Shapes and Colors!

Presented to Miss Jenny's and Miss Amy's classes at Golden Hills Head Start on Monday, August 26, 2013.

Books:

Lunch by Denise Fleming

I showed the students this book, told them what a fun book it is, then put it back in my basket, saying, "Well, I'm not going to read it to you today."  Naturally I had some very confused and disappointed children - until I told them that instead of reading the book, I was going to tell them the story, with help from my puppet, Squeaky!

Here is a photo of Squeaky:

Yes, he's an athletic sock, (but don't tell him!) 

Here are photos of the fruits and vegetables that Squeaky eats in the story:

Red Apple

Pink Watermelon

Yellow Corn

Blue Blueberries

Purple Grapes

Green Peas

Orange Carrots

I also have a white turnip, which is included in Denise Fleming's story, but after several years of getting blank stares from children who didn't know what a turnip is - (I'll admit that I have never tasted one) - I decided to take it out of my retelling.

As I tell the story, Squeaky "eats" the various foods by putting his head through a hole in each felt piece.  The children often help make a munching sound!  Here is what Squeaky looks like at the end of the story:

During my story I briefly address a couple issues of etiquette when Squeaky burps and when he starts spitting out watermelon seeds!

Here is the post in which I talk about the time I got to meet Denise Fleming!



What Am I? Looking Through Shapes at Apples and Grapes by N. N. Charles, illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon

Song:

The Color Pokey
(tune: "The Hokey Pokey")

You put your (color) scarf in,
You take your (color) scarf out,
You put your (color) scarf in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the color pokey and
You turn yourself around.
That's what it's all about!

For this activity I brought enough scarves (bandanas from OTC, I believe) for each child to have his or her own. 

This is a great activity for color recognition as well as a challenge for most children - who naturally want to participate all the time!  For this game the children were challenged with knowing the color of their scarf and waiting until it was time for their color to be showcased.

Activity:

Open, Shut Them
(a goodbye chant)

Open, shut them,
(open hands, then close into fists)
Open, shut them,
Give a little clap, clap, clap.
(clap 3 times)

Open, shut them,
(open hands, then close into fists)
Open, shut them,
Lay them in your lap, lap, lap.
(pat your legs three times)

Waving, waving, waving, waving,
High up in the sky, sky, sky.

Wave to me, I'll wave to you,
Now let's all say "Goodbye, bye, bye!"

Start out s-l-o-w-l-y, then increase the speed on the second time through.  Can you go even faster when you say it for the third time?!    

 

Each Outreach Storytime includes activities that support one or more of the five early literacy practices identified as essential in helping your child develop the skills they need before they can learn to read. The five practices – singing, talking, reading, playing and writing – were developed for Every Child Ready to Read®, an initiative of the Association for Library Services for Children (ALSC) and the Public Library Association (PLA).

Every Child Ready to Read^® @ your library^®, PLA and ALSC logos are registered trademarks of the American Library Association and are used with permission.



My Hands and Feet - A Preview!

To be presented at the Bellevue Public Library on Thursday, September 5 at 7 PM.

In September we will be celebrating our hands and feet with an evening Momaha Story Time guaranteed to include LOTS of clapping and stomping!  Join me and my puppet friend, Luna, in the Storytime Room at 7 PM.  Following storytime there will be milk and cookies - generously provided by Bellevue's own The Cake Specialist .  A representative from Momaha will also be on hand to provide information for parents and take-home activities for the children.

I hope to see you then!

   ~Mrs. B.