Today's theme was about growing and eating fruits and vegetables. It was an especially interesting storytime because just before I opened the doors, my glasses fell apart in my hands. With no time left to fix them, I was forced to do both storytimes in a blurry fog!
Books
Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert
Toddler
It's about flowers, yes, but I thought it would be nice to show them how plants are grown.
From the Garden: A Counting Book About Growing Food by Michael Dahl
Toddler
This is where my lack of sight got in my way. Apparently they are peppers and not apples, like one of the grandmothers oh so nicely pointed out.
Carrot in my Pocket by Kitson Flynn
Preschool
This was the only book we read in Preschool Storytime because of the glasses mishap. I learned my lesson in TT!
Special Songs/Rhymes
Fruits and Veggies are Good For Me
Sung to: "Old MacDonald Had A Farm"
Fruits and veggies are good for me,
EE I EE I O
And so I eat them happily,
EE I EE I O
With a carrot here,
and a carrot there
Here a carrot, there a carrot
Everywhere a carrot, carrot.
Fruits and veggies are good for me,
EE I EE I O.
*Use your own creativity to add other fruits and vegetables.
Since I wasn't able to see too clearly, we spent most of our time in Preschool Storytime singing songs, including: "If You're Happy and You Know It", "The Hokey Pokey" (the crowd dissolved into a puddle of giggles when we got to putting our backsides in...), and "Mr. Golden Sun" done progressively faster and faster until we collapsed on the floor.
Felt Board
Toddlers
Each child was given a fruit (apple, banana, strawberry, orange or lemon). The children were invited to come to the front to put their fruit in the basket when I said its name.
Sung to: The Paw Paw Patch
Picking up the apples and puttin’ ‘em in the basket
Picking up the apples and puttin’ ‘em in the basket
Picking up the apples and puttin’ ‘em in the basket
Way down yonder in the apple field.
Repeat with banana, strawberry, orange, and lemon
Preschoolers
We played a guessing game called "What Am I?" based off of the book What Am I? by N.N. Charles (for more information on the game, see my post here).
Crafts
Simplicity is the name of this summer's game!
Toddler
Fruit or Veggie Stick Puppets
The template for the fruits and veggies came from the USDA's website for promoting fruits and vegetables. I cut one of the fruits or vegetables out and put one in each craft bag, along with a popsicle stick. The toddlers colored in their food and either glued or taped it to their stick. I gave them instructions to use it while they sing "Fruits and Veggies are Good For Me".
Preschoolers
Fruit and Vegetable Cut and Paste Activity Sheet
The preschoolers were sent home with their own activity sheet to work on. The sheet combines sorting and cutting.
Though my day didn't work out exactly as planned, we were still able to have fun with each other and learn some things. Next week, we're back to the same ol' plan.
