Letters XYZ Storytime
Scott Bahlmann
Opening: Shake My Sillies Out – Raffi
Book: My Mom Has X-Ray Vision – Angela McAllister
(I was a little worried about the kids not getting this, and some were completely convinced that the mom did have x-ray vision. They all thoroughly enjoyed it.)
Activity: X Marks the Spot
We're going on a treasure hunt, (walk in place)
We're going to find a treasure! (peer with hand shading eyes)
In a great big chest (hold hands apart)
buried deep in the ground (mime shoveling).
Look on the map!
It's the ocean.
Can't go under it, can't go around it, can't go above it,
better paddle across it! (mime paddling with an oar.)
..it's tall island grass! (brush the grass aside with your arms.)
...it's coconut trees! (dodge the coconuts by jumping side to side.)
...it's quicksand! (lift knees high as you walk through it.)
...it's the X! Let's dig up the treasure. (mime shoveling.)
Wait, do you hear something? Aaarrr
It's scary pirates!!
Quick, run back through the quicksand, dodge the coconuts, swish through the grass, paddle to the
boat...
now point the cannon at the pirates, and light the fuse Ffffhhhhshh. Ka-boom!
...uh oh. I think we blew up the treasure too!
(Going on a Bear hunt, pirate style! Great action activity.)
Book: Yellow is My Color Star – Judy Horace
(This iterated a bit too much the favoriteness of yellow ...one of our little girls replied on almost every page "my favorite color is PINK!")
Activity: Do You Like… (Yum/Yuck)
from Super Simple Learning
(We modified this a bit for the food images we had on hand, and the kids had a great time! We did Banana Soup, Carrot Pancakes, and Pea Ice Cream.)
Book: Yum Yum! What Fun! – Mara Bergman
(A good story, the kids like spotting the animals in the room, but not quite stellar.)
Activity: I Went to the Zoo
(The kids really liked identifying the animals, and making their noises.
A hit!)
I went to the zoo one day, I met a Tiger on the way.
This is what he had to say, "Roar! Roar! Roar!"
(continue with other animals)
Book: Z is for Moose – Kelly Bingham
(I was a little worried about the concept of this book being to advances, but the emotion made up for any missed letters. They loved it.)
Activity:Bubbles
(We finished my final program at the library with bubbles, because everyone loves bubbles.)