Dinosaurs VS. Tea Party

I might be 31 years old, but I do LOVE dinosaurs. The newest Jurassic Park movie releases this Friday, and I am as excited as a kid on Christmas morning. This means I’m a sucker for anything Dinosaurs. I figured a Dinosaur program would be popular, but I wanted a larger appeal, so I threw in a tea party because…..Why not?!

This was a really fun program to plan. Most of my crafts were tea party focused.

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Majority of activities were dinosaur focused.

Create a Dinosaur with toilet paper tubes.

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Dinosaur Eggs. This was probably the most popular station and definitely the messiest. The eggs were also very easy to make. Recipe.

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Tea Party with Water Beads

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Cave Paintings. I figured this was a nice bridge between the dinosaur aspect and the tea party era.

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Finally, we had a guest appearance….

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My coworker and I both agreed that the purchase of this costume was two thumbs up!

Overall: This was a huge hit for our community. I believe we had over 100 people attend. Clean-up was an event itself. I would ALWAYS recommend tarps for messy activities. Way easier to clean-up versus picking up tiny pieces.

Party – Preschool

Introduction	Good Morning
Action	Birthdays If your birthday is in January, turn around. If your birthday is in February, touch the ground. If your birthday is in March, march along. If your birthday is in April, sing a song. If your birthday is in May, wiggle your nose. If your birthday is in June, shake your toes. If your birthday is in July, jump up high. If your birthday is in August, reach the sky. If your birthday is in September, tap your shoe. If your birthday is in October, call out “Boo!” If your birthday is in November, tickle your ears. If your birthday is in December, give three cheers. (hip, hip, hooray!)Source: Sunflower Stortyime
Flannel or counting rhyme	Candy Five little candies on the shelf at the store. CRUNCH [I act like I’m eating one and then put it behind the felt board]… and then there were four.Four little candies, sweet as could be. CRUNCH… and then there were three. Three little candies, red, pink, and blue. CRUNCH… and then there were two. Two little candies, melting in the sun. CRUNCH… and then there was one. One little candy, looking so yummy. CRUNCH… they’re all in my tummy Source: Abby the Librarian
Book	Everyone Loves Cupcake by Kelly DiPucchio
Sign Language	Cake
Action Rhyme	Make a Wish Big birthday cake (make huge circle with arms) Ice cream in a dish (cup hands) Here are the candles (wiggle fingers on one hand) Now make a wish! (blow and make fingers into a fist) Source: Library Village
Action Song	Happy Birthday Happy Birthday to me Happy Birthday to me Happy birthday dear MEEEEE Happy birthday to meSource: I can’t remember.
Book	The Dinosaurs are Having a Party by Gareth P. Jones
Action Song	Balloons This is the way we blow our balloons Blow, blow, blow (pretend to blow) This is the way we break our balloons Oh! Oh! Oh! (clap 3 times) Source: Perry Public Library
Dance Song	Cupid Shuffle by Kidsplay
Dance Song	Chicken Dance
Closing Songs	ABC, Count to 20
Goodbye Song	Skidamarink

Craft: The kids made their own birthday cake crown. The picture below is the inspiration. Unfortunately, I cannot locate the original source.

Party – Toddlers

Introduction	Hello Hello!
Opening Rhyme	Balloon I’m going to blow up this party balloon And never, never stop. I’ll blow and blow and blow and blow and POP! (Hands make the shape of the balloon and get bigger, then clap loudly on the pop.)Source: AnnesLibraryLife
Book	Puppy Pool Party!: An Underwater Dogs Adventure by Seth Casteel
Flannel	Candy Five little candies on the shelf at the store. CRUNCH [I act like I’m eating one and then put it behind the felt board]… and then there were four.Four little candies, sweet as could be. CRUNCH… and then there were three. Three little candies, red, pink, and blue. CRUNCH… and then there were two. Two little candies, melting in the sun. CRUNCH… and then there was one. One little candy, looking so yummy. CRUNCH… they’re all in my tummy Source: Abby the Librarian
Book	Where is Baby’s Birthday Party by Karen Katz
Nursery Rhyme	Patty Cake Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, baker’s man. Bake me a cake as fast as you can Pat it, roll it and mark it with a B Put it in the oven for baby and me.
Traditional 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: Mel’s Desk
Sign Language	Cake
Action Rhyme	Jell-O in the Bowl I sang this to the tune of “A Hunting We Will Go.” We started out slow and with each repetition got faster and faster!Jell-O in the bowl, (cup hands and wiggle around) Jell-O in the bowl. Wibble Wobble Wibble Wobble Jell-O in the bowl.Cookies in the jar, (form “jar” with hands and shake) Cookies in the jar, Shake ‘em up, Shake ‘em up, Cookies in the jar, Candles on the cake, (hold up ten fingers) Candles on the cake, Blow ‘em out, (“blow out” fingers) Blow ‘em out, Candles on the cake. Credit: Awesome Storytime
Action Song	Birthday Cake Birthday Cake Birthday Cake Frosting galore Frosting galore Count the pretty candles Count the pretty candles Blow them out Blow them out Source: ME!
Dance Song	Around and Around by by Miss Carole
Dance Song	Chicken Dance
Traditional Song	ABC, Count to 15
Goodbye Song	Skidamarink

Craft: We made birthday cake crowns. This picture (I cannot find the original source anymore) was the inspiration for our craft. However, we had stickers and foamies for the kids to decorate their cakes.

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