Balloons!

Welcome Song: Welcome Everyone

(Tune: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star)

Welcome, welcome everyone

Now you’re here

We’ll have some fun.

First we’ll clap our hands just so,

Then we’ll bend

And touch our toes.

Welcome, welcome everyone

Now you’re here

We’ll have some fun.

Early Literacy Skill: Today’s early literacy skill is Print Motivation, a child’s interest in and enjoyment of books.  The best way to encourage your child to love books is to read them books you love.  Children pick up on our emotions and when we’re excited about a book, they become excited too.

Book: A Balloon for Isabel by Deborah Underwood

As graduation day approaches, Isabel tries to convince her teacher that she and Walter, both porcupines, should receive balloons on the big day just like the other children.

Action Song: If You’re Happy and You Know It

v. 1 Clap your hands

v. 2 Stomp your feet

v. 3 Turn around

v. 4 Jump up and down

v. 5 Shout hooray

Book: Balloons Balloons Balloons by Dee Lillegard

Rhyming text follows balloons of many colors as they float and bounce throughout an entire town.

Literacy Aside:  As adults, we can help develop print motivation in lots of ways. Having kids choose which book to read is one way; another is to have books on hand about something your child really loves, like trains or dinosaurs or princesses. If there is a repeating phrase in a book encourage your child to “read” it along with you. The sooner kids get the idea that books are great fun the easier it is for them to start to be readers.

Action Rhyme: Ten Fingers

I have ten fingers.

They all belong to me.

I can make them do things.

Would you like to see?

I can shut them up tight.

I can open them wide.

I can put them on my head.

I can put them at my side.

I can raise them up high.

I can put them down low.

I can set them in my lap,

And fold them just so.

Book: emily’s balloon by Komako Sakai

A little girl's new friend is round, lighter than air, and looks like the moon at night.

Flannel Rhyme: Balloons for a Party

Here are balloons for a party

For it is my birthday today

I have balloons for all of my friends

Who are coming over to play.

Here is a pretty round blue balloon

Blue as my kitten’s eyes.

Here is a flaming round red balloon

Just about your size.

Here is a happy round yellow balloon

Yellow as bright sunshine.

Here is a lovely round purple balloon

Like purple grapes from the vine.

Here is a little round orange balloon

Like oranges from the store.

And now there are no more.

Book: A Rainbow Balloon:  A Book of Concepts by Ann Lenssen

Introduces basic concepts such as rise and fall and one and many while following "Tickled Pink," a rainbow colored hot-air balloon, on a flight.

Art:

Each child receives one hot air balloon sheet.  On each table are scraps of tissue paper and containers of watered down Elmer’s glue and one paintbrush per balloon sheet.  Children spread glue on the balloon sheet and stick scraps of tissue paper on to decorate the balloon.

Attendance: 9, 22
Evaluation: This was a FUN program to do.  The topic was a hit with all ages and the stories were fun to read.  A Balloon for Isabel was a little long and really worked best with the older participants, but the colors and illustrations helped keep the younger children focused.  The art project helped even the littlest with their fine motor skills (important for future writing) and learning their colors.

Picnics

Welcome Song: Welcome, Everyone

(Tune: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star)

Welcome, welcome everyone

Now you’re here

We’ll have some fun.

First we’ll clap our hands just so.

Then we’ll bend

And touch our toes.

Welcome, welcome, everyone.

Now you’re here,

We’ll have some fun

Early Literacy Skill: Today’s early literacy skills is narrative skills, the ability to talk about events and retell stories.

Today we’re having stories about picnics.  Have any of you ever been on a picnic?  What kinds of things did you take on your picnic?  Let’s fill up our picnic basket with different things (plates, cups, food).

Flannel Story: Pig’s Picnic by Keiko Kasza

Mr. Pig, on his way to call on Miss Pig, allows his animal friends to persuade him to don various handsome portions of their own bodies, with an alarming result.

Early Literacy Aside: You can strengthen your child’s narrative skills by creating flannel boards like this one, and have your child use it to tell you the story.

Action Rhyme: Ten Fingers
I have ten fingers.

They all belong to me.

I can make them do things.

Would you like to see?

I can shut them up tight.

I can open them wide.

I can put them on my head.

I can put them at my side.

I can raise them up high.

I can put them down low.

I can set them in my lap,

And fold them just so.

Book: Most Perfect Spot by Diane Goode

Jack tries to have a perfect picnic with his mother, but things do not turn out as they expected.

Early Literacy Aside:  The illustrations in this story add a lot of additional information to the tale.  Ask your child to tell you the story just by looking at the illustrations.  This helps build her narrative skills.

Action Song: If You're Happy and You Know It
v.1 Clap your hands

v.2 Stomp your feet

v.3 Turn around

v.4 Jump up and down

v.5 Shout hooray

Prop Song: “Going on a Picnic” on Corner Grocery Store by Raffi

Craft: Picnic Baskets

Cut out and glue on a picnic basket pictures of foods to take on a picnic.  This works on children's fine motor skills, which they'll need when the learn to write.

Attendance: 0 at the first session, 27 at the second

Evaluation: This program went fairly well.  With the younger audience, I cut out one story and went right to the craft.  Some were too little to do the cutting, but they did get to use the glue.  Fairly fun program, but would work better with an older group.