THEME: Dinosaurs

Purpose: To encourage a desire to learn about dinosaurs

PR: Little Listeners - DINOvember - Preschoolers are cordially invited to a dinosaur tea party and story time. Enjoy dinosaur-focused stories, activities and songs. (Dinosaurs are also invited!)

Recommended stories:
By Jane Yolen: How Do Dinosaurs Play with Their Friends?
  How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night?
  How Do Dinosaurs Learn to be Kind?

By Reefe & Susan Tuma: What the Dinosaurs Did at School
  What the Dinosaurs Did Last Night

If I had a Triceratops by George O'Connor
Tea and Rex by Molly Idle

Songs and rhymes:

5 Little Dinosaurs

Five little dinosaurs by the barn door,
One stomped off, then there were four.

Four little dinosaurs out under the tree,
One stomped off, then there were three.

Three little dinosaurs with nothing to do.
One stomped off, then there were two.

Two little dinosaurs in the noonday sun,
One stomped off, then there was one.

One little dinosaur munching on his lunch,

He munches and crunches

Munch, munch, CRUNCH!

5 Little Dinosaurs
(Tune:" 5 Little Ducks")

One dinosaur went out to play
On a bright and sunny day
He had such ENORMOUS fun
That he called for another dinosaur to come.

 DI-NO-SAUR! (Call very loud)

Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! 
   (chant while patting hands on laps)

Repeat for 2 dinosaurs, 3 dinosaurs, 4 dinosaurs

Five dinosaurs went out to play
On a bright and sunny day
Then heard their mother roar (Make a loud roar)
and five dinosaurs stomped on the floor. 
     (Run & stomp feet on the floor)

I’m A Mean Old Dinosaur
(Tune: “I’m A Little Teapot”)

I’m a mean old dinosaur,
(make a mean face)

Big and tall.
(reach high and wide)

Here is my tail
(point to an imaginary tail)

And here is my claw.
(curl fingers on one hand)

When I get all hungry, (rub tummy)
I just growl. (growl the word growl)

Look out kids - (hands over eyes looking)
I’m on the prowl! (lunge left and right)

Craft:  Dinosaur Eggs 
Supplies needed:  brads, small paper plates, crayons/markers/scissors, glue, baby dinosaur templates found online.

THEME: Turkeys

 Purpose: To introduce turkeys as a seasonal animal

New Words:
Waddle, swan dive, boar (pig)

Suggested Books:
Albuquerque Turkey by B. G. Ford
Turkey Gobble by Allison Black
10 Fat Turkeys by Tony Johnston

Songs and rhymes:

Five Little Turkeys

Five little turkeys by the barn door,
One waddled off, then there were four.

Four little turkeys out under the tree,
One waddled off, then there were three.

Three little turkeys with nothing to do.
One waddled off, then there were two.

Two little turkeys in the noonday sun,
One waddled off, then there was one.

One little turkey - better run away!
Soon it will be Thanksgiving Day.

Gobble
(Tune: If You're Happy...)

"Gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble", says the turkey.

"Gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble", says the turkey.

Mr. Turkey gobble-gobbles,

And his head goes wobble-wobble.

"Gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble", says the turkey.

Activity:

Meet and interact with Betty White, turkey from Van Buren Acres

Craft:
Add feathers to the turkey with the letters of your name.

Theme: Halloween

Theme: Halloween

Reason for theme: Seasonal

PR: Little Listeners - Halloween
Listen, learn and laugh with not-so-scary stories, songs, rhymes and activities.

Book suggestions
Bo the Bat by Alma Hammond
Even Monsters by AJ Smith
Go Away Big Green Monster by Ed Emberley
Ghosts Go Haunting by Helen Ketteman

Rhymes and songs

Ten Little Spiders

Pumpkin, Pumpkin
Pumpkin, pumpkin, what do you see?
I see a Jack-o-lantern looking at me.

Jack-o-lantern, Jack-o-lantern, what do you see?
I see a purple bat looking at me.
Purple bat, purple bat, what do you see?
I see a black cat looking at me.
Black cat, black cat, what do you see?
I see a white ghost looking at me.

WhooooooOOOOOO!

