Greyt Readers

On November 18, 2009 the Greyt Readers came to the Lake Station New Chicago library. Greyt Readers is a program where children can read to Greyhounds. The program was in celebration of Children's Book Week.

Toddler Story Time

On December 3rd at 10:30am toddlers heard stories and made a Reindeer puppet.

Books Used: My Very First Look at Colors by Christiane Gunzi

M is for Mistletoe by Tanya Stone

Hello Kitty Hello Love!

The Three Bears Christmas by Kathy Duval

Music: It's Toddler Time

Fingerplay: Two Little Black Birds

Craft: Reindeer Paper Bag Puppets

www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/christmas/paperbag/

Friendship Bracelets

On November 18, 2009 pre-teens enjoyed making friendship bracelets.

For instructions on how to make friendship bracelets try these websites: http://www.how-to-make-jewelry.com/friendship-bracelet-patterns.html
http://www.artistshelpingchildren.org/friendshipbraceletshowtopatternskids.html
http://www.squidoo.com/friendship-bracelet-instruction

Or these books: http://catalog.lakeco.lib.in.us/ipac20/ipac.jsp?term=friendship+bracelets&index=.GW&menu=home&aspect=subtab&profile=leo#focus

National Children's Bookweek Program

November 17 and 18 pre-schoolers celebrated National Children's Bookweek by hearing award winning stories and making Chippewa Indian Dream Catchers.

Books used: My Mother is Mine by Marion Dane Bauer

My Very First Book of Colors by Eric Carle

Biscuit's First Sleepover by Alyssa Satin Capucilli

One Little, Two Little, Three Little Pilgrims by B.G. Hennessy

Finger plays: Touch the Earth and Mother Earth from 52 Programs for Pre-schoolers by Diane Briggs

Music: Four Baby Bumblebee's Classic Singable Songs by Kimbo Educational
Spin Again and Silly Dance Contest by Jim Gill

Craft: Chippewa Indian Dream Catchers

Toddler Story Hour

On November 12, 2009 we had a toddler story hour.

Books used: My Very First Book of Colors by Eric Carle
My Mother is Mine by Marion Dane Bauer
One Little, Two Little, Three Little Pilgrims by B.G. Hennessy

Songs sung: Alphabet song
Twinkle Twinkle little star
Wheels on the Bus
Eency Weensy Spider

Finger plays: Touch the Earth and Mother Earth from 52 Programs for Pre-schoolers by Diane Briggs

CD's used: Spin Again by Jim Gill
Toddler Time CD

Craft: Indian Headbands

The Missing Tarts

On November 11, 2009 the Queen of Hearts lost her tarts and families were invited to help her find them. I had eight in attendance and the kids had fun making tarts to eat.

I read The Missing Tarts by B. G. Hennessy. We made the tarts and while they were baking we played several games.

Games: Hot Potato, Red Light Green Light, Duck Duck Goose, Monkey in the Middle, Simon Sez, and Sit down Balloon Volleyball.

How to make the tarts: Refrigerated pie crust, circle cookie cutter, rolling pin, flour, mini muffin pans, and pie filling.

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

We made cherry tarts and chocolate chip cookie tarts.

Sprinkle some flour on a flat surface. Place the pie crust on the flour. With the rolling pin roll out crust to be a little bit thinner. This way you can get 24 or more circles. If you want the crust to be thicker don't roll it out. Once it's rolled out take the circle cookie cutter and cut out as many rounds as you can. You can then roll the scraps out to make more. Place a round over a mini muffin cup and using your fingers gently press the dough into the muffin cup. Once all the cups are filled drop a couple teaspoons full of pie filling into each. I used a can of cherry pie filling.

Bake between 12-15 minutes or until crust is browned.

For the chocolate chip cookie tarts I used the Nestle Toll House recipe for chocolate chip cookie pie. I would recommend for the tarts instead of mixing in the chocolate chips into the batter place a few chocolate chips into each muffin cup and then spoon the batter over. Don't fill to the top. When I baked them they were starting to overflow in the oven. This way you could use different flavored chips like butterscotch or white chocolate instead of just chocolate. They baked at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes. Eating one is plenty these are very rich but the kids loved them. As you can see from the picture above that the chocolate chip cookie tarts were pretty much wiped out. There were like 3 left.

Toddler Story Time

They always seem to have a blast during toddler story time. Just look at all those cute faces.

Books Used: My Very First Look at Colors by Christiane Gunzi
Sea Lion Swims
Peter Rabbit's Five Fluffy Bunnies
Sleepy Little Yoga by Rebecca Whitford
The Usborne Nursery Rhyme Treasury by Usborne
Finger Rhymes by Marc Brown

Music Used: Baby Beluga by Raffi
It's Toddler Time by Carol Hammett and Elaine Bueffel
Cedarmont Kids Classics Toddler Tunes

Songs Sang: The Alphabet Song and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Counted to five

Craft: Thanksgiving Hand Turkeys