Train Storytime at the Library

I have bee invited to do storytime twice a month! I am very excited! It has been so long since I had a job, or did storytime without my own kids present. It is nice to have adult time even if kids are still present!

The other day was a train theme. Here is the outline that I used.

Reminders - 

Wiggling kids can step a way

magic line

Hello -  “Clap and Sing Hello!” (Tune: Farmer in the Dell)

     We clap and sing hello,

     We clap and sing hello,

     With our friends at storytime,

     We clap and sing hello!

     (Wave and sing hello; stomp and sing hello.)

Train activities in area and home

     Railway Museum in Ewa

     Train at Dole

     Monorail at mall and sometimes have a train

     Cardboard boxes to paint and color 

     Tissue boxes and TP rolls

Book - Engine, Engine, Number Nine by Stephanie Calmenson

Song - THE WHEELS OF THE TRAIN

The wheels of the train go round and round, (Elbows bent at sides, make circle motions)

Round and round / round and round /

The wheels of the train go round and round

Clickety, clickety clack.

The engineer toots his horn … Toot, toot, toot. (Mime pulling cord)

The crossing gates come right on down… (Arms up, elbows bent…)

Clang, clang, clang.             (Hands move down toward each other

The people on the train get bumped around. . . (Body moves up and down)

Bump, bump, bump.

Book - Meeow and the Little Chairs by Sebastien Braun

Action Rhyme -  CHOO CHOO

Choo, choo, choo, choo,

Choo, choo, choo, choo,

Up the railroad track.

Choo, choo, choo, choo

Choo, choo, choo, choo

Then we come right back.

First we go to _______’s house

And then we go to ______’s house

Then we go to _______’s house

And then we come right back.

(repeat 1st verse)

Flannel - The Little Engine That Could

Book - Freight Train by Donald Crews

Goodbye Song - Goodbye, so long, farewell my friend

Craft - Train on TP rolls

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The Little Engine that Could Flannel

Here is a clown. He wants to travel and visit boys and girls. So he looked for a train.

He came upon some bright colored train cars and loaded them with delicious food and toys.

Now he needed an engine. So he waved his little red flag at a big black coal train. But the coal train had worked all day and couldn't pull the cars.

Next the clown waved down a very old engine. But he was too tired to pull the cars.

The next train was a shiny engine, but he only carried passenger cars, not clown cars. 

The clown waved down a pale green car but he was too sick to help.

Finally, the clown waved down a small happy train. This happy train would help!

So the cars were hitched to the train and off they went.

But they came to a very big hill. The little train's load got so heavy. He didn't know if he would make it!

But he said to himself...I think I can, I think I can.

He made it over the hill and said "I thought I could!"

They made it to town and had a great party for the kids! 

Mother's Day Storytime @ the Library

I was able to sub for the children's library again last week for the Mother's Day Storytime. Here are the books and songs that I used:

Hello - 

“Clap and Sing Hello!” (Tune: Farmer in the Dell)

We clap and sing hello,

We clap and sing hello,

With our friends at storytime,

We clap and sing hello!

(Wave and sing hello; stomp and sing hello.)

Talk about mommies, encourage kids to look at pictures of mom. Show mine.

Book - Mama Hen's Big Day by Jill Latter

Song - Mother's Day Song

     (Tune - You are my sunshine)

     I love you mommy

     My dearest mommy

     You make me happy

     When I am sad.

     I want to show you

     How much I love you.

     Here's a hug

     For Mother's Day!

Book - Is Your Mama a Llama? By Deborah Guarino

Action Rhyme - Moms Are Best

     Teddy Bears are nice to clutch

     To hold, to feel, to love, to touch

          (pretend to hug and pet toy bear)

     But mommies are the best of all

     To hug and kiss when you are small.

          (Give a big hug and kiss)

Flannel - Five Little Ducks

Book - I Love My Mommy by Giles Andreae

Goodbye Song - Goodbye, so long, farewell my friend

Craft - handprint flower craft (already assembled)

It was a lot of fun and I hope they let me volunteer in the future!

Jessica

Back at the Library Again!

After 4 years staying home, I am back at the library doing storytime! I loved it! I am filling in for only 2 storytimes, as a volunteer, but I am hoping that means more involvement over the summer.

I got there about an hour early to set up. Didn't need that long, but it was nice talking with the branch manager about library stuff! And the awesome thing about our conversation...he offered to write a letter of recommendation and/or be a reference. I also plan on helping him with the library scrapbook.

The storytime was great. A mouse theme. All I had to prepare was the book selection. The librarian had the craft arranged, as well as the flannel story. Here is what I did today:

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Hello Song

“Clap and Sing Hello!” (Tune: Farmer in the Dell)
We clap and sing hello,
We clap and sing hello,
With our friends at storytime,
We clap and sing hello!
(Wave and sing hello; stomp and sing hello.)

Book - A New House for Mouse by Petr Horacek

Song - Hickory Dickory Dock

Hickory Dickory Dock
Hickory dickory dock (run fingers up legs)
The mouse ran up the clock (run fingers up body)
The clock struck one
The mouse ran down
Hickory dickory dock
...the clock struck two (clap twice) - the mouse said boo!

...the clock struck three (clap3 times) ...the clock struck four (clap4 times)
- the mouse said whee! - there is no more
(clap hands once over head) (run fingers down body)
(run fingers down legs)

Book - If You Give A Mouse A Cookie

Flannel - Lunch by Denise Fleming

Book - As Quiet As A Mouse by Hilda Offen

Goodbye Song - Goodbye, so long, farewell my friend

Craft - mouse mask (already assembled)

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Here is a picture that my friend snapped of me.

Farm Activity Trays

Here are the activities we are doing this month, with a farm theme. Every morning at 10am, Leo and I work on these, then, in the afternoon after Gwyneth is home, we all work in here again. We also have a ton of different farm themed apps and TV shows/movies. We have also gone on a field trip to the zoo, which has a farm animal area.

Creating a Montessori Inspired Playroom

Since my Mother-in-law, the Montessori teacher, has moved in, she has really motivated me to create a learning area for my kids. Space is tight since now the kids share a room, she has the 3rd room, and the kids have so many toys from Christmas and their birthdays. So we set our sights on the front room, which has been a computer room. Well, the computer has no other location to be except the dining room, and we didn't want to do that. So, we are keeping the PC and office supplies, just moving them into a corner. I hope to get shelves installed above the desk for office supplies.

For shelves, I found some tall ones on Craigslist for $10 each, a steal. They are great. We want to get fabric bins for the upper shelves to put extra learning materials into.

I think we will get another shelf unit, a low one, then relocate the bean bag chair and a rug into there. These are our shelves so far and some close-ups of the jobs themselves.

Have a great day!

Jess