Literacy Volunteers - Middle Earth "Snow" Storytime/Craft

 

Read: Snow by Uri Shulewitz (discussed Caldecott Medal – what it means)

Acted Out: The Mitten by Jan Brett (did with a large tablecloth mitten & sign/masks from janbrett.com details: http://carolsimonlevin.blogspot.com/2014/12/winter-storytimetheatercraft-jan-bretts.html)

• Talked about folktale (story retold over generations/centuries (define), then read Jan Brett’s  book with kids holding tablecloth and masks from www.janbrett.com at the “aachoo”, I grabbed the tablecloth and the kids scattered. Another possibility is to have two kids (or grown ups) hold hands and become each side of the mitten, then let the kids crowd in between. (from http://lalalalibrary.blogspot.com/2014/12/flannel-friday-mitten.html)

Singable Book: Frosty
Booktalked: Raymond Brigg’s The Snowman (wonderful video available on Youtube) 

Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin, illustrated by Mary Azarian (talked about Caldecott Gold woodcut illustrations, true book – would find in the Biography (bio=life, graphy =writing,stories section)

Singable/flannel: “In the Freezer” by Joe Scruggs – lyrics here.

Snowballs by Lois Ehlert (had kids look at the collage art –> art project)

Snow creatures (inspired by Ehlert’s book) – Materials: White & colored construction paper, markers, scissors, glue, pompoms, buttons, feathers, etc.

Finished with: Snowball fight using plastic bag snowballs, to the music “Sleigh Ride” by Leroy Anderson (on album Season’s Greetings)
Making snowballs:
1) Gather a white plastic grocery bag into a long, skinny tube-like length with the handles on one end.
2) Fold the length in half, then in half again.
3) Wind a rubber band around the middle until it is tight.
4) Cut open both ends to remove any folded areas.
5) Then fluff out pieces
Idea courtesy of:  Susan Dailey, librarian, speaker and author of "A Storytime Year"

Optional Additional Craft : Cut out paper snowflakes http://thechocolatemuffintree.blogspot.com/2012/12/making-giant-snowflakes.html (could use large tissue paper) (booktalked Snowflake Bentley – another Caldecott)

1/24/24

School Age Storytime: Snow Day!

 

Read: Snow by Uri Shulewitz (discussed Caldecott Medal – what it means, my plan to return in early February to run a Mock Caldecott with them)

Younger classes: Do the motions to “When It’s Cold Outside” an Elvis-inspired song from Pick Me Up! Fun Songs for Learning Signs

Acted Out: The Mitten by Jan Brett (did with a large tablecloth mitten & sign/masks from janbrett.com details: http://carolsimonlevin.blogspot.com/2014/12/winter-storytimetheatercraft-jan-bretts.html)

• Talked about folktale (story retold over generations/centuries (define), then read Jan Brett’s  book with kids holding tablecloth and masks from www.janbrett.com at the “aachoo”, I grabbed the tablecloth and the kids scattered. Another possibility is to have two kids (or grown ups) hold hands and become each side of the mitten, then let the kids crowd in between. (from http://lalalalibrary.blogspot.com/2014/12/flannel-friday-mitten.html)

Singable Book: Frosty
Booktalked: Snowmen at Night – Caralyn Buehner (mentioned hidden pictures), Raymond Brigg’s The Snowman (wonderful video available on Youtube)

 

Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin, illustrated by Mary Azarian (talked about Caldecott Gold woodcut illustrations, true book – would find in the Biography (bio=life, graphy =writing,stories section)

 

Activity: Snowball fight using plastic bag snowballs, to the music “Sleigh Ride” by Leroy Anderson (on album Season’s Greetings)
Making snowballs:
1) Gather a white plastic grocery bag into a long, skinny tube-like length with the handles on one end.
2) Fold the length in half, then in half again.
3) Wind a rubber band around the middle until it is tight.
4) Cut open both ends to remove any folded areas.
5) Then fluff out pieces
Idea courtesy of:  Susan Dailey, librarian, speaker and author of "A Storytime Year"

Singable/flannel: “In the Freezer” by Joe Scruggs – lyrics here.

