Preschool Programs Chapter
By Heather Coleson
Beat the Texas Heat
- Books to Share
- Nametag
- Rhymes and Poetry
- Songs
- Flannel Boards
- Crafts
- Games and Activities
- Guest Speakers
- Books to Display or Booktalk
- Bulletin Board
- Display
- Decorations
- Refreshments
- Audio Recordings
- Videos/DVD’s/Films
- Web Sites
- Professional Resources
- Craft Materials
Books to Share
Froggy Learns to Swim by Jonathan London.
Mouse’s First Summer by Lauren Thompson.
Omar on Board by Maryann Kovalski.
One Hot Summer Day by Nina Crews.
One Magical Day by Claire Freedman.
Summer is Summer by Phillis Gershator.
Nametag
Sun Nametag
Make a sun nametag using a die cut or the pattern provided at the end of this program.
Rhymes and Poetry
This Little Child
(Adapted by Heather Coleson. Based on “This Little Piggy.”)
This little child went to Grandma’s.
This little child swam in the pool.
This little child had a snow cone.
This one dropped his on the ground.
And this little child went WEEEEE! through the sprinklers in the yard!
The Itsy Bitsy Spider
(Traditional)
The itsy bitsy spider went up the waterspout.
Down came the rain and washed the spider out.
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain.
And the itsy bitsy spider went up the spout again.
Recite the clapping rhyme, “It’s Going to be Hot”, on P. 104 of Seasonal Storytime Crafts by Kathryn Totten.
Recite the poem, “Ice Cream Sensation”, on P. 258-259 of The Best of Totline Flannelboards by Kathleen Cubley. Patterns for a flannel board ice cream bowl and ice cream scoop is included.
Recite the poem “Keeping Cool” on P. 276 of The Best of Totline Flannelboards by Kathleen Cubley. There are flannel board patterns to compliment this poem are on P. 277-279.
Songs
The Summer Sun
(Adapted by Heather Coleson. Based on “The Wheels on the Bus.”)
| The hot summer sun goes beat, beat, beat. | (raise arms over your head to form a sun, and then beat legs with hands) |
| Beat, beat, beat. Beat, beat, beat. | (beat legs with hands) |
| The hot summer sun goes beat, beat, beat. | (raise arms over your head to form a sun, and then beat legs with hands) |
| All summer long. | |
| The kids in the pool go splash, splash, splash | (splash hands) |
| Splash, splash, splash. Splash, splash, splash. | (splash hands) |
| The kids in the pool go splash, splash, splash. | (splash hands) |
| All summer long. | |
| The dogs in the yard go pant, pant, pant. | (stick out tongue and pant like dog) |
| Pant, pant, pant. Pant, pant, pant. | (stick out tongue and pant like dog) |
| The dogs in the yard go pant, pant, pant. | (stick out tongue and pant like dog) |
| All summer long. | |
| The sprinklers in the yard go chicka, chicka, chicka. | (move hands back and forth like a sprinkler) |
| Chicka, chicka, chicka. Chicka, chicka, chicka. | (move hands back and forth like a sprinkler) |
| The sprinklers in the yard go chicka, chicka, chicka. | (move hands back and forth like a sprinkler) |
| All summer long. | |
| Mommies and daddies are ready for the Fall. | (pantomime falling leaves while crouching to the ground) |
| Ready for the Fall, ready for the Fall, | (pantomime falling leaves while crouching to the ground) |
| Mommies and daddies are ready for the Fall! | (pantomime falling leaves while crouching to the ground) |
| When will it be here? | (hold out hands like asking a question) |
2’s Experience Felt Board Fun by Liz and Dick Wilmes includes patterns flannel board characters Ali and Aaron, along with summer and winter clothing. Let the children help you dress Ali and Aaron appropriately for summer.
Flannel Board Stories
Tell “The North Wind and the Sun” at http://www.storyarts.org/library/aesops/stories/north.html. Create a flannel board using the patterns provided at the end of this program. Invite half of the children to be the sun, holding their arms above their heads with their fingers touching, and invite the other half of the children to be the wind, and blow.
Crafts
Handprint Sun
Materials
- Construction paper or copier paper
- Glue sticks
- Crayons or markers
- Gigantic wiggle eyes (optional)
- Hand die cut (optional)
- String
- Hole Punch
Directions
Cut a large circle using the pattern provided. Cut seven to nine handprints using the pattern provided, a handprint die cut, or tracing a child’s hand. Give the children glue to attach Gigantic Wiggle Eyes onto the sun, or let them draw the eyes, nose and mouth. Gigantic Wiggle Eyes can be found at craft stores and at Oriental Trading Company. Use a hole punch to punch a hole at the top of the sun’s face. Tie a piece of string to the hole so the child can hang the sun from their ceiling at home.
Seashore Collage
Visit First-School at http://www.first-school.ws/activities/artapp/collage.htm for instructions on how to make a seashore collage. Scroll down the page to Activity # 3. You can print the patterns in color at http://www.first-school.ws/t/shellshorec.htm or in black and white http://www.first-school.ws/t/shellshore.htm. To add a nice touch to this craft, use sheets of sand paper instead of brown paper.
