Did you ever see a caterpillar, a caterpillar, a caterpillar?

Did you ever see a caterpillar chew on a [PURPLE] leaf?

He'll go crunch, crunch, crunch,

And munch, munch, munch.

Did you ever see a caterpillar chew on a [PURPLE]?

        

  

  

• Book #1 - The Very Quiet Cricket by Eric Carle 

• Stand-up activity - "Baby Bumblebee" from Toddler Action Songs by Cedarmont Kids

• Sit down activity - Two Moths (fingerplay written by Carol Hopkins)

I see two moths flying toward the light
They fly around in circles
Sometimes they fly fast
Sometimes they fly slow
But never do they touch that light as they fly out of sight

• Book #2 - Snappy Little Bug by Claire Nielson and Dug Steer, illustrated by Derek Matthews (pop-up)  

• Book #3 - Who's Bugging You?: A Sliding Surprise Book by Charles Reasoner (board book) 

• Closing - Tambourines to the song "Bumblebee (Buzz Buzz)" from Buzz Buzz by Laurie Berkner 

 

• Art experience - Dot stickers and crayons on a "Lots of Spots" caterpillar worksheet I found in a Mailbox magazine 

Autumn Leaves Are Falling Toddler Storytime

Storytime for 1 to 3 year olds:

• Opening - Skinnamarink, Sticky Sticky Bubblegum

 

• Book #1 – The Busy Little Squirrel by Nancy Tafuri 

• Stand-up Activity – "Little Squirrel" from Movin' and Groovin' Home 2 by Kindermusik

• 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 - Four Little Leaves (counting down color rhyme I found in a Preschool Mailbox magazine, October/November 2005, page 33) 

• Letter of the Day - "L" is for leaves

• 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.

• Book #2 –  Let's Look at Fall by Sarah L. Schuette (non-fiction)

• Closing - Tambourines to the song "Kookaburra" from Where Is Thumbkin? by Kimbo 

• Art Experience – Glue craft foam and silk fall leaves to a headband