Flip Flap Jack

So...we're planning for September and our first week's theme is Names. My children's librarian found this adorable post by Anne at So Tomorrow and asked me to make us a set. Flip Flap Jack is another version of Aiken Drum. Also, if you teach preschool and use Handwriting Without Tears you might like Flip Flap Jack as another version of Mat Man! The rhyme/song and pattern is in Ready to Go Storytimes: Fingerplays, Scripts, Patterns, Music and More by Gail Benton and Trisha Waichulaitis. Here's a great link with a video and the words for Flip Flap Jack.  Here's my version with added glitter and fabric paint.

His head was a pancake...

His body was a waffle...his bellybutton was a raspberry!

his legs were bacon...his feet were French toast (with 'brown sugar glitter')

and his name was Flip Flap Jack!

I think he's adorable ... mmmmmm and DELICIOUS!  I also found a fun song to sing with this theme on an older CD, Ralph's World. It's the Name Song!  Check out this youtube video of the song. So much silly fun.  We're having Fun with Friends at Storytime

More Berry Goodness!

The blueberries in my yard are almost ready! Yummers! I've kinda got berries on the brain. I'll just mention a few blueberry books; the classic, Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey; Blueberry Mouse by Alice Low; Blueberry Shoe by Ann Dixon; One Little Blueberry by Tammi Salzano; and for older preschoolers there's George Shannon's White Is For Blueberry.  

backside of pieces.

I have a blueberry rhyme that I made up that's a twist on the classic, 1 little, 2 little counting rhyme.  To start this rhyme I have a little clear bucket and 10 medium sized blue pom pom 'blueberries' that we count together as I drop them in the pail.  Then, I finish the rhyme with the flannel pieces that I made.

Bucket of Blueberries

by Kathryn Roach  

(drop pom pom's in bucket as you count)

1 berry, 2 berry, 3 berries 4,

5 blueberries...let's count some more!

6 berry, 7 berry, 8 berry, 9

10 blueberries are mighty fine!

Now, I've got a bucket of blueberries

that I want to eat...

It's time to cook up a great berry treat.

I'll mix up some things

and stir with all my might

        Then I'll have a delicious

         Blueberry delight.

      (I pantomime holding a bowl and 

stirring as fast as I can)

Blueberry pancake (place felt pancake)

           blueberry pie (place felt pie)

           blueberry muffin (place felt muffin)

          My, oh my! (rub tummy and smile big smile)

             I hope you can use the patterns here.  I scanned them from my original patterns but reduced them by 78%.  I cut out a blob pancake shape and added the blueberries to it.  Usually when we talk about foods at Storytime, I ask the children to give a 'thumbs up' if they like the food I name.  I'm trying to teach them that everyone doesn't have to talk at the same time! Ha!

I've also added the pattern that I used to cut out 'buckets' for a thumbprint blueberries craft.  I cutout the handle shape so that the kiddos could carry their bucket of blueberries home. We used blue inkpads for printing. You could just as easily use blue paint and a pencil eraser for stamping 'blueberries' in the buckets.  They really liked this craft. It was quick and easy prep and minimal mess so I really liked this craft too!
Blueberries are so much Fun at Storytime!