
Sensory Sprouts: “I Spy” Cotton Ball Weather

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. |
MERMAID COVE:
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.
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.
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.
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
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