Song: Clap and Sing Hello!

We clap and sing hello.
We clap and sing hello.
With our friends at story time.
We clap and sing hello!
(Wave and sing hello; stomp and sing hello.)

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Fingerplay: The Itsy-Bitsy Spider

The itsy-bitsy spider,

Went up the water spout.

Down came the rain,

And washed the spider out.

Out came the sun,

And dried up all the rain.

And the itsy-bitsy spider,

Went up the spout again.

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Song: Dance like Snowflakes

(Tune: Frere Jacques)

Dance like snowflakes,

Dance like snowflakes

In the air,

In the air

Whirling, twirling snowflakes

Whirling, twirling snowflakes

Everywhere, everywhere

Source: Songs4Preschool

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Movement: Big Round Sun

Big round sun in the summer sky (hold arms in circle overhead)
Waved to a cloud that was passing by (wave)
The little cloud laughed as it started to rain (wiggle fingers downward)
And out came the big round sun again (hold arms up in circle again)

Source: Pasadena Public Library

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Book: Grandpa’s Garden Lunch

Written by Judith Caseley and published by Greenwillow Books, an Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

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Flannel Board: Out in the Garden

Out in the garden
growing in the sun
Were 5 pretty flowers
and my mommy picked one!

Out in the garden
growing in the sun
Were 4 pretty flowers
and my daddy picked one!

Out in the garden
growing in the sun
Were 3 pretty flowers
and my brother picked one!

Out in the garden
growing in the sun
Were 2 pretty flowers
and my sister picked one!

Out in the garden
growing in the sun
Was 1 pretty flower
and I picked that one!

Source: Pasadena Public Library

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Book: Up, Down, and Around

Written by Katherine Ayres, illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott, and published by Candlewick Press.

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Movement: Here is a Green Leaf – Story Time Scarf Rhyme

Here’s a green leaf, and here’s a green leaf (hold out left hand, then right)

And that you see makes two (hold up 2 fingers)

This is the bud that makes the flower (hold palms together)

Now watch it bloom for you (slowly separate palms)

Source: Jbrary

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Flannel Board: Butterfly Colors

The first to come to the garden bed
Is a lovely butterfly of brilliant RED.
Then in comes another and that makes two.
Fly right in, my friend of BLUE.
“The garden is fine, the best I’ve seen,”
says the butterfly of softest GREEN.
Our garden needs a sunny fellow,
Fly on in, butterfly with wings of YELLOW.
Little friend of PURPLE, fly in too.
The garden is waiting for a color like you.
ORANGE, orange, you’ve waited so long.
Fly right in, where you belong.
Butterflies, butterflies, you’re such a sight!
Flying together – what a delight!

Source: Storytime Katie

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Book: Counting in the Garden

Written by Kim Parker and published by Orchard Books, an Imprint of Scholastic, Inc.

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Craft: Cupcake Liner Flowers

Craft kits are available from the Youth Services department or the drive-up window while supplies last.

Kit Supplies:

  • Blue cardstock for the background
  • Green cardstock paper for grass, stems, and leaves
  • Cupcake Liners

Home Supplies:

  • scissors
  • glue

Directions:

  1. Press the cupcake liners out flat. Cut slits around each cupcake liner to make petals. Make sure to stop your cut at the center circle line of the liner. (This is great scissor practice for preschoolers. You might need to help hold the cupcake liner for your child if they are new to cutting.)
  2. Cut leaves and grass out of green paper.
  3. Glue the large cupcake liners to the blue cardstock paper.
  4. Glue the small cupcake liner inside the large cupcake liner.
  5. Glue the flower stems underneath the cupcake liner flowers.
  6. Glue grass to the bottom of the paper and the leaves to the stems.

Source: I Heart Crafty Things

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Book: One Little Seed

Written by Elaine Greenstein and published by Viking, an Imprint of Penguin Random House.

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Song: We Wave Goodbye like This

We wave goodbye like this.
We wave goodbye like this.
We clap our hands for all our friends.
We wave goodbye like this.

(Repeat)

– Kris, Youth Services Specialist