Preschool: Bugs and Mud

IntroductionWelcome by Miss Carole
Daily ReportMonth, Date, Day, Season, Weather
Book 
Imaginary RhymeMud Walk
Have kids put on their pretend boot and start to walk to an imaginary puddle of mud. Have them step in the mud and become “stuck”.
Try to pull their boots out of the mud, but their hands get stuck.
Knees.
Head.
All the way to floor.
Adapted from a rhyme in The Mailbox.
Book 
Action RhymeFlies Fly
The fly flew over my head.
The fly flew under my chin.
The fly flew between my feet.
The fly flew down my nose.
The fly flew beside my cheek.
The fly flew beneath my eyes.
The fly flew in front of my tummy.
The fly flew above my eyebrows.
The fly landed on my right hand.
The fly blew behind my left knee.
The fly flew up my whole body.
Source: The Mailbox Bugs

Each kid received a popsicle stick with a stamp of a fly. They moved the stick around based on the rhyme.
Movement ActivitySnail, Worm, Cricket
Using bug cards, have kids practice moving like the bug on the card. Slowly increase the speed of the switching of the cards as kids become more comfortable with the movement. Source: The Mailbox
MovementSurprise!
I am a little caterpillar. (have kids curl)
In my cocoon, I go to sleep. (make sleeping sounds)
And I won’t move about for days! (stop moving)
But I know I’ll surprise you soon.
And do you know just why? (yell why!)
When the time is right for me, I’ll be a butterfly! (Burst out) Source: Adapted the gross motor movement from The Mailbox.
CreativityMake a Bug
Hand each kid a bag with play-dough, pipe-cleaners, and eyeballs. Have them make their own bug.
Closing SongsABC’s and Counting to 10.
Goodbye songSkidamarink By Old Town School of Folk Music

Craft:

Toddlers: Bugs and Mud

IntroductionHello Everybody by Miss Carole
Daily ReportMonth, Season, Weather
Yoga Move / ASLDead Bug
Book 
Nursery RhymeShoo Fly, Don’t Bother Me
Shoo fly, don’t bother me. Shoo fly, don’t bother me.
Shoo fly, don’t bother me, ‘cause I belong to somebody!  
I feel, I feel,
I feel like the morning star.
I feel, I feel,
I  feel like the morning star.  
Shoo fly, don’t bother me. Shoo fly, don’t bother me.
Shoo fly, don’t bother me, ‘cause I belong to somebody!

I handed out popsicle that had a stamp of the fly at the end of it. The kids made the popsicles fly around.
Book 
Action RhymeCaterpillar Caterpillar
Tune: Frere Jacques
Caterpillar.
Caterpillar.
On the floor.
On the floor.
First you wiggle this way.
Then you wiggle that way.
Crawl, crawl, crawl.
Crawl, crawl, crawl.
Slight adaption from Elizabeth McKinnon’s Poem.
Action RhymeThe Spider Spins Its Web
Tune: Farmer in the Dell
The spider spins its web,
The spider spins its web,
Round and round it goes,
The spider spins its web.  

The spider catches flies,
The spider catches flies,
Stuck in sticky webs,
The spider catches flies.  

The spider runs around,
The spider runs around,
Up, down, all around.
The spider catches runs around.  

The spider climbs a wall.
The spider climbs a wall.
Creeping quietly,
The spider climbs a wall.
Source:Twinkl
Color Recognition ActivityBugs in the Grass
Hand out different color bugs to the kids. When I call a color, have the kids place their bug in the grass.
Source: The Mailbox
Caregiver ActivityWhat’s in the Mud?!
Hand each child a playdough and a few items. Have the kids work on hiding items and then finding them again.
Closing SongsABC’s and Counting to 10.
Goodbye songSkidamarink By Old Town School of Folk Music

Craft:

Interactive Movie Script: The Minecraft

Throughout the Movie:

Whenever this happens…Do this!
Someone combines the orb and crystal.Combine your blocks together.
Minecraft World switches between night and day.Hold up your sun or moon die-cut.
Garbage Man wears sunglasses.Put your sunglasses on.
Dennis receives a bone.Eat a bone.
Malgosha executes a pig.Squeal like a pig.
Someone says, “General Chungus.”Shout, “CHUNGUS!”



Follow Along with the Movie:

When this happens…Do this!
Steve says he yearns for the mines.Yell, “We yearn for the mines!”
The bidding war for the storage unit.Yell out how much you would pay for it.
Henry puts on his name tag.Put your name tag on.
Henry is about to start his jetpack.Countdown with the kids.
Chuggy the Chip falls off the building.Make exploding sounds.
Steve sings “Steve’s Lava Chicken.”Sing along.
Steve shows how to craft weapons.Create your own weapon idea on your scratch art.
Steve shows Garbage Man the diamonds.Hold up your diamond.
Steve and Garbage Man fight the chicken and baby zombie.Sling your chicken.
Travis shoots the iron golem.Yell, “Travis!”
Malgosha tries to sneak attack Steve while dying.Slowly melt all the way to floor.
The villager asks Marlene to marry him.Reply “yes” in villager talk.

