Kids' Room
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Literacy Tip:
Often children's picture books have multiple layers of meaning. In the case of Hello Hello, the story is told simply, using comparing and contrasting words, but there is another story line going on throughout the book. The last animal on each double page spread, is the first animal on the subsequent page, forming a sequence of animals throughout the story. In addition, the front end-papers contain the silhouettes of the animals, while the back ones show the same lineup of animals in full color and pattern. It's as if the animals left the front of the book and paraded through to the back! This type of subtle story line is one worth watching for and exploring with children. Challenge yourself to find more subtle story lines!
Songs & Activities
Song/Fingerplay
Have You Ever Seen A... (Follow the actions in the song to add an active element - pouncing, snapping, etc.) Have you ever seen a cat, a cat, a cat, Have you ever seen a cat pounce this way and that? Pounce this way and that way, pounce this way and that way, Have you ever seen a cat, pounce this way and that? Have you ever seen a lobster, a lobster, a lobster, Have you ever seen a lobster snap this way and that? Snap this way and that way, snap this way and that way, Have you ever seen a lobster snap this way and that? Have you ever seen a frog, a frog, a frog, Have you ever seen a frog hop this way and that? Hop this way and that way, hop this way and that way, Have you ever seen a frog hop this way and that? Have you ever seen a fish, a fish, a fish, Have you ever seen a fish swim this way and that? Swim this way and that way, swim this way and that way, Have you ever seen a fish swim this way and that? Have you ever seen a monkey, a monkey, a monkey, Have you ever seen a monkey swing this way and that? Swing this way and that way, swing this way and that way, Have you ever seen a monkey swing this way and that? Have you ever seen an owl, an owl, an owl, Have you ever seen an owl fly this way and that? Fly this way and that way, fly this way and that way, Have you ever seen an owl fly this way and that? Craft Animal Masks Given a basic mask image, children were encouraged to create their own animals, real or imaginary. We added popsicle sticks to hold the masks and went on an animal parade, saying "hello, hello" to those we met along the way.
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Literacy Tip:
Children build large and small motor muscles when participating in action/movement activities. These are skills necessary for writing. Look for opportunities throughout your reading to have your child mimic actions, such as pointing on the page to where the brightest star is, swiping the sky from left to right, waving good-bye to the morning, and blowing a quiet breeze, all actions encouraged in Touch the Brightest Star.
Songs & Activities
Song/Fingerplay
If You're Going to the Moon (sung to the tune of If You're Happy and You Know It) If you're going to the moon wear your boots, (stomp, stomp) If you're going to the moon wear your boots, (stomp, stomp) If you're going to the moon, This is what you have to do, If you're going to the moon, wear your boots. (stomp, stomp) If you're going to the moon wear your suit, (long zip motion and sound) If you're going to the moon wear your suit, (long zip motion and sound) If you're going to the moon, This is what you have to do, If you're going to the moon wear your suit. (long zip motion and sound) If you're going to the moon wear your gloves, (clap, clap) If you're going to the moon wear your gloves, (clap, clap) If you're going to the moon, This is what you have to do, If you're going to the moon wear your gloves. (clap, clap) If you're going to the moon wear your helmet, (pat your head) If you're going to the moon wear your helmet, (pat your head) If you're going to the moon, This is what you have to do, If you're going to the moon wear your helmet. (pat your head) Craft Rocket Scenes Using a black piece of cardstock to represent space, glue a cut out shape of a rocket to the background. Decorate with paint, crayons, markers, etc. Add sticker stars to the background in any available space. Literacy Tip:
Children benefit from developing phonological awareness, which is the ability to hear and play with the smaller sounds in words. During storytime, there were several examples of this: 1) It was pointed out that the words "rub", "dub", "sub", and "bathtub" all have the same ending sound of "ub" and that this created a rhyme. Several children then made up other words (nonsense words) with the same ending sound. This is a great way to play with language! 2) During our songs/fingerplays, the children imitated clapping and slapping their knees to the rhythm of the words. This is another way to build awareness around sounds in words.
Songs & Activities
Song/Fingerplay
Bubbles (Borrowed from Sunflower Storytime) A small bubble (make a circle with your hands), A medium bubble (make a slightly larger circle), A great big bubble(make an even larger circle). Now...let's count them... Are you ready? 1 - 2 - 3 (make circles again) POP! (Clap loudly once) Song/Fingerplay Walrus In the Bathtub A walrus in the bathtub, Going for a swim, (imitate swimming) Knock, Knock, (clap twice) Splish, Splash, (slap knees twice) Come on in (motion in). 2 walruses in the bathtub... (continue adding walruses) 5 walruses in the bathtub, Going for a swim. (imitate swimming) Knock, Knock, (clap twice) Splish, Splash, (slap knees twice) They all fell in! (fall to the ground) Song/Fingerplay Wash Your Head... Wash your head, shoulders, knees, and toes, knees, and toes, Wash your head, shoulders, knees, and toes, knees, and toes, Wash your eyes, and ears, and mouth, and nose, Wash your head, shoulders, knees, and toes, knees, and toes. (Repeat several times, going faster, slower, etc.) Activity Blow Bubbles Craft Bubble Printing Pour a small amount of bubble solution in a wide-mouthed container and add a drop of food coloring. Stir the mixture and using a straw, blow out to create bubbles that rise above the rim of the cup. Set a piece of cardstock or other thick paper on the bubbles, creating a bubbly design. Add sea animals pictures to the scene, if desired. Print them from the internet, draw your own, or cut them from magazines. Literacy Tip:
There is a tendency to reach for fictional titles for young children when choosing books, but try adding in nonfiction titles to introduce children to concepts and background knowledge needed for future learning. Sometimes, these titles are longer than a child is ready for, but there are ways to work around that. In the book, Seeds Move, we shared the story displayed in larger text, but did not read the smaller print text. In a one on one setting, this strategy can be adapted to an individual child's developmental level. Don't feel you need to read every word on the page.
Songs & Activities
Song/Fingerplay
Watermelon Song (sung to the tune of "Are You Sleeping") Red & juicy, red & juicy, Nice & sweet, nice & sweet, Dripping on your fingers, dripping on your fingers, Good to eat, good to eat!
Song/Fingerplay
1 Little, 2 Little, 3 Little Watermelons 1 little, 2 little, 3 little watermelons, 4 little, 5 little, 6 little watermelons, 7 little, 8 little, 9 little watermelons, 10 little watermelon seeds. (Try repeating this song backwards for an added challenge)
Craft
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Hello Song
Hello friends, Hello friends, Hello friends, It's time to say hello. Goodbye Song
Goodbye friends, Goodbye friends Goodbye friends, It's time to say goodbye SIGN UP FOR OUR STORY TIME E-MAIL LISTArchives
January 2024
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