Action Song: “I’m a Little Snowman”

I’m a Little Snowman Tune: “I’m a Little Teapot”
I’m a little snowman, short and fat
Here is my broomstick, here is my hat
When the sun comes out, I’ll melt away
Drip, drip, drip, I’m a puddle today!

Craft (for afterschool sites): Cut out paper snowflakes http://thechocolatemuffintree.blogspot.com/2012/12/making-giant-snowflakes.html (could use large tissue paper) (booktalked Snowflake Bentley – another Caldecott)

Other possibilities: If Picasso Painted a Snowman by Amy & Greg Newbold (would be fun to create artist-inspired snow people)

Snow creatures (inspired by Ehlert’s book) – Materials: White & colored construction paper, markers, scissors, glue, pompoms, buttons, feathers, etc.

JFK --Did puppet version of Trouble with Trolls by Jan Brett (a bit hard to do all the pieces - slow to take off parts), didn't have time for The Mitten.

More ideas: http://carolsimonlevin.blogspot.com/2014/01/let-it-snow-winter-storytimecraft-ages.html, http://carolsimonlevin.blogspot.com/2014/01/pre-school-storytime-button-up-for.html

1/18 Bedm, Afterschools: VH, JFK, Whiton,  BG

Singalong: Winter’s Day

 

Singalong: Winter’s Day (All Ages)
Step inside the library for some fun and lively songs to warm away the wintry weather – and stick around for a musical indoor snowball fight!

Singalong Winter’s Day : Songs and Fingerplays

Snowflakes Falling (Tune: London Bridge is Falling Down)
Snowflakes falling from the sky, from the sky,
from the sky, Snowflakes falling from the sky
To the ground below.
Watch them as they dance and whirl, dance and whirl, dance and whirl,
Watch them as they dance and whirl -- Soft white winter snow.

Snowflake Rhyme (flannel)
One little snowflake with nothing to do.
Along came another and then there were two.
Two little snowflakes laughing with me.
Along came another, and then there were three.
Three little snowflakes looking for some more.
Along came another, and then there were four.
Four little snowflakes dancing a jive.
Along came another, and then there were five.
Five little snowflakes having so much fun.
Out came the sun, and then there were none!

”When it’s Cold Outside” sign language song from Pick Me Up: Fun Songs for Learning Signs

This is the Way we Put on Our…to Play Outside in the Snow. Tune: “Mulberry Bush”
This is the way we put on our coat,
Put on our coat, put on our coat,
This is the way we put on our coat,
To play outside in the snow.
Continue with other articles of clothing, then outside activities…e.g. “we roll a snowball”… “make a snowman,” “sip hot cocoa”

We Dress Like That Tune: “Head & Shoulders, Knees & Toes”
Boots, jacket, scarf and hat, scarf and hat.
Boots, jacket, scarf and hat, scarf and hat.
Boots, jacket, scarf and hat, scarf and hat.
In wintertime we dress like that,
Boots, jacket, scarf and hat, scarf and hat.

It’s Not that Cold Outside Tune: “Mary Had a Little Lamb”
I don’t want to wear my coat,
Wear my coat, wear my coat,
I don’t want to wear my coat.
It’s not that cold outside!
Repeat with gloves, cap, scarf, boots, etc.
SNEEZE!!!

Chubby Little Snowman (flannel rhyme, bunny puppet)
A chubby little snowman
Had a carrot nose.
Along came a bunny
And what do you suppose?
That hungry little bunny
Looking for his lunch
Ate that little snowman’s nose
Nibble, nibble, crunch!

I’m a Little Snowman Tune: “I’m a Little Teapot”
I’m a little snowman, short and fat
Here is my broomstick, here is my hat
When the sun comes out, I’ll melt away
Drip, drip, drip, I’m a puddle today!

