Busy Bee Bulletin September – December 2012
Calendar Buzz Inside this issue: Books for Busy Bees
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Head, Shoulders, Bees and Toes
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Continuing Education for Child Care Providers and Parents EARLY LEARNING COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS Call the ELC at (248) 658-5506 or visit www.greatstartconnect.org to register. All events 6:308:30 p.m. Main Library Children’s Program Room.
Bee Crafty!
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Baby Bees
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Math Learning in the Home Wednesday, September 12
Literacy on the Move 12
Activity Times That Support Children’s Learning and Development Wednesday, September 19
Caregiver Interactions: What You Say Is Important! Wednesday, September 26 TODDLERS, TRANSITIONS AND TANTRUMS presented by Oakland County Early On. Call the Library at (248) 848-4315 to register. Main Library Children’s Program Room. Wednesday, October 10, 7:00-8:30 p.m. Visit
www.farmlibkids.org or call us at (248) 848-4315 for more program information.
EXPLORING NATURE WITH CHILDREN presented by Carol Fink of the Farmington Hills Nature Center. Call the Library at (248) 848-4315 to register. Main Library Children’s Program Room. Wednesday, October 17, 7:00-8:30 p.m. SELF ESTEEM presented by Oakland County Great Parents. Call the Library at (248) 848-4315 to register. Main Library Children’s Program Room. Thursday, November 8, 7:00-8:30 p.m.
Perk Up Your Daily Plans Planning circle time and classroom activities can be a daunting task for new preschool teachers. Likewise, homeschool parents are often on the lookout for exciting new activities that are fun and educational, while even the most seasoned educators may seek some fresh ideas to liven up an oftenrepeated routine. Here are some of the great planning resources that are available to you in the Children’s Department and online:
Parent-TeacherProfessional Collection This large collection contains books for adults on such topics as child development, classroom activities, fingerplays, group games, working with special needs, homework help, selecting books for children, and much more. MAILBOX MAGAZINE This magazine is packed with ideas for preschool-age children, including lots of craft templates and printables. Ask at the Main
Library Children’s Desk to view our staff subscription while you are in the library and to make photocopies for your own use. Circulating Magazines Visit our children’s magazine area for copies of FAMILYFUN, PARENTING MAGAZINE and HOMESCHOOLING TODAY. With bright photos and new articles every month, these magazines are a great place to find inspiring new games, activities, crafts, child-friendly
recipes, behavior solutions, and reviews of the latest toys and child care equipment. Copies older than the current issue may be checked out. Busy Bee Web Visit www.farmlib.org/wiki/ Busy_Bee_Web and click on Curriculum Planning Resources. Our page is full of links we’re sure you’ll come to rely on.
Great Ideas for Child Care Providers from the Farmington Community Library
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Books for Busy Bees Here is a sampling of baby-friendly board books, engaging picture books, and more. We have these titles and many others at each branch of the Library. We are always happy to help you find books you’ll enjoy sharing with little ones. Board Books PLEASE AND THANK YOU! by Jill Ackerman ONE RAINY DAY by Tammi Salzano AT THE BEACH by Salina Yoon WINGS by Salina Yoon Picture Books KING JACK AND THE DRAGON by Peter Bently and Helen Oxenbury. Three friends build a fort and prepare
to battle dragons and beasts. One by one the brave knights are taken away by giants (mom & dad). Will King Jack be brave enough to fight alone?
I SPY WITH MY LITTLE EYE by Edward Gibbs. A simple animal I Spy guessing game in book form. What can you spy with your little eye?
THE ARTIST WHO PAINTED A BLUE HORSE by Eric Carle. Color schemes are in the eye of the artist. Read and share this book to discover the latent artist inside you.
KITTY CAT, KITTY CAT, ARE YOU GOING TO SLEEP? by Bill Martin and Michael Sampson. It’s time for bed, but Kitty Cat finds other things to do instead!
MINE! by Shutta Crum. Big sister doesn’t want to share. See what happens in this nearly wordless picture book when the family pet decides he doesn’t want to share either. Charming illustrations tell this very familiar tale… “Mine!”
Nonfiction NOT A BUZZ TO BE FOUND by Linda Glaser. Have you ever wondered what happens to insects in winter time? Read this book and discover how insects handle the coldest season.
