Toddler Storytime: Autumn Winds
Updated: - August 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 C
Skills Supported:
Math Skills
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)
Sneeze Big Bear, Sneeze by Maureen Wright
Fall by Julie Murray
Other Books to Display on Book Cart at Storytime:
Bears by Megan M. Gunderson
How Do You Know It's Fall? by Allan Fowler
It's Fall by Joyce Jeffries
Let's Look at Fall by Sarah L. Schuette
Full of Fall by April Pulley Sayre
Autumn: An alphabet acrostic by Steven Schnur
Fall Is Not Easy by Marty Kelley
Bella's Fall Coat by Lynn Plourde
Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf by Lois Ehlert
Storytime Preparation: While talking to parents about math (#9), have a volunteer go around and quietly place leaves around program room. If you think it will be to disruptive, place them around the children's library. To make leaves: Print out the template below on different colored paper like yellow, orange, green, red, and tan.
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 early math foundations. More advanced mathematical skills are based on an early math "foundation" - just like a house is built on a strong foundation.
4. Theme Talk:
Today our storytime is about Autumn, counting and the letter C
5. Action Poem:
Carol, R. (2013, September 27). Retrieved from http://craftyteacher-devyn.blogspot.com/2013/09/fall-poem-for-kindergarten.html?m=1
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
6. Information Book:
Fall by Julie Murray
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
In the toddler years, you can help your child begin to develop early math skills by introduction ideas like number sense. This is the ability to count accurately-first forward. Then later in school, children will learn to count backwards.
(Diezmann & Yelland. 2000) Retrieved from ghoting/www.earlylit.net.
9. Movement Activity:
Have volunteer place leaves around the program room or children's library.
To make leaves: Print out on different "fall" colors and cut out. THIS NEEDS TO BE DONE PRIOR TO PROGRAM.
With the help of a parent/caregiver, children will go around the library and pick up and count leaves. They will bring the leaves back to the story rug and share how many leaves they found. Have some leaves to count with the group. Note: Have different colors so you can ask children what colors they are.
10. Book:
Book shared virtually: Sneeze Big Bear, Sneeze by Maureen Wright
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:
Cut out various words from the template below. Laminate and glue sandpaper to back.
13. Early Literacy Aside: Empower
“More advanced mathematical skills are based on an early math “foundation”—just like a house is built on a strong foundation. In the toddler years, you can help your child begin to develop early math skills by introducing ideas like number sense. This is the ability to count accurately-first forward. Then later in school, children will learn to count backwards.
(From Diezmann & Yelland, 2000, and Fromboluti & Rinck, 1999.)”.Source: Ghoting , S. (n.d). Early Literacy Asides Retrieved from Ghoting/www.earlylit.net..
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:
Craft
Supplies Needed:
Toilet paper roll
Autumn Winds Wind Sock Craft Template
(Fagnan, D. 2020, September. Autumn Winds Craft Template)
Scissors
Glue Stick
Crepe Paper (autumn colors)
Construction paper (autumn paper)
Directions:
Cut out wind sock template to fit around toilet paper roll.
Glue onto paper roll.
Take crepe paper and cut into 7" length and in 1/2.
Glue three pieces of the crepe paper to the bottom of the paper roll.
Take a piece of construction paper and glue to the top of the roll as a handle.
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: This program was used for our virtual toddler storytime and our Autumn Kit's throughout the fall months in COVID. It was well received by parents.
Fall Is Not Easy
Introduction: This Storytime is developed specially for children two and three years old and their caregivers. In this autumn program, leaves are the main focus and the letter B.
Supplies:
Letter B Felt Board
Print out felt board pieces and laminate. Glue sandpaper to the back of each photo.
Leaf Craft
Supplies:
Leaf Craft template
Green cardstock
Brown construction paper
Glue stick
Various colored tissue paper cut into small squares
Scissors
Black sharpie
Directions:
Print out and cut leaf shape.
Make border around leaf shape.
Cut out and have child crumble tissue paper and glue onto leaf as seen on picture.
Glue leaf onto brown construction paper.
This project is great for Fall, Summer, and Spring seasons.
Craft:
Stain Glass: Leaves
What you'll need:
Brown or black construction paper
Clear contact paper
Tissue paper in a fall colors
Printable leaf template found below
Scissors
Directions for Tissue Paper Fall Leaf Craft
Print out our leaf template found below.
Cut the leaf out, then cut the middle of the leaf out and discard it.
You will be left with a thin outline of a leaf.
Trace this leaf 'outline' template onto black construction paper and cut out.
You are basically cutting out a frame for your craft.
Cut a square of contact paper that is slightly bigger than the leaf.
Peel the backing paper off of the contact paper and stick your leaf outline onto it.
Cut tissue paper into 1 inch squares.
Make sure to use a few different colors.
Stick the tissue paper onto the leaf making sure to overlap the pieces.
When the inside of the leaf is covered with tissue paper, trim off the excess contact paper/tissue paper.Hang up on a sunny window.
Storytime Kits:
References:
Diezmann & Yelland, 2000, and Fromboluti & Rinck, 1999.)”.Source: Ghoting , S. (n.d). Early Literacy Asides Retrieved from Ghoting/www.earlylit.net.
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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