Session 1: Let’s Love Books! (Summer 2017)
SAMPLE STORYTIME:
This is a suggested curriculum. You may choose different books if the suggested books are not available, or if you find a book you’d rather use as long as it is available in the BPL collection, and it stays true to the program/session goals.
*TIP: If you can’t get a copy before you start to plan your session, you can often find a read-aloud of a popular children’s book on YouTube, or view some of the pages on amazon.com.
Setup:Take some time to arrange the room to your liking. Ask the branch staff for help if you need to find anything. When setting up, think through the whole program from arrival to giveaways. Each program room lends itself to a different setup, but thoughtful layout helps everything go more smoothly. It might help to lay out craft supplies ahead of time or prepare surveys and giveaway books (giveaways for last 3 sessions only). Don’t forget to make a book display of books related to the day’s themes, so that parents and children have ideas about what to check out (if the book display gets distracting, you can cover it up until the end of the program). Covering craft supplies can also help minimize distractions.
*TIP: for some tips on how to make your programs inclusive for children with Special Needs, see the RSK Inclusion Checklist in the Wiki.
Introductions:Introduce yourself and the program. If it is a small group, have everyone introduce themselves, including parents and caregivers. Let the children know that you love to read, and ask them questions about their reading—where do they like to read? When? What kind of books?
Library Outreach:If a member of the library staff has time, introduce them to the group and ask them to speak briefly about how to get a library card and check out books. That way the parents will have someone at the desk that they feel comfortable approaching on their way out. If no one is available, arm yourself with some flyers and calendars from the information desk and introduce parents with further questions to the librarians on duty. Make sure to plug Summer Reading & the BPL Family Facebook page!
To the adults:Parents and caregivers, welcome to Ready, Set, Kindergarten! This is a six-week program (remind them of the dates). Each week wewill read books, sing songs and do fun activities. We will talk about all of the fun things that parents and children can do together to help children get ready to read and to develop the skills that help with all kinds of learning, including science and math!
Each week has a theme. Our first week’s theme is READING. READING withchildren is the single most important way to help them get ready to read themselves. Children who love books become stronger readers. We have chosen books, songs and rhymes that help foster children’s LOVE of reading. One way to make sure your kids love reading is to choose books they’ll love – books about their interests and books with funny characters are a good place to start!
You may want to give parents a SONG SHEET at the beginning of your session to engage them more in the song and rhyme portion. Fill in the template with the songs you choose.
Welcome song: "Hello Everyone"
Tune: "Mary Had a Little Lamb"
Hello everyone, how are you? (Wave to everyone)
How are you? How are you?
Hello everyone, how are you?
How are you today?
Hello everyone, clap your hands! (Clap hands.)
Clap your hands! Clap your hands!
Hello everyone, clap your hands!
Clap your hands, today!
Hello everyone, stomp your feet! (Stomp feet.)
Stomp your feet! Stomp your feet!
Hello everyone, stomp your feet!
Stomp your feet, today!
Hello everyone, touch your nose. (Touch nose).
Touch your nose. Touch your nose.
Hello everyone, touch your nose.
Touch your nose, today.
Alternate Welcome 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.)
To the adults:Try to read with your child every day. Pick a time when you and your child are relaxed. Many parents read to children when they first wake up, at bedtime, breakfast time, or while they are on the bus or subway. There is no right way--do what works for you.
Picture Book:Woodpecker Wham! by April Pulley Sayre
(Alternate book: Raindrops Roll, by April Pulley Sayre
To the adults: Choose books about the world around you. Kids love reading about things they see in their neighborhood, park, or trips to the zoo. Books about the natural world are a great way to inspire outdoor play this summer!
*TIP: a great display idea is to display books by the same author that the parents can check out that day. If no books by the same author are available, choose books that accomplish the same goals as the books in this curriculum.
Action Rhyme: Little Bird
Little bird, little bird,
Fly around,
Up to the sky,
Down to the ground.
Little bird, little bird,
Flap your wings.
Open your beak
And sweetly sing.
Little bird, little bird,
Fly to your nest.
Now it is time
To take a rest
Picture book:Tap the Magic Tree, by Christie Matheson
(alternate book: We Planted a Tree, by Diane Muldrow
*TIP: for interactive books like Tap the Magic Tree, have kids make the movements in the air, rather than on the book This will work better in a group.
To the adults: Interactive books are great for getting kids talking! Choose books that encourage conversation and participation. Children learn more vocabulary when they’re actively involved in books.
Action Song: The Trees are Growing High
Tune: The Farmer in the Dell
The trees are growing high,
(Raise arms overhead, fingers touching.)
The trees are growing high.
With soil and rain and sunny days,
The trees are growing high.
The trees are growing roots,
(Bend over and touch floor.)
The trees are growing roots.
With soil and rain and sunny days,
The trees are growing roots.
The trees are growing bark,
(Run hands up and down sides.)
The trees are growing bark.
With soil and rain and sunny days,
The trees are growing bark.
Picture Book: Stick and Stone, by Beth Ferry
(Alternate suggestion: Stuck, by Oliver Jeffers)
To the adults:Choose books that rhyme! Rhyming helps children understand the rhythm of language, and teaches them word sounds. They are also fun and easy to read. You can set a book that rhymes to any tune!
Counting Rhyme: 5 Little Monkeys
“Five Little Monkeys Swinging From the Tree”
Five little monkeys, swinging from the tree
Teasing Mr. Crocodile, “You can’t catch me! No, you can’t catch me!”
