Monday, July 24, 2017

July 24 - Under the Sea

Bright World Adventures' ebook, Ocean Forests is more than an ebook. In today's storytime, we began with reading the story that informs children about Giant Kelp. We choose the Read by Myself option, although we could of set it to Read to Me with highlighted text. We watched the realistic 3D life-like animation in the background. After the story, the children were able to explore on their own using the built in scavenger hunt activity. This mode of exploring allowed children to pan, focus move left and right and up and down and touch the different things they saw on screen to learn more about what they saw in the kelp forest. (iOS)

Marco Polo's Ocean app is a child-friendly app designed for young children to explore the ocean. There are puzzles to learn and identify the different parts of ocean dwellers or parts of a boat and a submersible. In addition to the puzzle mode, the children can also explore a vast ocean scenery.  (iOS)




We use this app to simply practice writing letters or our word of the day with a stylus. The app is by Game Maker Video and Photo and Emoji for Basketball Kids, LLC.
The app provides a variety of "paper" styles, colors and writing pencils. The paper styles include: ruled with or without dotted line, blank, graph, etc.  Tapping the pencil in the upper left corner allows for change of pencil styles from no. 2 style pencil to a colored pencil. Or, one can tap the eraser to erase parts of the page or choose the trash can to delete the whole page. To set the wrist guard, click the pencil and scroll down to the setting. There is a a choice of half page or quarter page.


Songs:
"The Goldfish" by The Laurie Berkner Band
"Under the Sea" by Samuel E. Wright from Disney's The Little Mermaid.

Monday, July 10, 2017

July 10 - I Can Be an Engineer!

image of app
Robot Party
by SagoMini

Robot Factory
by Tinybop
Robot Party by SagoMini is a great app for young preschoolers 3+ years. It's easy to use, has predictability. It's silly and entertaining and can be used to teach cause and effect and provide hours of silliness and creative exploration. It was a hit in today's storytime.




For preschoolers 4+ years and ready to experiment in a completely opened-ended way, choose Robot Factory by Tinybop. This robot exploration provides little guidance so your child can be a fearless inventor. Create a robot and then send it off to see how it fairs in an outdoor environment. If your robot is destroyed...it's back to the lab for more tinkering. Great for young curious minds determined to succeed.


Build with Grandpa by
Fairlady Media
This series of apps by Fairlady Media provides children with active play and education. Grandpa guides your child in a mostly structured process to, in this case, build a house. It includes wrecking an old building and building a new one. clearing the land, designing and painting and using different building tools. Each time your child plays through the process, your child is presented with a slightly different experience. For example, your child will see a different video, or interact with a new construction tool. This makes it fun to keep coming back.


Stories read-aloud today:
Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beatty, illustrated by David Roberts

Songs: "Technology Song for Kids" & "Doby Wop-The Robot Song" by The Polkadots

Tuesday, June 27, 2017

June 26 Big Adventures in Reading!

3D Build and Play
by Croco Studios
Experience 21st century mobile learning through playing with this 3D app. The 3D app helps young children observe, explore and discover how vehicles move. Promote early literacy skills by helping children find the words to describe what they are doing and experiencing. For added oral skills let the child make up a story as they control the animated vehicle in virtual space.



Stories read aloud today:
Secret Agent Man Goes Shopping for Shoes by Tim Wynne-Jones and illustrated by Brian Won
Chicken in Space by Adam Lehrhaupt, illus. by Shahar Kobar

Tuesday, June 13, 2017

June 12 Let's sort our shoes!

 These apps by Tinyhands Apps help children sort and classify by color, shape, among additional challenges, like angles. The app is fun and well-paced within the different levels. The images are colorful and appealing. Some of the sorting practice represents "real world" encounters which helps a child understand real world relationships. Price: $6.99

Books:
My Own Shoes by Sue Fleiss and illustrated by Mike Longhead
Shoes by Elizabeth Winthrop, illus. by William Joyce

Song:
"Walkin' Shoes" by "Miss Carole" Stephens

Monday, May 22, 2017

May 22 the /ch/ sound

  Lil' Writer by Alligator App

The Little Writer app is so customizable! Today, I added our word of the day, "chair" and other words I use that start with "ch" and recorded my voice saying the ch words. I selected capital letters only, but I could have easily chosen all lower case, or even first letter capitalized and the rest lowercase. The app lets you add your own image too. What I appreciate is that each letter name is spoken before the child traces it and than the word is spoken after the all the letters are completed.

Writing Wizard by L'escapadou

Another tracing letter app that is sure to keep your child coming back for more letter recognition and writing. Lots of color and movement to keep a curious young one interested in discovering the shapes of letters. The app has a variety of font styles including D'Nealian for children planning to learn cursive writing. The app also includes numbers too. 