Minecraft Props — 50 sets

 PropQuantity per person
Magnetic Blocks (100)2
Moon/Sun Die-Cut Sets (50)1
Sunglasses (50)1
Graham Cracker Bones ()3
Diamond (50)1
Name Tag (50)1
Scratch Art Set (50)1
Chicken Sling (50)1

Jurassic Trail

Our summer reading kick-off was an after-hours library party! We took over the whole library and provided multiple stations and activities for families.

Decorations: We spent the week decorating. We have learned that breaking it up by chunks helps save our sanity.

Our first task was the ceiling. We purchased dinosaur pictures and swirls to hang among our year-round stars. To help create dimension, I created asteroids.

We took inspiration from Jurassic World and had dinosaurs hiding around the children’s area.

For the library’s entrance, we placed our inflatable dinosaurs. We found out too late that one of the dinosaurs was a balloon. We placed it on a ledge to prevent patron interaction. Finally, we placed dinosaur prints all over the entrance to appear as if the dinosaurs had run into the library.

We had a variety of activities:

Station 1: Large Meeting Room

Dinosaur movie: Ice Age Dawn of the Dinosaurs.

Jurassic Snack: Prehistoric Popcorn


Photo Booth


Glitter Tattoos

Craft: Dinosaur Fossils

Station 2: Children’s Department

Scavenger Hunt

Choose your dinosaur

Dinosaur Craft: Triceratops


Dinosaur Egg Hunt


Photo Op: Dino Sam
Kids had the opportunity to take a picture with Dino Sam at set hours. I was unable to snag a picture.

Station 3: Adult Department

Safari Hats

Craft: 3-D Dinosaurs


Dinosaur Bracelets


Amber Stone


Dinosaur Eggs

Balloon Twisting

DJ
We had a DJ blasting music for the entire program. They had ribbon sticks for the kids to use.

Station 4: Patio

Swamp Bubbles!

Preschool Pretend and Play: Lambs and Sheep

OpeningWelcome by Miss Carole
Vocal ActivityI Baa, You Baa
I was going to have the kids copy how I made the baa sound. However, we identified what a baby sheep, baby goats, and baby llamas are called. We also worked on their sounds.
CalendarWhat is the day of the week, month, season and weather.
ASLLearn sheep in ASL.
Interactive BookThe Sheep Needs Your Help! (A Draw & Erase Adventure) by David LaRochelle
 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.  
This is up, up, up.
This is down, down, down.
This is square, square, square.
This is round, round, round.
This is left, left, left.
This is right, right, right
This is a great big hug and a kiss goodnight.  
Sing it once without sign language. Add sign language the second time.
Source:
Identification RhymeNaming the Baby
Tune: The Muffin Man
What do we call a baby sheep,
A baby sheep,
a baby sheep?
What do we call a baby sheep?
It’s called a lamb!
Source: Sing a Song of Seasons by The Mailbox
Book 
Gross Motor ActivitySheep Lacing

I handed out this template with a piece of yarn and a Q-tip. The adults tied the yarn on to the Q-tip. The kids then laced their sheep. I played Lenny Pearce’s Baa Baa Black Sheep while caregivers work with their kids.
Counting ActivityI’ve Lost My Sheep
I hung up six different colored sheep around the room (even on the ceiling)! I would name a certain color and the kids had to tell me where it was.
Dance SongKid’s Preschool Nursery Rhymes Song Dubstep Techno by DJ Vyral
Cool Down SongAlphabet Song; Count to 12
Goodbye SongSkidamarink by Old Town School of Folk Music

Craft: Out Like a Lamb

Tales for Two: Lambs & Sheep

OpeningHello Everybody, Yes Indeed by Miss Carole
Warm-Up ActivityThe Very Hungry Caterpillar: What Can You Do Game?
CalendarWhat is the weather and season?
ASLWe learned the sign for sheep.
Weekly RhymeThis 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.  
This is up, up, up.
This is down, down, down.
This is square, square, square.
This is round, round, round.
This is left, left, left.
This is right, right, right.  
This is a great big hug and a kiss goodnight.
Sing it once without sign langue. Add sign language the second time.
Book Never Touch the Lazy Lambs by Cara Jenkins
Vocal RecognitionWhat animal am I?
I made different animal sounds and had the kids tell me if it was a lamb or a different animal.
Gross Motor SkillsFind the Sheep Worksheet
I adapted a Canva sheet for this project. There were several different farm animals, but the kids had to find all the sheep.
Fine Motor SkillsI’ve Lost My Sheep!
I hung up six different colored sheep around the room (even on the ceiling)! I would name a certain color and the kids had to tell me where it was.
Activity (with Scarf)Winds and Breezes
I handed out scarves (could use streamers) and kids demonstrate strong lion winds and soft lamb breezes.
Dance SongBa Ba Black Sheep by Lenny Pearce
Cool DownAlphabet; Count to 10
Goodbye SongSkidamarink by Old Town School of Folk Music

