Books

“Caterpillar’s Wish” by Mary Murphy
“Is Your Mama a Llama” by Deborah Guarino

ABC Magnets

I like to start and end the Alphabet program by singing our ABCs. To start I put out all of the letter magnets and have the children tell me what letter is missing, that becomes our letter of the day. After we go through the letter and some words that start with it I invite each child up to take two letters off the board and put it into my bag. At first all the children like to swarm up and will grab as many letters as they possibly can, but after a few weeks they begin to understand that they must wait until they hear their name called. To help them stick with two letters only I count out loud (this program maxes out at 12 children so I know I will have enough letters). The children get very excited when it is their turn, plus this helps them learn patience and how to take turns!

Ladybug Ladybug

Ladybug, ladybug, flying through the air (arms out like an airplane)
Ladybug, ladybug, landing in my hair (fingers in hair)
Ladybug, ladybug, what should I do? (shrug shoulders)
Ladybug, ladybug
Shoo shoo shoo (shoo with hands)

Source: King County Library System

Pretty Ladybug (Tune: Muffin Man)

The ladybug has one black spot,
One black spot, one black spot,
The ladybug has one black spot,
Pretty ladybug!

(add spots)

Source: Storytime Katie

Did You Ever See a Llama?

Did you ever see a llama, a llama, a llama
Did you ever see a llama go this way and that (lean side to side)
Go this way and that way, go this way and that way
Did you ever see a llama go this way and that

(repeat leaning front and back)

Lunch

I made felt pieces for Denise Flemming’s Book “Lunch” and used a mouse puppet to grab the pieces off the board. Before verbally telling the story we went over what each item was and what color it was. The kids loved this board (and so do I)!

Marching Around the Alphabet by Hap Palmer

This song has become a story time favorite! Every week the children line up on the outside of the alphabet rug and start to march with their adult. When the whistle blows the children stop, bend down and point out which letter they are standing on. I like to participate as well and sometimes I will ask a child what letter they stopped on and the color of the square.

Parachute

The children all grab on and we make some waves (fast, slow, big, small) then I ask the parents to hold on to the parachute. The adults lower the parachute and then pop it into the air, the children then go under (lots of happy squeals) and we gently shake the parachute over their heads. We do this 3 or 4 times, there is always one child that doesn’t want to come out but the parents are pretty good about it. Next I have the children hold on again and place foam letters on the parachute. We shake the parachute and watch the letters fly (again lots of happy squeals)!

ABCs

Craft

I always tell the parents to please do not do the craft for their child, feel free to help them use the glue stick but if they want to put an eye where the foot should be well then that’s just artistic license!

How it Went: This might be my favorite letter craft, how cute did the ladybug come out? While the ladybug flannel board was simple kids quickly learned the words and were able to sing along. Letter L was lots of fun!