We have been displaying summer reading signups using our usual bulletin board display spots so I haven't had a chance to make a bulletin board display all summer. Since we recently ended summer reading, I got my chance.
I decided to go with an ocean theme because it's August and nothing in particular needs to be shown. Because I love the ocean and seen some awesome ocean display ideas on Pinterest, I combined ideas and used our ocean diecuts to make this display.
This was such a fun one to make and the streamers give it the extra pop I was looking for and make it visually appealing.
Right now, we are displaying outer space books because of the solar eclipse coming up, but afterwards I might put out some ocean books to go along with the display.
Speaking of the eclipse, it has been a constant library joke around here asking if we have eclipse glasses. We only have a select number of glasses and have printed out instructions on how to make your own device to view the eclipse safely. This has reminded us of tax season with the constant asking if we have certain forms.
Coincidentally, I just started reading He Said/She Said by Erin Kelly and the story starts off with a description and explanation of a total eclipse.
Hope everyone enjoys viewing the upcoming eclipse and is having a great start to the school year!
For Toddler Art's outer space theme, I picked another space book that was shorter and two somewhat easier crafts.
Roaring Rockets by Tony Mitton explains a lot of what you would see in space, including a rocket and the moon, in short rhyming format.
I had some newbies along with the familiar faces and overall, they were good listening to the story. Though, this group definitely needs a short story.
I had the group make moons using cotton balls attached to clothespins to make gripping a little bit easier. They stamped to make craters and different designs on their black, round paper. This was great for their coordination and using a different way to paint instead of a paintbrush or fingers.
For our last craft, we made a rocket much like the one in the story. This craft was a bit more challenging for this age group, but great practice. The parents did a good job of helping their child without being overbearing. I used streamers and foil to allow the kids to experience different sensory textures.
The parents appreciated adding a story to the class and wanted to know if we would be taking a break in September. Because of such great turnouts, I've decided to make this a once-a-month program along with Preschool Picasso. There are tons of ideas out there and I'm looking forward to presenting them to the kids.
3-2-1....blastoff!
I was browsing my Pinterest board on all things related to the library, and came across quite a few good craft ideas I pinned on outer space. So became our theme.
After reading quite a few space picture books, I decided to read Man on the Moon: A Day in the Life of Bob by Simon Bartram. I chose this one because it covered the space theme rather well and because I had planned to use a moon craft. I also liked the illustrations and the book wasn't too short or too long.
Adding a book to read during both Preschool Picasso and Toddler Art has been a good thing, and not just for the obvious reason of encouraging reading. I find that I am having to explain how to do the crafts less and less to those who come in a little later because they are usually here by the time the story ends.
After reading our book, we went on to our first craft. We made the sun using a variety of paint colors and plastic wrap. This was a win-win for everyone. The kids enjoyed the craft and cleanup was not bad at all.
Each were given black construction paper that had a white circle glued on it with red, yellow, and orange paint squirted onto it. The kids had to use the plastic wrap on top to squish the paint all over the white circle to make the sun. We talked about how hot the sun is, how the paint feels under the plastic wrap, and how the different colors blended. We used q-tips to make sun beams coming out and some used them to spread their paint on the circle.
I also had enough supplies for the parents to do this one and they enjoyed it as well. It also encouraged their kids to work on their own while mimicking their parent.
For our second craft, it was time to make the moon using white paint and water bottles. The group liked this one just as much, but really enjoyed the stickers to put in the background. Lay out a bunch of stickers and don't expect any strays after a program because kids LOVE stickers! Despite the sticker excitement, everyone shared so sweetly!
To make the moon, black construction paper was handed out that had a circle drawn on it with white crayon. They had to use the white paint to paint the moon and then added craters using the tops of water bottles and stampers. The white paint had flour added to it to add a different texture to it and make the moon look more 3D.
To infinity and beyond!
Kids are asking me all the time for Where's Waldo and other similar seek-and-find books while I'm working on the reference desk. Jane Caston's and Carmen Saldana's picture book is more than just a seek-and-find, with a good story and good illustrations all in a picture book format. This is a seek-and-find that can be used for storytime!
Summary: Help Doug find his dog by patting, tickling, and calling to the correct dogs based on Doug's clues! As the reader selects dogs, the pool narrows until a surprise ending reveals Doug's dog and why he went missing.
Age Range: 3-5 years
"So, Doug's dog is a scruffy dog. Call 'Here Scruff!' to all the scruffy dogs."
I can't wait to use this one for storytimes! This book is very interactive, fun, cute and makes a game out of reading.
