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Writer's pictureMrs. Deborah Fagnan

Hot Chocolate!

Updated: Dec 11, 2020



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 H

Skills Supported: Today's early literacy skill is focusing on phonological Awareness.


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)

Hh by Bela Davis

Winter is the Warmest Season by Lauren Stringer

Other Books to Display on Book Cart at Storytime:

My H Book by Jane Belk Moncure

Hanna Hippo’s Horrible Hiccups by Barbara deRubertis

It’s Snowing by Celeste Bishop

Winter is the Warmest Season by Lauren Stringer

Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg

December by Julie Murray

Winter is Here by Kevin Henkes


Storytime Preparation: Cook hot chocolate in the morning of the program.


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 our literacy tip has to do with phonological awareness. Phonological awareness is the ability to har and play with the smaller sounds in words.

4. Theme Talk:

Today our storytime is about Hot chocolate, and the letter "H".

5. Action Song:

Hot Chocolate


Pour some milk into a pot.

Sir it 'till it's nice and hot.

Take the chocolate-give a squeeze!

Add marshmallows if you please.

Wrap yourself up nice and snig.

Drink hot chocolate in a mug.

Author unknown


6. Information Book:Hh by Bela Davis


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

Today at storytime I will point out ways that playing and talking with your children can support learning about letters. Many letters look alike, so helping children notice things that are alike and different is a first step toward helping them recognize similarities and differences in letters.


9. Movement Activity:

Hot Cocoa

(Use the felt board pieces)

I have a cup of hot cocoa, (Each child holds up their mug of cocoa)

It is all steamy and warm. (Blow on mug)

I just need one marshmallow (hold up 1 finger)

Then I won’t need any more!


Yum!

Extra Verses:


I have a cup of hot cocoa,

It is all steamy and warm.

I just need two marshmallows

Then I won’t need any more!

Yum, Yum!


I have a cup of hot cocoa,

It is all steamy and warm.

I just need three marshmallows

Then I won’t need any more!

Yum, Yum, Yum!


I have a cup of hot cocoa,

It is all steamy and warm.

I just need four marshmallows

Then I won’t need any more!

Yum, Yum, Yum, Yum!


I have a cup of hot cocoa,

It is all steamy and warm.

I just need five marshmallows

Then I won’t need any more!

Yum, Yum, Yum, Yum, Yum!

Little Fingers that Play. ( 2009, December 22). Cocoa. Retrieved from http://littlefingersplay.blogspot.com/2009/12/hot-cocoa.html


10. Book:

Winter is the Warmest Season by Lauren Stringer

For Older Children: Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg.

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 Hot Chocolate Felt Board Template on different paper. Laminate and glue sandpaper to the back of each mug. Distribute the mugs to each child and call out a color and have children bring up and hang their mug.


13. Early Literacy Aside: Empower

As you play outside with your children throughout the day, theres are many opportunities to talk about similarities and differences. Even when you go to the store, your child can help; for example, match a coupon to the actual item. All kinds of matching and sorting help later with letter knowledge, a skill children need to be able to read.


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:


A. Easy: Polar Express Ornament


Prep:

Print out train template on white card stock.

Paint 9" paper plate

Cut out train from the polar express template below.




Material:

Plate painted blue

Blue paint or spray paint.

White ribbon

Jingle Bell

Polar Express Train Template

Glue Stick

Cotton Balls










Directions:

  1. Punch a whole on top of plate for ribbon.

  2. Paint paper plate blue

  3. Print and cut out train.

  4. Glue train onto plate.

  5. decorate with cotton balls.

  6. Thread bell on ribbon and tie onto plate.


 

B. Hot Chocolate Mug

Material

Mug Template



Green construction paper

White Card stock

Scissors

Glue Stick

Small cotton balls


Directions:

Print and cut out mug and candy cane from template below. Color

Glue onto green construction paper.

Add candy cane and add small cotton balls for marshmallows. 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: I have enjoyed making hot chocolate in a crockpot for family stories times. I cook it all day. Parents and children love it.


Homemade Hot Chocolate

Easy and delicious. Prep: 5 mins Cook:2 hrs Servings: 10 Yield: 10 servings

Ingredients Ingredient Checklist

  • 6 cups milk

  • 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

  • 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

  • 1 ½ cups heavy whipping cream

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Step 1

Combine milk, condensed milk, chocolate chips, heavy cream, and vanilla extract in a slow cooker.

Step 2

Cover and cook on Low, stirring occasionally, until chocolate chips are melted and mixture is smooth, about 2 hours.


© Copyright 2020 allrecipes.com. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.allrecipes.com 12/08/20

 

References:

Allrecipes. (2020). Rich Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate. Retrieved from https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/256112/rich-slow-cooker-hot-chocolate/

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


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