The Ghost in the House
(Tune: Wheels on the bus)

The ghosts in the house goes boo, boo, boo!
 Boo, boo, boo! Boo, boo, boo!
The ghosts in the house goes boo, boo, boo! on Halloween

The steps in the house go creak, creak, creak…
The cats in the house go mieow, mieow, mieow…
The mice in the house go squeak, squeak, squeak…
The witches in the house go ha, ha, ha
The bats in the house go ee, ee, ee
The monsters in the house go rawr, rawr, rawr
The people in the house go eek, eek, eek… 

If You're A Skeleton and You Know It
(Tune: If You're Happy and You Know It)
If you're a skeleton and you know it, Wiggle your bones (shake your body)
If you're a skeleton and you know it, Wiggle your bones 
If you're a skeleton and you know it, and you really want to show it
If you’re a skeleton and you know it
Wiggle your bones

If you're a ghost and you know it, Just say Boo
If you're a black cat and you know it Just say Meow …

Craft
Coffee filter bats

• Coffee Filters
• Markers
• Clothespin
• Small Googly Eyes (5mm size)
• Scissors
• Glue
• Water and pipettes

Lay the coffee filter flat and scribble on it with markers.
Dribble water on the filter and let dry. 

Fold into fourths.

  

  Put on eyes, decorate the body, if desired.

Pinch the clothespin and slide in the filter.

 ...or you could make wooden spoon bats.

Theme: Pumpkins

Overview/purpose: Seasonal

New words and phrases:
Autumn, harvest time, carving

Suggested stories:
It's Pumpkin Day, Mouse! by Laura Numeroff - Have the kiddos make the faces on each page.

Five Little Pumpkins by Dan Yaccarino

Pete the Cat Five Little Pumpkins by James Dean

Pumpkin Trouble by Jan Thomas
We Harvest Pumpkins in the Fall by Rebecca Felix (non-fiction)

A Unicorn Named Sparkle and the Pumpkin Monster by Amy Young

Songs and fingerplays:

This can also be used as a coloring page

  

         

Craft:
I got the wooden pumpkin cutouts at Dollar Tree.  We used markers and stickers to decorate them.  They came with a string to hang them, but I also brought magnets for the back.

Theme: Squirrels

Overview/purpose:  Seasonal

New words and phrases:
Scurried, rustling leaves, pleased, frantically

Suggested stories:
Nuts to You – Ehlert, Lois
The Busy Little Squirrel – Tafuri, Nancy
Bob Ross and Peapod the Squirrel – Pearlman, Robb
Leaf Trouble – Emmett, Jonathan
The Leaf Thief - Hemming, Alice
Ol' Mama Squirrel - Stein, David Ezra

Rhymes/Fingerplays:

5 Little Acorns

Five little acorns sitting in a tree

Along came Mr. Squirrel as hungry as can be.
Then the fall winds blew and rustled all the leaves.
Down came an acorn:
Mr. Squirrel was very pleased!

Four little acorns sitting in a tree

Three little acorns sitting in a tree

Two little acorns sitting in a tree

One little acorn sitting in a tree

No little acorns sitting in the tree
But Mr. Squirrel is as full as can be.
Then the fall winds blew and rustled all the leaves.
Mr. Squirrel sat down feeling very pleased!

A Squirrel Song
(Tune: She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain)

I’ll be gathering all the acorns till they’re gone.
I’ll be gathering all the acorns till they’re gone.
I’ll be gathering all the acorns, gathering all the acorns,
Gathering all the acorns till they’re gone.
(Children make collecting motion with their hands)

And I’ll put them all inside my little home.
I will put them all inside my little home.
I will put them all inside, put them all inside,
Put them all inside my little home.
(children pretend to place nuts in tree house)

And I’ll eat the nuts until the winter’s gone.
I will eat the nuts until the winter’s gone.
I will eat the nuts until, eat the nuts until,
Eat the nuts until the winter’s gone.
(children pretend to eat acorns)

Then I’ll do it all again come next fall.
I will do it all again come next fall.
I will do it all again, do it all again,
Do it all again come next fall.
(children make gathering motion with hands and arms again)




Sneeze Song
(Tune: Farmer in the Dell)

I think –I am going to sneeze ..(A-choo!)

I think –I am going to sneeze ..(A-choo!)