Head, Shoulders, Bees and Toes Open, Shut Them Open, shut them. (open and shut hands) Open, shut them. Give a little clap, clap, clap. (clap 3 times) Open, shut them. Open, shut them. Lay them in your lap, lap, lap. (pat lap 3 times)
Slowly creep them, Right up to your chin, chin, chin. Open up your little mouth, But do not let them in! (tickle child’s stomach)
Splendid Senses (To the tune of “The Bear Went Over the Mountain”) My (eyes) are made for (seeing), My (eyes) are made for (seeing), My (eyes) are made for (seeing), So I can (see) my world. Continue with the following: Ears...hearing Nose...smelling Mouth...tasting Hands…touching
Creep them, creep them, (slowly creep fingers from stomach up to child’s mouth)
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Bee Crafty!
Photocopy this coloring sheet and have children color it in. Then have them glue examples of things they can taste– dry cereal, goldfish snacks, pasta noodles, etc. Great Ideas for Child Care Providers from the Farmington Community Library
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Bee Crafty! Popcorn Sensory Activity
SUPPLIES: Popcorn popper Popcorn kernels Pie tins or other containers
DIRECTIONS: Before making the popcorn, discuss the five senses and their related body parts. Then have the children gather around as you make a batch of popcorn. As the popcorn is popping, have the children do the following: HEAR the popcorn popping SEE the small seeds turn into white popped corn When the popcorn is finished, put out some un-popped kernels in one pie tin and a little bit of the popped corn in another tin. Then have the children do the following: TOUCH the un-popped kernels and popped corn and compare them Finally, pass out a popcorn treat to share and have the children do the following: TASTE the popcorn!
Apple Story for Circle Time: “The Little House with No Doors and No Windows and a Star Inside”
SUPPLIES: 1 red apple Knife Bag or box A copy of “The Little House with No Door and No Windows and a Star Inside” from www.mommynature.com/documents/apple-star-story.pdf
DIRECTIONS: Hide the apple and knife somewhere nearby but safely out of reach as you begin circle time. Read the story aloud to the group. When the boy in the story finds the apple, bring out your apple to show the children. At the end of the story, slice the apple in half horizontally to show your group the star inside every apple.
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Bee Crafty! Apple Coloring Page
Image source unknown.
Great Ideas for Child Care Providers from the Farmington Community Library
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Bee Crafty! Pumpkin-Seed Pumpkin Craft SUPPLIES: 1 or more large pumpkins with seeds Newspaper Orange, brown and green paint Paintbrushes Cardstock or cardboard (cardboard from cereal boxes works well) Glue Pumpkin template from page 7
DIRECTIONS: A day or two before presenting the craft, carve a pumpkin and scoop out the seeds. Wash the seeds and dry them in the oven. (If the seeds are not dry, the paint will not stick.) When you are ready to present the craft, lay out newspaper with the seeds on top. Help the children to paint the pumpkin seeds. Paint most of the seeds orange with just a few brown and green for the stem and leaf. Let the seeds dry. Use the template to make a pumpkin shape out of cardstock or cardboard for each child. Have the children spread glue all over their pumpkin shapes and then attach the seeds, painted side up, to fill each entire shape. While your project is drying, read FROM SEED TO PUMPKIN by Wendy Pfeffer or PUMPKIN CIRCLE: THE STORY OF A GARDEN by George Levenson.
Thumbprint Cows
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Give each child a copy of the cow template. Have the children dab a finger in finger paint or a washable ink pad to make thumbprint spots on the cow.
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Bee Crafty! Pumpkin Template
Image from www.allkidsnetwork.com
Great Ideas for Child Care Providers from the Farmington Community Library
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Bee Crafty! Farm/Noah’s Ark Paper Dolls SUPPLIES: Photocopies of farm animals, farmer, and stands on cardstock Crayons or markers Scissors Glue Blocks DIRECTIONS: Have the children color and cut out the farm pieces and glue the heads and tails of the animals to their bodies. Use the stand pieces to hold each figure upright. Have the children use their craft pieces with blocks to play farm or Noah’s ark. (You may wish to laminate the pieces to make them sturdier.)
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Bee Crafty!
Images from www.makinglearningfun.com
Great Ideas for Child Care Providers from the Farmington Community Library
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Bee Crafty!