Snowman Counting Rhyme (glove puppet fingerplay—counting up)
One little snowman has a carrot nose.
Two snowmen shiver when the cold wind blows.
Three little snowmen wear scarves when it snows.
Four little snowmen are getting cold toes.
Five little snowmen like to pose
Outside—night and day—in their winter clothes.

Five Little Snowmen (glove puppet fingerplay—counting down)
Five little snowmen all in a row,
Each with a hat and a big red bow.
Out came the sun and it stayed all day.
And one of those snowmen melted away. 4,3,2,1…

I’m a Little Teapot
I’m a little teapot, short and stout.
Here is my handle, here is my spout.
When I get all steam up, hear me shout,
“Just tip me over and pour me out!”

Doing the Chocolate Shake (A warm-up action song)
You squat right down (squat)
Up you stand (stand up)
Stomp your feet (stomp)
Shake your hands (shake hands)
Wiggle all over (wiggle)
And mix real well (roll hands over & over)
Doing the Chocolate Shake! (clap hands)
Yum! (reach high)
(Repeat, faster each time.)

Popcorn (action) Song on Linda Arnold’s album "Make Believe"
Children can jump up & down on the “pops”
Pop-pop-pop-pop, pop-pop-pop-pop, pop-pop-pop-pop, pop!
First you take some oil, You put it in the pan,
Shake it up as fast as you can.
Put it on the fire, Wait for a while,
Pretty soon you've got popcorn!
Chorus: P-O-P-C-O-R-N!
Popcorn is a kid's best friend,
Munchee, crunchee, good for your lunchee,
Please pass the popcorn!
Pop-pop-pop-pop, pop-pop-pop-pop, pop-pop-pop-pop, pop!
Pop-pop-pop-pop, pop-pop-pop-pop, pop-pop-pop-pop, pop!
Add a little butter,
A little salt too,
Making popcorn is fun to do,
Fill your bowl to the very top,
But just make sure that you don't pop!
Repeat chorus, finish by repeating…
Pop-pop-pop-pop, pop-pop-pop-pop, pop-pop-pop-pop, pop! (2x)

Book to Sing: Frosty the Snowman – Nelson
(various versions, I particularly like the one illustrated by Richard Cowdrey)

Frosty the Snowman
Frosty the Snowman
Was a jolly happy soul
With a corncob pipe and a button nose
And two eyes made out of coal
Frosty the Snowman
Is a fairytale they say
He was made of snow
But the children know
How he came to life one day
There must have been some magic
In that old silk hat they found
For when they placed it on his head
He began to dance around
Frosty the Snowman
Was alive as he could be
And the children say
He could laugh and play
Just the same as you and me
Frosty the Snowman
Knew the sun was hot that day
So he said let's run
And we'll have some fun
Now before I melt away
Down to the village
With a broomstick in his hand
Running here and there all around the square
Saying catch me if you can
He led them down the streets of town
Right to the traffic cop
And he only paused a moment when
He heard him holler stop
Frosty the Snowman
Had to hurry on his way
But he waved goodbye
Saying don't you cry
I'll be back again some day
Thumpety thump thump
Thumpety thump thump
Look at Frosty go
Thumpety thump thump
Thumpety thump thump
Over the hills of snow

In the Freezer (flannel)
Song on Joe Scrugg’s “Traffic Jams”
There was snow on the ground
But it was a sunny day.
We knew that our snowman
Was going to melt away.
So we asked our Mom
And though it did not please her,
She said we could keep
Our snowman in the freezer.
Chorus:
He’s in the freezer,
He’s our snowman.
He’s in the freezer,
Getting a frost tan.
He’s in the freezer,
Keeps as cold as he can.
He doesn’t go to school,
He just keeps cool,
In the freezer –

We feed him bits of frost
And lots of ice cubes.
We show him to our friends
When we come home from school.
We watch him as he sits
Next to the frozen squash,
‘Til Dad shuts the door and says,
“It’s starting to defrost. Chorus
One night at suppertime
My Mom said it was said
As she told us of the ice cream
That we could have had.
Our snowman was taking up
All the room it seems,
And she didn’t have a place
To put our ice cream.