Games and Activities
Beach Bucket Toss
To play beach bucket toss, line up the children and let them take turns trying to throw a small beach ball into the bucket or sand pail.
Beach Ball Hot Potato
Have all of the children sit on the floor in a large circle. Hand one of the children a beach ball. Explain to the children that you are going to play some music. While the music is playing they are to pass the beach ball to the person next to them. When the music stops the child who has the beach ball has to say or act out a fun thing to do during the summer. Keep going around the circle until all the children have a chance to say or act out a fun summer activity.
Shell Sensory Tub
Fill a large plastic tub, or several small tubs, with sand. Hide several different types of seashells in the sand. Let the children take turns digging for a shell.
Guest Speakers
Invite representative from the local recreation center to talk to the kids and parents about the fun programs and activities they are offering this summer. Invite a lifeguard to talk about water safety.
Books to Display or Booktalk
Hot City by Barbara Joosse.
Let’s Look at Summer by Sarah Schuette.
Sun Dance, Water Dance by Jonathan London.
The Twelve Days of Summer by Jan Andrews.
Bulletin Board
Beat the Texas Heat! Join us Inside for Storytime this Week
Decorate your bulletin board with a giant sun in the upper left hand corner. Add green grass at the bottom, and in the bottom right hand corner, add a large tree with overhanging branches. Place a child, reading a book in the shade of the tree. Or, decorate your bulletin board with a giant sun. In the middle of the sun add photos of children enjoying different activities in your library, such as storytime, playing on the computers, reading, etc.
Display
Create a summer safety display. In your display include items such as sunscreen, lotion, aloe vera, sunglasses, etc. Include a handout with your display that lists the summer programs at your library and local community center. Add the following tips on how to stay cool.
- Drink 8-10 glasses of water a day. Drink more if you are out in the sun and participating in heavy activities.
- Avoid sodas and other drinks with caffeine.
- Eat fresh fruits.
- Avoid eating a heavy meal and salty foods.
- Protect yourself from the summer sun by using sunscreen, a hat, and an umbrella.
- Dress in light colored clothes and in lightweight fabrics such as cotton.
- Stay inside during the hottest part of the day, which is between 3 and 5pm.
- Plan indoor activities such as going to the library or the community center.
Decorations
Decorate your storytime room with a giant sun wearing sunglasses, made out of butcher paper. Along the bottom of the wall add a strip of wavy beige butcher paper that has been brushed with a water/glue mixture and dusted with sand. It will look like a small beach scene. Decorate the sand with die-cut starfish, seashells, etc. Add a small strip of blue wavy water at one corner of the sand to look like the sea.
Refreshments
Serve juice boxes and fruit snacks.
Audio Recordings
“Ice Cream Cone” on Buzz Buzz by Laurie Berkner.
“Mr. Sun” on Raffi the Singable Songs Collection by Raffi.
Videos/DVD’s/Films
Reading Rainbow: Summer. (30 minutes)
Dora the Explorer: Summer Explorer. (98 minutes)
Let’s Explore Spring and Summer. (38 minutes)
Web Sites
Kids Health
http://kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/outdoor/sun_safety.html
This web site includes information about sun protection for children for parents. It also includes instructions for taking care of sunburns as well as a heat exhaustion and heatstroke sheet.
Safe Kids Worldwide
http://www.usa.safekids.org/
Safe Kids is dedicated to preventing accidental childhood injury. It includes numerous topics: toy safety, railroad safety, pedestrian safety, fire and burn safety, and child passenger safety.
Water safety tips can be found at First School under Activity #4 at http://www.first-school.ws/activities/artapp/collage.htm. The tips can be printed in black and white at http://www.first-school.ws/t/watersafetytipsb.htm or in color at http://www.first-school.ws/t/watersafetytips.htm.
Professional Resources
2’s Experience Felt Board Fun by Liz and Dick Wilmes.
The Best of Totline Flannelboards by Kathleen Cubley.
Seasonal Storytime Crafts by Kathryn Totten.
Accucut
http://www.accucut.com/
You may purchase dies, die-cut machines, and laminators from this web site.
First School
http://www.first-school.ws/
Crafts, lesson plans, printables, and other activities for preschoolers through kindergartners are available on this web site.
It’s Storytime
http://www.geocities.com/mystorytime
This web site includes several preschool storytime themes. In each theme the author includes books, fingerplays, songs, flannel boards, and craft ideas.
Oriental Trading Company
http://www.orientaltrading.com/
Craft supplies, craft kits, party supplies, and small cheap incentives are all available from this web site.
Story Library
http://www.storyarts.org/library/
This is a collection of concise story plots retold for students to use in the classroom. It also includes materials and links for teachers.
Craft Materials
Sun/Summer Nametags
North Wind and the Sun Flannel Board (Pattern 1 of 4)
North Wind and the Sun Flannel Board (Pattern 2 of 4)
North Wind and the Sun Flannel Board (Pattern 3 of 4)
North Wind and the Sun Flannel Board (Pattern 4 of 4)
Handprint Sun (Pattern 1 of 2)
Handprint Sun (Pattern 2 of 2)
