Farm Animals Story Time: January 30-31, 2017

Books:
The Cow That Laid an Egg by Andy Cutbill *
Cows in the Kitchen by June Crebbin *
Farmyard Beat by Lindsay Craig
I Spy on the Farm by Edward Gibbs *

Craft: Rocking Chicken
Our craft this week was based on the picture at left.  Children folded a small paper plate in half.  They then colored three small teardrop shapes and glued to a folded corner edge for the head feathers.  They colored one small teardrop shape and glued to the side with a triangle for the beak and waddle.  Three large teardrop shapes were glued to the back folded corner for the tailfeathers.

Literacy Extensions:
- There are a lot of fun farm themed songs to sing with your kids - Old MacDonald Had a Farm, BINGO, etc.
- Take a visit to a local farm or petting zoo to visit the farm animals.


Template:

Savannah Animals Story Time: January 23-24, 2017

Books:
Elecopter by Michael Slack
Lion Lessons by Jon Agee
Starry Safari by Linda Ashman *
Old Mikamba Had a Farm by Rachel Isadora *
Roar! A Noisy Counting Book by Pamela Duncan Edwards *

Craft: Lion Puppet
Children colored a lion head cutout which they then glued to a jumbo craft stick.  They could use scissors to cut slits in the mane to make it look more like hair.

Literacy Extensions:
- After reading Old Mikamba Had a Farm, have your child extend the song by coming up with more verses.  See if they can identify animals from various areas of the world to make up more verses.
- Do some more cutting skills practice by giving them paper with lines drawn on it.  Have them try to cut on the lines.

Template:

Ocean Animals Story Time: January 17, 2017

Books:
Clumsy Crab by Ruth Galloway
I Spy Under the Sea by Edward Gibbs *
I'm the Biggest Thing in the Ocean by Kevin Sherry *
Nugget and Fang by Tammi Sauer
Ocean Animals from Head to Tail by Stacey Roderick
Secret Seahorse by Stella Blackstone *

Craft: Paper Plate Stingray
This week's craft is based on the picture above.  Paper plates were cut into quarters.  Each child got one quarter to color.  They then attached half a pipe cleaner to a hole punched at the pointy end of the quarter.  Two googily eyes were glued onto the curved edge.

Literacy Extensions:
- Visit a local aquarium or zoo with ocean animal exhibits.  In the summer, the St. Louis Zoo offers the chance for people to pet stingrays and baby sharks.
- Practice your counting while reading the books.  Ask your child to count the different types of ocean creatures in the books.

Arctic Animals Story Time: January 9-10, 2017

Books:
Arctic Fives Arrive by ELinor J. Pinczes
Hello, Arctic! by Theodore Taylor *
Nothing Like a Puffin by Sue Soltis *
Over in the Arctic Where the Cold Winds Blow by Marianne Berkes
Polar Bear Morning by Lauren Thompson
Polar Bear Night by Lauren Thompson  *

Craft: Polar Bear Picture
The children glued a polar bear cutout to cardstock and then colored a sky with the Northern Lights.  They could then add star stickers to the picture.

Literacy Extensions:
- Continue the book Nothing Like a Puffin by asking your child(ren) how various objects around the room are and are not like a puffin.
- Do some simple geography with your child(ren) by looking at a world map or globe.  Point out where the child is and then where the arctic would be found.


Template:

Jungle Animals Story Time: January 3, 2017

Books:
Elmer by David McKee *
Over in the Jungle: A Rainforest Rhyme by Marianne Berkes *
Row, Row, Row Your Boat by Jane Cabrera
Tiptoe Tapirs by Hanmin Kim
Tiny Little Fly by Michael Rosen *
What to Do if an Elephant Stands on Your Foot by Michelle Robinson

Craft: Elmer the Elephant
Kids glued tissue paper pieces to an elephant cutout.


Literacy Extensions:
- Over in the Jungle includes several activities to do along with the story in the back of the book.  This includes movements for the different animals, information about the animals, etc.
- Talk about differences and similarities after reading Elmer.  Find things that are similar between various animals and then what their differences are.


Template: