Sensory Sprouts: “I Spy” Cotton Ball Weather

Supplies:

· Paper

· Cotton Balls

· Feather

· Button

· Foamie

· Dinosaur Die-Cut

· Shape Die-Cut

· Glue

Directions:

· Have your child stretch and fluff out all the cotton balls. The child can then glue down their cotton balls to make a cloud on the piece of paper.

· Either the child or adult can then glue or place the rest of the objects on to the cloud.

· Have your child work on identifying each object. If the objects are not glued down to the cloud, you can rearrange them for another round of “I Spy”.

MakerSquare: Fly Swatter Painting

Supplies:

· Paint

· Poster Board

· Fly Swatter

Directions

· Place the poster board on a flat and sturdy surface.

· Pour the desired amount of paint dots all over the poster board. Think of the paint as little flies.

· Have your child swat at the “paint flies” to create a new piece of art.

· Let the artwork dry once your child is done painting.

Sensory Sprouts: Earth Day Planets

**Create your own mini Earth planets.** Source.

Supplies:

· Cotton Pads

· Pipette

· Green Concentrated Watercolor

· Blue Concentrated Watercolor

Directions:

· Add water to the green and blue watercolor containers. Stir well.

· Using the pipette, let your child dribble the blue and green paint to create an Earth.

Makersquare: Water Bead Painting

**Create your own water bead painting inspired by waves.**

Supplies:

· Cups

· Water Beads

· Paint

· Poster Board

· Box or Container

Directions:

· Place your water beads in water and let them sit overnight.

· Once your water beads have fully grown, remove the excess water and divide your water beads into the two cups.

· Dump one paint color into each cup and mix the paint well with the water beads.

· Place your poster board into a box or container with sides.

· Dump each cup of water beads into the container and roll the beads around to create a piece of art.

· Try to roll the beads in way to create a water effect.

Sensory Sprouts: Puffer Fish

This was inspired by glove bunny craft on tiktok/facebook. However, I wanted to make my own version of it that fit our summer reading theme. A Puffer Fish!

Supplies:

· Cup

· Glove

· Eyeball Sticker

· Sticker Jewels

· Straw

· Rubber band

· Markers (not provided)

Directions:

· Decorate the bottom of the cup with markers.

· Lay the glove flat and place the eyeball sticker on the thumb of the glove.

· Decorate the rest of the glove with the sticker jewels.

· Place the glove carefully over the top of the cup.

· Secure the glove to the cup with rubber band.

· Find the hole in the cup and slide the straw into the hole.

· Carefully blow the puffer fish up!

Swashbuckling Treasure Hunt

Description:

We did a scavenger hunt around our library. Kids received a treasure map of the various areas to explore. Once they visited a location a performer or employee would give them a sticker verifying they had explored that area.

My coworker created this treasure map with all the areas for exploration.

MERMAID COVE:

We hire a local performer group almost every season. They are fantastic! The first station was the Mermaid location. The mermaid sprayed glitter into the kids’ hair.

BOOTY ISLAND:

I made a semi circle of six different buckets. In each bucket was sand that was hidden with gems and coins. Kids were able to find a coin and gemstone to take home. I did a provide two buckets of water for rinsing off hands.

PIRATE BAY:

We had two pirates who made balloon swords for the kids. The only thing I would change would be putting this station inside. The black balloons would get too hot and pop.

JOLLY ROGER PORT:

This was inside our storytime room. Kids were able to enjoy the tattoo lounge and enjoy the catch of the day with Shark Bait.

CRAFTY COVE:

This was inside our big meeting room. My coworker found a parrot craft and an ocean beaded necklace craft. We did construct kits. This allowed families to either to bring home their craft or do it at the library. It also controlled how much supplies were used.

