THEME: Stars

 Reason theme was chosen:  ___Eclipse _______________________________

PR used: Star Stories
  This preschool story time is out of this world with stories, songs, activities and a craft that features the stars.

Books / stories
I see Stars by D.H.Dilkes
Starry Skies by Samantha Chagolla
Pete the Cat’s Twinkle Twinkle Little Star by James Dean
Stars by Mary Lyn Ray
Stars by Thomas K. Adamson
Touch the Brightest Star by Christie Matheson
How to Catch a Star by Oliver Jeffers
Shine! By Patrick McDonell
Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star by Pinkney, Jerry
Starry Safari by Linda Ashman
Draw Me a Star by Carle, Eric
I Like Stars By Margaret Wise Brown
How to Catch a Star by Oliver Jeffers
STARS! STARS! STARS! By Wallace, Nancy
STARS.  Ray, Mary Lyn.
LAURA’S STAR  Baumgart, Klaus.
HALF A MOON AND ONE WHOLE STAR Dragonwagon,
DREAM AWAY  Durango, Julie.
HOW MANY STARS IN THE SKY  Hort, Lenny.
STELLAR STARGAZER!  O’Connor, Jane.
Starry Skies by Samantha Chagollan
My Pet Star by Averriss, Corrinne
Beyond the Stars by Riggs, Kate
Light Up the Night by Jean Reidy
Mouse Who Ate the Moon by Horacek, Peter
Rocket Says Look Up by Bryaon, Nathan
Stardust by Willis, Jeanne
Stars and Poppy Seeds by Romanyshyn, Romana
Nova the Star Eater by Leslie, Lindsay

Songs

Five Bright and Shining Stars 
Flannelboard: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Fingerplays / rhymes

Stars are Twinkling
Far, far, far
Four Little Stars

New words introduced

Northern Lights, meteor/meteorite, constellations, atmosphere, sliver (moon), stardust

Activity
 
 
 Mr. Sun – Action song

Craft
 Shooting stars

Materials needed

Colored strips of tissue paper
Star template
Clue, stickers, crayons
Craft sticks

THEME: Dogs

Overview/Purpose - Animal care and kindness and community interaction 
CO-sponsor - Animal Shelter

Books & Stories
*Lou by Breanna Carzoo
*Puppy Bus by Drew Brrockington
Clifford the Small Red Puppy by Norman Bridwell
The Doghouse by Jan Thomas
My Dog Has Fleas by Bob Barner
*I Want a Dog by Jon Agee
*Puppy Pool Party by Seth Casteel
Pete the Cat at the Firehouse by Dean

Fingerplays/rhymes

Songs

B-I-N-G-O
How Much is that Doggie in the Window?

New words introduced
Cannonball! (Into the water)
Fetch

Activity
Play with the shelter dogs

Craft

Dog faces

Materials Needed

Google eyes, yarn pieces, glue, pre-cut noses & ears, small paper plates

THEME: Cats

 Reason theme was chosen:    It’s National Cat Adoption Day

__  BOOKS/STORIES USED  ________________

Pete the Cat – Five Groovy Buttons and Pete the Kitty Series by Dean
Cat’s Colors by Anderson, Airlie
Mr. Putter & Tabby Series by Rylant, Cynthia
Don't trust cats : (life lessons from Chip the dog) by  Petty, Dav
No Cats in the Library by Emmons, Lauren
Nate the Cat Takes a Bath  by Lerner, Jarrett
Jack the Library Cat by Apollonio, Marietta
How to Teach Your Cat a Trick : In Five Easy Steps by Winstanley, Nicola
Hats are Not For Cats  by Rayner, Jacqueline
The Cat and the Dog by Harris, Patricia
If you Give a Cat a Cupcake by Numeroff, Laura
Splat the Cat by Scotton, Rob
Some Cats (board book) by Nichols, Lydia

__  SONGS  ______________________________

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Paws

__  FINGERPLAYS / RHYMES_______________

Three Little Kittens (board book) by Basaluzzo, Costanza

 __  NEW WORDS INTRODUCED  ___________

“Our mittens we have SOILED.”

__  ACTIVITY  _____________________________

-- This story time was to be co-hosted but there were no adoptable cats!  We just went with it and made dog & cat toys for the shelters.
-- Had blank cat face masks to color/cut out as well.

__  MATERIALS NEEDED  __________________
Old t-shirts, TP tubes, yarn, hole punch, tape, pipe cleaners, felt, cat nip, sample toy

__  CO-SPONSORED BY  ___________________
Licking County Humane Society

Theme: Books!