Final Chorus:
He’s on the sidewalk
And he’s melting fast.
You know a snowman
Was not meant to last.
It won’t be long now
Before he melts away
And we’re having ice cream
For dessert today!
It’s in the freezer!
It’s in the freezer!

 

Ending Activity: Snowball fight using plastic bag snowballs (find how to make them here), music “Sleigh Ride” on Now Christmas (disc 1, track 9), can follow with “Let it Snow” (track 10) or find them on Season’s Greetings can follow with Durante’s “Frosty the Snowman” for hand stamps.

See also: SOUP’S ON! & TASTY TUNES

1.14 BWL

Winter Storytime/Theater/Craft: Jan Brett’s The Mitten

Celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Jan Brett’s wonderful retelling of the old Ukrainian Folktale “The Mitten” (For ages 3-9)

We’ll read this cozy tale, act out the story and then make our own well-stuffed mittens!

• Talk about folktale, show Tressalt version, then read Jan Brett’s 
• Act out story with puppets (old lady, boy) and masks from www.janbrett.com – we had drawn an enormous mitten on a white plastic tablecloth with thick black marker, placed it on the floor and parents held down the corners while the Iibrarian narrated the story and the children (holding laminated masks from the Jan Brett website), stepped on and huddled together, at the “aachoo” we all jumped off and threw the tablecloth into the air!   Another possibility (suggested here http://lalalalibrary.blogspot.com/2014/12/flannel-friday-mitten.html is to have two kids (or grown ups) hold hands and become each side of the mitten, then let the kids crowd in between.)

• And/or play “The Mitten Game” from A Storytime Year by Susan Dailey p. 18 (adapted for Jan Brett’s version)

Have parents & children get in a circle & hold hands. The circle represents the mitten. Sing (to: “Twinkle, twinkle, Little Star”)
Mitten on this day so cold
How many animals can you hold?
A little mole tunnels in
To get out of the snow and wind
Mitten on this day so cold
How many animals can you hold?
Repeat for the other animals (snowshoe rabbit, hedgehog, owl, badger, fox, bear, mouse) As each animal’s name is called, a couple of children enter the circle and the circle gets tighter around them (the mitten is getting “crowded”).

On the last verse, sing the following and all fall down!.

Mitten on this day so cold
How many animals can you hold?
A tiny mouse crawls right in and…. Ha-Choo!!!

Alternatively:
The Mitten in the Snow (original source unknown, tune: The Farmer in the Dell) 
The mitten in the snow, the mitten in the snow,
Help us please so we don’t freeze, the mitten in the snow.

The mole (snowshoe rabbit, hedgehog, owl, badger, fox, bear, mouse) squeezes in (2x)
Help us please so we don’t freeze, the mitten in the snow.

The bear goes “kachoo” (2x),
All the animals fly up high – out of the mitten in the snow!

• Craft: animals & mitten www.janbrett.com/put_the_animals_in_the_mitten.htm
  -- we used hole punch and yarn for lacing mitten halves together (note: it’s easier to get the animals in and out if you don’t lace up the cuff portion – can copy on heavier paper, B&T chipboard cardboards are too hard to hole punch). Optional: Make eight hole punches along the cuff and use yarn to attach each of the animals to the cuff – then you can get them out of the mitten more easily at the “aachoo” – and the pieces don’t get lost! – we found a 8-10” long piece of yarn tied in a 4” long loop prevents too much tangling.) Used coloring sheet: “design your own mitten” from Jan Brett’s website for younger kids.)
• Alternatively, could do Story Rocks: http://fun-a-day.com/mitten-activities-using-story-rocks

12.2009 (20th Anniversary)
1.2016  (added plastic bag snowball fight details here before craft)
Heather Forest's Musical version here: http://www.heatherforest.com/files/01_-_The_Mitten.mp3
from: http://libraryladystorytimes.blogspot.ca/2014/01/flannel-friday-sort-of-mitten-madness.html has a great idea of using chopped paper confetti for the penultimate verse!

