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.

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!

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

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 

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

Sept. 12 - F is for Fruit

Theme: Fruit or Vegetable?

Book: 1 Big Salad by Juana Medina
Song: "Fruit Salad Salsa" by Laurie Berkner

Extend the story theme:
Books:
Edible Numbers by Jennifer Vogel Bass
Ten Red Apples by Pat Hutchins

Articles:
"Difference Between Fruits and Vegetables" by Terynn Boulton

Videos:

Pineapples  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpJHgXaPzFA

Activity:
Color your fruit smoothie and follow the recipe. (Worksheet)

Today's Apps:

Smartboard
by GreenGar

Magnetic Alphabet
by Dot Next

Moose Math
by Duck Duck Moose

August 22 - F is for Farm

Story app:

Farmer's Lunch by Paul Shipton; illustrated by John Gordon. Collins Big Cat by Harper Collins Publishers Ltd.

App activity:

Magnetic Alphabet - Find today's letter and spell the word of the day. 
ABC Learning Letters by A3BGameLab Di Redaelli Angela & Co. SAS (GooglePlay, iTunes)- practice writing today's letter on 'paper'. 

Songs: 

"Old MacDonald Had a Farm..." by BusSongs.com (YouTube)

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

Additional Reads:

Clip Clop by Nicola Smee 
Goose on the Farm by Laura Wall

Download today's storyapp for free! The added feature is that your child can retell the story with the embedded Story Creator feature. (iTunes only)

The Farmer's Lunch

The Stuffed Animal Sleepover 2016 video is now available! Click here to watch. See what the stuffed animals did in this year's camp-themed event.