I was hanging with my friend Patrick Sweeney a few weeks ago at the CLA/CSLA conference and since he owns a boat our conversation naturally turned to boats and sailing. When I got back to work I felt inspired to plan a Sail Away storytime. I selected four titles that worked, but before I could grab them from the shelves one of the books went missing. I sent out a plea on twitter and resident blogger Lalitha came through with a plethora of titles. Since I do "preschool" storytimes two times a week, and I now had more than enough titles I thought, "why not pick different books for the different storytimes?" I'm doing the storytimes next week and everyone is going to get a rubber ducky to take home! Here is my plan:
@ Central (ages 2, 3, 4)
PARENT PATTER: Children learn language and other pre-reading skills by listening to their parents and others talk around them. When we talk about (and participate in storytimes about) the world around them, your child is building their vocabulary by learning the names of things. This larger vocabulary also helps your child understand what they see, hear, and read.
OPENING SONG: "Hello Song" (Dragon Tales)
OPENING FINGERPLAY: Open Them Shut Them
BOOK: I Love Boats by Flora McDonnell
SONG: Row Row Row Your Boat
PARENT PATTER: Since we live in a beach city, chances are good that you and your child will see a boat or ship sometime as you are out. Respond when your child points one out next time, and extend the conversation. Something like: “yes that is a ship. It’s called an Amphibious Assault Ship" (clearly my parents are retired military)
Here are the books for storytime @ St. Vinny's Shelter Preschool (ages 3, 4, 5) :FLANNEL SONG: My Big Blue Boat (found at Mel's Desk)
BOOK: Sheep on a Ship by Nancy Shaw
FLANNEL SONG: Five Little Fishes
ACTION RHYME: This is Big Big Big (also from Mel's Desk)
SONG: "Clap Your Hands" (They Might be Giants)
BOOK: Tugga Tugga Tugboat by Kevin Lewis
ACTION SONG: “Peanut Butter and Jelly”
SONG: “ABC SONG”
PROP SONG: "Water Wind and World" (Johnette Downing using SCARVES)
ENDING RHYME: Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear
PARENT PATTER: Keep the conversation going about boats! In the sink, bathtub, or pool, try floating different objects and talk to your child about which ones make the best boats and why. Everyone gets a rubber ducky to take home, so try floating during your next bath time adventure.
SONG: "Reach for the Ceiling" (Carol Totsky Hammett)
Boats: Speeding! Sailing! Cruising! by Patricia Hubbell
Sail Away by Donald Crews
The Little Boat by Thomas Docherty
