Flannel Friday: Who is Knocking at my Door?

This is not strictly a holiday flannel board, but it works so well for this time of year when people are having so many family get-togethers.

I used my door from Five Little Birds, and my kizclub.com family from Knock, Knock! and wrote this song about relatives coming to visit, and how we might greet each one. The tune is London Bridge.

Begin each verse by pretending to knock on a door.

Who is knocking at my door, at my door, at my door?

Who is knocking at my door?

Look! It’s Mommy.

Let’s give Mom a great big kiss, great big kiss, great big kiss.

Let’s give Mom a great big kiss.
Goodbye, Mommy!

Pause each time you sing the word kiss to blow a kiss.

Who is knocking at my door, at my door, at my door?

Who is knocking at my door?

Look! It’s Daddy.

Let’s give Dad a great big hug, great big hug, great big hug.

Let’s give Dad a great big hug. 

Goodbye, Daddy! 

For this one, adults can hug the kids in their laps, or kids can hug themselves.

Who is knocking at my door, at my door, at my door?

Who is knocking at my door?

Look! It’s Grandma.

Let’s give Grandma a great big smile, great big smile, great big smile.

Let’s give Grandma a great big smile.
Goodbye, Grandma!
It's tricky to smile and sing, but they get a kick out of trying. I also put my fingers up to the sides of my mouth to show I'm smiling.

Who is knocking at my door, at my door, at my door?

Who is knocking at my door?

Look! It’s Grandpa.

Let’s give Grandpa a great big wave, great big wave, great big wave.

Let’s give Grandma a great big wave. Goodbye, Grandpa!
Wave in a big exaggerated motion.

Who is knocking at my door, at my door, at my door?

Who is knocking at my door.

Look! It’s my family.

Let’s tell everyone I love you, I love you, I love.

Let’s tell everyone I love you.

I love my family!

Make the ASL sign for I love you, which my groups know from our version of Wheels on the Bus.

This week, Flannel Friday is hosted by Liz at Putting Smiles on Faces. Also check out Flannel Friday's boards on Pinterest, and the list of previous Flannel Friday round-ups at So Tomorrow.

Gettin' Crafty Post #9: Cat Magic Color Scratch

For an introduction to this new series of Gettin' Crafty posts, visit Post #1.

 

I. Supplies 

Magic Color Scratch Cat kits  (from Oriental Trading)

Apparently Oriental Trading isn't selling the ones I used right now, but they were similar to the ones in this photo, except that they were all black cats.

II. Prep

I didn't have to do anything but open the packages and separate out the cats, ribbons, and scratching tools.

III. Instructions

Most kids seemed to know exactly what to do. Sometimes the scratching tools can be too dull with kits like this, but there were no problems at all with these. I'll probably do this activity again with a different theme this Winter or Spring.

Next time: Masquerade Masks

7 Hibernation Books for Kids

	Winter Lullaby by Barbara Seuling A lullaby for all the animals who hibernate in Winter, and answers to those age-old questions about where they all go.
	Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson Bear doesn't wake up no matter who joins him in his cozy cave.
	Old Bear by Kevin Henkes An aging bear takes a bittersweet look back at the seasons of his life.
	Time to Sleep by Denise Fleming Bear knows it's time to go to sleep, but first he has to remind all the other animals.
	Bear Dreams by Elisha Cooper A bear dreams of what he might do if he stays awake all winter.
	Every Autumn Comes the Bear by Jim Arnosky A black bear prepares for Winter in this realistic nature book.
	Bedtime for Bear by Brett Helquist Bear knows it's bedtime, but it's hard to sleep with his friends playing right outside his window.

Baby/Toddler Story Time, 12/6

For the time being, I am only doing two of the three Tuesday morning story times.  To give myself even more of a break, I'm re-using tried and true books for the next two weeks, and then I won't have story time again until the new year.Some of the rhymes and songs I used today will become part of my regular Winter repertoire, about which I'll be making a post in the next couple of weeks.


Opening Song: Hello, how are you? 

Book:  1,2, Buckle My Shoe by Anna Grossnickle Hines (2008)

Rhyme: Clap, Slap, Tap, Lap
This is my new favorite fingerplay. Almost every child could do some part of it, and many of them around 18 months and older got the whole thing after one full time through. I think this will be a new favorite this Winter.

Rhyme: Fingers
Another simple one that is easy for kids to copy and simple enough to learn in one sitting.

Book: Monkey and Me by Emily Gravett (2008)

Song: Shake My Sillies Out 

Song: I'm a Little Teapot

Song: There's a Little Wheel a-Turnin' in my Heart

Book: The Babies on the Bus by Karen Katz  (2011) 

Song: Rum Sum Sum 

Song: Numbers Are Our Friends 

Song: ABCD Medley

Goodbye Song: We Wave Goodbye Like This