EMOTIONS – PRESCHOOL

Introduction	Welcome by Miss Carole
Daily Report	Month, Date, Day, Season, Weather
Book	Crankenstein by Samantha Berger
Recognition Rhyme	Stress Ball 1-2-3-4-5 Squeeze the ball and slowly count to 5. Then relax your hand and count to 5. I handed out pom-poms and we used these for squeezing.
Book	The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfelt
Action Rhyme	Emotion Action Song If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands. If you’re mad and you know it, cross your arms. If you’re frustrated and you know it, stomp your feet. If you’re excited and you know it, jump up and down. If you’re sad and you know it, make a frown. If you’re scared and you know it, hide your face. Source: www.notimeforflashcards.com
Action Game	Red Light and Green Light
Activity	Happy and Sad Draw a happy face on one side of the plate and a sad face on the plate. Give examples and the kids hold up their plates to tell me if they are happy or sad.
Dance Song	Run Baby Run by Casper Babypants
Dance Song	Can’t Stop The Feeling by Justin Timberlake
Dance Song	Stretching and Counting” Touch the floor and count to four 1-2-3-4 Stretch up high and count to five 1-2-3-4-5 Now let’s sit and count to six 1-2-3-4-5-6 Source: Lady Librarian’s Literacy, Lifestyle, and Lookbook Log
Closing Songs	ABCs and Counting
Goodbye song	Skidamarink By Old Town School of Folk Music

Craft: A feelings light. Kids can help communicate how they are feeling by utilizing red, yellow or the green light.

EMOTIONS – TODDLERS

Introduction	Put Your Little Foot By Miss Carole
Daily Report	Day and Weather Report
Book	Duck & Goose, How Are You Feeling? by Tad Hills
Recognition Rhyme	Boo Boo One, two I’ve got a boo-boo Three, four, oh, it’s sore! Five, six, blow it a kiss Seven, eight, put the bandage on straight Nine, ten now it’s better again! Source: King County Library System I handed out Band-Aids and the kids were able to put on it on their boo-boos.
Weekly Rhyme	This is Big, Big, Big This is big, big, big. This is small, small, small. This is short, short, short. This is tall, tall, tall. This is fast, fast, fast. This is slow, slow, slow. This is yes, yes, yes. This is no, no, no. Source: Melissa Depper, a children’s librarian in the Denver metro area We do it twice. Once with our traditional hand movements and the second time with ASL.
Book	Glad Monster, Sad Monster by Ed Emberley
Weekly Rhyme	Clap Your Hands Clap, clap, clap your hands Clap your hands with me. Clap your hands let me see Clap your hands with me. Beep, beep, beep your nose. Touch, touch, touch your shoulders. Tap, tap, tap your knees. Shake, shake, shake your feet. Source: Found this on another librarian’s site years ago.
Action Rhyme	I Have Feelings Tune: Frere Jacques I have feelings; I have feelings. Look at me, and you’ll see. Sometimes I feel _____, Really, really ______. Look at me, and you’ll see. Source: Totally For Twos
Action Rhyme	CRY, CRY WHEN YOU’RE SAD Tune: “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” Cry, cry when you’re sad. Just between me and you. Don’t be afraid to shed a tear. It’s the thing to do. Source: Preschool Express
Action Rhyme	I’ll Hug You Tune: The Farmer in the Dell I’ll hug you When you’re sad I’ll hug you when you’re glad, I’ll hug you When you’re feeling scared, I’ll hug you When you’re mad. Source: Busy Bees: Fun for Two’s and Three’s
Dance Song	Run Baby Run by Casper Babypants
Dance Song	If You’re Happy and Know It by Blippi
Closing Songs	ABC, Count to 5
Goodbye song	Say Goodbye by Miss Carole

Craft: A feelings light. Kids can help communicate how they are feeling by utilizing red, yellow or the green light.

