We Explore Nature: Harvest

• Program Goals
• Offer a summer storytime for a wide range of ages
• Encourage outdoor experience and involvement in the gardens
• Attendance: 25

Storytime: 10-10:30

We didn't get anybody until nearly 10:20. I did Denise Fleming's Lunch, except the mouse was checked out so we used a bunny. Then we read In the garden, who's been here and played the Fruit Slices game.

Craft time: 10:30-11:30
I had another volunteer cut the bottoms of my vast collection of water jugs and the kids turned them into birdfeeders. We had little baggies of seed for them to take home.

Picnic/Outdoor time: 11-12
HOT. I got a few kids out to help water. Next year I'm putting someone else in charge of the outdoor portion. I hate outdoors in the summer. One tomato plant had some purple tomatoes almost ready, but that was it.

Evaluation

We Explore Favorite Artist Steve Jenkins

• Program Goals
• Introduce Steve Jenkins and his art
• Encourage gross and fine motor skills
• Attendance: 20
• Evaluation
• 7-17-15
• Attendance: 17
• Feedback/Connections: Saw a couple families I hadn't seen in a while. Kids really connected with the storytime at this one and they checked out a lot of Jenkins' books.
• Notes: Paint doesn't really fit with this artist, but I needed a second part and I had paint on the brain I guess.

Art Project Part 1: Collage (10-10:15)

Supplies

• Handmade paper
• Plain paper
• scissors, glue

Storytime/Snacktime: 10:15-10:40
I call people to storytime with the Storytime Song, then have the parents pass out the snack. We only did two books, Actual Size and What can you do with a tail like this? because we spent so much time discussing them. The kids absolutely loved coming up to compare themselves to the animals in the first and I have a flannelboard/guessing game for the second book.

Art Project Part 2: Painting (10:40-11)

Supplies

• Washable paint in no-spill cups
• 9x12 paper
• Paintbrushes, aprons, and lots and lots of wipes

Take Home Storytime: Down on the Farm

• Program Goals
• Pass on early literacy message and encourage families to continue early literacy at home
• Encourage circulation and storytime attendance
• Reach families who are unable to attend storytime
• Notes for the future
• Last used Summer 2015

Miss storytime? You can practice many of the early literacy concepts we use in storytime at home! Don't forget to sign up for text alerts so you can make it to the next storytime!

Theme: Down on the farm

Use the five early literacy practices; talking, singing, reading, playing and writing with these books and projects!

TALK about farm animals. What kind of animals live on the farm? What do they do on a farm? What food do we get from farm animals?

Get ready to WRITE by putting together and decorating your twirling ladybugs (directions below)

SING a farm song, like Down on Grandpa's Farm or Old MacDonald Had a Farm together.

PLAY with your twirling ladybugs! For more detailed instructions, check out Make and Takes www.makeandtakes.com/twirling-paper-ladybugs
Fold your four ladybugs in half vertically. Glue or tape the sides together with the string down the middle to make a four-dimensional ladybug. Decorate and hang up in the wind to watch it twirl!

READ some of these stories about farms (find more in the COMMUNITY/FARM neighborhood)

• I spy on the farm by Edward Gibbs
• What the ladybug heard by Julia Donaldson
• It's milking time by Phyllis Alsdurf
• Ping pong pig by Caroline Church

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, 723-2678 ext. 14

We Explore Nature: Growing things

• Program Goals
• Offer a summer storytime for a wide range of ages
• Encourage outdoor experience and involvement in the gardens
• Attendance: 20

Storytime: 10-10:30

I started with shakers and Laurie Berkner's "Fruit Salad Salsa" then we read The Little Gardener by Emily Hughes, Do you know which ones will grow? by Susan Shea, played "Garden vs. Not Garden", did "Little Brown Seed" and read Lola plants a garden by Anna McQuinn.

Craft time: 10:30-11:30
I had a volunteer (i.e. my mom who was on vacation ha ha) cut the bottoms off a whole bunch of the gallon water jugs I collected. Pattie brought in cord, duct tape, and foam stickers and I contributed pipe cleaners, beads, and tools. The kids made them into wind chimes.

Picnic/Outdoor time: 11-12
Yeah, this isn't happening. The gardens are NOT child friendly! My aide and I spent over an hour weeding in the heat and with mosquitos. My aide also punched holes in the bottom of the tomato pots which I neglected to do. Then one little girl came out and helped me water. The good news is our foundation is interested in making a community children's garden and so next year we expect great things!

Evaluation

Take Home Storytime: Spots and Stripes

• Program Goals
• Pass on early literacy message and encourage families to continue early literacy at home
• Encourage circulation and storytime attendance
• Reach families who are unable to attend storytime
• Notes for the future
• Last used Summer 2015

Miss storytime? You can practice many of the early literacy concepts we use in storytime at home! Don't forget to sign up for text alerts so you can make it to the next storytime!

Theme: Spots and Stripes

Use the five early literacy practices; talking, singing, reading, playing and writing with these books and projects!

TALK about patterns. What patterns do you see around you?

Get ready to WRITE by tracing patterns with your finger in sand, salt, or dirt.

SING songs with repeating patterns like "Old MacDonald Had a Farm"

PLAY with the shapes in your take home bag. What creatures can you make? A caterpillar? A train? Can you decorate them with patterns?

READ some of these stories about patterns (look for more concept picture books with the yellow concept sticker)

Stripes and spots by Dahlov Ipcar
Stripes of all types by Susan Stockdale

Spectacular Spots by Susan Stockdale
Spotty Stripy Swirly What are patterns? by Jane Brocket

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, 723-2678 ext. 14