Along comes Mr. Crocodile, as quiet as can be
And snatched that monkey out of that tree
(Four, Three, Two, One)
To the adults:Keep singing and rhyming. After each program, we will be giving you copies of the rhymes and songs that we share to take home with you. Young children learn rhymes and songs the best when they repeat them, sometimes over and over and over. Rhymes are a fun way to introduce children to fun vocabulary words of different body parts (like torso, earlobe, whistle, etc.). If you want a printout of any rhymes used in the session that aren’t on the take-home sheet, ask the program director where you can find them. We are happy to share!
Picture book:Not a Stick, by Antoinette Portis
Alternate suggestion: Not a Box by Antoinette Portis
To the adults:Books inspire us to create! Some books, like the one we just read, are a great way to inspire an art project using simple materials like a box, sticks from outside, or just crayons and paper.
For the kids: We saw so many interesting characters in our books today. What characters can you remember? Which character did you like the best? Today we are going to make masks. Perhaps you can make a mask of your favorite character. What did that character look like? Act like?
*You may switch out any of the suggested book for the giveaway book for this session: Llama Llama, Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney. If you read this book, you can give every family a copy beforehand and do a Shared Reading. Shared Readingis an interactivereadingexperience that occurs when children and parents join in or share thereadingof a book or other text while guided and supported by the teacher/librarian. The teacher explicitly models the skills of proficientreaders, includingreadingwith fluency and expression.
*TIP: for some transition tips, see the RSK Transition Tips document in the Wiki
Session 1: Create a Character Puppet
Materials:
· Wood puppets
· foam shapes
· feathers
· markers
· Crayons
· Paste
Practices: Reading, Talking, Playing
Process:
· As you read, call attention to the characters in the stories and ask the children questions: do they like the characters? What do they look like? What do they do in the story?
· As you explain the craft, ask them to think of a character from the story, or one of their favorite stories and then make a mask representing that character.
Extension activity: dramatic storytelling
o Have children take turns adding a line or two to a story you create together.
o Encourage them to use different voices and actions.
o After the story—talk about what happened, and who the characters were.
At Home: Encourage parents to use the masks at home for dramatic play.
Clean-up:Encourage everyone to help with clean-up.
Give the families theirtake home sheetor if you tailored this curriculum, use thetemplate for creating your own take-home sheet.
To the adults:Today we focused on the practice of sharedREADING, which gets children excited about books. Remember to read with your child everyday, and to keep your reading time fun and interactive. You can share stories rhymes, and songs as a part of everyday activities. We have five more sessions, so please come back again!
Closing song or rhyme: "The More We Get Together"
(learn the song here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQqbQwF5v5Y)
The more we get together
Together, together
The more we get together
The happier we'll be
Cause your friends are my friends
And my friends are your friends
The more we get together
The happier we'll be
Alternate closing song: "Tickle the Clouds"(source:Miss Meg’s Storytime)
Tickle the clouds
Tickle your toes
Turn around
Tickle your nose
Reach down low
Reach up high
The stories are over,
Wave bye-bye!
Overview:
Theme: READING
Practice: Reading
Readingtogether is the single most important way to help children get ready to read.Children who enjoy being read to, will be more likely to want to learn to read themselves.
Program goals:
· Welcome the families to the program (and possibly to the library).
· Discuss the early literacy practice of READING with the parents.
· Use Wordless books to allow children the opportunity to talk. Reading books without words allows children to practice narration.
· Share some books that the children will really love.
· Model sharing songs and rhymes.
· Explain to the parents that we will be exploring ways to learn and grow in everyday life.
Use books that depict kids really excited about reading or books the kids will love!
Suggested books:
Woodpecker Wham! by April Pulley Sayre
Tap the Magic Tree, by Christie Matheson
Stick and Stone, by Beth Ferry
Not a Stick, by Antoinette Portis
Alternate suggestions:
Shh! We Have a Plan, by Chris Haughton
Lola Loves Stories by Anna McQuinn
Wonder Bear by Tao Nyeu
Not a Stick by Antoinette Portis
Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin
Unicorn Thinks He’s Pretty Great by Bob Shea
We Found a Hat by Jon Klassen
I Am Invited to a Party! by Mo Willems
Do Cows Meow? By Salina Yoon
If You Give a Pig a Party by Laura Numeroff
The Pigeon Needs a Bathby Mo Willems
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Busby Mo Willems
Knuffle Bunnyby Mo Willems
Wild About Booksby Judy Sierra
The Midnight Library by Kazuno Kahara
The Eyes Game by Herve Tullet
Lola Reads with Leoby Anna McQuinn
Nino Wrestles the World by Yuyi Morales
Duck on a Bikeby David Shannon
Adventures of Sparrow Boyby Brian Pinkney
Book! By Kristine O’Connell George
It’s Hard to Be Five by Jamie Lee Curtis and Laura Cornell
Alternate Wordless/Near Wordless Suggestions:
Waveby Suzy Lee
Shadow by Suzy Lee
Up and Upby Shirley Hughes
A Ball for Daisyby Chris Raschka
Tuesdayby David Weisner
Flora and the Flamingoby Molly Idle
Pancakes for Breakfastby Tomie dePaola
Wonderbear by Tao Nyeu
Inside Outside by Lizi Boyd
Many of these titles should be in the branch's Storytime Collection, or easily located. You may need to put some books on hold to make sure they’re there for you. Plan ahead!