The Mitten (version from: Heather Forest, storyteller)

One cold and frosty day, a boy went into the forest to collect firewood. Along the way,he dropped a warm mitten his grandmother had just knit for him.

Along came a mouse. When the mouse saw the mitten lying in the snow, the mouse was shivering so. He said, “I'm frosty cold out here in the storm. I'm going to climb into that mitten where it's nice & warm.” And into the mitten he went.

Along came a rabbit. When the rabbit saw the mitten lying in the snow, the rabbit was shivering so. He said, “Can I come in? I'm cold from the storm. Let me in, let me in, where it's nice & warm.”
The mouse inside the mitten said, “Come on in the door.” And he moved over and sang, “There's always room for one more. There's always room for one more. There's always room for one more. There's always room for one more.” And so the rabbit climbed into the mitten and it stretched & stretched.

Along came a fox. When the fox saw the mitten lying in the snow, the fox was shivering so. He said, “Can I come in? I'm cold from the storm. Let me in, let me in, where it's nice & warm.”
The animals inside the mitten said, “Come on in the door.” And they moved over and sang, “There's always room for one more. There's always room for one more. There's always room for one more. There's always room for one more.” And so the fox climbed into the mitten and it stretched and stretched.

Along came a bear. When the bear saw the mitten lying in the snow, the bear was shivering so. He said, “Can I come In? I'm cold from the storm. Let me in, let me in, where it's nice & warm.”
The animals inside the mitten said, “Come on in the door.” And they moved over and sang, “There's always room for one more. There's always room for one more. There's always room for one more. There's always room for one more.” And so the bear climbed into the mitten and it stretched and stretched and stretched.

Along came a cricket. When the cricket saw the mitten lying in the snow, the cricket was shivering so, the cricket didn't even ask. It just stuck its leg right in and -- BAM!! The mitten exploded into 10 000 tiny pieces.

All the animals tumbled out onto the snow and scambered off into the forest in every direction. One piece of the mitten floated down and landed right on the mouse's head.

Just then the boy came back looking for the mitten he had dropped. But it was no where to be found. He did notice a little mouse running round and round however. And the mouse was wearing a hat, exactly the color of the mitten he had lost. “How strange!” he thought as he turned for home. When he arrived at his house, he looked in the window & saw his grandmother. She was sitting in a big rocking chair by the fire and she was knitting him a brand new pair of mittens just in case he ever lost one.

When she heard him outside she called, “It's frosty cold out there in the storm. Come in, come in where it's nice & warm.” And just as he came in the door she said, “Come and sit with me in this chair by the fire.” And she moved over and sang, “There's always room for one more. There's always room for one more. There's always room for one more. There's always room for one more.

Pre-School Storytime: Button Up for Winter Weather!

 

Bundle up with this program for warming up on a cold winter’s day
(and we’ve had a lot of them this year!)

Fun interactive program of stories and songs for ages 3-6

incorporating early literacy and numeracy skills, sequencing, vocabulary (unusual animals),

following directions, learning left & right,

plus an indoor snowball fight to use up some cooped-up energy!

 

Entrance Music: “Belly Button” by Joe Scruggs on his album: Late Last Night

Book: Froggy Gets Dressed – Jonathon London (kids act out motions and shout out “FROGGY...Have you forgotten something?”) (Alt. for young kids: Bear Gets Dressed: A Guessing Game Story – Harriet Ziefert, Other great underwear-themed titles: Bear in Long Underwear -- Todd H. Doodler, Naked by Michael Ian Black (kids LOVED, ended with this book in 2015- use again in 2018))

Action/Sign Language Song: When It’s Cold Outside from “Pick Me Up: Fun Songs for Learning Signs”) or  Action Song: This is the Way… (sequencing: getting dressed) (Tune: “Mulberry Bush”)
This is the way we put on our coat,
Put on our coat, put on our coat,
This is the way we put on our coat,
To play outside in the snow.
Continue with other articles of clothing…