 Reason theme was chosen: _____National Library Week 2024______________

__OVERVIEW & PURPOSE _________________
To review the care and use of library books, instill a desire to use books and the library

__BOOKS/STORIES USED  _________________

No T. Rex in the Library by Yoshikawa, Sachiko
*I took My Frog to the Library by Kimmel, Eric
   (I didn't mention the card catalog, just the hen laying an egg)
*Froggy Goes to the Library by London, Jonathan
*The Bad Seed Goes to the Library by John, Jory
*How Do Dinosaurs Learn to Read? by Yolen, Jane
Do Not Bring a Dragon to the Library by Gassman, Julie

__  NEW WORDS INTRODUCED  ____________

"Skim" through the pages
"have a big hissy"
"Never has rages"

__  ACTIVITY  _________________________

Take a library tour – behind the scenes
Make small, stapled books
Coloring page – Letters N, D and I
Bookmarks to color (found with a Google search - there are LOTS out there.)

__  MATERIALS NEEDED  __________________

Crayons, markers

Pre-made books - Cut 8 1/2 x 11 paper  in half lengthwise.  I used four sheets, which made 8 pages.  Use 8 1/2 x 11 card stock or colored paper in half lengthwise and use it as a cover.  One staple in  the center is all it needs.

__  SONGS  __________________________

If You're Ready for a Story 

*To the tune of "If You're Happy and You Know It"*

If you're ready for a story, clap your hands! (x2)

If you're ready for a story, If you're ready for a story,

If you're ready for a story, clap your hands!

(Additional verses: Stomp your feet, Shout hooray!)

The Goodbye Train is Leaving

*To the tune of "She'll be Coming 'Round the Mountain"

The goodbye train is leaving see you soon! (Choo choo!) x2

The goodbye train is leaving, oh the goodbye train is leaving,

The goodbye train is leaving see you soon! (Choo choo!)

Theme: Clothing

No PR, just a standard story time.

BOOKS

Naked!  by Michael Ian Black

Lawrence - The Bunny Who Wanted to Be Naked by Vern Kousky

Potato Pants! by Laurie Keller
Animals Should Definitely not Wear Clothing  by Judi Barrett

SONGS

Head, shoulders knees and toes

Little Bar of Soap

CRAFT

Sew pockets, add creatures (used Ellison die)

Materials needed:

Yarn w/taped ends, hole-punched pockets, something to put in the pocket, crayons, markers, glitter, etc.

Theme: Colors

PR: To encourage a love of reading and support literacy development, we'll share a few of our favorite activities, rhymes, songs and read-aloud books about colors. 

Books and stories

The Mystery of the Missing Red Mitten by Kellogg, Steven
The Rainbow Book by Ohrt, Kate
The Crayon Box that Talked by DeRolf, Shane
Red House, Tree House, Little Bitty Brown Mouse by Godwin, Jane
Mouse Paint by Walsh, Ellen
The Big Red Rock by Stockham, Jess
When Pencil Met the Markers by Kilpatrick, Karen
I Spy with My Little Eye by Gibbs, Edward
Brown Bear, Brown Bear by Carle, Eric

There are SO MANY good color books! 
Our copy of Mouse Paint by Walsh, Ellen was out, but I did a similar activity to illustrate color blending.

Songs
Flannelboard - Bought Me a Cat by Pete Seeger

… I bought me a cat
The cat pleased me
I fed my cat under yonder tree
The cat went fiddle I fee
Fiddle I fee

… Well I bought me a horse
The horse pleased me
I fed my horse under yonder tree
The horse went naaaaaay
The cow went moo moo
The sheep went baah baah
The dog went Woof woof
The goose went honk honk
The duck went quack quack
The rooster went cock-a-doodle-doo
The cat went a fiddle I fee

Rhymes
Flannelboard - Butterfly Colors

The first to come to the garden bed
Is a lovely butterfly of brilliant RED.

Then in comes another and that makes two.
Fly right in, my friend of BLUE.

“The garden is fine, the best I’ve seen,”
says the butterfly of softest GREEN.

Our garden needs a sunny fellow,
Fly on in, butterfly with wings of YELLOW.

Little friend of PURPLE, fly in too.
The garden is waiting for a color like you.

ORANGE, orange, you’re waited so long.
Fly right in, where you belong.

Butterflies, butterflies, you’re such a sight!
Flying together – what a delight!