If I sneeze, pass a tissue please….

A-choo! A-choo! A-choo!

Activities:





Craft: Squirrel on a branch


Supplies: White paper, leaves, squirrel pattern crayons, glue sticks, feathers
Trace arm and decorate the "branch".

Theme: Rhythm & Rhyme

Purpose: To develop rhythm and rhyming skills

PR: Little Listeners: Rhythm and Rhyme - These stories, songs and activities are great tools for helping preschoolers develop rhythm, fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.

Throughout this program, we used scarves, tambourines and rhythm sticks.

New words introduced:
(tree) shoots
(knees) buckled
Scottish reel (dance)
"I feel like such a clot."
entranced

Suggested books:
Chester Van Chime Who Forgot How to Rhyme by Monsen, Avery
How Do You Dance? by Heder, Thyra
Music is in Everything by Marley, Ziggy
Duck on a Disco Ball by Mack, Jeff
Bear Can Dance by Bloom, Suzanne
The Cat and the Rat and the Hat by Lynas, Em
Everybunny Dance by Sandall, Ellie
Giraffes Can't Dance by Andreae, Giles
Sing and Dance in Your Polka-Dot Pants by Litwin, Eric

Songs and rhymes:

TOSS YOUR SCARVES
Tune:  “Jingle Bells”
 
Toss your scarves, toss your scarves
Toss them way up high.
Toss your scarves up in the air,
‘til they reach the sky.

Wave your scarves, wave your scarves,
Twirl them ‘round and ‘round.
Twirl your scarves one more time,
Then let them, all fall down.

Craft/activity

Kazoos
Supplies: Cardboard tube, waxed paper, rubber band

What To Do:

Cut out a square of waxed paper that is 7.5 cm by 7.5cm (or have these already prepared).
Tightly wrap the waxed paper over one end of the cardboard tube and secure it with an elastic band. Be careful not to apply too much pressure to the cardboard, it may cave in or bend.

Poke an air hole into the cardboard tube with scissors or a pen, right below the wax paper. Trim the waxed paper if necessary so it doesn’t cover the hole.

Put the open end of the kazoo to your mouth and hum a tune.

Feel the other end of the kazoo with your hand while you are humming.

Decorate your kazoo with markers, paint, or stickers.

*Make sure your mouth makes a tight seal.

It helps to say the word "boo" or "doo".

Experiment with covering the hole with your finger, adding more holes in the tube or adjusting the amount of air you blow into it. How does it affect the sound?

Theme: Too Much Glue

Purpose: To use glue bottles instead of glue sticks

PR: Develop early literacy skills through crafting, singing and playing along with your little one.

Reason theme was chosen: We've witnessed older elementary students who had a lot of difficulty with glue bottles.

Suggested books:  
When Glitter Met Glue  by Kilpatrick, Karen
The Crayon Box That Talked  by DeRolf, Shane
I'm the Best Artist in the Ocean by Sherry, Kevin
Horse and Buggy Paint it Out  by Long, Ethan

Songs:
Hokey Pokey
Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes

Activity:
Supplies needed - glue, paper, glitter

Theme: Books!

Purpose/reason theme was chosen: It's back to school time

Suggested books:
The Book Hog by Pizzoli, Greg
I took My Frog to the Library by Kimmel, Eric A.
A book for Bear by Ramsey Ellen L.
The Book with No Pictures by Novak, B. J.

Rhyme:

Hi!  My name is ______________ and I work in a library.
One day, I decided to read all day,
and I turned the pages with my right hand.
 
my left hand.
my right foot.
my left foot.
my head.
 
I was exhausted!
 
THE END.

Song:
Hokey Pokey (since we were talking about left and right hands)

Activity:
We discussed what makes up a story, and I showed them the sample I made for our craft.  Each time I started the book over, it was different words, but the same pictures.

Bookmaking:
Supplies needed - extra stickers, glue, tape, pattern cut-outs to trace, pre-made booklets

Theme: Ants

Purpose: Insect identification, body parts, etc.