Froggy clearly had trouble wearing clothes – so do these animals…Flannel: Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing – Judi Barrett (Cut out from a book whose spine had broken -- made it easy for us to as a Q&A: animal identification, reasoning—why wearing clothing would be a problem for the animal, vocabulary development – animal names, “suspenders”)

Action Song: We Dress Like That (mention concept of "piggy-back songs" Source Unknown, Tune: “Head & Shoulders, Knees & Toes”—repeated several times)
Boots, jacket, scarf and hat, scarf and hat.
Boots, jacket, scarf and hat, scarf and hat.
In wintertime we dress like that,
Boots, jacket, scarf and hat, scarf and hat.

Here’s another animal looking for something warm to wear…but she makes some mistakes...
Book: A Hat for Minerva Louse – Janet Morgan Stoeke  (Other mitten possibilities: The Mitten by Jan Brett (http://carolsimonlevin.blogspot.com/2014/12/winter-storytimetheatercraft-jan-bretts.html, One Mitten by Kristine O'Connell George)

Glove Puppet/Numeral Cards: Five Little Snowmen all in a Row (numeracy)
Five little snowmen all in a row,
Each with a hat and a big red bow.
Out came the sun and it stayed all day.
And one of those snowmen melted away. 4,3,2,1…

Action Song: I’m a Little Snowman (Sung to: “I’m a Little Teapot”)
I’m a little snowman, short and fat
Here is my broomstick, here is my hat
When the sun comes out, I’ll melt away
Drip, drip, drip, I’m a puddle today!

Singable Book: Frosty the Snowman – Steve Nelson
Snowmen don’t need coats to go outside, but people do!

Flannel/Song: In the Freezer (Song on Joe Scrugg’s “Traffic Jams”) lyrics to this and additional winter songs here: http://carolsimonlevin.blogspot.com/2015/01/singalong-winters-day.html

Book: Joseph Had a Little Overcoat – Simms Tabeck (folk tale with great cut-out reveals; briefly mention Caldecott Award) (Optional, show another version of same tale: Something from Nothing – Phoebe Gilman)

Another Joe who has a problem with buttons...
Action: Hi, My Name is Joe & I work in a button Factory (traditional, left-right identification)
Hi my name is Joe & I work in a button factory.
One day, my boss said “Joe, are you busy?”
“I said “no”” – so he said “Turn this button with your right hand” (do this)
Repeat: left hand, right foot, left foot, head…finally
I said YES!!!!!!”

1/2015: Or flannel/prop song (to tune: “Mary Had Little Lamb”) (memory-sequencing)
Joseph had an overcoat, overcoat, over coat…it got old and worn.
So he made a little jacket etc. ..continue thru button…lost button…then he made this little song….

1/2015: A few more buttons...
Book: Press Here – Herve Tullet (kids press the dots and are thrilled with the changes, cause & effect, numeracy, left-right identification, patterns)

along with a cat... YouTube Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons – Eric Litwin  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7va0beuK58

1/2016 – no other “snow” storytime, so instead showed Snow by Uri Shulevitz on Live Oak PPR DVD Favorite Fables Collection.

Close with Activity: indoor snowball fight using plastic bag snowballs, to the music “Sleigh Ride”, track #5 on album 20th Century Masters: Season's Greetings- The Millennium Collection
Making snowballs for the program:
1) Gather a white plastic grocery bag into a long, skinny tube-like length with the handles on one end.
2) Fold the length in half, then in half again.
3) Wind a rubber band around the middle until it is tight.
4) Trim both ends to remove any folded areas.
5) Make 2 or 3 vertical cuts in both ends.
6) Then fluff out pieces
Idea courtesy of:  Susan Dailey, librarian, speaker and author of "A Storytime Year" 

Hand Stamping Music: “Belly Button” by Joe Scruggs on his album: Late Last Night

Another great title (longer): The Trouble With Trolls - Eve Bunting

See also carolsimonlevin.blogspot.com/2014/12/winter-storytimetheatercraft-jan-bretts.html &
carolsimonlevin.blogspot.com/2014/01/let-it-snow-winter-storytimecraft-ages.html

