In short, I am busy: September 2015

Friday, September 18, 2015

We Explore Favorite Artist Herve Tullet

Program Goals

Introduce Herve Tullet and his art
Encourage gross and fine motor skills
Attendance: 20

Evaluation

9-18-15

Attendance: 19
Feedback/Connections: Two new families who happened to be there and the rest were regulars. A generally younger group.
Notes: Tullet always resonates with the kids, although I think this group was a little young to appreciate Help!

Art Project Part 1: Dot play (10-10:15)

Supplies

Die cut circles and Os
Construction paper
Tape, markers

I encouraged the kids to think of the different ways they could use circles and draw on/around them.

Storytime/Snacktime: 10:15-10:40
I call people to storytime with the Storytime Song, then have the parents pass out the snack. We did Press Here, Help! This book needs a title and Mix it up. We talked a lot about what makes a book in Help! but I'm not sure the kids got it.

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

Supplies

Fingerpaint
Paper plates

I let each kid pick 3 colors and gave them a plate with colors and a plate for mixing.

Monday, September 14, 2015

Take Home Storytime: Fall Birds

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 Fall 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: Fall Birds

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

TALK about birds. What do birds do in the winter? What do they do in the spring?

Get ready to WRITE by creating bird streamers. Decorate your birds, tape them to the ribbons, and tape or tie your ribbons to the popsicle stick. Drawing and taping develop motor skills you will need later on for writing.

SING a silly song like Laurie Berkner's "I know a chicken" (https://youtu.be/9E7l0JPgclE)

PLAY with your bird streamers - run and dance to make the birds fly.

READ fun books! Letting your child choose books will help build print motivation, the enjoyment of books and reading.

Open this little book by Jesse Klausmeier
Shhh! We have a plan by Chris Haughton
Froodle by Antoinette Portis
I spy in the sky by Edward Gibbs
Odd one out: A spotting book by Britta Teckentrup

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

Friday, September 4, 2015

Birdwatching/Art Station

I thought the birdwatching station was a great idea. I still plan to keep it, and hope to expand it to include a hummingbird feeder and possibly attract something other than sparrows, but it turned out that all people really wanted was coloring pages. Since I started it in May 2014, only about 5 kids have written in the log.

So, I revamped it! We still have a birdwatching station, with log. But I also extended it to add an art station.

I made the birdwatching station just the display shelf, log, and signage. I brought a table over to be the art station, put up a sign, and printed a variety of coloring sheets, both "story starter" kind of things and actual coloring sheets, mostly animals. Hopefully people will not just pick up the whole stack and walk away...