Storytime

Storytime: Winter Clothes

Books

“One Mitten” by Kristine O’Connell George
“A Hat for Minerva Louise” by Janet Morgan Stoeke

First we went over all the different articles of clothing we wear when we go outside in Winter. I brought my coat, scarf, hat and mittens for demonstration purposes. I went over each piece and had the kids clap if they wore it to the library today.

Five Little Snowmen

Five little snowmen standing in a row
(hold up 5 fingers)
Each with a hat
(hands on head)
And a big red bow
(hands under chin)
Out came the sun and it shown all day
(circle arms overhead)
And one little snowmen melted away
(wiggle arms down)

(count down)

Silly Hat (Tune: This Old Man)

On my head, I wear my hat
It is such a silly hat
That my head will wiggle waggle to and fro
Where else can my silly hat go?

(repeat with other body parts)

Source: SurLaLune

Warm Mittens

I wiggle my left mitten (wave hand)
I wiggle my right (wave hand)
Inside of my mittens
So warm and so tight
I wiggle my pinkie (wiggle pinkie)
I wiggle my thumbs (wiggle thumbs)
So when I make snowballs (cup hands together)
My hands don’t get numb.

On a Chilly Winter Morning (Tune: Mulberry Bush)

I told the children and adults to act out each motion while I actually put on each article of clothing.

We’re getting ready to go out in the cold, out in the cold, out in the cold
We’re getting ready to go out in the cold
On a chilly winter morning

This is the way we put on our coat, put on our coat, put on our coat
This is the way we put on our coat
On a chilly winter morning

(repeat with gloves, hat, scarf and boots)

We’re getting ready to go out in the cold, out in the cold, out in the cold
We’re getting ready to go out in the cold
On a chilly winter morning

Source: Miss Emma’s Storytime

Ten Warm Mittens

mittens

Ten warm mittens, hanging on the line,
One blows away and then there are nine.
Nine warm mittens, one without a mate,
A squirrel carries one away and that leaves eight.
Eight warm mittens, just eight not eleven,
One gets buried in the snow and that leaves seven.
Seven warm mittens, which one do you pick?
I’ll pick the red one and that leaves six.
Six warm mittens, put one on to try.
Then you take it from the line and that leaves five.
Five warm mittens, we had ten before!
A fluffy bunny needs one and that leaves four!
Four warm mittens, two for you and two for me,
I lost one on the ski slope and that leaves three.
Three warm mittens, looking very new,
One falls into the mud and that leaves two.
Two warm mittens, drying in the sun,
A bird comes down and snatches it and that leaves one.
One warm mitten, what good is one?
A little mouse can have a bed, and that leaves none!

If You’re Cold and You Know It

If you’re cold and you know it clap your mittens
If you’re cold and you know it clap your mittens
If you’re cold and you know it and you really want to show
If you’re cold and you know it clap your mittens

(repeat with stomp your boots, shake your hat and say brr)

Froggy Flannel board

I love the book “Froggy Gets Dressed” by Jonathan London and have used it with great success with my 3-5 year olds. I knew the book was a little lengthy for my crew (mostly two year olds). I saw a post on Miss Emma’s Storytime that included a flannel board of this story, I figured I could make it and then tell a simpler/shorter version of the story. Usually my story flannel boards are accompanied by the actual book and  I was slightly nervous to use the board only but it was a big hit. I went through the book, used the general concept and pulled out some of the dialogue to read. The parents thought the flannel board was adorable and the kids loved trying to figure out what Froggy was missing, the ending stumped them but they all loved when I yelled “HIS UNDERWEAR.”  I used the Kiz Club template to make the pieces.

Craft

I gave the children winter hats attached to a band and a variety of things (buttons, feathers, stickers, crayons) to decorate their hats with! This was a simple craft but the kids loved it.

How it Went: Little children cure all issues! Having a bad day? Find a small child and smiles will ensue. Needless to say I’m having a rough couple of weeks (significant other had major surgery and is basically bedridden, my car is falling apart, I keep misplacing my work keys and sleep is nonexistent). I was close to calling out of work this morning because I felt like everything was snowballing and I just needed to get things in order/sleep! The only reason I pulled myself out of bed was because I knew I had story time and I hate disappointing the kids and my coworkers. Well it’s a good thing I showed up because I had at least 25 children under the age of 5 and they all brought smiles to my face! I prepared this program in a haze and was nervous how it would go over but the kids and  parents loved it. Days like today make me so grateful to have a job I love!

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