Shredderman: Secret Identity

After a visit from author Wendelin Van Draanen, my library did a series of after school programs each based roughly around one of her books.  This program came from the first book in her Shredderman series.  In the book, the main character creates a webpage with his superhero-type alter ego flying across the screen.  So we decided to introduce children to some basic animation using Scratch, a graphical computer programming language.

Scratch is a free computer language created by MIT.  Go to http://scratch.mit.edu.  It is done on your internet browser so no downloading is needed.  You must create an account in order to save your work, but you can get started without an account.

After going over the four areas of the Scratch interface, I handed out a step by step lesson for the children to follow at their own speed.  I used a lesson I found (and slightly altered) at Edutopia.

Of the 42 students (from grades 3 through 6), about half of them followed the lesson.  For the most part, this half had no clue how to do any programming.  The other half pretty much did their own thing.  This second half broke into two camps.  We had some who used Scratch before. We also had some who were just investigating the various commands and backgrounds and sprites available to them.

I had a lot of fun with this program.  I must admit, before it started I was terribly nervous.  I had just learned some basics about Scratch before agreeing to do this program.  I still only know the basics and that was evident while working with some of the children.  Now I need to figure out what I will do for the next Scratch class in the Spring.

Halloween Storytime

Storytime for 1-1/2 to 3 year olds:
(Oops!  I forgot to post this one back in October.  Enjoy this flashback.)

• Opening - Skinnamarink, Sticky Sticky Bubblegum

• Book #1 – Snappy Little Halloween by Dugald Steer, illustrated by Derek Matthews (pop-up)

• Stand-up Activity – Jack-O-Lantern, Jack-O-Lantern (action rhyme written by Carol Hopkins)

Jack-O-Lantern, Jack-O-Lantern turn around.
Jack-O-Lantern, Jack-O-Lantern roll on the ground.
Jack-O-Lantern, Jack-O-Lantern dance on your toes.
Jack-O-Lantern, Jack-O-Lantern light up your nose.
Jack-O-Lantern, Jack-O-Lantern reach up high.
Jack-O-Lantern, Jack-O-Lantern jump to the sky.
Jack-O-Lantern, Jack-O-Lantern smile with heat.
Jack-O-Lantern, Jack-O-Lantern find your seat.

• 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 - Three Little Pumpkins (Not sure where I picked up this rhyme a long time ago.  I love using it.)

Three little pumpkins, sitting very still
In a pumpkin patch on a great big hill
The first one said, "I'm very green,"
(show green side)
"But I'll be orange on Halloween."
(show orange side)
The second one said, "Oh me, oh my,"
(show orange pumpkin side)
"Today I'll be a pumpkin pie."
(show pumpkin pie side)
The third one said, "I'm on my way,"
(show pumpkin side)
To be a Jack-O-Lantern today."
(show face side)

• Book #2 – Maisy's Halloween by Lucy Cousins (board book)

• Activity – Pumpkins Over There (action rhyme written by Carol Hopkins)

Pumpkins small
(make small pumpkin with hands)
Pumpkins tall
(hands up high)
Pumpkins, pumpkins everywhere
(spin around)
Pumpkins fat
(hands make fat pumpkin)
And pumpkins thin
(hands together almost touching)
Pumpkins, pumpkins over there!
(point across the room)

• Closing - Tambourines using the music "I Really Love to Dance" fromBuzz Buzz by Laurie Berkner

• Art Experience – Glitter glue designs on a pumpkin drawing

Read for the Record with Bunny Cakes

On October 21, my library participated in Jumpstart's 2014 Read for the Record nation-wide campaign to set a new world record for the greatest number of people reading the same book on the same day.

The book of choice this year was Bunny Cakes by Rosemary Wells.  A perfect choice for an audience of 3 to 7 year olds.  After the reading, we put out some activities to extend the fun.

Writing activity - We put butcher paper up on one wall with the words "Shopping List" at the top.  We invited the children to add to Ruby's shopping list by writing or drawing or gluing pictures cut out of magazines.