SCHOOL- PRESCHOOL

Introduction	Welcome by Miss Carole
Daily Report	Month, Date, Day, Season, Weather
Book	The Pigeon Has to Go to School by Mo Willems
Recognition Rhyme	What’s in My Backpack? What’s in my backpack on this first day of school? I’ll definitely need a writing tool! (pencil) If I want to draw a picture for my mother, I’ll need something with different colors. (crayons) When I need to cut in a straight line, These will do the job just fine. (scissors) The paper flowers need to stick on a background of blue, What item do I need to choose? (glue) I’ve worked all morning and my tummy rumbles, If I don’t eat soon, I’ll surely grumble! (lunch) Source: More Storytime Magic by Kathy MacMillan
Book	Take Your Pet to School by Linda Ashman
Action Rhyme	Got a Pencil (to the tune of Clementine) Got a pencil, got a pencil, got a pencil on my [nose, toe, etc.] First I lost it, then I found it Got a pencil on my [nose, toe, etc.] Source: The Buckeye Librarian I changed it from feather to pencil. I gave all the kids a pencil die-cut.
Action Rhyme	Monster School Participants will respond to all questions by waving their arms and shouting ‘Aarrgghh!” Teacher: One plus one equals what? Audience: “Aarrgghh!” Teacher: What color is the sun? Audience: “Aarrgghh!” Teacher: How do you spell cat? Audience: “Aarrgghh!” Teacher: What is the nation’s capital? Audience: “Aarrgghh!” Source: 200+ Original and Adapted Story Program Activities by Robert Reid
Activity with Music	We worked on letter recognition with dot markers. I utilized some sheets from this source.
Dance Song	Ring Around the Rosie
Dance Song	Put Your Finger in the Air by Carole Stephens
Dance Song	Stretching and Counting” Touch the floor and count to four 1-2-3-4 Stretch up high and count to five 1-2-3-4-5 Now let’s sit and count to six 1-2-3-4-5-6 Source: Lady Librarian’s Literacy, Lifestyle, and Lookbook Log
Closing Songs	ABC’s and Counting to Ten
Goodbye song	Skidamarink

Craft: Growing a Jeweled Rose

SCHOOL- TODDLER

Introduction	Put Your Little Foot By Miss Carole
Daily Report	Day, Weather
Recognition Rhyme	What’s in the Yellow Box What’s in the lunch box, lunch box What’s in the lunch box? I don’t know, Let’s find out! Source: King County Library System This was originally a color rhyme, but I changed it up for kids to recognize foods.
Weekly Rhyme	This is Big, Big, Big This is big, big, big. This is small, small, small. This is short, short, short. This is tall, tall, tall. This is fast, fast, fast. This is slow, slow, slow. This is yes, yes, yes. This is no, no, no. Source: Melissa Depper, a children’s librarian in the Denver metro area We do it twice. Once with our traditional hand movements and the second time with ASL.
Book	The Pigeon Has to Go To School by Mo Willems
Weekly Rhyme	Clap Your Hands Clap, clap, clap your hands Clap your hands with me. Clap your hands let me see Clap your hands with me. Beep, beep, beep your nose. Touch, touch, touch your shoulders. Tap, tap, tap your knees. Shake, shake, shake your feet.
Nursery Rhyme	Mary Had a Little Lamb
Action Rhyme	The Sharing Song Tune: London Bridge I am learning how to share, How to share, how to share. I am learning how to share. This heart is for you. Source:Totally for Twos by the Mailbox I had hearts that kids held. They would then pass it to their caregiver or another child.
Dot Activity	We did a dot marker activity that worked on letter recognition.
Dance Song	Head Shoulders Knees and Toes
Dance Song	Wheels on the Bus by Cocomelon
Cool Down Activity	High and Low Here’s my little hand. (hold out hand) Watch me make it go First up so high, (reach hand up) Then down so low. (reach hand down). Source: Busy Bees: Fun for Two’s and Three’s
Closing Songs	ABC, Count to 5
Goodbye song	Say Goodbye by Miss Carole

Craft: School Bus