Colors: Brown Drop-In Story Time, 5/28/13

Colors: Brown Drop-In Story Time, 5/28/13

Rhyme: Blue is the Lake

Book: Moo Moo Brown Cow, Have You Any Milk? by Phyllis Gershator, illustrated by Giselle Potter

Rhyme with Puppets: I Went to Visit the Farm

Book: Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin, Jr. and Eric Carle

Song: Where is Brown Bear?
I wrote a piggyback song on my way into story time, to the tune of Where is Thumbkin? I sang about a different animal from the book for each finger - brown bear, red bird, yellow duck, green frog, and white dog - and we ended with "Where are the animals?" It was the perfect song to follow the book, and I think it would be fun to make a flannel board of it, too, perhaps with all the animals from the book, not just these five.

Magic Envelope:  Make a Painting
I originally learned about Magic Envelope from Sharon at Rain Makes Applesauce, but it took me a long time to work up to trying it. But I'm tired of doing a letter of the day every session, so I've decided to try using magic envelopes instead. This is how I presented my first one:

First, I made an announcement: "I brought something new and different to story time this morning. It's my magic envelope! My magic envelope helps me make things at story time. Today, we're going to use the magic envelope to make a painting. But this is my very first time using the magic envelope, so I need everyone to listen and help me out!"

Then we sang what I called the "Magic Envelope Song," to the tune of London Bridge.

Here's my magic envelope, envelope, envelope
Here's my magic envelope - let's do magic!

I reminded them we'd be making a painting, then started showing them the ingredients. I told them that for the magic to work, we all have to say the name of each item together. So I would say "piece of paper" and ask them to repeat after me. We put in a piece of paper, a paintbrush, a glass of water, and four different kinds of paint - red, blue, green, and yellow. 

After all the ingredients were in the envelope, I asked everyone to help me sing the magic words:

ABCDEFG
Abracadabra
1...2...3...!

Then I said, "Let's see! Did we make a painting?"

I reached into my envelope and pulled it out. Half the room erupted into spontaneous applause, but I just went on talking.

"Wow, look at that! We did it! And let's see what it's a painting of. Oh, flowers. Here's what used to be the plain piece of paper, and look, the red paint made the petals, the green paint made the stem, and the blue paint made the pot. Give yourselves a hand - you are great magicians!"

Then we sang goodbye  to the magic envelope.

Goodbye, magic envelope, envelope, envelope
Goodbye, magic envelope - see you next time!

I was not overwhelmingly impressed with the nannies' response to the magic envelope, but those who were into it were really into it, which was nice. The kids' ages varied, so not all of  them got what was going on, but they were all very attentive, and involving them by having them repeat the name of each object, and by helping me name the colors was hugely helpful for keeping their attention as well.

Songs: ABCs / Twinkle Twinkle Little Star/ Baa Baa Black Sheep

Song: Hands Up High

Song with Puppet: Mr. Sun

Song: Monkeys on the Bed

I use the same hello and goodbye songs at almost every session. Click here for the tunes and words. For descriptions of each of my story times, click here.