Mittens Hide a Snowball

 

I've been using this variation on the Little Mouse Hiding in a House game for years.  I thought I'd share it in time for Winter themes at Storytime!  This website has several great ideas to use with preschoolers!

Where’s the Snowball?

http://tonsoffunpreschoolactivities.blogspot.com/2011/01/tot-school-mittens.html

Snowball, snowball cold and round

behind which mitten can you be found?

I have always just used the one snowball to find but this time I might 'hide' other funny things behind the other mittens. It makes for a silly, fun activity! I cut my mitten shapes about 8 inches so that leaves me plenty of room to hide funny things.  I cut my snowball shape from batting so it is flat and keeps it's shape.  Mittens and snowballs are so much Fun with Friends at Storytime!

        

Here's Two Little Winter Puppets!

 

 I have made Two Daring Snowpals and Two Freezing Snowflakes for our wintery storytimes. 

Two daring snowpals at the top of a hill.  One named Bonnie and one named Bill.

Slide down Bonnie... Slide down Bill ... Come back Bonnie... Come back Bill. 

Two daring snowpals at the top of a hill.  One named Bonnie and one named Bill!

                                           

Two freezing snowflakes floating down from heaven.  One named Kay and one named Kevin.

Float away Kay...Float away Kevin...

I used toothpicks colored with a brown marker for my snowpal arms and the snowflakes are plastic snowflake Christmas ornaments hot glued to felt circles. I used fabric paint for the snowpals and google eyes and a cut up sequin for my snowflakes' faces.  We're having a lot of wintery Fun with Friends at Storytime!

Let's Build a Snowman.

One of my all-time favorite books to use with a snowman theme is Lois Ehlert's, Snowballs. It's always a big hit with the kiddos! I've got several snowman rhymes that I like to use for this theme. I made a pellon set for the classic snowman rhyme, 'Cute Little Snowman'.



I have another pellon set for a song/chant; 'Happy Snowman'. I really need to add some velcro dots to help the pieces stay in place as I dress the snowman. If the group is small you can hand out the pieces and the kiddos can dress the snowman!






Here's a little rhyme for this sweet snowman,

              'A Happy Jolly Fellow'

A Snowman sits upon the hill,

He's a happy, jolly fellow.

His hat is black, his scarf is red,

And his mittens are bright yellow!

And here's one more Snowman rhyme/song; this file folder one that I use with the CD by Carole Peterson; *Highly Usable Music kids Can Sing, Dance & Do! H.U.M.* all Year Long. The tune is London Bridge is Falling Down. Here's the printable doc. for  I Can Make a Snowman.  
Snowmen are so much Fun with Friends at Storytime!
There are other ideas this week @ Flannel Friday Roundup. Check out the wonderful resources on the Flannel Friday Pinterest Boards. Here's the link for the official Flannel Friday blog for more info! 

Winter Fun!

We're in the middle of winter so I thought I'd post some of my wintertime sets. I made these many years ago and have used them a lot! Both of these sets are made from pellon that I colored with crayons or colored pencils. This first set is a getting dressed set and in order to make the pieces stick to each other, I stapled velcro dots to them. There is a song/chant to the tune of 'Mulberry Bush'. Here's a link to a printable Google doc. for 'We Put on Snow Pants'. This would be great to use when you use the set for the book,  The Jacket I Wear in the Snow. I also have an active rhyme that I made a little pellon figure for. I think I got both of these from Felt Board Fingerplays by Dick and Liz Wilmes.  Anyway, here's the link for the active rhyme, 'Snow Everywhere'. I also sing 'Sing a Song of Winter' and use the little rhyme, 'Winter Signs'. Here's one more winter active rhyme from Everything Preschool, 'Cloudy Day'. Brrrrr, winter is a lot of Fun with Friends at Storytime! There are other ideas this week @ Flannel Friday Roundup. Check out the wonderful resources on the Flannel Friday Pinterest Boards. Here's the link for the official Flannel Friday blog for more info!