Credit: Miss Meg’s Storytime

Five Little Apples
Flannelboard

Five little apples lying on the floor
One rolled away and that left four.

Four little apples hanging on a tree
I picked one off and that left three.

Three little apples - I know what to do!
I put one in my pocket and that leaves two.

Two little apples sitting in the sun
I'll pick one up and that leaves one.

One little apple waiting in my lunch
I'll eat it up with a crunch, crunch, crunch.

New Words:

garden bed, blend, absorb

ART

Color magic
Need: Markers, black Sharpie, spray bottles, paper towels

Make picture in colors, trace with black Sharpie.

Spray lightly with water.

Activity

Mouse paint-like jar cutouts with colored cellophane labels to show color blending.

THEME: Football and Falling Leaves

Reason theme was chosen:
Sights and sounds of the season

Overview & Purpose:
PR: Fall is here and that means football and jumping into a big pile of leaves. We’ll read a little about both in this very active story time.

Books / stories
T is for touchdown : a football alphabet (2004) By Herzog, Brad.
Little granny quarterback (2001)
A ball for all ; (2006)
Casey at the Bat
On the ball (2015) By Pinkney, J. Brian
Pigs on the ball : (1998) By Axelrod, Amy
Ball (2015) By Hutton, John Where is baby's beach ball? : a lift-the-flap book (2009) By Katz, Karen.
Family huddle (2009) By Manning, Archie
Fall ball (2013) By McCarty, Peter
Sergio saves the game (2009) By Rodriguez, Edel.
If I were a major-league baseball player (2010) By Braun, Eric
That's not how you play soccer, Daddy (2007) By Shahan, Sherry.
Soccer hour (2011) By Nevius, Carol
Hit the ball Duck (2006) By Alborough, Jez.
Ball (2013) By Sullivan, Mary
Dino-football (2012) By Wheeler, Lisa
Charlie plays ball (2015) By Drummond, Ree
Hey, coach! (2016) By Ashman, Linda
Goodnight, Football by Michael Dahl
Ball by Mary Sullivan
The Berenstain Bears Play Football by Mike Berenstain
Kickoff by Tiki and Ronde Barber
Pigskins to Paintbrushes: The Story of Football-Playing Artist Ernie Barnes by Don Tate
T is for Touchdown by Brad Herzog
Fletcher and the Falling Leaves by Julia Rawlinson, illustrated by Tiphanie Beeke
Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn by Kenard Pak
Leaf Jumpers by Carole Gerber, illustrated by Leslie Evans
Leaves by David Ezra Stein
Leaves! Leaves! Leaves! by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace
The Little Yellow Leaf by Carin Berger
Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf by Lois Ehlert
We’re Going on a Leaf Hunt by Steve Metzger, illustrated by Miki Sakamoto
Fletcher and the Falling Leaves by Julia Rawlinson
Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn by Kenard Pak
Leaf Jumpers by Carole Gerber, illustrated by Leslie Evans
Leaves by David Ezra Stein
Leaves! Leaves! Leaves! by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace
The Little Yellow Leaf by Carin Berger
Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf by Lois Ehlert
We’re Going on a Leaf Hunt by Steve Metzger, illustrated by Miki Sakamoto
What is the Super Bowl? by Dina Anastasio
Football Wit
h Dad by Frank Berrios
Don’t Throw It to Mo! by David A. Adler, illustrated by Sam Ricks
Bones and the Football Mystery by David A. Adler
MVP #3: The Football Fumble by David A. Kelly
The Football Fiasco by Mike Lupica
Legends: The Best Players, Games, and Teams in Football by Howard Bryant

Songs

Leaves Turn Yellow

Leaves turn yellow.
ECHO: Leaves turn yellow.

Leaves turn red.
ECHO: Leaves turn red.

All the leaves are falling.
ECHO: All the leaves are falling.

On my head.
ECHO: On my head.


This is the Way

This is the way we toss the ball, (toss up)
Toss the ball, toss the ball,
This is the way we toss the ball,
when we play football.

Run with the ball…

Kick the ball….

Hike the ball…

Throw the ball…

Catch the ball…then we score a touchdown!

Fingerplays / rhymes

Flannel board 

Five Little Footballs

5 little footballs trying hard to score

One makes a touchdown, hear the crowd roar!