1/13
1/15  long, so didn't do everything above.
1/16  combined snow and bundle up so didn’t do Press Here or Youtube of Pete the Cat and his Groovy Buttons

1/17  Story/Craft:  (abridged version also done for PJ time)
Book:  Froggy Gets Dressed by Jack London
Action/Sign Language Song: When It’s Cold Outside from “Pick Me Up
Acting Out with Puppets – Jan Brett’s The Mitten carolsimonlevin.blogspot.com/2014/12/winter-storytimetheatercraft-jan-bretts.html
Book: A Hat for Minerva Louise by Janet Morgan Stoeke
Flannel: Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing
Action Song: Boots, Jacket, Scarft & Hat
Book: Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Tabeck (Caldecott—> Mock Caldecott tomorrow), mentioned folk tale, other versions including Something for Nothing by Phoebe Gilman (good for close read together, mice making things from scrap cloth)
Action: “Hi My Name is Joe & I Work in a Button Factory”
Book: Snowballs by Lois Ehlert
Flannel/Song: Joe Scrugg’s “In the Freezer”
carolsimonlevin.blogspot.com/2015/01/singalong-winters-day.html
Craft: Make creative snow creatures in the spirit of Ehlert’s book (flat cardboards, white paper & scissors to cut out, gluesticks, markers, stickers, shapes, and other stuff to decorate) Also had take home cut out puzzle of the pieces to make “Something from Nothing.” This is similar: storytiming.com/2011/07/15/flannel-friday-something-for-nothing-or-joseph-had-an-overcoat/

DVD: Raymond Brigg’s The Snowman playing while crafting.

The Good for Nothing Button
by Mo Willems
Yellow Bird shares an ordinary button that does nothing with Red Bird and Blue Bird, and they are delighted to find that pressing it makes them happy, which is something.

“Let it Snow” Winter Storytime/Craft (Ages 3-9)

 

“Whether or not there is snow outside, we can have some winter fun inside with fun stories and songs, plus an indoor snowball fight and a snowman craft.”
I also do this as a straight preschool storytime without accompanying craft.

Though we have already had way too much winter weather,
this storytime was planned a long time ago!

Book: The Snowy Day - Ezra Jack Keats  (This classic Caldecott-winning title offers opportunities to mimic Peter (e.g. toes in, toes out), ask questions (what could be making that third line in the snow?)
STEM opportunity – discuss what happened to the snowball in Peter’s pocket? (warm house -- melted – pocket would be wet, later it would be dry – “evaporation” – faster if you put coat in the drier)
Alts: Snow – Uri Shulevitz  (often use this video at end of program) or Blizzard -- John Rocco (especially with school age groups)

Snowflake Rhyme  (5 snowflakes, 1 sun, numeral cards) (source unknown) (numeration practice -- have kid volunteers select the correct numeral cards as we add the snowflakes)

 

One little snowflake with nothing to do.

Along came another and then there were two.
Two little snowflakes laughing with me…three.
Three little snowflakes looking for some more…four.
Four little snowflakes dancing a jive…five.
Five little snowflakes having so much fun.
Out came the sun, and Then there were none!

and/or  Snowflakes Falling Action Song: (Tune: "London Bridge," source unknown)

Snowflakes falling from the sky,
from the sky, from the sky,
Snowflakes falling from the sky
To the ground below.
Watch them as they dance and whirl,
dance and whirl, dance and whirl,
Watch them as they dance and whirl
-- Soft white winter snow.

Book: Snowballs – Lois Ehlert  (a perfect inspiration for creative crafts, also makes a good book for early literacy -- can use spelling to guess identity of each snow creature: m-o-m, b-o-y, c-a-t, etc.) <– skipped in 2017 used for “Bundle Up” 
2017 substituted Toys Meet Snow – Emily Jenkins

Glove Puppet: 5 little Snowmen All in a Row (source unknown, used numeral cards)

Five little snowmen all in a row
Each with a hat and a big red bow
Out came the sun and it stayed all day
And one of the snowmen melted away.  4. 3. 2. 1…

Action Song: I’m a Little Snowman (to “I’m a Little Teapot”, suit actions to words)
I’m a little snowman, short and fat
Here is my broomstick, here is my hat.
When the sun comes out, I’ll melt away
Drip drip drip I’m a puddle today!

