Dig Into Reading (Beach): Drop-In Story Time, 6/11/13

Dig Into Reading (Beach): Drop-In Story Time, 6/11/13 

Book: To the Beach by Thomas Docherty
I kicked off the summer with this book two years ago, and it was a huge hit. It's a real eye-opener to  realize how much my crowds have changed in that time, because these people were totally non-responsive. I actually had to silence them before the story even started, as the fact that I was about to read a book provided no indication for them that it wasn't time to chat with their neighbors. (I think the kids liked the book, but the adults made it hard for them to hear me.)

Flannel Board Song: What Can We See (At the Beach)?
I was going to use "We're Going to the Beach" which is sung to the tune of The Farmer in the Dell, but I changed my mind at the last second and came up with a song to the tune of  Are You Sleeping?

What can we see? What can we see?
At the beach?  At the beach?
We might see a seashell. We might see a seashell.
At the beach. At the beach.

Short, sweet, simple, and successful. 

Book: All You Need for a Beach by Alice Schertle
I really thought I could include one longer book, but no one was listening. I thought about cutting it short, but I knew it wouldn't make a difference what I did. These adults don't think reading books aloud is worth listening to. Period. Some of the kids were into it, at least. And they did clap for the final page where it is revealed that "you" are all that is needed for a beach.

Flannel Board Rhyme: Five Pretty Sandcastles
This went over better today than the last time I used it. The kids right up front, who were mostly three, were the most interested, but everyone looked like they were watching the board the whole time, even though the ending of the rhyme didn't seem to make sense to them.  (Again, two years ago, this exact same flannel board got cheers from the nannies. Go figure.)

Book: Senses at the Seashore by Shelley Rotner
I didn't necessarily intend to use this book, but I had it and another choice on hand, and went with this one because I thought the pictures were more engaging. 

Song with Puppet: Mr. Sun

Magic Envelope: Ice Cream Sundae
We used photos of a dish, a scoop of ice cream, a container of hot fudge, a can of whipped cream, and a cherry to make an ice cream sundae. The kids were attentive, but not amazed when the sundae came out of the envelope. Still, there is something about this idea - talking directly to the kids, asking them questions, introducing new vocabulary - that really works. I initially worried that the "magic" would get old, or that the kids would figure it out and no longer be interested in seeing what comes out of the envelope. That has not been the case at all. The true "magic" of the envelope is how the kids tune into me talking to them and call out answers to questions where they would otherwise sit mutely and watch me. I'm liking what this is doing for my story time, even if the kids don't believe I have magic powers!

Ukulele Medley: ABCs / Twinkle Twinkle Little Star / Baa Baa Black Sheep

Song: Monkeys on the Bed

Rhyme: This is Big, Big, Big

Song: Hands Up High

Song: If You're Happy and You Know It

Song: The More We Read Together 
I might decide to replace If You're Happy with this song for the summer. This was an experiment, and I'll try it once more on Friday before I decide.

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.