Blast-Off! Fun! And a little science too.

This program was a fun Saturday morning. I took over for someone who was no longer at the library, but added my own programming expertise to the line-up. We did the regular station structure I'm familiar with and although not a STEAM program, I couldn't help myself and added a couple science related activities to the mix.

First up, I read the book Mousetronaut by Mark Kelly. And as it states, it's based on a (partially) true story. Some of the truths are listed in the afterwards and there are also internet sources for more info.

The kids actually clapped with enthusiasm for the story at the end. A big thank you to my co-worker who recommended the book.

Second, making mini rocket launchers (already on the agenda, but something I recently did for another STEAM program on force and motion, so I knew it would be a hit). 

Third, the screaming (orbiting) penny trick in a balloon. I've previously posted about this.

Fourth, the game stations included names such as Ring Around Saturn (hula hoops and beach ball), Moon Rock Toss (tin foil wrapped candies in planet labelled buckets), Alien Blast (knock down the stacked cups covering a silly looking alien), and Zero Gravity (keep the balloon in the air as long as possible).

Fifth, Rocket Races.

Sixth, snacks included Star Crunches and Capri Suns. Milky Ways and Starbursts were prizes.

Lastly, I made a rocket out of an appliance box by cutting a round hole in the front to look out and a little door on the side to enter. I covered the front with white paper and painted the rocket. It was a big hit. 

Finally, due to my past STEAM programming experience, I provided take home activities for the kids and/or families to continue the education and/or fun at home. This time I provided star gazing activities and a hidden picture. The kids also took home a Space Academy certificate. I was very happy that a number of families checked out the books I had set up around the room (also a habit from previous STEAM programming).

All in all, a great time.

Storytime: Turkeys

A book for the youngsters AND the big people: Turkey Trouble by Wendi Slivano.

Turkey knows he'll be in trouble with Thanksgiving around the corner, so he devises several costumes to evade his fate. The book has plenty of repetition in the text. The listeners are almost ready to "read" along, like singing a chorus to a song. There are some humorous lines that only the adults get (chuckling from the crowd). Highly recommend for a read aloud during Thanksgiving season.

A couple other fun Storytime activities: Turkey Hokey Pokey, Old MacDonald had a Farm, 10 Little Turkeys, book: I am a Turkey by Jim Arnosky, bubbles, craft: toilet paper roll turkeys with paper plate feathers (similar to this pinterest post except some real feathers were added).

  

Lots of clapping and lots of smiles!

Interstellar Cinderella

A new picture book by Deborah Underwood for today's Smart Girls (see Amy Poehler's Smart Girls) generation. Cinderella likes fixing spaceships and goes to the ball, but doesn't need "prince charming" to be happy. A fun remake of the classic fairy-tale featuring an independent young lady.

Julie of the Wolves

This book was a surprising pleasure. I expected it to be boring. After all, a girl alone in the wilderness? However, Julie of the Wolves was anything but. Julie, or Miyax as she's called in  Eskimo, leaves her life as a child bride in order to live in San Francisco with her pen pal's family. Along the way she is adopted by a pack of wolves and learns their ways. Triumphs and tragedy happen and she must make a choice about what kind of life she wants to live. I found it very touching. I wonder if today's generation realizes that there are people who actually still live with their old traditions and cultures? I hope educators recommend this book to their classes and librarians to young patrons. It may not be a "fun" or "fast-paced" book, but it is engaging and enjoyable.

Storytime: Friends

Today was a blast! It was all about friends and fun. Books:
      
Welcome Song
Song: Make New Friends But Keep the Old (Using sign language, especially "friends" sign).
Book: Unicorn Thinks He's Pretty Great - amazingly some had tasted goat cheese, but not me.
Fingerplay: Ten Little Friends (counting forward and back).
Activity: Hold Still (Yo Gabba Gabba) Lots of wiggling, laughing, and following directions.
Book: Penguin and Pinecone - a sweet story about frienship.
Activity: If You're Happy and You Know It.
Craft: Penguin paper puppet and pinecone friend (wrap an actual pinecone with orange felt strip and have kids color a penguin picture and glue it to a popsicle stick - now they can re-create the story).
Bubbles
Goodbye Song

Storytime: Moon

My first ever, completely on my own Storytime is in the books. What fun!The theme was the moon. I choose a couple classic books to read: Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes and Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown with a couple extra books for back-up/check-out options.
  
Before reading we sang our opening song: We Clap and Sing Hello to the tune of Farmer in the Dell and also did a stretching song to get out some energy. In between books we did the fingerplay Zoom, Zoom, Zoom We're Going to the Moon. After searching many CDs for moon songs, I found a song called Circle the Moon (a Ring Around the Rosie type activity) . We sang Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star and before craft-time we caught bubbles from the bubble machine.

I was skeptical about doing a craft in storytime. I've read pros and cons about crafts vs. process art  vs free play vs more stories. All these activities are good and have value, but there is limited time. I inherited this storytime structure but I'm embracing it. I see that craft time is a available time in the storytime lineup. It helps the 2-3 year old crowd with their fine motor skills, listening skills, following directions, connections with the theme/story and is a type of play in itself. Do parents need to help sometimes? Sure, the kids are 2. Kids need to learn things like...this is the white paint, the moon is white, let's make a big white circle just like the moon in the sky, just like in the story. I love having a craft!

      
Found on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/287597126181544314/(I want to try puffy paint too). White paint mixed with flour, dab it on, stamp with bottle caps, and stick stars on the background. Viola!

Juv Fic Audiobooks - Hooray!

I've tried audio books on a number of occasions, but never took to them. My mind would wander, I'd have to re-listen, or the narrator was super annoying. Well, recently, thanks to a co-worker, I gave them one more try. Really, you can get more "reading" in with audio books and when reading is part of your job, that's important. This time, it worked. I really got into the stories and when one book was done, I wanted the next one ready to go. I'm on my 4th audio book and thinking about what I'll listen to next.

 

Thumbs Up                                            Thumbs Up

                

       Thumbs Up                                      Thumbs Down

(Kingdom Keepers got a thumbs down because I did not like the different character voices the narrator did...too animated, too fake. In addition, the story was a series of similar scenes over and over. Now it may be a book a 4-6th grader would like, just not me.)

Dinosaur vs. The Library

Bob Shea knows how to entertain kids and grown-ups. Dinosaur is headed to the library and roars with his friends. What will happen at Storytime? Perfect for little ones. Others in the series: