Mandy Sheffield's Preschool Storytime Program Page

Title of Program: Animal Antics 

ALSC Competencies:

I. Knowledge of Client Group

1. Understands theories of infant, child, and adolescent learning and development and their implications for library service.

VI. Programming Skills

1. Designs, promotes, presents, and evaluates a variety of programs for children of all ages, based on their developmental needs and interests and the goals of the library.
2. Identifies and utilizes skilled resource people to present programs and information.
3. Provides library outreach programs which meet community needs and library goals and objectives.
4. Establishes programs and services for parents, individuals and agencies providing childcare, and other professionals in the community who work with children.
5. Promotes library programs and services to underserved children and families.

Age Group of Audience: For Ages 3-5

Books: 

The Seals on the Bus by Lenny Hort

The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse by Eric Carle

"I Don't Care!" Said the Bear by Colin West

Activities including fingerplays, songs, and readings:

Opening Song: Ten Little Fingers- http://tinyurl.com/lszz8kl

Action Rhyme: Jack Rabbits Hop- Jack Rabbits Hop.docx

Song with Shakers: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star- http://tinyurl.com/q5st734

Closing Rhyme: All thumbs Up- All Thumbs Up.docx

Hands-on Learning Component:

 Before reading the book “I Don’t Care!” Said the Bear, pass out preprinted and cut out animals that align with the animals in the book. This will include a moose, a goose, a pig, a snake, and a wolf. Multiples of each animal will be printed to make sure that everyone in the audience is included in the story. If there are a large group of children, then the animals will only be given to the children. If there is a small group, then the animals can also be given to the adults to help with participation. Ask the participants to make the corresponding sounds for each animal as they are shown in the book. This can be done before the reading for practice. As the book is read, this will result in a cumulative reading of not just the animal’s name but also their sound which reinforces phonological awareness. The reader will be fulfilling the role of the bear and a tiny mouse finger puppet can be added at the very end, brought from its hiding place. This will make for a very interactive reading of the story and reinforce the animal sounds.    

Enrichment Activity.docx 

Caregiver Involement and/or ECRR2 Family Education:

Title: The Seals on the Bus by Lenny Hort- Saying animal sounds helps beginning readers with phonological awareness and word decoding.

Aside: Parents, encouraging your children to make animal sounds helps them to hear smaller sounds in words. This will help them to be better prepared to sound out words when they are learning to read.

Title: The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse by Eric Carle- When the page is turned at the end of the book to reveal the polka dotted donkey, the children may say that it is a rainbow colored horse. Explain to the children that this is a donkey, and the dots painted on him in rainbow colors are actually polka dots. Ask the children to repeat the word “polka dot” and “donkey.” Then ask them to put it together and say that it is a “polka dotted donkey.” 

Aside: Using unfamiliar words, as we did with the polka dotted donkey, and explaining them helps to expand a child’s vocabulary. A broader vocabulary means that a child will be more likely to understand the words that they are reading. 

Song: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star (Sung with Shakers)- Explain that each beat is the same as the syllables in the words used in the song. Demonstrate before singing, how to tap them to the syllables in the words. This can be done once for practice, to help with understanding, and a second time to reinforce the concept.

Title: “I Don’t Care!” Said the Bear by Colin West- In this book and correlating enrichment activity participants are using animal sounds to help their phonological awareness. They are also increasing their vocabulary by using their listening skills combined with the visual connection of the cut out of each animal. In addition, involving participants in the story helps to create a connection between reading and enjoyment.  

Aside: Again, we are encouraging our children to hear the smaller sounds in words by making animal sounds. 

References

Association for Library Service to Children. 2009. Competencies for Librarians Serving Children in Public Libraries. http://www.ala.org/alsc/edcareeers/alsccorecomps (accessed November 22, 2014).

Carle, Eric. The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse. New York: Philomel, 2011. Print.

Hort, Lenny, and G. Brian Karas. The Seals on the Bus. New York: Henry Holt, 2000. Print.

West, Colin. "I Don't Care!" Said the Bear. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick, 1996. Print.

Mandy's Homepage