Preschool Pretend and Play: Cold Winter

Opening	Welcome by Miss Carole
Warm-Up Activity	Summer or Winter? I wore a variety of different clothing items. I also had a red and blue bucket. For each item, the kids would tell me if it went in the winter or summer bucket.
Calendar	What is the day of the week, month, season and weather.
ASL	The kids learned how to sign COLD. We then used it throughout the storytime.
Snowflake Fact	I taught the kids that snowflakes do not drop straight down. They actually tumble, swirl, and drift. I then asked kids to show me how they would move as a snowflake. We then talked about about how when snowflakes bump into each other, they stick together creating a bigger snowflake. They also move faster. We then slow and fast.
	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 langue. Add sign language the second time.
Winter Rhyme	This is big, big, big: Winter Version This is big, big, big! This is small, small, small. This is cold, cold, cold. This is hot, hot, hot. This is snow, snow, snow. This is wind, wind, wind. This is stomp, stomp, stomp. This is fall, fall, fall. Source: Adapted from the original rhyme.
Book	Cold Turkey by Corey Rosen Schwartz
Group Activity	Parachute with Snowballs and Scarves I had the kids play do parachute play first. Their objective was to try and make the snowballs and scarves bounce. The second time I had the kids sit under the parachute while the adults shook the parachute. I played the song Snowball Shenanigans by TirkTirik Kids
Action Rhyme	I’m an Icicle I’m a frozen icicle, Hanging in the sun. (stand straight) First I start to melt, Then I start to run. (sag body) Drip, drip, drip, drip. Melting can be fun! (slowly sink to the floor) Source: Fun for Two’s and Threes
Action Rhyme	I’m a Little Ice Cube Tune: I’m a Little Teapot I’m a little ice cube, Frosty and square. (outline shape with hands) I make things cold everywhere (shiver) If it gets too warm, I’d better watch out, (fan face with hand) Cause I will melt without a doubt! (slowly melt to floor) Source: King County Library System: Tell Me a Story:
Dance Song	Snowman Slide by the Kiboomers
Dance Song	Cold Feet Jig by TikTirik Kids
Dance Song	Blowing in the Wind by Stephanie Leavell
Cool Down Song	Alphabet Song; we count up to and down from 10
Goodbye Song	Skidamarink by Old Town School of Folk Music

January Craft: Winter Trees

Tales For Twos: Cold Winter

Opening	Hello Everybody, Yes Indeed by Miss Carole
Warm-Up Activity	The Very Hungry Caterpillar: What Can You Do Game? I rolled the dice three times.
Calendar	What is the weather and season?
ASL	We learned the sign language COLD. We then incorporated it throughout the storytime.
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. 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	Hush Little Trucker by Kim Norman
Recognition Activity	Will it Fit? I had an adult mitten with a variety of items. I had the kids guess what items would fit in the mitten.
Activity (with Scarf)	Five Dancing Snowflakes Five dancing snowflakes swirling all around! (show five fingers) The first one said, “I’m upside down!” (bend over and wave scarf through legs) The second one said, “I can do a little wiggle!” (wiggle with scarf) The third one said, “That makes me giggle!” (cover mouth with scarf and giggle) The fourth one said, “Watch me twirl through the sky!” (Twirl in a circle with scarf) The fifth one said, “Time to wave bye-bye!” (wave goodbye with scarf) And the five little snowflakes floated on down (slowly wiggle scarf towards the ground) And landed with their friends all over town. (lay scarf flat) Source: Adapted movements from original rhyme in The Mailbox
Dance Song (with scarves)	Jiggle Your Scarf by Judi Cranston
Group Activity	Parachute with Snowballs and Scarves I had the kids play do parachute play first. Their objective was to try and make the snowballs and scarves bounce. The second time I had the kids sit under the parachute while the adults shook the parachute.
Cool Down	Alphabet; Count up to and down from 5
Goodbye Song	Skidamarink by Old Town School of Folk Music

January Craft: Winter Trees

Winter (2016) – Preschool

Opening Song

Clap Everybody and Say Hello!

Clap everybody and say hello!
Clap everybody and say hello!
Clap everybody and say hello!
No matter what the weather!

Stomp everybody and say hello!
Stomp everybody and say hello!
Stomp everybody and say hello!
No matter what the weather!

Jump everybody and say hello!
Jump everybody and say hello!
Jump everybody and say hello!
No matter what the weather!

Books

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Do You Want to build a Snowman? by Calliope Glass
The Thing about Yetis by Vin Vogel
Polar Bear’s Underwear by Tupera Tupera

Flannel

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Flannel Mittens. Kids normally really like hide-n-seek games, so I just did a die-cut of different colored mittens. I hid the white snowball for a few rounds and then exchanged the white for the yellow snowball without knowing. We then talked about why we don’t eat yellow snow.