Art activity - We made simple bunny ear headbands that the children decorated with color pens and stickers.

Math activity - Max dumped all of the birthday candles, silver stars, hearts, and roses into one box.  We asked the children to sort these decorating supplies into their marked bowls.  (We actually used beads for the stars, hearts, and roses because they can be used again for a future program.)

Gross motor activity - Toss "Red Hot Marshmallow Squirters" (bean bags) into a stand up drawing of Max's cake (we cut holes into the cake drawing).

This program turned into a fun celebration of two well known characters, Max and Ruby!

Turkey Day Preschool Storytime

Storytime for 3 to 5 year olds.

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

• Literacy activity - Create simple patterns using foam shapes handed out to the children (yellow hexagons, orange squares, and red trapezoids)

• Book #1 - One Is a Feast for a Mouse: A Thanksgiving Tale by Judy Cox, illustrated by Jeffrey Ebbeler

• Movement activity - "I'm a Little Teapot" from This Little Piggy: Lap Songs, Fingerplays, Clapping Games, and Pantomime Rhymes edited by Jane Yolen, Adam Stemple, et al.  

 

• Book #2 - Thanksgiving Cats by Jean Marzollo, illustrated by Hans Wilhelm

• Book #3 - Biscuit Is Thankful by Alyssa Satin Capucilli, illustrated by Pat Schories

• Activity - Turkey's Tail (action rhyme I found in a Mailbox magazine many years ago)

• Closing - Bubbles to the song "This Little Light of Mine" from Rise and Shine by Raffi

• Art experience - Glue and cut pattern worksheet

Community Workers

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

• Opening - Skinnamarink, Sticky Sticky Bubblegum

• Book #1 – Shhhhh! Everybody's Sleeping by Julie Markes, illustrated by David Parkins

• Stand-up Activity – I am a Policeman (action song to the tune of "I'm a Little Teapot" found at http://www.hummingbirded.com/community-helpers.html)

I am a policeman, with my star

I help people near and far

If you have a problem, call on me

And I will be there 1, 2, 3

• 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 - Can You Guess My Job? (found in Artsy Toddler Storytimes by Carol Garnett Hopkins)

Community workers work far and near

This person helps people get well

Can you guess this job here?

...keeps the city safe

...delivers letters

...makes tasty meals

...keeps your pets healthy

• Book #2 – When Poppy and Max Grow Up by Lindsey Gardiner

• Activity – Busy Family of Workers (action chant found in Artsy Toddler Storytimes by Carol Garnett Hopkins)

• Closing - Tambourines using the music "I Really Love to Dance" from Buzz Buzz by Laurie Berkner

• Art Experience – Glue metallic-like wrapping paper ribbon to a drawing of a police badge

Thanksgiving Storytime

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

• Opening - Skinnamarink, Sticky Sticky Bubblegum

• Book #1 – One Little, Two Little, Three Little Pilgrims by B.G. Hennessy, illustrated by Lynne Cravath

• Stand-up Activity – "If You're Happy and You Know It" action song from Songs for Wiggleworms

• 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 - Turkey Cheese Fondue (a counting rhyme found in Artsy Toddler Storytimes by Carol Garnett Hopkins)

• Book #2 – Five Silly Turkeys by Salina Yoon (board book)

• Activity – I'm a Little Turkey (action song to the tune of "I'm a Little Teapot" found in The Mailbox Preschool magazine, Oct./Nov. 1999, page 37)

• Closing - Tambourines using the music "I Really Love to Dance" from Buzz Buzz by Laurie Berkner

• Art Experience – Glue feathers to a turkey drawing

Lego My Library - Keeping Friends

A fun Lego building block storytime intended for children 4 to 9 years old.

Book: Being Frank by Donna W. Earnhardt, illustrated by Andrea Castellani

Lego challenge: Build something Mr. Pckles could use to sell his pickle relish