So many ideas!

So, yesterday's post was a little popular.  It's funny, just when I think that no one is reading this blog and it's safe to share family secrets, I write a post and it gets nearly 100 hits.  I guess that brings me back to one of the main Torbeck family rules, you don't have to tell everything you know.  (The other rule is also good, if you have to say you're helping, then your not helping.)  But a lot of people got a glimpse at my dad and were able to wish him a happy birthday so all is well.

Moving on.  I started my Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Program Monday and I started brainstorming about my first assignment which is to create a story time for 2-5 year olds and incorporate one science and one math activity.  Easy-peasy.

Here's exactly how my thought process went:

Bats!  I could do a sonar demonstration and have the kids close their eyes and try to find me in the classroom, but that would lead to some crying children I'm sure, so table that.

Bugs!  I could have the kids build a bug on a flannel board one piece at a time and identify all of the parts!

Construction!  I could read Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site and have them build a structurally sound tower out of styrofoam cups.  Or toilet paper rolls.  Or kleenex boxes!

Three Little Pigs!  I could build three walls and have them blow them over and see which is the strongest.  We could wear plastic hardhats that said Three Little Pigs Construction.  We'll read great books and build with egg cartons!

Then my head exploded.  I haven't planned a story time in over two years and there is just so much that I want to do and it's only a four week class.  That means that I only get to plan four story times.

But the really crummy part of all of this is that even though I get to plan the story times, I don't actually get to use them.  Bummer.  I'm not working as a librarian.  Double bummer.  It's like being all dressed up with no where to go.  At least I have one outlet for all of this work--right here on Miss Tiff Reads.  You can benefit from my work.  I just ask that if you use something you found on this site, come back and tell me how it went so I can live vicariously through you.

Plus, only six months to Vacation Bible School.  You better believe that this year's VBS will include some STEM programming after all that I've learned.  Get ready for a bigger, better, more common core based VBS!  It will be great I promise, once I pick out a theme.  Details, details.

Happy Reading!

Scaredy Squirrel Extravaganza!

After reading Scaredy Squirrel Prepares for Christmas, I realized that I was really missing out on a great picture book series.  I had always dismissed Scaredy Squirrel as too intricate for storytime since the books have several diagrams and lists and such in them.  I still hold that idea to be true, but now I'm thinking that Scaredy Squirrel would be great for a grade school program.  With that idea in mind, I checked out all the SS books from my local library (don't worry, they will all go back tomorrow) and got to work!

 

These books all follow a theme:

1.  Give an instruction to the reader, like washing hands with antibacterial soap, or checking under bed for monsters.

2.  State what Scaredy Squirrel does not do, like have parties, or leave the nut tree.

3.  State what Scaredy Squirrel is afraid of, like germs, Godzilla, and bunnies, that makes him not do the activity.

4.  State Scaredy Squirrel's plan of action, like how to build a beach, or make a friend.

5.  State how the plan goes wrong.

6.  Play dead.

7.  Discover that dreaded activity is not so bad.

8.  Adapt new activity to old level of scaredy-ness. 

9.  The end

With that all being said, this would make a great jumping off point for a program for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders.  

First, your scenario:  Scaredy Squirrel Goes to the Movies

Next, why doesn't SS got to the movies?  Is it the dark, the dust bunnies that lurk under the chairs, the sticky floors, those oddly authoritative ushers?

Then, give the children a ton of random objects, like oven mitts, flashlight, stuffed monkey, rope, water, notepad, frisbee, fake fruit, etc, and ask them to come up with an action plan for SS to go to the movies and be safe using those items.  

Next, work through the action plan.  What's going to happen?  How will the plan go wrong?  

Of course, the participants will have to play dead.  But how will SS realize that their is nothing to be afraid of at the movies?  

Then, how will SS adapt the movies to his scaredy lifestyle?  Have a movie night under the tree with his friends?  Invite the garden gnomes into the tree for movies?

Or, you could always simply act out of the books, instead of making up your own scenario.  Scaredy Squirrel Goes to the Beach or Has a Birthday Party would both be great options.  Most importantly, by having the kids act out the book, or create their own story in a group, you are showing them how to create a story like the author.  It's a simple enough outline that any child could use a little imagination and come up with a great story.

Unfortunately, I don't have a library to try this out in, but you might!  If you have ideas to share about a Scaredy Squirrel Program, let me know.  If you want to use my ideas for your program, please go ahead, but I'd appreciate it you'd check back in and let me know how it worked out.