4 little footballs

3 little footballs

2 little footballs

1 little footballs

*cheer*

Autumn

New words introduced

Spike (the ball)

Activity
Yoga dice – for football warm-ups
Parachute with leaves and football

Craft
Lacing footballs

Materials needed
Crayons
Pre-cut footballs with lacing holes
Yarn

More ideas

THEME: Fish

Reason theme was chosen:
Oceans / SLP theme 2022

__BOOKS/STORIES USED  _________________

Fish Eyes: A Book You Can Count On  by Ehlert, Lois
Mabel, A Mermaid Fable  by Watkins, Rowboat
Ocean: A Peek-through Picture Book  by Teckentrup, Britta

__  SONGS  __________________________

Slippery Fish

I’m a Little Fish
(Tune: I’m a Little Teapot)

I’m a little fish-o, (hold up one hand with thumb facing upwards to represent a fish)
Watch me swim. (move hand back and forward)
Here is my tail, (wriggle fingers on fish hand)
and here is my fin. (wriggle thumb)

When I want to have fun,
With my friends,
I swish my tail and dive right in. (swish fish hand around)

The Waves in the Sea
(tune: The Wheels on the Bus)

The waves in the sea go,
Up and down, (make a rolling wave by moving one hand up and down)
Up and down,
Up and down,
The waves in the sea go,
Up and down,
All day long.

The sharks in the sea go
snap, snap, snap… (hold hands together to form a mouth, snap open & shut)

The fish in the sea go
swish, swish, swish… (swim hands around as fish)

The crabs in the sea go
click, click, click… (click fingers)

__  FINGERPLAYS / RHYMES_______________

Little Fish

1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Once I caught a Fish Alive

__  NEW WORDS INTRODUCED ____________

Parts of a fish – Tail, fin
Types of fish – Eel, manta, lionfish, etc.

__  ACTIVITY  _________________________

Foil fish “painting” made into a magnet or puppet

__  MATERIALS NEEDED  ________________

Scissors
Foil sheets
Permanent markers
Paper towels/wipes
Newspapers (or other table covers, if desired)
Pictures of various kinds of fish
Fish templates
Magnetic tape and/or craft sticks & tape

THEME: Building Things

 Reason theme was chosen:
Practice with fine / gross motor skills and imagination / free play

BOOKS/STORIES USED 

*Time to Build  Riggs, Kate
*I am a Backhoe   Hines, Anna
*Bulldozer’s Shapes   Rinker, Sherri Duskey

Books to Build On! More stories about Construction and Tools
Raise the Roof! by Anastasia Suen
Minerva Louise and the Red Truck by Janet Morgan Stoeke
One Big Building: A Counting Book About Construction by Michael Dahl
I Love Tools! by Philemon Sturges, illustrated by Shari Halpern
Old MacDonald Had a Woodshop  by Lisa Shulman, illustrated by Ahsley Wolff
Toolbox Twins by Lola M. Schaefer, illustrated by Melissa Iwai
Digger and Tom by Sebastian Braun
Construction Kitties by Judy Sue Goodwin Sturges, illustrated by Shari Halpern
The Toolbox by Anne & Harlow Rockwell
The Little Dump Truck by Margery Cuyler ; illustrated by Bob Kolar
Tip Tip Dig Dig by Emma Garcia
Digger Man by Andrea Zimmerman and David Clemesha
Construction Countdown by K.C. Olson, illustrated by David Gordon  
The Construction Crew by Lynn Meltzer, illustrated Carrie Eko-Burgess
Get To Work Trucks! by Don Carter
Monkey with a Tool Belt by Chris Monroe
Dazzling Diggers by Tony Mitton and Ant Parker
I Drive a Dump Truck by Sarah Bridges ; illustrated by Derrick Alderman & Denise Shea
Those Building Men by Angela Johnson, illustrated by Barry Moser
Tools Rule! by Aaron Meshon
Trucks by Debbie Powell
Dig! by Andrea Zimmerman and David Clemesha, illustrated by Marc Rosenthal
Additional Books that I didn’t get in time, but would be great for this theme:
A Truck Goes Rattley-Bumpa by Jonathan London, illustrated by Denis Roche
Machines at Work by Byron Barton

SONGS 

FINGERPLAYS / RHYMES

NEW WORDS INTRODUCED 

Names of tools, crescent (shape)

ACTIVITY

Free play with various building materials

MATERIALS NEEDED

Building blocks of various types:
(Most are on the shred inventory board)
 
  Squigs
  Cardboard bricks
  “My Town” block Set
  Magna-Tiles
  Cups to stack

OTHER IDEAS