The Croaky Pokey (Movement) Sing-Along Story Time: July 30-31, 2018

Books:
The Croaky Pokey by Ethan Long *
From Head to Toe by Eric Carle *
If You're a Monster and You Know It by Ed Emberley *
Stretch by Doreen Cronin

Craft: Frog Puppet
This week's craft was based on the picture at left.  The kids colored eyes, tongue and hands before gluing to a paper lunch bag to turn into a puppet.


Literacy Extensions:
- This week's story time was all about movement.  So get up and moving.  Go to a park playground, take a walk, do some simple yoga together, etc.
- Both of our song books this week took familiar songs and revised them just a little.  See if your child can revise a familiar song from an animal's point of view. 


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I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas (Christmas) Sing-Along Story Time: July 23-24, 2018

Books:
Bear Stays Up for Christmas by Karma Wilson *
The 12 Days of Christmas by Jane Cabrera
I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas by Jon Rox *
Minerva Louise on Christmas Eve by Janet Morgan Stoeke *

Craft: Hippo with Santa Hat
The children colored hippo pieces (circle body, head, two feet) and a Santa hat before gluing them all together.


Literacy Extensions:
- After listening to the song I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas, read an informational book on hippos.  Have your child give reasons why a hippo would or would not make a good pet.
- See if your child can remember the words and sing various Christmas songs.  (i.e. Jingle Bells, Away in a Manger, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, etc.)


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The Itsy Bitsy Spider (Bugs) Sing-Along Story Time: July 16-17, 2018

Books:
The Itsy Bitsy Spider by Iza Trapani
Spider on the Floor by Raffi *
There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly by Simm Taback *
Waiting for Wings by Lois Ehlert *

Craft: Lady Who Swallowed a Fly
Children colored a lady cutout with slits in her stomach.  They also colored strips of paper with the various creatures the lady swallowed.  The strips were threaded through the slits and glued together to make a circle.

Literacy Extensions:
- After reading Waiting for Wings, visit The Butterfly House to view some of the different butterflies found around the world.
- Add verses to Spider on the Floor using different parts of the body.


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The Farmer in the Dell (Farm) Sing-Along Story Time: July 9-10, 2018

Books:
Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown
The Farmer in the Dell by John O'Brien *
Farmyard Beat by Lindsey Craig *
I Spy on the Farm by Edward Gibbs *

Craft: Cow Mask
This week's mask was based on the picture at left with one small change.  The make the cow's head, we chopped the plate in half and then cut out the center of the plate so that it looked like a "C".  The kids then colored the plate, nose, ears, and horns before gluing them all together.

Literacy Extensions:
- Extend I Spy on the Farm by giving clues about farm animals and seeing if your child can guess them.  Ask them for what the different baby animals are called or what sounds they make.
- Visit a farm and see if the owners will let you go on a tour. 

Take Me Out to the Ballgame (Baseball) Sing-Along StoryTime: July 2-3, 2018

Books:
Batter Up Wombat by Helen Lester
Dino-Baseball by Lisa Wheeler *
Hello, Fredbird by Ozzie Smith *
Just a Baseball Game by Mercer Mayer
Take Me Out to the Ballgame by Maryann Kovalski *

Craft: Baseball Pennant
The kids decorated a cardboard pennant taped to a BBQ skewer.  They could add a Cardinals logo cutout and sequins if they wanted.

Literacy Extensions:
- Watch a game with your child and see if they can explain the rules of baseball to you.
- Take a field trip to Busch Stadium for a baseball game or for a tour of the stadium.