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.
Inspired by something I saw online, these easy to make crocodiles were made with supplies already on my craft supply shelves.
Supplies:
Staff and children had lots of fun creating these crocs!
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!
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!
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 clothespin crocodile. I found it online at Krokotak (https://krokotak.com/2017/06/clothespin-crocodile/).
Supplies:
- Paper crocodile template printed on green paper
- Wood clothespins (not the peg type)
-
White glue
-
Metallic coloring pens
-
Glitter glue
While
these crocodiles were a little tricky to fold, they were a low cost, low staff
intensive activity with fun results!
Despite the library reopening, the world-wide pandemic is still closing down all large gatherings at my library. Therefore, I continue with my summer offering of virtual storytimes. I created this video storytime series along with a coworker, who is a talented musician, to get young children moving around and singing. It is filled with lots of favorite storytime songs and rhymes. For the summer series, we changed things up a bit! Instead of a book we are bringing in puppets and a flannelboard story or rhyme. I really wanted the grown-ups watching along with the kiddos to learn the songs, so I used a split screen technique on the videos to display the words to the songs/rhymes while I am singing and acting them out.
Opening song – When Animals Get Up in the Morning
When gators get up in the morning,
They always say “Good Day!”
When gators get up in the morning,
They always say “Good Day!”
Chomp, chomp, chomp, chomp, that is what they say.
Chomp, chomp, chomp, chomp, that is what they say.
When gators get up in the morning,
They always say “Good Day!”
When gators get up in the morning,
They always say “Good Day!”
Snap, snap, snap, snap, that is what they say.
Snap, snap, snap, snap, that is what they say.
(Gators can be replaced with a variety of other animals and animal sounds/action words)
Flannelboard activity –
Five Ice Cream Scoops (a poem I found on the
First Grade W.O.W. blog)
Action rhyme – Put Your Ice Cream Up High (adaptation of a rhyme I found on the
One Little Librarian blog)
(Hold a stick or pen as a pretend
ice cream cone. Suite actions to words.)
Put your
ice cream up high
Put your ice cream down low
Hold your ice cream and turn around
Lick! Lick! Lick!
Put your
ice cream up high
Put your ice cream down low
Put your ice cream on the ground
Eeewww! Don’t do that!
Action rhyme - Alligator Pie
Alligator, alligator, alligator pie,
(Open and close arms like the jaws of an alligator)
If I don't get some I think I'm gonna cry.
(Rub eyes like you are crying)
You can take away the grass,
(Point to the ground)
You can take away the sky,
(Point to the sky above)
But don't take away my alligator pie!
(Open and close arms like an alligator)
Action song - If You're Happy and You Know
It (traditional action song)
If you're happy and
you know it, clap your hands.
If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands.
If you're happy and you know it then your face will truly show it,
If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands.
If you're happy and
you know it, stomp your feet.
If you're happy and you know it, stomp your feet.
If you're happy and you know it then your face will truly show it,
If you're happy and you know it, stomp your feet.
If you're happy and
you know it, shout hooray!
If you're happy and you know it, shout hooray!
If you're happy and you know it then your face will truly show it,
If you're happy and you know it, shout hooray!
If you're happy and
you know it, do all three.
If you're happy and you know it, do all three.
If you're happy and you know it, then your face will truly show it,
If you're happy and you know it, do all three.
Closing song - Skinnamarink (https://youtu.be/95JkQfANW9M)
Skinnamarinky
dinky dink
Skinnamarinky do,
I love you!
Skinnamarinky dinky dink
Skinnamarinky do,
I love you!
I love you in the morning,
And in the afternoon
I love you in the evening,
Underneath the moon…
Skinnamarinky dinky dink
Skinnamarinky do,
I love you!
***The video for this storytime can be found on my library's YouTube
channel.
