Preschool Storytime
Updated: 3/8/2021
Introduction: This storytime is developed specially for preschool children ages 4 & 5 and their parent/caregiver. Enjoy 1 hour of books, songs, rhymes, socialization, and a craft with other young children and their parent/caregiver. Each session of preschool storytime consists of a variety of activities that incorporate reading, talking, writing, singing, and playing. (some parts have been taken out due to the time it will take to do the activity.)
Date: Every Saturday
Time: 11:00 a.m.
Age Range: 4 and 5 years olds
Skills Supported: Socialization, reading, writing, and listening.
Preschool Standards: Background Knowledge, In this program, children will develop background knowledge by learning about plants. Our guided question is How do plants grow and survive?
Information Book: I Can Grow a Flower by Dawn Sirett
Frequency: Once a week
Weekly Attendance: 20 children and their parent/caregiver
Staff or Volunteer: 1 staff member and 2 volunteer's (Could be parents)
Format: Registration required.
Budget: Supplies:
Flower Pots: $20 for 12 at Oriental Trading, I like these because children can use chalk to decorate the outside of the pot.
Chalk - Dollar General $2.00 for a dozen.
Soil - Home Depot
Seeds
3 tablecloths
spoon
watering can
bowl
if no budget use Dixie cups.
Books Shared: And then it's Spring by Julie Fogliano and I Can Grow a Flower by Dawn Sirett.
Other Books to Display at Storytime:
Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert
What Will Grow by Jennifer Ward
Why Do Plants have Flowers? by Celestre Bishop
Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn by Kenard Pak
Sidewalk Flowers by Jon Arno Lawson
The Garden by Sarah Stewart
The Digger and the Flower by Joseph Kuefler
Plants Can't Sit Still by Rebecca E. Hirsch
Flowers by Vijaya Khisy Bodach
Pre-storytime Preparation: Three tables to be set up:
Table 1: (Cover table with plastic tablecloth)
Material:
1 large bowl
1 bag of soil
1 spoon.
Table 2:
Material:
Seeds
Table 3: (Cover table with plastic tablecloth.
1 Watering Can filled with water.
Use a plastic tablecloth and cover table. Place dirt in a large bowl.
1. Introduction: Welcome to preschool storytime. My name is Ms. Debbie. I am so glad to see you today. I am so happy to see adults in our program today. It is more fun for your children when you are here with them to enjoy reading, writing, singing, talking and playing together. If you did not register online, please see Ms. Peggy right now. She needs you to fill out a quick registration form.
2. Opening Song:
3. Early Literacy Aside: Explain
Parents, our early literacy tip of the day is on prior knowledge. In this storytime, children will be engaged in activities that will provoke wonder and curiosity about how we get the flowers, fruits, and vegetables that we enjoy. At the conclusion, children will plant their own sees and enjoy watching and taking care of the plant in their own home.
4. Theme Talk:
[Children sit in circle]. My name is Ms. Debbie. My first name starts with the letter "D". Who wants to tell me their name? Go around the circle, have parents encourage children to participate and aide them in telling me their first name and the letter their first name starts with. Today we are going to learn about plants. Plants start with the letter "P". Can you think of any other things that start with the letter "P"? Pizza, puppy, peaches....
Let's listen to our first book.
5. Book: And Then it's Spring by Julie Fogliano.
6. Early Literacy Aside: By engaging children in a read-aloud to both fiction and nonfiction books about plants coupled with an hands-on activity will help children to develeop and understanding of seeds and plants.
7. Activity:
ABC Song
The Learning Center. (2012, January 15). ABC Song. [Video]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/yseWMJS8IHw
Lyrics:
ABCDEFG
HIJKLMNOP
QRSTU and V
WXY and Z
Now I know my ABC's
Next time wouldn't you sing with me.
After the first time we sing the verse, have children jump up when they hear the letter of their first name.
8. Information Book: I Can Grow a Flower by Dawn Sirett
9. Early Literacy Aside: Reading more information books to your child will help them develop strong background knowledge. Information books are rich in vocabulary and content.
10. Closing Song
Lyrics
Goodbye, goodbye.
It’s time to go.
Goodbye, goodbye.
I don’t want to go.
See you later, alligator.
Bye bye bye, butterfly.
Goodbye!
Credit: Childrensmusic, 2016. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/UQfvAlmr5g0
11. End of Storytime Activity:
Children will stay at the story-rug. They will be asked what to plants need to grow? water, sun, soil and L O V E. I will hand out a pot to each child. They will go to the art table and decorate their pot with a piece of chalk. Then....
Taking turns will help of a parent or caregiver will:
Go to Table 1 and put soil in their pot.
Go to Table 2 and place a few seeds in their pot.
Go to table 1 and put soil over seeds.
Go to table 3 and add a little water.
12. Takeaways
Preschool Newsletter
Letter Worksheet
Coloring sheet
Copy of programming schedule
Garden Club
This program has been well received as a toddler, preschool, family, summer reading and "kits".
Recommended Books:
My Garden by Kevin Henkes
Maxine and the Greatest Garden Ever by Ruth Spiro
The Bear's Garden by Marcie Colleen
The Hidden Rainbow by Christie Matheson
Flowers by Vijaya Khisty Bodach
Why do Plants Have Flowers? by Celeste Bishop
The Digger and the Flower by Joseph Kuefler
Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert
The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle
Plants Can't sit Still by Rebecca E. Hirsch
Book shared:
What Will Grow by Jennifer Ward
I Can Grow a Flower by Dawn Sirett
Summer Program
Children, teens and adults can register for our Garden Club.
Children will meet once a week. The program begins with a story about gardens, flowers, vegetables etc. Afterwards children will work in the garden. This is approximately a 12 week program ending the week after Labor Day.
Two Months Prior send out donation letters to help for the cost of soil and plants. If growing by seeds, start seeds in a STEM club in April.
Send out donation letters for supplies needed to get the garden started.
Kids: Week 1:
Children, teens and/or adults will plant the vegetables in our garden. Each week children meet. Listen to a story then go outside to weed and water their plants. Afterwards I like to spray them with the watering hose and end with an ice pop.
Kids: Week 12:
Book shared, Every Color Soup by Jorey Hurley. Afterwards we enjoy making "every color soup" using as many vegetables from our garden that "survived". (potato, eggplant, onion, mushroom, celery, carrots). One year we only grew tomatoes and then made tomato sauce.
Place a donation box on Week 8 for any ingredients needed to make the soup.
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