Preschool Interactive: Print Awareness

[Notes and Responses January 25, 2012: I was surprised at what a huge hit Blue Chicken was. The kids requested two repeats of flap little birdies. I was worried that Pretty Ladybug would be too long, since we sing for every single number, but we went to 20 and everyone enjoyed it and parents afterwards said they liked doing higher numbers. I think it might have gone better if I'd had something standing up afterwards though. I almost didn't read Loon Baby because some kids were losing interest, but then I pointed out to myself that there were still more than 10 kids listening and they quieted down for the story.]


Dancing time and name tags ["Samantha the Butterfly" from Things are coming my way by Fox and Branch]

Introduction and welcome

Early Literacy Theme: Print Awareness includes knowing that print has meaning, knowing how to handle a book, and noticing print all around

Opening name song: The more we get together

Long story: Blue chicken by Deborah Freedman

Early Literacy Aside: Print awareness includes numbers as well as letters and we're going to practice recognizing some of our numbers in this next song. I'm going to need your help counting and singing!

Movement/Flannelboard: Pretty ladybug

Nonfiction: About Birds by Cathryn Sill

Music: Flap little birdies (to the tune of Hop Little Bunnies)

Short story: Loon baby by Molly Griffin

Closing: Announcements, don't forget to take more stories and a take home bag.

Closing song: Sunny Day

Process art: Dot Painting (MaryAnn Kohl's Art with Anything pg. 38)

Take Home Insert

Thank you for attending today's Preschool Interactive!

Our stories today included:

Blue chicken by Deborah Freedman 

About Birds by Cathryn Sill 

Loon baby by Molly Griffin

Our songs and rhymes included:

Flap little birdies, adapted from Hop hop little bunnies. Try googling this song on Utube for lots of adorable versions you can do at home!

Pretty ladybug. You can continue counting with this simple song/flannelboard. All you need is something round and some black dots - or try drawing a ladybug and adding spots while you sing!

Our early literacy skill was: Print Awareness, including knowing that print has meaning, knowing how to handle a book, and noticing print all around  

You can practice print awareness while you are reading together by pointing at words as you read and having your children sound out words.

 Our art project this week was: Dot painting

Our take home craft is: Peacocks

You will need: tape or glue, decorations and/or drawing materials.

Tape or glue your peacock's feathers to the back of the main body (the little square is the top of the head). Decorate! You can see this craft here:  www.allkidsnetwork.com/crafts/animals/birds/peacock-craft.asp

Library events for ages 3-6 coming soon:

January 25, 3:30-5pm, Lego Club. All ages welcome, drop in between 3:30 and 5.

January 26, 3:30pm, Elephant and Piggie Kids' Club. Stories, puppetry, and painting piggie banks!

For more library events, new books, and more, check out our website at www.elkhorn.lib.wi.us, join us on Facebook, or talk to a librarian. Please let me know if you have suggestions or questions!

Jennifer Wharton
Youth Services Librarian
jwharton@elkhorn.lib.wi.us
262-723-2678 ext. 14