P is for...

Welcome Song

Henrietta’s Basket: parrot stuffed animal

Song: Be my echo (6 syllables x 2) Pirate and pillow; pancake and popcorn

Sign Language: Letter

Flannel Board: 5 Little Pumpkins

5 little pumpkins sitting on the gate

The first one said, "Oh my, it's getting late!"

The second one said, "There's a chill in the air!"

The third one said, "We don't care!"

The fourth one said, "I am ready for some fun!"

The fifth one said, "Let's run, run, run!"

The wooooo went the wind and out went the lights

And the 5 little pumpkins rolled out of sight.

Book: Piglet and Papa

Song: Parachute Song #1 "Bumpin' and Jumpin'"

I had such a large group on Wednesday we sang "If you're happy and you know it" instead

Nursery Rhyme/short poem: Pease Porridge

Book: Penguins

ABC Chant

Good bye Chant

Enrichment: ABC dot-to-dot, pattern blocks, puzzles, play-dough with cookie cutters

O is for...

Welcome Song

Henrietta’s Basket: Octopus puppet

Song: Be my echo (6 syllables x 2) ocean and order; Over and oatmeal

Sign Language: Letter

Flannel Board:Five Little Ocean Friends

Five little ocean friends
On the ocean floor;
The starfish walks away
Now there are four.

Four little ocean friends
Living in the sea;
The crab slides away
Now there are three.

Three little ocean friends
Looking for a clue;
“Glub, glup,” said the lobster.
Now there are two.

Two little ocean friends
Not having much fun;
Off swam the sea horse
Now there is one.

One little octopus
Sad and all alone,
He swam away
Then there was only foam.

Book: Whoo goes there?

Song: Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes

Nursery Rhyme/short poem: “Out goes”
Out goes the rat
Out goes the cat
Out goes the lady with a big orange hat!

Book: No trouble at all

ABC Chant

Good bye Chant

Enrichment: Make an Octopus (from http://www.first-school.ws/t/octopus3d.htm), O dot-to-dot, play with our ocean puppets

N is for...

Welcome Song

Henrietta’s Basket: Nuts (variety in shell)

Sign Language: Letter

Song: Be my echo (6 syllables x 2) Necklace and noodle, Napkin and nurse

Flannel Board: 5 Nocturnal Animals
Five nocturnal animals, sitting by the door.
The firefly flashed away, and then there were four.

Four nocturnal animals, sitting by the tree.
The beaver started gnawing, then there were three.

Three nocturnal animals, sat on tractor new.
Bat hung upside down, then there were two.

Two nocturnal animals, looking for some fun.
Hungry owl caught a mouse, then there was one.

One nocturnal animal, watching for the sun.
Raccoon went home to bed, then there was none.
From Nature Boxes for Early Childhood Educators, Debbi Williams, Story County Conservation Board

Book (on Wednesday) : Eleanor, Ellatony, Ellencake, and me
Even though most of the kids stayed engaged with this story, I thought it was too long for storytime.

Book (on Thursday): What's that awful smell?

Song: Boom, Bang!
(use rhythm sticks for actions)

Boom, bang, boom, bang! (hammer sticks)
Rumpety, lumpety, bump! (drum on floor)
Zoom, zam, zoom, zam! (scrap sticks)
Clippety, clappety, clump! (hit sticks together)
Rustles and bustles (roll sticks)
And swishes and zings (hit ends on floor)
What wonderful noises a rhythm stick brings!

Movement: Head shoulder knees and toes (NOSE at the end!)

Nursery Rhyme/short poem: Chubby Little Snowman
A chubby little snowman
Had a carrot nose. (point to nose)
Along came a bunny (hold up two fingers on right hand to make bunny)
And what do you suppose?

That hungry little bunny
Looking for his lunch

Ate that little snowman's nose

Nibble, nibble, crunch.

Book (on Wednesday): Nighty, Night

Book (on Thursday): The Napping House
Because I read "What's that awful smell" I didn't want to do another "farm" story. For some reason I have been hesitant to read "The Napping House"...but it went over really well!

ABC Chant

Good bye Chant

Enrichment: Nine Noodles (use Elmer’s glue to glue pieces of noodle onto a 9 on a sheet of paper), Wooden block & string (necklace), N dot-to-dot, use magnifying glasses to examine nuts in the shell (and other objects--sponge, feather, yarn, noodles)

M is for...

Welcome Song

Henrietta’s Basket: mouse finger puppet

Sign Language: Letter
Song: Be my echo (6 syllables x 2) monster and music, morning and mud
Sign Language: Milk

Flannel Board: Little Mice
1 little mouse, with a nibble and a chew,

Called for a friend…SQUEAK!
And then there were 2.

2 little mice, quick as quick can be,

Called for a friend…SQUEAK! SQUEAK!
And then there were 3.

3 little mice as the scampered ‘round the floor,

Called for a friend…SQUEAK! SQUEAK, SQUEAK
And then there were 4.

4 little mice, with another to arrive,

Called for a friend…SQUEAK, SQUEAK, SQUEAK, SQUEAK!
And then there were five.

Book: Martha in the Middle

Song: 5 little monkeys jumping on the bed
We also sang "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" for some movement.

Nursery Rhyme: Little Miss Muffet

Book: Me and My Mom

ABC Chant

Good bye Chant

Enrichment: ABC dot-to-dot, mitten match (from Oriental Trading), M&M sort and count.

M&M sort and count is one of my favorite early literacy activities! On a half sheet of paper I made 6 squares and typed in the color words. After I printed them I used the marker to underline the color word with its color. I use the "fun size" packages (which have about 15 candies in them). I give the kids 3 rules when I do this activity:

1. Sort the M&Ms by color

2. Count the number of M&Ms in each square

3. Ask the person who brought you today if you may eat them

To get parents involved instruct them to talk to their child about most, least, etc.