Piggy Pancakes
INGREDIENTS: Pancakes Strawberries, sliced in half Banana slices Raisins DIRECTIONS: Put a pancake on a plate for each child. Add two strawberries for the ears, a banana slice for the nose, and raisins for eyes and nostrils. Recipe from www.makinglearningfun.com
Scarecrow Puppet SUPPLIES: Photocopies of scarecrow template Crayons or markers Scissors Strips of yellow or brown paper (run paper through a paper shredder for quick cutting) Craft stick or cardboard strip DIRECTIONS: Color and cut out the scarecrow. Attach to a craft stick and then glue or tape strips of paper to the back to look like hay sticking out of the scarecrow. Scarecrow template by Ana Maria Seaton.
Pair this craft with a reading of THE LITTLE SCARECROW BOY by Margaret Wise Brown.
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Head, Shoulders, Bees and Toes Five Senses
The Parts of the Body
(To the tune of “Where Is Thumbkin?”)
If a bird you want to hear, You have to listen with your ____.
Five senses, (hold up five fingers) Five senses, We have them. We have them. Seeing, hearing, touching, (touch eyes, touch ears, wiggle fingers) Tasting and smelling. (stick out tongue, touch nose) There are five. (hold up five fingers) There are five.
If you want to dig in sand, Hold the shovel in your ____. To see an airplane as it flies, You must open up your ____.
October is Bullying Prevention Awareness Month. Celebrate friendship and kindness with this song for circle time. The More We Get Together (To the tune of "Did You Ever See a Lassie?")
To smell a violet or a rose, You sniff the fragrance through your ____.
The more we get together, together, together. The more we get together, the happier we’ll be. When you walk across the street, For your friends are my friends, You use two things you call your ____. And my friends are your friends, The more we get together, the happier East and west and north and south, we’ll be. To eat or talk you use your _____.
Baby Bees: Open-Ended Play John Medina, a developmental molecular biologist and researcher, has written several books about brain development. In BRAIN RULES FOR BABY, he makes many recommendations for healthy brain development in young children, including guided free play, which he deems of enormous value. Dr. Medina states that openended play “is not unstructured, do-anything-you-want play.” Guided free play requires simple art supplies, space to explore, books, blocks, costumes and time
to create your own fun. It also requires simple behavioral rules reinforced by parents or caregivers— and no electronics. Studies show that children given open-ended play time were: More creative Better at language Better at problem solving Less stressed Better at memory More socially skilled For more information on the benefits of play for children, see this title or any of our other parenting titles at the Farmington
Community Library. We would be happy to help you find information on play or other child care topics. Stop by today!
Great Ideas for Child Care Providers from the Farmington Community Library
Busy Bee Bulletin Main Library 32737 W. Twelve Mile Rd. Farmington Hills, MI 48334 (248) 848-4315 Farmington Branch 23500 Liberty Street Farmington, MI 48335 (248) 553-0300 x220 Find Us Online at: www.farmlib.org/wiki/Busy_Bee_Web www.facebook.com/fclbusybees Children’s Outreach Librarian (248) 553-6881
Literacy on the Move Did you know that you can support language acquisition and speaking skills with movement rhymes? According to Dr. Betsy DiamantCohen, movement activities increase blood flow to the brain, which boosts concentration along with memory performance, and helps regulate emotions. Some of the first words babies learn are from movement rhymes repeated over and over, such as “Patty Cake” and “Itsy-Bitsy Spider.” Group movement activities prepare participants to attentively listen to stories and to each other. Add movements to stories you read aloud by asking children to blow breath to make the wind, tap raindrops on knees, extend arms to mimic large animals, or use other actions for different stories.
We Wash Our Hands” or “Clean Up, Clean Up” to encourage children to have fun while completing necessary tasks. The following rhyme, adapted from Marc Brown’s book Play Rhymes (Dutton, 1987), ties animal names to movement and gently guides children to sit quietly: Can you hop like a rabbit? Can you jump like a frog? Can you waddle like a duck? Can you run like a dog? Can you fly like a bird? Can you swim like a fish? And then sit down like a quiet child, as still as this?
The Farmington Community Library offers many books of rhymes and fingerplays for teachers and parents. Our Busy Bee Web has a link to Curriculum Planning Resources including STORYTIMES ONLINE, which offers a comprehensive source of rhymes. The Library’s staff is always happy to help you find fun and meaningful books, music, and activities to share with young children.
Links Busy Bee Web http://www.farmlib.org/wiki/ Busy_Bee_Web Storytimes Online http://youthliterature.com/index.html
Use songs such as “This Is the Way
Busy Bee Bulletin