Craft: Out Like a Lamb

MakerSquare: Tea Light Planets

Description: Create a mini tea light planet!
Warning: Paint may stain clothing and furniture.

Supplies:
* Tealight Candles
* Ping Pong Ball
* Paint
* Bowl
* Popsicle Stick

Directions:
1. Gently drizzle paint around the provided bowl.
2. Place the ping pong ball in the paint and roll it around until fully coated.
3. Allow the ping pong ball to dry completely.
4. Once dry, identify the hole in the ball and carefully place it on the tealight candle.
5. Turn on the tealight to illuminate your painted planet.

Interactive Movie: Trolls Band Together

Throughout the Movie:

Whenever this happens…Do this!
A Troll Boy Band Sings.Dance.
You know the words to a song.Sing along.
Someone gets their hair done.Put on a hair tie.
A troll uses a sticky hand.Play with your sticky hand.
Velvet and Veneer steal troll magic.Cluck your tongue.
Tiny Diamond takes out his pacifier.Suck your ring pop.


Follow Along with the Movie:

When this happens…Do this!
Floyd give Branch his vest.Give someone your green leaf.
John Dory interrupts the wedding.Yell “STOP THE WEDDING”!
Tiny Diamond shows his learner’s permit.Make “beep, beep” sounds.
Spruce and Brandy talk about pink eye.Put on your eye patch.
Crimp is working and singing.Sing “9 to 5”.
The trolls say Burger or Bergen.Yell or Scream.
Poppy learns that Viva is her sister.Put on your flower sticker.
Floyd tries to escape.Spin and run in place.
Gristle and Bridget are being fed to the clown.Chant “Bergen, Bergen”.
Velvet and Veneer meet their fans.Pose with a friend.
Tiny Diamond complains about the blinker.Turn your flashlight on and off.
When BroZone does the arm wave.Do the arm wave with a friend.

Sensory Sprouts: Wheelie Paint


Description: Create your own art piece using paint and a toy car.
Warning: Acrylic paint may stain clothing and furniture. This is a messy activity.


Supplies:
Paper
Paint
Toy Car


Directions:

1. Pour paint in a container large enough for the toy car to fit in.

2. Dip the toy car’s wheels into the paint.

3. Place the car on the paper and push the car across paper.

4. Try different rolling techniques with the car for different paint strokes.

5. Let the paper air dry.

Suggestions:

*Place the paper and the car with paint in a container and tip the container from side-to-side for an uncontrolled wheel session.

*Add another color of paint to add another layer of color.

*Place a small dab of paint on the paper and try to have the car roll through it.

Preschool Pretend & Play: Flamingos

Opening SongWelcome by Carole Peterson
CalendarWe reviewed the date, day, month, season, and weather.
Animal Facts and Yoga PoseFlamingo Facts
ASL & Yoga PoseFlamingo & Flamingo Pose
Book 
Silly RhymeThe Flamingo Rhyme
Tune: Are You Sleeping
Flamingos flapping, flamingos flapping,
Big pink wings, big pink wings.
Flying through the sky, flying through the sky.
Time to land! Time to land!  

Flamingos standing, flamingos standing,
On one foot, one one foot,
Sleeping while they’re standing, sleeping while they’re standing,
Time to wake! Time to Wake!
Source: S.J. Little
Book 
Number RecognitionFlamingo Legs
Place the Flamingo up on the board and build the flamingo’s legs based off the number on its wing. If time, have the kids tell you to go from shortest to tallest.
SequencingLifecyle of a Flamingo
Have the kids help you create the life cycle of a flamingo.
ActivityFlamingo Bingo (Letters or Numbers)
I handed out bingo sheets and dot markers. Once a kid has a bingo, kids would stand up on one leg and squawk until all the kids were standing.

I created my own bingo cards.
Dance SongDomingo Flamingo by Laura Doherty
Dance SongFlamingo Flamenco by London Rhymes
Cool DownWe melt all the way down to floor and did our alphabet and counting.
Goodbye SongSkidamarink by Old Town School of Folk Music

Craft: