Toddler Storytime: Reindeer
Updated: - 12/10/20
Introduction: This Storytime is developed specially for children two and three years old and their caregivers. On this blog you will find various books, songs, rhymes, fingerplays, socialization, and crafts ideas. Each session of toddler storytime consists of a variety of activities that incorporate reading, writing, singing, talking, and playing.
Date: Every Wednesday
Time: 10:30 a.m.
Age Range: 2 to 3 years old
Letter and/or Color: Letter R
Skills Supported: Vocabulary
Frequency: Weekly
Attendance: 20 children and their parent/caregiver
Staff or Volunteer Needed: 1 staff member, 1 volunteer
Format: Registration is required.
Books Shared: (from storytime)
Reindeer of the Year by Rosie Greening
Reindeer by Rebecca Pettiford
Other Books to Display on Book Cart at Storytime:
Comet the Unstoppable Reindeer by Jim Benton
Reindeer Christmas by Mark Kimball Moulton
Anna's Best Friends by Webster
Rosie's Raccoon's Rock and Roll Raft by Barbara deRubertis
Little Santa by Jon Agee
Storytime Preparation: None
1. Storytime Introduction: Welcome to Toddler Storytime. My name is Ms. Debbie. I am so glad to see you today. Our storytime is designed to be participated by everyone. We will share books, rhymes, and songs with your children. We encourage everyone to participate, but no worries if this doesn't happen. Sometimes when a child sees you participate, they might join in, but if your child is not in the mood, that is okay too. Our storytime can tend to be a little chaotic, but that is okay as well. If your child becomes disruptive, please take them outside the program room and then join us again when your child has settled down. This is normal, it is part of the process. So let's start with our opening song.
2. Opening Song:
(Credit: No Time For Flash Cards. 2016, January 30).
Lyrics:
How Many Friends are Here Today?
How many friends are here today?
How many friends are here today?
Let's count it out!
Let's clap it out!
Let's dance it out!
There are ______ friends on their feet!
Now it's time to take your seat!
3. Early Literacy Aside: Explain:
Today's early literacy skill is focusing on Vocabulary. Today our early literacy tip is on vocabulary, or knowing the meanings of words. Reading aloud to your child is a powerful way of talking with your child. It provides many different words than they hear in regular conversation. The more words children know the easier it will be to understand what they read whey they start reading. (Ghoting, S.N. and Pamela Martin-Diaz. 2013. Storytimes for Everyone: Developing young children's language and literacy. p. 173).
4. Theme Talk:
Today our storytime is about Reindeer's.
5. Action Song:
I'm a little reindeer,
ready to fly.
I'll pull Santa's sleigh
up in the sky.
Christmas is here; we
can't be late.
6. Information Book:
Reindeer by Rebecca Pettiford
7. Shakers Shaker Song
Sung to the tune of “London Bridge
“Shake your shakers, shake, shake, shake,
Shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, shake
Shake your shakers, shake, shake, shake,
Shake your shakers!
Other Verses
Shake your shakers high, high, high,
Shake your shakers low, low, low,
Shake your shakers fast, fast, fast,
Shake your shakers slow, slow, slow"
(Mulvenna, L. (2013, January 17)
8. Early Literacy: Example
As you read a story, stop to explain a word that your child might not know. Example: When I read the story Reindeer I might stop at the word antlers and explain where and what antlers are. "Male reindeers have long pieces of bone called antlers that grow out of their heads. See the picture of them."
9. Movement Activity: [CHANGES EACH WEEK]
(Kiboomers: Kids Music Channel. (2014, November 20. Reindeer Pokey. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/E48dJsivx7s )
10. Book:
Reindeer of the Year by Rosie Greening
11. Song:
The More We Read Together [Tune: "The More We Get Together" ]
Lyrics:
The more we read together, together, together.
The more we read together, the better it is!
'Cause reading and singing and talking together,
is how you learn the six skills for reading by six.
(Johnson County Library, 2011, February 8).
12. Felt board:
Print out the Reindeer Felt Board Template below onto light tan construction paper. Color and laminate. Color reindeer's nose different colors. Glue sandpaper to back.
Give each child a reindeer. Go around the circle and ask the child what color is their reindeer's nose. Afterwards, tell each child once they hear the color of their reindeer's nose to come up to the felt board and place their reindeer on the board.
13. Early Literacy Aside: Empower
Today I pointed out the rick vocabulary in books-like the word antlers, which we don't use in daily conversation. As you sing, talk, read, write, and play with your children throughout the day, you can build their vocabulary by using less familiar words and explaining them from time to time.
14. Good-bye Song
(L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library, 2014, September 28).
Goodbye Bubbles:
(Librarian/staff associate will blow bubbles while the parents/caregiver and children sing the song.
Lyrics:
Goodbye Bubbles
Goodbye Bubbles
Time to Go
Time to Go
I will help you
I will help you
With a blow
With a blow
15. Storytime Activity Ideas:
Reindeer Finger Puppet or Ornament
Material:
One Pipe Cleaner.
Cut into two 3" pipe cleaners. (Fold in ½ and then ½ again)
Also cut two pieces out of the pipe cleaner to measure 1 ½ " each.
Hole puncher
4" paper tube painted dark brown or wrap it in dark brown construction paper.
White glue
Two paper clips
12" ribbon
Red pom-pom
2 goggly eyes
Directions:
Take one 1 ½" pip cleaner and wrap it around the top of the 3" pipe cleaner to make an antler.
Repeat for second antler
Use hole puncher to punch two holes in the top of the tube far apart for the antlers.
Twist tie the antlers to the inside back of the tube inside the holes.
Flatten the top of the tube and glue it together. Glue over the antlers to give them better support. Press together and use paper clips to keep in place the antlers until the glue dries.
Glue goggly eyes and nose to tube.
Tie ribbon around the tube to create a scarf for your reindeer.
Note: To make an ornament, hole punch in center to of tube and tie strong to hang.
Created by fagnan, D. (2010). Rudolf the Reindeer.
2. Reindeer Candy Cane Ornament
Directions for Reindeer Craft
Take the brown paper and glue on the red nose and the white eyes towards one end of the brown paper.
Unwrap The candy canes.
Place the candy canes on the brown paper with the hooks facing different directions. ( antlers)
Wrap the brown paper around the candy canes.
Glue or tape it securely around candy canes.
Take the brown paper and glue on the red nose and the white eyes towards one end of the brown paper.
Unwrap The candy canes.
Place the candy canes on the brown paper with the hooks facing different directions. ( antlers)
Wrap the brown paper around the candy canes.
Glue or tape it securely around candy canes.
16. Takeaway:
Parents/caregivers are given the Early Literacy Newsletter for Toddlers.
The newsletters are developed around the specific program so they usually have to be tweaked every time we run the program.
Notes: For family storytime I like to have kids make reindeer food.
Reindeer Food
¼ cup of oatmeal
Tablespoon of sprinkles
Place oatmeal and sprinkles into a Ziploc quart bag. Attach reindeer label.
See below.
References:
Memorial Public Library. (2014, September 28). Goodbye bubbles. [Video]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/RXXQqVx0gT0
Johnson County Library. (2011, February 8).
Shake Shake Shake [Web log post]. Retrieved from http://lisaslibraryland.blogspot.com/2013/07/shake-shake-shake.html
No Time For Flash Cards. (2016, January 30). Circle Time Chant. [Video]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/ECHXNMFVumM
[CHANGES EACH WEEK]Next
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