As a recap, I am currently a Children's Services Librarian with the Pikes Peak Library District in Colorado Springs. We have 13 libraries in our district, including mobile library services- the bookmobile, in other words. I'm always fascinated to see how the planning takes place on such a grand scale. Coming from a small library system with two libraries, things were so much different in terms of programming, collection, circulation...ay yay yay!
I originally started this blog with the intention of providing some insight and lots of resources for others working with children to use. I find myself perusing the web and collecting millions of useful things for story times, research-based information, etc. Instead of charging myself with the overwhelming task of trying to document everything that's going on in my library, I thought I would instead choose themes based on current things I'm working on.
In the spirit of fun, this post is dedicated to creating a story time! I am currently working on a story time for the month of October, and while the go-to idea would probably include something about Halloween or fall, I'm not the only one doing story time in my district and therefore there will definitely be some fall and Halloween related story times done by others! I did a fall-themed story time last October, and will post those ideas here as well. Eventually.
October's theme will be...drum-roll please.... ART! I love art and creativity, so I always try to encourage young learners to be creative and think outside of the box. For this story time I decided to incorporate some books about color, primary and secondary colors as well as just general creativity. I also want children to learn and understand that art doesn't just have to be visual. We all express our creative selves differently and dancing, singing and telling stories are just as creative and artistic as making something visual to admire and hang on a wall.
Instead of publishing a synopsis of how the story time will go down (since I haven't done it yet, I don't know which books I'll read and in what order), I will just put the components that will make up this story time.
First things first, the books. Keep in mind, I won't use all of these, but I like to have LOTS of options to satisfy a variety of moods and energy levels. You never know what you're going to get on any given morning! These are all books that fit my theme and would go over well in a group setting, (I think.)
Book Suggestions:
I Ain't Gonna Paint No More! by Karen Beaumont
Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me by Eric Carle
Dog's Colorful Day by Emma Dodd
Go Away, Big Green Monster! by Ed Emberley
Little Blue and Little Yellow by Leo Lionni
Bear's Picture by Daniel Pinkwater
First the Egg by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
Lemons Are Not Red by Laura Vaccar Seeger
My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss
Look! Look! Look! by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace
Lines that Wiggle by Candace Whitman
Art & Max by David Wiesner
Hilda Must Be Dancing by Karma Wilson
Action Rymes/Songs:
Action Song: "Driving Round in My Car" (Tune: Ten Little Indians)
Driving round in my little red car
Driving round in my little red car
Driving round in my little red car
Zoom zoom zoom zoom zoom
Credit: storytime katie
Let the kids choose which color the car will be next!
Action Rhyme: "When I See"
When I see red I put my hand on my head.
When I see blue I touch my shoe.
When I see green I wash my face real clean.
When I see yellow I wave to the fellows.
When orange is found I put my hand on the ground.
When I see pink I think, think, think.
Credit: everythingpreschool.com
Action Rhyme: "Red, Red"
Red, red is the color I see
If you're wearing red, then show it to me.
Stand up, take a bow, turn around
Show me your red and sit back on the ground.
Credit: everythingpreschool.com- Colors
And since no story time would be complete without flannel boards, here are two that I made:
Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
Source: storytime katie
This was so much fun! I've always loved this story, but the format is a little small for story time. Clever librarian Katie thought of a great way to share this in another way!
Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh
Source: storytime katie
This is a great story for teaching about primary and secondary colors. Three mischievous mice have fun with some jars of paint while the cat is sleeping.
I had so much fun creating this story time. I will be sure to come back and post any suggestions, warnings, comments about how this went with the kids. And I'll also show some photos of the lovely art-related crafts they create!
