July 25- G is for Gift...or Giraffe

Stories:

One Word for Sophia by Jim Averbeck; illus. by Yasmeen Ismail.
A Giraffe Goes to Paris by Mary Tavener Holmes and John Harris; illustrated by Jon Cannell

App activity:

Magnetic Alphabet - Find today's letter and write the word of the day. 
Mobile Montessori's Continents and Oceans- learn the names of the 7 continents!

Songs: 

"7 Continents" by Lina Valery

Closing song: "I Am a Mountain" (artist unknown)

Extend today's story time: Talk about how letters make up words, how a name is a word. Things we name are words. Words are made up of letters. Find words that begin with the letter "G". The letter "g" makes 2 sounds. "gift" or "giraffe". Point out when a word starts with the letter of the day! Letters are "sound symbols". 

Additional Reads:

A Giraffe and a Half by Shel Silverstein

App of the day:

We used Mobile Montessori's Continents and Oceans to help children learn the setting for the story of A Giraffe Goes to Paris by Mary Tavener Holmes and John Harris.  Suggestion: When you read books with your child, reference a map and "pin" the book to a map. Today's stories took place in North America, and Africa and Europe.  iTunes $2.99, also available for Android.

If you attended today's story time, add these books to our online Summer Reading Program and collect prizes! Ends July 31st. Sign up now for the free online program here! Also available for year round tracking. Happy reading!

July 11 - L is for Lion

Stories:

Library Lion by Michelle Knudsen; illus. by Kevin Hawkes.

App activity:

Magnetic Alphabet - Listen for today's letter and word of the day. 

Music: 

"Dancing Bear" by Bari Koral

Closing song: "I Am a Mountain" (artist unknown)

Adapt from story time: Put a large-sized letter "L"on your refrigerator. Have your child raise their left hand (hey, left is an "l" word!) and make the letter "L" with pointer and thumb. Be sure the tail of the "L" (thumb) follows the picture. Have them trace their "L" with their right pointer finger, just like we did in story time. 

Additional Reads:

The Loud Book by Deborah Underwood

App of the day:

We used Axel Scheffler's Flip Flap Safari (story app) to begin having children share aloud in front of others about their crazy mixed creature creation. There is also a print book version which is a rhyming book. The app includes the rhymes and in addition includes added animal sound effects. 

This is a great book to have a child begin listening to pronunciation word breakdown. If we cross a lion with an elephant we get a "li•ant". But, perhaps since it is British English you get "li-ra" for a cross between a lion and a zebra (zeb•ra).  iTunes $0.99

Axel Scheffler's Flip Flap Safari

Did you enjoy this story time? Vote using "Today's Storyapptations Poll". 

Don't forget to sign up for the Summer Reading Program online! Sign up now for the free online program here! Happy reading!