It was all about magic today!  We read stories about “magical” animals and friendship.  We also made ten butterflies appear AND made five bunnies disappear.  All in an hour’s fun at preschool storytime.  Here is a summary of what we shared!


Books We Shared

    

 

Foxy by Emma Dodd is all about a little girl and her pet fox named Foxy.  Emily is worried that she won’t have everything she needs for her first day of school and her friend Foxy comes to the rescue with his magic tail!  Foxy gets it right some of the time but he also makes major mistakes…(an elephant appears instead of an eraser).  In spite of these magical mishaps, Foxy is able to reassure Emily when she admits that she is afraid she won’t make any friends.  A funny story that gets to the heart of a child’s fears about the first day of school.

Richard Jesse Watson’s book, Magic Rabbit  is also about the “magic” of friendship.  We are introduced to a magic rabbit who hops out of a hat.  He can perform all kinds of magic tricks with his hat – he can make balls, scarves, cars and even lunch with his favorite foods appear.  But one thing is missing – a friend to share it with.   Eventually Magic Rabbit does discover a friend but not until he’s made a few creatures “magically” appear that jump, scurry and fly away.  Finally, he finds a hat within his hat and guess who he finds there?  I won’t give it away.  A great read aloud with vivid images and a nice lesson about friendship.


Flannel Board Activities We Shared

           

Clap, Clap, Clap for a Butterfly

Five little butterflies spinning cocoons (roll hands quickly)
Hoping spring would get here soon (cross your fingers)
With a little bit of magic (flutter your fingers up and down)
And some warm sunshine (make a circle with your arms above your head)
CLAP, CLAP, CLAP for a butterfly (clap three times & pull out a butterfly)
Keep clapping until all 10 butterflies are out and placed on your flannel board.
Credit: Miss Sarah’s Storytime BlogSpot

Five Magic Rabbits

Five magic rabbits in a tall black hat,
Along came a magician and gave each one a pat.
He waved his magic wand high above their ears,
and Abracadabra POOF!

A rabbit disappeared!

Repeat until all of the rabbits have disappeared.
You have the option of bringing them back with 3 claps for each (see butterfly flannel activity above)
Credit: Youth Literature


Songs & Activities We Shared

We’re Going to the Market (with egg shakers)
From the CD:  I Love to Hear the Sounds  ~ Kathy Reid-Naiman

We’re going to the market, we’re going to the fair, (Shake egg shakers)
To see a senorita with flowers in her hair.  (Shake egg shakers)
So shake it baby shake it, shake it if you can, (Shake egg shakers)
Shake it like a milkshake and drink it from the can (Shake egg shaker, pretend to drink milkshake)
Shake it to the bottom, shake it to the top, (Shake egg shaker down low, then up high)
Then turn around & turn around until we holler STOP!  ~REPEAT ONCE MORE
Click here for video: We’re Going to the Market

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 steamed up, hear me shout,
Just tip me over and pour me out,
Tip me over and pour me out.  Click here for video:  I’m a Little Teapot

Two Little Blackbirds

Two little blackbirds sitting on a hill,
One named Jack and the other named Jill
Fly away Jack, fly away Jill,
Come back Jack and come back Jill!  Click here for video:  Two Little Blackbirds

The Itsy Bitsy Spider 

The itsy bitsy spider (L shape with both hands.  Place thumb of one hand on forefinger of the other)
went up the water spout.   (“walk” your fingers up thumb to forefinger, alternating.)
Down came the rain and (wiggle fingers and bring then downward)
Washed the spider out. (make baseball “safe” motion)
Out came the sun and (hands above head in a circle)
and dried up all the rain. (hands out at side of body)
And the itsy bitsy spider (L shape with both hands.  Place thumb of one hand on forefinger of the other)
went up the spout again. (“walk” your fingers up thumb to forefinger, alternating.)

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Twinkle, twinkle little star (open and close fingers into fist to make star)
How I wonder what you are.
Up above the world so high, (move hands up)
Like a diamond in the sky. (make a diamond shape with hands)
Twinkle, twinkle little star
How I wonder what you are. (open and close fingers into fist to make star) Y

You Are My Sunshine

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine,
You make me happy when skies are grey.
You’ll never know dear, how much I love you
And I love you more every day.  Click here for video:  You are My Sunshine

Goodbye Friends (In sign)

Goodbye Friends, goodbye friends, goodbye friends,
It’s time to say goodbye… Click here for video:  Goodbye Friends


Video We Watched

Spot Finds a Key


 Sharing the Fun at Home