June 2023: Cupcakes and Flowers

*I've gotten pretty darn behind in my weekly posting so bear with me as I catch up!

I'm the Youth Services Librarian at a rural library and I do story time twice a week with a toddler and preschool aged group. Each week I share what we're learning and doing!

Our Story Time Format: When the kids first arrive, we do some songs together with props or an activity, sometimes a game or we use the flannel or magnet board. Then I read them a story. After the story we move on to craft time. After we make our craft, we have play time with a special toy or sensory bin. After we've had play time (usually when the parents start mentioning getting ready to go!) I encourage the kids to help pick up the toys, to check out books, and to come visit me again next week! This takes approximately 30-45 minutes all together.

Can't Wait For Cupcakes 🧁🧁

Song: I Know a Chicken by the Laurie Berkner Band - we sang this song and used our shaky eggs!

Book: Bear Can’t Wait - Karma Wilson - I love the Bear books. They're super cute and I always make sure to point out different things in the background of the pictures to the kiddos to keep them engaged.

Activity: 5 Little Cupcakes - I made up a flannel cupcake set and used it with this rhyme from Storytime Katie.

Craft: We made Puffy Paint Cupcakes! Paint is always fun for the kids 

Play Time: We had a pretend ice cream shop with this toy set and some play money I had printed and cut out.

Flowers and Friends 🌻🌼🌷🌹

Song: Pass the Bean Bag - Kimbo Children’s Music

Book: My Friends Make Me Happy - Jan Thomas 

Craft: We made Paper Plate Flowers. 

Activity: Five Little Flowers - I made a set of flowers with a raincloud and sun using Canva. I printed them off, cut them out, laminated them, and used magnetic tape to use them with our flannel/magnet board. I used some of these rhymes from Adventures in Storytime with them.

Play Time: We played with this Build and Bloom building set from Learning Resources.