Where is Bear Sleeping? Revisited!

 

So...I made a set of caves for a pellon bear HERE.  We are planning a Bear storytime soon but I couldn't find my original set! What to do??  Yeah, losing a set is a good excuse to remake it and tweak it to be bigger and 'better' this time. LOL!  I made my caves to be about 5 by 6 inches and decided to have another animal behind each cave until at last, we find the bear.  I Googled images of cute hibernating/sleeping animals and then laminated and cut them out.  Here's some rhymes to use with the this set.    

                    

  We're having so much Fun with Friends ... and bears! at Storytime!         

Beary Fun!

Fall is upon us and a really fun theme is 'Bears!' I've posted about bears before...Here. But I thought I'd share a fun version of the Little Mouse hiding game with a bear.
Here's a link for the rhyme/instructions for Where Is Bear Sleeping?  The bear is a traced bear on Pellon and the 'caves' are easily cut out 2 at a time from different colored felt. This fun peek-a-boo game never gets old with preschoolers! Yay!!
Fun with Friends at Storytime is
'Beary' Fun!!

Beary Sleepy Bedtime

Bears and Bedtime are a winning combination for storytime! I've posted some other bedtime posts HERE and HERE. I made my own new set of Five in the Bed inspired by Miss Mary Liberry and Sarah at Read Rabbit Read. I actually made 6 little bears (can't remember why??) We offered a really easy prep, Home Extension that uses the adorable bear and bunny from this cute picture book! We put the cut squares in an envelope and paper-clipped it to the precut, programmed paper so that they could color Bear and bunny and make the blanket with the squares and a glue stick. I'm showing the example that I made. They loved it!! 

We also sang a fun silly song I saw at 1234 More Storytimes about colored pajamas that had everyone laughing! I laminated and cut out Google images of kids in 5 different colored pajamas; red, orange,green, pink and blue. I used those colors because they were one syllable and fit the song. Anyway, I was VERY expressive with my singing! After 2 colors the caregivers and the kiddos began singing with me. They thought it was hilarious! LOL! We're having so much Fun with Friends at Storytime! There are more great posts on the Flannel Friday Roundup. Check out the wonderful resources on the Flannel Friday Pinterest Boards. If you want more info about Flannel Friday here's the link for the official Flannel Friday blog.

All Aboard the Teddy Bear Train!

Woo, Woo....choo choo choo choo....This week we are combining two favorites of the little kiddos, trains and teddy bears! Miss Margaret made a teddy bear train! Our small groups were able to take turns pulling the train up and down the aisles between the picture books.  So much fun!

We made a felt train on the flannelboard. Here's the link for the rhyme; This Little Train. The kiddos would say the color train car as we put the pieces on the flannelboard. I had a small group one day and was able to hand out the felt pieces so that the kiddos could bring one up to help make the train. 

The pieces are Ellison diecuts. The boxcar pieces have been handled a bit and are stretched a little bit. Oh well, easy to replace them when they are too ragged. Eli had to count the different types of cars. He noticed that there were 3 tankers and 4 boxcars plus the engine and caboose. Love what I do!!  We also sang a new-to-me song, We're All Riding on the Train. We made a train and chugged around the rug while we sang the song. You can access the song at the link above.  It's easy to learn and there are several fun interactive verses. The verse where we go faster was a big hit! 

Of course there are some fun Teddy Bear songs to use too.  I have a little rhyme about Two Little Bear Cubs that I used with my two bear hand puppets.  I made my bear puppets into a brother bear and sister bear by adding a pink bow to one puppet. We offered an easy Home Extension with this theme too. I had some 8x14 white paper that was folded in half so that it could stand up. I diecut a black engine, orange flat car (was the caboose diecut that I trimmed to make a flatcar) and a brown bear.  They were thrilled to get this simple project that will help them to remember our theme. Teddy Bears and Trains are so much Fun with Friends at Storytime!




























The rest of the Flannel Friday roundup is @Ms.Kelly at the Library. Be sure to check out the Flannel Friday Pinterest Boards for other great ideas!

Sweet Dreams

Bedtime storytimes are so much fun.  They can be quiet and relaxing too!  There are so many cute bedtime books.  I like to use Nancy Stewart's cute songs; Dancing Pajamas and Fuzzy Slippers with this theme.  I used Google images to print out 4 different pairs of slippers that I mounted on colored paper and then laminated. I like to make my prints as big as I can!  I start with all the slippers on the board (velcro on the back) and remove a pair of slippers as we sing the song.  We're counting by 2's!   I used the same technique for this bedtime rhyme that I made up, except I put each pic up as I say the rhyme. (the color words are linked to a Google search page for the item in the verse)  I don't have a picture for the last rhyme but I pretend to go to sleep and then ...pause...snore!  Always big laughs.

Time to Go to Sleep!

By Kathryn Roach

In the evening after dark

It’s time to go to bed.

Before I sleep I’ll brush my teeth

With my toothbrush that’s red.

My teeth are brushed and shiny clean.

I’ve put my toothbrush up.

I want a drink before I sleep

In my small blue cup.

I’ve splashed around in the tub

With my favorite funny fellow;

I’ve scrubbed-a-dub and had such fun with

My rubber duck that’s yellow.

I’ve had my soapy, bubblebath

And now I’m squeaky clean.

I’ll put my soft pajamas on;

They’re my favorite jammies, green.

My bed is calling to me,

I’ll jump in quick as a wink!

I’m oh so comfy cozy with my

Blankets warm and pink.

I have my fuzzy lovey pal.

His tummy is soft and round.

I’ll snuggle on my pillow

With my teddy bear that’s brown.

Time for kisses all around.

Please turn off the light.

I’ll close my eyes to start to dream;

Good night, sleep tight,

Good night!......snore!

I like to do 5 In The Bed as a song/flannel rhyme. My version always ends with the 'little one' saying at the end, "Alone at last, goodnight!"   I have 5 cute colored pellon bears and a piece of fabric that looks like a quilt to use as I sing the song. This set is so old, I can't remember where I found the bear pattern.  Probably a Google clipart image??   The bears are about 8 or 9 inches tall.  As I said, I like my pieces BIG!    

Bedtime is Fun at Storytime!