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Writer's picturedeborahfagnan

May Preschool STEM Storytime: Flowers

Updated: Nov 30, 2018



Introduction: This storytime is developed specially for preschool children ages 4 & 5 and their parent/caregiver. Enjoy 1 hour of books, songs, rhymes, socialization and a craft with other young children and their parent/caregiver. Each session of preschool storytime consists of a variety of activities that incorporate reading, talking, writing, singing, and playing. Each week we will introduce new ideas while building knowledge from prior storytimes this year. No worries, if this is your first time here, welcome. We are glad to meet you.

Date: Every Saturday

Time: 11:00 a.m.

Age Range: 4 and 5 years olds

Skills Supported: Vocabulary, socialization, reading, writing, and listening.

Preschool Standards:

Science: Investigate and compare the basic physical characteristics of plants, (e.g., observing and discussing leaves, stems, and roots. Observe and describe how natural habitats provide for the basic needs of plants food, water, air, and light.

Vocabulary Acquisition and Use:

Begin to determine the meaning of new words and phrases introduced through preschool reading and content.

Letter Knowledge: Children begin to demonstrate an understanding of beginning phonics and word skills. Associate many letters with their names and their most frequent sounds. Phonological Awareness: Draw children’s attention to the sounds children hear in words (e.g., by asking for the children whose name starts with "A" sound)

Social/Emotional: Develop children's awareness of a wide range of feeling with appropriate vocabulary during storytelling. Engage appropriately with peers and librarian.

Information Books: Actively participate in read aloud experiences using age appropriate information books Compare and contrast favorite story books and favorite informational texts and discuss which book is fiction (e.g., tells a story) and which book is information (explains or shares real information).

Frequency: Once a week

Weekly Attendance: 20 children and their parent/caregiver

Staff or Volunteer: 1 staff member and 1 volunteer

Format: Drop-in program

Budget: $39.00

  • Flat of Flowers: $25.00

  • Bag of Soil: $2.00

  • Dixie Cups: $2.00

  • Plastic Spoons: $2.00

Labels: $8.00

Supplies:

  • Flat of flowers

  • Dixie Cups

  • Bag of Soil

  • Watering Can

  • Plastic Spoons

  • Label with String

  • Pencils

Books Shared: (from collection)

  • I Can Grow a Flower by Dawn Sirett

  • Frans Flower by Lisa Bruce

  • May by Julie Murray

Other Books to Display at Storytime:

  • The Digger and the Flower by Joseph Kuefier

  • My Garden by Kevin Henkes

  • Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert

  • The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle

  • What Does Bunny See by Linda Sue Park

Pre-storytime Preparation:

  • Cover craft tables with plastic tablecloths

  • Divide dirt in several large plastic bowls


 

1. Introduction: Welcome to preschool storytime. My name is Ms. Debbie. I am so glad to see you today. I am so happy to see adults in our program today. It is more fun for your children, when you are here with them to enjoy reading, writing, singing, talking and playing together.


2. Opening Song:



Lyrics:

Hello, hello, how are you?

Hello, hello, how are you?

Hello, hello, how are you?

How are you today?


I am fine, I am great.

I am fine, I am great. (The Kilboomers: Kids Music Channel, 2015)

I am fine, I am great.

I'm very well today.


Hello, hello, how are you?

Hello, hello, how are you?

Hello, hello, how are you?

How are you today?


I am hungry, I am tired.

I am hungry, I am tired.

I am hungry, I am tired.

I'm not so good today.


Hello, hello, how are you?

Hello, hello, how are you?

Hello, hello, how are you?

I am very good today.

3. Early Literacy Aside: Explain

The use of information books helps children learn that books and reading are ways of getting and communicating information.


4. Theme Talk:

[Children sit in circle]. My name is Ms. Debbie. My first name starts with the letter "D". Who wants to tell me their name? Go around the circle, have parents encourage children to participate and help them sharing their first name and the letter their first name starts with.

How many children have come to storytime today? Let's count together. Point to each child and count. There are ten children here today.


There is something very special that has begun to happen outside. Can anyone tell me something that might be happening? How about on the ground? What else? When you came in the library today, did anyone notice anything growing in the pots? Yes, little tiny flowers. I thought it would be a wonderful time to read books about flowers.



5. Book:




Fran's Flower by Lisa Bruce













6. Song



The Gardener Plants the Seeds (to the tune of: The Farmer in the Dell)


The gardener plants the seeds The gardener plants the seeds Hi, Ho, and Cheery-O The gardener plants the seeds

The sun comes out to shine The sun comes out to shine Hi, Ho, and Cheery-O The sun comes out to shine

The rain begins to fall The rain begins to fall Hi, Ho, and Cheery-O The rain begins to fall

The plants begin to grow. The plants begin to grow. Hi, Ho, and Cheery-O The plants begin to grow.

The flowers start to bloom. The flowers start to bloom. Hi, Ho, and Cheery-O The flowers start to bloom.