And the fun doesn't stop there-Scaredy Squirrel Goes Camping will be out in 2013!

Happy Reading!

My Weird School

The new school year has started in my area, so what better time to celebrate the My Weird School books by Dan Gutman!  I love the My Weird School books.  They are great for new chapter book readers in second or third grade and the programming possibilities as endless.  I did a Library Capers program for first through fifth graders using this theme to celebrate the end of the school year, but why not celebrate the beginning too.

First, I'd recommend reading several My Weird School books.  I'll highlight which ones I used.  Open with a read aloud and let the books tell you what to do from there.

Here are a couple more ideas to make this program really great.  Take a class picture with strange props and funny hats to distribute to kids at the end of the program.  Have the kids make up their own funny teacher names and bios.  Example:  Miss Torbeck is a Total Wreck (my maiden name was Torbeck).  I'd be the wacky library and let's kids talk in the library and build forts with cushions and act out books.  The flip side of that could be Mrs Erickson is Just No Fun-the total stereotype librarian that's mean and won't let anyone touch the books.  Ohh, there's a cool Jekyll and Hyde element here!

Most importantly, let the children enjoy the books and the zaniness, and teachers, try to embrace some of the weirdness.  It will definitely help your students with the first day jitters!

Happy Reading!

My Weird School!

Welcome and Secret Word!

If I say the secret word, then I’ll kiss a pig!

(It was a pig puppet.  Taken from Mr. Klutz is Nuts)

Teacher Introductions

(Simply show several of the books and let kids marvel at the strange titles.)

Read from Mrs. Roopy is Loopy

Game:  Mrs. Kormel Says

 (From Mrs. Kormel is Not Normal)

Game:  Feather Balancing

Game:  Scarf Juggling

(Both from Coach Hyatt is a Riot)

Craft:  Ms. Hannah's Art Class

(Found object art idea from Ms. Hannah is Bananas) 

Remember to set out plenty of My Weird School books for check out!

Messy Messy Room!

I did a really fun program for children in grades 1-5 called Library Capers at my last library.  I didn't always have a huge attendance, but I always had a lot of fun.  The big tradition of Library Capers was the Secret Word.  My co-worker Kristi would select a secret word based on the subject matter and put it in an envelope that a teen volunteer would open and show the class.  Then, if I said the secret word, everyone got a treat at the end.  I usually had small prizes that fit the theme, but the kids would get so excited when I said the word!


So, I give you Library Capers:  Messy, Messy Room!

Open by talking about each child's messy room.  Are they messy with clothes, books, or toys?  Any leftover food or small animals living unnoticed in their room?  Basically, just build it up for the stories and games.

Then, show the Secret Word!  I would make the children raise their hands when I said the secret word.

Next, read What's With This Room by Tom Lichtenheld.  This is a great book about an out of control messy room that is sure to elicit screams of disgust and delight. 

Then on to games!  I prepped several Minute-to-Win-It style games.  The first was Hanger Hang-ups where the kids balanced one hanger on another off of a clothes rack.  They could balance up to seven hangers until they reached the floor.

Next was Separation Anxiety.  The kids had 60 seconds to separate a pile of beads into like colored bowls, with all the on-lookers screaming them on, of course.

Time to cool down with Diggy Dan by Daniel Kamish, a story of how a boy pretends to be many, many things simply by cleaning his room. 

We get moving again with Hamper Hoops.  Three strategically placed pop-open hampers, six sock balls and a tape line to make things interesting and the game is on!

A final activity for this messy program is a hidden picture hunt.  Pick up an old I Spy book and try to find as many objects as you can in those messy pictures.  Then, make your own seek and find from magazine clipping and design you own messy room.


For more Messy Room fun, invite children to check out Frankie Pickle and the Closet of Doom by  Eric Wight, the poems of Jack Prelutsky and Shel Silverstein, and more I Spy fun.  I always put out a selection of books for the children to look at before and after the program.  Most of the time they followed the theme, but sometimes they were just fun books.  Also, if a child wants to take home the book that you read in class, let them!  That's the best form of thanks!

Now don't forget to hand out those prizes for the secret word.  Like I said before, small prizes like pencils, notepads, or even leftover summer reading prizes work great.  And in this case, it's just another thing to add to their messy room.

The best programs for elementary school children were interactive and spontaneous.  Just go with the flow and let their imaginations lead you.

Happy Reading!