Book: Snowmen at Night – Caralyn Buehner
(Alts. Sneezy the Snowman – Wright, All You Need for a Snowman – Alice Schertle)

Booktalked DVD: Raymond Brigg's The Snowman (wonderful wordless video with beautiful soundtrack) -- also on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTaq20TN4ao  or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmzZKfse7_c

Flannel Snowman/Bunny Puppet: Chubby Little Snowman (source unknown)

A chubby little snowman
Had a carrot nose.
Along came a bunny
And what do you suppose?
That chubby little bunny
Looking for his lunch
Ate that little snowman’s nose
Nibble, Nibble, Crunch!

Book/Song: Frosty the Snowman – Steve Nelson & Jack Rollins


Song/Flannel: In the Freezer –  by Joe Scruggs  Song on Joe Scrugg’s “Traffic Jams”
Video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woEPJhmQous (used with Snowballs-Ehlert for “Bundle Up” storytime 2017)

There was snow on the ground
But it was a sunny day.
We knew that our snowman
Was going to melt away.
So we asked our Mom
And though it did not please her,
She said we could keep
Our snowman in the freezer.

Chorus:He’s in the freezer,
He’s our snowman.
He’s in the freezer,
Getting a frost tan.
He’s in the freezer,
Keeps as cold as he can.
He doesn’t go to school,
He just keeps cool,
In the freezer –

We feed him bits of frost
And lots of ice cubes.
We show him to our friends
When we come home from school.
We watch him as he sits
Next to the frozen squash,
‘Til Dad shuts the door and says,
“It’s starting to defrost. Chorus

One night at suppertime
My Mom said it was sad
As she told us of the ice cream
That we could have had.
Our snowman was taking up
All the room it seems,
And she didn’t have a place
To put our ice cream. 

Final Chorus:He’s on the sidewalk
And he’s melting fast.
You know a snowman
Was not meant to last.
It won’t be long now
Before he melts away
And we’re having ice cream
For dessert today!
It’s in the freezer!


VHS/DVD: Snow - Uri Shulevitz or The Snowy Day -- Ezra Jack Keats

Activity: Snowball fight using plastic bag snowballs, to the music “Sleigh Ride” by Leroy Anderson (on album Season’s Greetings)
Making snowballs for the program:
1) Gather a white plastic grocery bag into a long, skinny tube-like length with the handles on one end.
2) Fold the length in half, then in half again.
3) Wind a rubber band around the middle until it is tight.
4) Cut open both ends to remove any folded areas.
5) Then fluff out pieces
Idea courtesy of:  Susan Dailey, librarian, speaker and author of "A Storytime Year"

Additional book possibilities:
Snow -- Manya Stojic
Stranger in the Woods -- Sams
Rabbit's Snow Dance – Bruchac

Crafts:

Snow creatures (inspired by Ehlert’s book) – Materials: White & colored construction paper, markers, scissors, glue, pompoms, buttons, feathers, etc.

Cut out paper snowflakes http://thechocolatemuffintree.blogspot.com/2012/12/making-giant-snowflakes.html (could use large tissue paper) (booktalked Snowflake Bentley – another Caldecott)
 
Another possibility: If Picasso Painted a Snowman by Amy & Greg Newbold

1/13, 1/15 (storytime w/o craft), 1/17 – storytime/snowball fight/snowball&snowflake making craft

See also carolsimonlevin.blogspot.com/2014/12/winter-storytimetheatercraft-jan-bretts.html & http://carolsimonlevin.blogspot.com/2014/01/pre-school-storytime-button-up-for.html

http://www.hbook.com/2015/01/choosing-books/snowy-days/