Themed Rhymes

This is the Way We Play in the snow

This is the way we stomp through the snow,
stomp through the snow,
stomp through the snow.
This is the way we stomp through the snow,
stomp through the snow,
when we go out to play.

This is the way we hop through the snow…
This is the way we spin through the snow…
This is the way we crawl through the snow…
This is the way we sit in the snow…
Source: Artsy Toddler Storytimes: A Year’s Worth of Ready-To-Go Programming by Carol Garnett Hopkins

Dance Little Snowflake
(with scarves)

Dance Little Snowflake.
(Dance)

Dance around the town.
(spin around)

Dance upon your tiptoes.
(walk on tiptoes)

Dance from side to side.
(sway side to side).

Twirling up and down, twirling up and down.
(move arms high up and down low).

While you dance around the town.
(spin around)

Source: Artsy Toddler Storytimes: A Year’s Worth of Ready-To-Go Programming by Carol Garnett Hopkins

I’m A Little Snowman

I’m a Little Snowman, short and fat
Here is my scarf
And here is my hat,
When the snow is falling, come and play.
Sun comes out, I melt away.
Source: I no longer have the source, but there is multiple versions and sources.

It is Winter

It is winter,
It is winter,
Oh, so cold.
Oh, so cold.
Icy, snowy weather,
Long nights and short days,
Winter’s here!
Winter’s here!
Source: The Holiday Zone

Snowball

I made myself a snowball as perfect as could be.
I thought I’d keep it as a pet and let it sleep with me.
I made it some pajamas and a pillow for it’s head.
Then, last night it ran away.
But first–it wet the bed.
Source: Shel Silverstein

Snow is Falling Down
(used with scarves)

Snow is falling down,
Shhhhh!
Snow is falling down,
Shhhhh!
Slowly, slowly, very Slowly,
Snow is falling down,
Shhhhh!
Source: Lapsit Services for the Very Young II by Linda L. Ernst

Activity Songs

Snow is Falling, Snow is Falling by Carole Peterson
Let it Go by Disney Frozen (Used scarves)

Closing Goodbye Song

See you later, alligator

See you later, alligator (Wave goodbye)
In a while, crocodile
Give a hug, ladybug (Hug yourself)
Blow a kiss, jellyfish (Blow a kiss)
See you soon, big baboon
Out the door, dinosaur (Point straight ahead)
Take care, polar bear
Wave goodbye, butterfly (Wave goodbye)

Observations

My preschoolers were pretty awesome with this storytime. I did shove quite a bit in, but they all survived and had a grand time. I will advise that the book Do You Want to Build a Snowman? is a bit time consuming and you will have kids wanting to touch the pages. I had the kids do the actions in their seats.

Winter (2016) – Toddlers

Opening Song

Well Hello Everybody, Can You Touch Your Nose

Well hello everybody, can you touch your nose,
Touch your nose, touch your nose?
Well hello everybody, can you touch your nose,
touch your nose?

Well hello everybody can you touch your toes,
touch your toes, touch your toes?
Well hello everybody, can you touch your toes,
touch your toes?

Well hello everybody, can you rub your tummy,
rub your tummy, rub your tummy?
Well hello everybody, can you rub your tummy,
rub your tummy?

Books

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I’m Cool by Kate & Jim McMullan
Snow Dog, Go Dog! by Deborah Heiligman
Polar Bear’s Underwear by Tupera Tupera

Flannel

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Traditional Rhymes

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

Clap, Clap, Clap Your hands

Clap, clap, clap your hands
Clap them now 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

Themed Rhymes

This is the Way We Play in the snow

This is the way we stomp through the snow,
stomp through the snow,
stomp through the snow.
This is the way we stomp through the snow,
stomp through the snow,
when we go out to play.

Dance Little Snowflake
(with scarves)

Dance Little Snowflake.
(Dance)

Dance around the town.
(spin around)

Dance upon your tiptoes.
(walk on tiptoes)

Dance from side to side.
(sway side to side).

Twirling up and down, twirling up and down.
(move arms high up and down low).

While you dance around the town.
(spin around)

Source: Artsy Toddler Storytimes: A Year’s Worth of Ready-To-Go Programming by Carol Garnett Hopkins

Activity Songs

Hat and Jacket, Pants and Boots by Carole Peterson
Let it Go by Disney Frozen (Used scarves)

Take Home Craft

Snowglobe inspired by a craft on We Have Aars.I did not have enough pom poms, so we punched out a bunch of circles.

Closing Goodbye Song

The Goodbye Train is Leaving
Oh the goodbye train is leaving see you soon, toot, toot.
Oh the goodbye train is leaving see you soon, toot, toot.
Oh the goodbye train is leaving, the goodbye train is leaving
Oh the goodbye train is leaving see you soon, toot, toot

Observations

Both of my crowds were kind antsy. My first crowd I was only able to get through 1 1/2 books while my second crowd got through 2 books. They LOVED the dancing with the scarves. I did lead the dancing in Frozen, as it is kind of a long song.