Suggested Stories:
The Ants Go Marching by Nicholas Ian
I Say OOH, You Say AHH by John Kane
Effie by Beverly Allinson (big book)

Flannel board:
The Elephant and the Ants (folklore)

Poem:

Craft:
Supplies needed - photos of picnic foods, small paper plates, glue, markers,crayons, paint or ink pads

Theme: Scarecrows

Purpose: To introduce fall sights and sounds

New words introduced:

Suggested Books:

Crow Made a Friend by Margaret Peot
The Mystery of the Haunted Scarecrow by Fran Manushkin
Harold Loves His Wolly Hat by Vern Kousky
The Little Scarecrow Boy by Margaret Wise Brown
There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Leaves by Lucille Colandro
The Scarecrow’s Hat by Ken Brown
Scaredycrow by Christopher Hernandez
The Scarecrow’s Dance by Jane Yolen
Barn Dance! Bill Martin Jr.

Rhymes and finger plays:
 

Theme: Teeth

Purpose: To showcase body parts and demonstrate good habits/hygiene

PR:  "Brush up with stories and activities that are all about teeth in celebration of

National Children’s Dental Health Month."

New words: bristly

Suggested stories: 
People Don't Bite People by Molly Idle
The Tooth Book by Dr. Seuss
Molly at the Dentist by Angie Sage
I Just Ate My Friend by McKinnon, Heidi
We Don’t Eat Our Classmates by Higgins, Ryan
My Toothbrush is Missing by Thomas, Jan
We Don’t Eat Our Classmates by Higgins, Ryan
My Toothbrush is Missing by Thomas, Jan

Flannel Board:

Happy Tooth, Sad Tooth - I wanted to give credit for these, but I can not remember the source.

Songs and Rhymes:
Brush Your Teeth  by Raffi

When you wake up in the morning, it's a quarter to one
And you want to have a little fun
You brush your teeth, ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch
You brush your teeth, ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch

When you wake up in the morning, it's a quarter to two
And you want to find something to do
You brush your teeth, ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch
You brush your teeth, ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch

And when you wake up in the morning, it's a quarter to three
And your mind starts hummin', tweedle dee dee
You brush your teeth, ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch
You brush your teeth, ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch

When you wake up in the morning, it's a quarter to four
And you think you hear a knock on your door
You brush your teeth, ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch
You brush your teeth, ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch

When you wake up in the morning, it's a quarter to five
And you just can't wait to come alive
You brush your teeth, ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch
You brush your teeth, ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch

You brush your teeth, ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch

You brush your teeth, ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch

THEME: Feet

Purpose: To showcase body parts, left & right

Reason theme was chosen: Rhyming, movement and rhythm

Suggested stories:

I Like Shoes by Candice Ransom
The Foot Book by Dr. Seuss
Who Has These Feet? by Laura Hulbert

Flannel board:
Pete the Cat and His White Shoes by Eric Litwin

Rhymes:

2nd time, sing faster.  Third time, faster still.

Songs:
"Hokey Pokey"

You put your right foot in, you put your right foot out, you put your right foot in and you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey Pokey and you turn yourself around, that's what it's all about!
You put your left foot in, you put your left foot out, you put your left foot in and you shake it all about. You do the Hokey Pokey and you turn yourself around, that's what it's all about!
 
Right arm
Left arm
Head
Whole self

"Put One Foot in Front of the Other" 

Craft:
Supplies needed - crayons/markers, colored paper, scissors, glue

Trace foot with shoe on or off.

Theme: Frogs

Purpose: To show frog life cycle

Reason theme was chosen: To focus on gross motor and fine motor skills

New words introduced: Hatched, gills, tadpole

Suggested books:
Am I a Frog? by Lizzy Rockwell (This is non-fiction.)
I'm a Frog by Mo Willems
Frog and Ball by Kathy Caple
I'm On It! by Andrea Tsurumi (a bit longer and focus is more on directions - up, down, in, etc.)
The Wide-mouthed Frog pop up book by Keith Faulkner - This one is a MUST. Make sure to get the pop-up version.

Songs and fingerplays:

______________________________

 

______________________________

______________________________

Activity:
Roll the 2 dice and add them. Hop that many times.

Ask:
How many days in the week? Say and count them. Hop that many times.
How many months...
How many weeks...(Yes - you must hop 52 times.)
How many chairs at the tables?

Etc.

Craft
We pre-cut the pieces.