The flowers smile at us The flowers smile at us Hi, Ho, and Cheery-O The flowers smile at us!


7. Information Book



I Can Grow A Flower by Dawn Sirett


I will read the title. Who could tell me what is the first letter in flower. That's right, F is for flower.

As we read the book, we talk about the basic needs of a plant.

(Credit: Image - BCCLS, 2018)





8. Activity:


I'm a Little Flower Bulb 

Original Author Unknown (Tune: I'm a Little Teapot) Children start tiny, and grow as the song finishes.


I'm a little flower bulb, small and brown, Buried in the cool, dark ground. As the days grow warmer, watch and see, I'll sprout through the earth -- Yippee!

Growing, growing, growing every day, Sprouting leaves that gently sway, Next comes a bud and then a flower, A face to shine 'neath sun and showers.

(Credit: Garcia, 2014)

9. Early Literacy Aside: Example

Research shows that children's preferences and attitudes toward different kinds of books are influenced by how their adults use and discuss them. In addition, researchers have learned that young children who are exposed to informational texts have an increased ability to read and write informational texts later on in school.

(Ghoting and Martin-Diaz, 2013, p. 50).



10. Information Book:

May by Julie Murray. What do you think our next book is, a fiction book or a nonfiction book? (Show the cover of the book. Yes, this is a nonfiction book because it tells us (hesitate to get the answer) ________. Who can tell me what month it is? I am going to read a nonfiction book about May. Who remembers what month was last month? Yes, it was April.

(Credit Image: BCCLS, 2018)

January is the first month of the year. February is the second month of the year.

March is the third month of the year.

April is the fourth month of the year.

That makes May the _________ month of the year. This book will tell us real things about the month of May, like holiday's and the weather.

(Image: BCCLS, 2018)


11. Closing Song:

Lyrics



Goodbye, goodbye.

It’s time to go.

Goodbye, goodbye.

I don’t want to go.

See you later, alligator.

Bye bye bye, butterfly.

Goodbye!

(Credit: Childrensmusic, 2016)

12. End of Storytime activity



We are going to do a STEM activity that will get your child more familiar with plants and the basic things plants need to live. (Water, sun, soil and a little bit of love).

  • Ms. Peggy will be handing out a label. Have your child write their name, with or without your help.

  • Ms. Peggy will be handing out a dixie cup. You will tie the label around the dixie cup.

  • Children will take turns, putting dirt in their Dixie cup. Just fill it ½ up.

  • I will give each child a flower. Have child put flower in Dixie cup.

  • Children will take turns, filling the cup with more dirt. Don't fill to the very top. Leave about ¼" inch.

  • Children will take turns watering their plants.

  • Children will take plants home, please show children how important it is to put it in a sunny location, because plants need sun and a lot of love.

(Credit Image: Victoria, 2017)


13. Takeaway

Parents are given our Preschool Storytime Newsletter. A copy of it is located on the Parent/Caretaker Resource Pathfinder page.


 

References:


BCCLS. (2018). Fran's Flowers. [Digital Image]. Retrieved from https://catalog.bccls.org/polaris/search/title.aspx?ctx=1.1033.0.0.7&pos=43


BCCLS. (2018). I Can grow a flower . [Digital Image]. Retrieved from https://catalog.bccls.org/polaris/search/title.aspx?ctx=1.1033.0.0.7&pos=23


BCCLS. (2018). May. [Digital Image]. Retrieved from https://catalog.bccls.org/polaris/search/title.aspx?ctx=1.1033.0.0.7&pos=2


Childrensmusic. (2016, January 16). See you later, alligator: Goodbye song. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/UQfvAlmr5g0


Garcia, J. (2014, April 21). Flowers Rhymes, Songs, and Books for Preschool and Kindergarten. Retrieved from https://www.kidssoup.com/craft-and-resource/flowers-rhymes-songs-and-books-for-preschool-and-kindergarten


Ghoting, S.N., & Martin-Diaz, P. (2013). Storytimes for everyone!. Chicago, IL: ALA Editions.


The Kilboomers: Kids Music Channel. (2015, August 4). Hello song. [Video]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/x23rTDl4AMshttps://youtu.be/x23rTDl4AMshttps://youtu.be/x23rTDl4AMshttps://youtu.be/x23rTDl4AMs


The Killboomers: Kids Music Channel. (2016, June 2). The Gardener plants the seeds song for kids. [Video]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/Q6bPXSt0HQ4


New Jersey Department of Education. (2017). Division of Early Childhood Education: Program Guidelines/Teaching & Learning Standards. Retrieved from https://www.nj.gov/education/ece/guide/https://www.nj.gov/education/ece/guide/https://www.nj.gov/education/ece/https://www.nj.gov/education/ece/


Victoria. (2017). Washi tape Dixie cup vase. [Digital Image]. Retrieved from https://asubtlerevelry.com/washi-tape-dixie-cup-vase/

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