Books:
There's a Bear on My Chair by Ross Collins
Meeow and the Little Chairs by Sebastian Braun

Song:
"Dancing Bear" by Bari Koral


Tuesday, May 2, 2017

May 8 - Theme: Dogs

I only had time to use my go to app today:

ABC Magnetic Alphabet
by DotNext

This is the app I always start out with to have children play with letters and also sounds of the letters. The great thing about this app is that you will never run out of letters...or lose them!

Books:
This Book is Out of Control by Richard Byrne
Simon's Bed by Christian Trimmer

Song: My Dog Rags




Monday, April 24, 2017

April 24 - Cats

Stories:















Standard Apps:
Magnetic Alphabet

Monday, April 10, 2017

Monday, April 10 - Eggs


Stories:
by Kallie George

by Laura Gehl














Song:
"We Are the Dinosaurs" by Laurie Berkner


Today's Apps:


Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Monday, March 27 - Exclamation Mark!

Stories:

Exclamation Mark! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal & Tom Lichtenheld



Kite Day by Will Hillenbrand


Songs: "Action Song for Kids" by Singing Walrus

Extend the story time:
Continue exploring sentence endings. As you read point out what is at the end of the sentence. A period? An exclamation mark, or a question mark? Count the marks in the books.  

Have your child make tally marks on paper as they count how many times they see an exclamation mark in a book you and your child are reading together.

Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Monday March 13th - Games part 2

Theme: Games part 2

Stories:













Song:
The Bowling Song by Raffi

Apps:
same as last week.



Extend story time ideas:
1. Go bowling at your local bowling alley.
2. Make your own bowling set. Click here for the craft idea from u-createcraft.com


Monday, February 27, 2017

Feb. 27 - G is for games

Theme: Games

Stories:
Ethan Long's Lion & Tiger & Bear: Tag You're It!

Song:
Freeze Dance by Kiddie Palooza

Apps:
Smartboard - use to create a masterpiece from a shape or squiggle.

Extended story time ideas:
Play tic-tac-toe using different letters besides "X" and "O".  Each player can choose to use their first initial as their identifying mark.

smartboard

magnetic alphabet

Sunday, February 12, 2017

Monday, February 13 - Feelings part 2

Stories:
In My Heart - A Book of Feelings by Jo Witek


















Songs:
"If your happy and you know it..."

Storytime extension:
Because You Daddy Loves You by Andrew Clements. A great Valentine's Day book! Discuss the many different feelings a child expresses as her father responds to different circumstances. Pause to ask how your child would feel in the given circumstance, how they would feel should the father respond with the words before the book reads: "...But he doesn't...".

Wild Feelings by David Milgrim. This book plays on metaphors like "clumsy as an ox", "stubborn as a mule" to poke fun and accept that we all have many feelings, and it is okay. Discuss the expression and what it says about our feelings.

Have a little animal lover? The ebook from Lillian Vernon by August Branchesi. Dusty D. Dwag Has Feelings Too is a feelings book taken from a dog's point of view.
Dusty D. Dwag Has Feeling Too






(free iOS)


Apps Used (standards):
Magnetic Alphabet
Smartboard
Lil Writer


New App:
First Words Feelings

Sunday, January 22, 2017

Monday, January 23- Feelings part 1

Stories:

Angus the Irritable Bull (iOS for $.99, at time of this writing)













Song: If You're Happy and You Know It



Apps Used today:

Breathe


Magnetic Alphabet
Smartboard



Monday, January 9, 2017

January 9, 2017 - Mythical Monsters


Stories:
Format: iBook






Even Monsters Are Shy
Format: StoryApp (iTunes)
by: BusyBee Studios














Songs:
"The Letter Name Song" (ABC's)
"Monster Boogie" by Laurie Berkner

Extend Storytime:
Draw a monster on paper. Describe how it looks, what shape. Describe what it eats. Describe what it will do if it is shy. Describe what it will do if it is not shy.




Today's Apps:
Magnetic Alphabet
Smartboard
Tiggly Draw
Make a monster! Watch animated features!

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

December 12 - S is for Snow






Song:
Dance Like Snowflakes (sung to Are You Sleeping)
Dance like snowflakes
In the air
Whirling, twirling snowflakes
here and there...everywhere!


App Activity:
Using this website from your mobile device to create virtual snowflakes. Help a child see (in real time) how the cut outs he/she makes effects the form of the snowflake. Set setting to "auto update".


Extend Story Time:

Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin; illust. by Mary Azarian - Caldecott winner 1999. A biography of a self-taught scientist who photographed thousands of individual snowflakes in order to study their unique formations.

Make a "real" paper snowflake with the help of this step by step guide. Have them watch you fold and cut the paper to prepare the triangle shape for them to cut. Then have them make cuts out of the paper. For the older siblings joining in: Talk about how the paper is like the digital version and how it is different.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlQVkZA5j-A - show them this slow motion video of how a snowflake forms. Talk about the shape having 6 points.

