We read books about gardens and watched some flowers grow!  Everyone had a great time!  Let’s take a look at some of the stories & activities we shared:


zinnia's flower garden

We stretched and read a book that was longer and a bit more complex during our toddler storytime today – Zinnia’s Flower Garden by Monica Wellington.  I am proud of how well the toddlers listened and remained engaged, even though there were more words per page.  The main character, Zinnia is actually a young gardener.  We watch her plant seeds, water them, tend to the soil and nurture their growth into plants.  Her efforts pay off when she sees small green buds appear…then a few weeks later, the first flower blooms…a bit after that, the entire garden is awash with flowers.  Informational tidbits about what plants need to grow and thrive are peppered throughout the story.  The visuals are bright and colorful and the text is clear and easy to read.  Actually a big hit with the group!


 

OUR FLANNEL BOARD:

There’s Something in My Garden

[Artfelt has a There’s Something in My Garden felt puppet set. Add as many animals as you want and the rhyming fun continues. Children love the suspense before the finger puppet is revealed.]

There’s something in my garden,
Now what can it be?
There’s something in my garden
That I can’t really see.
Hear its funny sound….
RIBBIT – RIBBIT – RIBBIT.
A FROG is what I found!
RIBBIT – RIBBIT – RIBBIT.

There’s something in my garden,
Now what can it be?
There’s something in my garden,
That I can’t really see.
Hear its funny sound….
THUMP – THUMP – THUMP.
A RABBIT is what I found!
THUMP – THUMP – THUMP

There’s something in my garden,
Now what can it be?
There’s something in my garden,
That I can’t really see.
Hear its funny sound….
SQUEAK – SQUEAK – SQUEAK.
A MOUSE is what I found!
SQUEAK – SQUEAK – SQUEAK.

There’s something in my garden,
Now what can it be?
There’s something in my garden,
That I can’t really see.
Hear its funny sound….
CAW – CAW – CAW.
A CROW is what I found!
CAW – CAW – CAW.

Credit:  Sur la Lane


OUR SECOND BOOK:

I Have a Garden by Bob Barner

I have a garden

Dog takes us for a tour of his garden and we see everything he has there…a frog, a bug, a butterfly, a snail…and, of course, many flowers.  (I used accompanying flannel pieces to help bring another dimension to the story.)  What eventually takes us by surprise is Dog’s pronouncement that the garden is ONLY for HIM!  A page later he softens and claims “This garden is for us…ALL OF US!”   A simple story that teaches children about the many things one finds in a garden and the beauty of sharing nature’s bounty.


 

VIDEO:  Gardening

muddy puddle


 

TRANSITION ACTIVITIES:

 Open Shut Them

Open shut them, open shut them (hands open and close)

Give a little clap clap clap (hands clap)

Open shut them, open shut them (hands open and close)

Place them in your lap, lap, lap. (place hands in lap)

Creep them crawl them, creep them crawl them (crawl fingers up both arms)

Right up to your chinny, chin, chin (tap fingers onto chin)

Open up your little mouth BUT (keep tapping and open mouth)

DO NOT LET THEM IN!!! (quickly place both hands behind back)

Roll Your Hands

Roll, roll, roll your hands as fast as fast can be

Do it now, let me see, do it now with me.

Clap, clap, clap your hands as loud as loud can be

Do it now, let me see, do it now with me.

Tap, tap, tap your feet as softly as can be

Do it now, let me see, do it now with me.

Shake, shake, shake your feet as quickly as can be

Do it now, let me see, do it now with me.

Roll, roll, roll your hands as fast as fast can be

Do it now, let me see, do it now with me.

(Carol Hammett & Elaine Bueffel, Toddlers on Parade CD)


OUR OPENING & CLOSING SONGS:

Welcome, Welcome

Welcome, welcome everyone,

Now we’re here, let’s have some fun

First we clap our hands just so,

Then we bend and touch our toes

Welcome, welcome, everyone

Now we’re here, let’s have some fun!

Clap Everybody and Say Hello

                                                                             sally go round the sun

Clap everybody and say hello,

Clap everybody and say hello,

Clap everybody and say hello,

No matter what the weather…

REPEAT verse with Stamp, Wiggle, Jump & Sing

(Kathy Reid-Naiman, Sally Go Round the Sun CD)

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Twinkle, twinkle little star

How I wonder what you are

Up above the world so high

Like a diamond in the sky

Twinkle, twinkle little star

How I wonder what you are!

Itsy Bitsy Spider

The itsy bitsy spider went up the water spout

Down came the rain and washed the spider out!

Out came the sun and dried up all the rain

And the itsy bitsy spider went up the spout again!

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 full of steam I shout

Tip me over and pour me out!

Two Little Blackbirds

Two little blackbirds sitting on a hill

One named Jack and the other named Jill

Fly away Jack and fly away Jill

Come back Jack and come back Jill


OUR GOODBYE SONG & STRETCH:

Goodbye Friends (in sign) – to the tune of  “Goodnight Ladies

Goodbye friends, goodbye friends, goodbye friends,

It’s time to say goodbye….

Tickle the Clouds

Tickle the clouds,

Tickle your toes

Turn around and tickle your nose

Reach down low,

each up high,

storytime’s over,