Talk about SNOW, the letter S and other words that start with "S"....like "six".
Include science fact about snowflakes--made from water which is stuck and frozen to falling debris from the sky...: http://www.doublexscience.org/why-are-snowflakes-always-six-sided/

Have your child cut out and color lollipop covers using this template. Choose Elf, Santa, Snowman, Reindeer. Each template comes with a colored version and a black and white version. Choose the black and white version and have your child color them and write season's greetings to friends.

Create your own virtual snowflake with this website!
from your mobile or computer .


Saturday, November 19, 2016

November 28 - Wonder

Theme: Wonder

Stories:
The Night Gardener by Terry Fan and Eric Fan
Stars by Mary Lyn Ray, illustrated by Marla Frazee

Song:
"Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"
"We Call it Fall" by Brian Vogan

App-tivity: SmartBoard  Draw a star.

Extend story time:
Discuss the wonders of stories. Choose your child's favorite. What does the story make you wonder about? Is it feelings? Is it place? Is it a wonder from one of senses? Ask wonder questions throughout the book. Look for "w" words and say the "w" letter sound.

I Wonder (Celebrating Daddies Doin' Work) by Doyin Richards. Dad's can wonder what their children think of the things they do for their kids.

The Curious Garden by Peter Brown. A child wonders what is on top of the old abandoned railway.
The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles by Michelle Cuevas and illustrated by Erin. E. Stead.

Thursday, November 3, 2016

November 14 - N is for Not

Theme: What Not

Stories:
Sometimes It's Turkey, Sometimes It's Feathers by Lorna Balian and Lecia Balian
Fall Mixed Up by Bob Raczka, illustrated by Chad Cameron

Song:
"Turkey Song" by the Kiboomers
"We Call it Fall" by Brian Vogan

App-tivity: SmartBoard (write the Word of the Day!)

Extend story time:
Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert - use this story to talk about what you may NOT see at first. Then, go outside and find leaves to make your own Leaf Man!

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Oct. 24- S is for Shapes

Theme: Shapes

Book: 
The Legend of Spookley the Square Pumpkin by Joe Troiano
Duck and Goose Find a Pumpkin (ebook) by Tad Hills

Song: Preschool Shapes Song (Education.com subscription)


Extend the story time theme:
Books:
Pumpkin Day by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace
Mouse Shapes by Ellen Stoll Walsh
Shapes by Sara Pistoia
Bear in a Square by Stella Blackstone

Activity:
Learn and draw shapes

Additional Activities:
  • Call out sign shapes when you are driving.
  • Find shapes of household items by playing the "I spy..." game


Today's Apps:

DoodleMath: Shapes
by NCSoft
Shape Tracer by Red Ape Mobile


Here's an additional app to consider....


Edushape by Dollspot.com

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

October 10 - P is for Pumpkin

Theme: Seed counting

Book: How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? By Margaret McNamara
Song: 4 Seasons Song (Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter...these are the seasons of the year. (Sung to derivative of "10 Little Indians".)
Song: "Counting by Twos" Brain Boogie Boosters Format: CD by The Learning Station

Extend the story theme:
Books:
Pumpkin Day by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace
Find a Pumpkin by Tad Hills (Format: ebook. Try HBPL Overdrive).

Activity:
Explore numbers using the 100 number board provided. Place a seed on each square. Say the number as you place a seed on the next number. Use the board to count by 1's. Group seeds in 2's, Place the pair on the board and count by 2's.

Additional Activities:

  • Extend 100 Number board provided to 5's and 10's. Observe the number pattern visually. 
  • Create a Number Bingo game. Use your favorite word processor, or spreadsheet software to create a 4x4 or 6x6 table. Enter numbers you want your child to practice. Have fun!



Today's Apps:

Use the Montessori Numbers by L'Escapadou lescapadou.com ($2.99)
Use the app to "flip" every other number to count by 2's. Practice saying numbers by using the "Say the number" feature. Try turning every 5th number (5, 10, 15, 20). Observe and explain the number pattern. Show how skip counting is "faster" because you are saying less numbers by grouping your counts.Turn on the "Say the number" to help your child learn the new numbers. Then, skip count. Use the Tracing tool to learn to write the numbers 0-10.

Montessori Numbers by L'escapadou 

Thursday, September 15, 2016

September 26 - B is for Body and Bones

Theme: My Body, My Bones

Book: More Parts by Ted Arnold
Song: "Shake Dem Skeleton Bones" by Kiboomers

Extend the story theme:

Books:
Dem Bones by Bob Barner
I Love You Nose, I love you, toes! by Linda Davick

Articles:


Videos:


Activity:
Name dem bones like the clavicle, femur, or vertebrae (Worksheet)

Today's Apps:

Magnetic Alphabet
by Dot Next
My Body
by Urbn Pockets