FIZZ, BOOM, READ!

It's International Women's Day!

And I'm creating a blog post to focus on STEAM for young participants in our 2014 summer reading program:

STEAM - Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math are always a part of the library, but right now - it's the focus, big time!  * and we're lovin' it!*  The trend for the past 8-10 years is that GEEK is cool.  Amen!  Many of us in the library sciences field - full of detail, information, technology and literacy got here because we really like STEAM.  (Geek or not, it's what we love)

We're always incorporating learning in our story times and now...well, we're bringing it!  Rockin' it!  And the whole world is making sure that we are reaching our young girls as we spread the math, science, technology, engineering and art to our community.  So, I say...Full STEAM Ahead for International Women's Day!

This summer you will find all sorts of techie specials in our library system.  MaKey MaKey, Squishy Circuits, Goldie Blox, and so much more.

You'll also find me leading the group with techie art projects with school age children, because I just can't resist these sorts of displays around the children's department!

               



 And still there's more...the youngest participants in our Summer Story Times...they need BUBBLES and BOOKS and FLANNELS!  Here's a mini- how-to Fizz, Boom, Read your preschool story times: 

Use bubbles...we all love them.  Make it summer fun.  Kendra has a Hello Bubble song - check it out!  Piper and I will blow bubbles with all of our groups.  (actually, Piper's better at watching bubbles!)  Anyway...moving on to..
Dinosaurs.. are always big!  Yes, I wrote that!  BIG.  And yes, indeed some were little.  I know, I know!    Take a look here for Dinosaur Flannels and more dinosaurs for story telling.  Or let's make some robot flannels - look here @ Library Quine's!

    

Space ships, rocket ships are totally inter-gallactical-ly fantastic! (I wish I did not write that sentence!)  Storytime Katie made some beautiful rocket ships that I plan to flannelize very soon.  Take a look at her post. 

And if you are thinking rocket ships and aliens, please think: Mr Wuffles! by David Wiesner.  A cat, a space ship, aliens and even ants.  I haven't figured out how to share this book in story time, but I love it.  Any ideas?

If you made monster flannels...maybe you can use them as space aliens this summer.  

Or make a set of space aliens in their space ship - just like Katie's! 

I have ants!  Flannel ants, whew!  They work for science and singing!

And I have the science of the bird nest and the baby bird!  In My Nest by Sara Gillingham is a perfect story for little ones.  Click here!

No doubt there is plenty more STEAM if I go through all of my Flannel Board inventory. (math with Pete the Cat and his four groovy buttons! oh yeah!)   Look at your collection through your science safety goggles!  Pair up your flannels with different books.  I strongly suggest checking out the FIZZ, BOOM, READ graphics via the catalog or Google images.  It will spark your thinking!  Or maybe sparkle it!   Hmmm, glitter on my safety goggles?  why didn't I think of that before?  We may post photos, or not!  

P.S. (Piper Script):  More science with Swirl by Swirl, Turtle Splash, from Catch the Possibilities you'll find Butterflies , Oh Dear No Eggs Here features finding eggs on the farm.  Some engineering with Tip Tip Dig Dig - love this book!

...and you can always sing good bye with the song Wave Goodbye Like A Windmill  on the Little Green Music CD: 31 Exciting Earth Songs by The Fun Music Man

Oh Dear! Flannel Friday is here!

Oh Dear! 

As the Fall story time session approaches I start organizing the farm books, puppets and flannels. My favorite book for the season, hands down, is Rod Campbell's Oh Dear.  The drama is just waiting for us ...right inside the cover.  But we do need a tad bit of rehearsal.  (a-hem!)  Now please follow along...extend one arm a bit with your palm open and bring it up to your cheek while you dramatically lament..."oh dear" and now shrug your shoulders with both elbows bent and palms facing up (that "I don't know the answer" move) and say "no eggs here"  You can always shake your head no for additional dramatic play

Okay, we're almost ready!  I show the book and explain some background information with hopes of making connections.   In this story a little boy is going to sleep over at his grandmother's house. Do you have a grandmother?  Does she come to your house?  Do you go to her house?  This grandmother lives on a farm...have you been to a farm?  What does it look like?  When the little boy and his grandmother awaken in the early morning she sends the little boy to look for eggs to eat for breakfast.  Do you like eggs?  Do you eat them scrambled?  Would you like to help this little boy find eggs?  Okay, let's do this.    

Once upon a time, a little boy named Buster sleeps over at his grandmother's house.  In the morning he heads out the door to find eggs for breakfast.  He heads straight to the BARN where he finds the ...hmm, what animal does he find in the BARN?  Can you guess?  Let me see ...

Oh yes, the COW...what sound does she make?  Right,  MOOO  MOOO.

  Does she have eggs for Buster's breakfast?   No she doesn't.

  What does Buster say?  OH DEAR, NO EGGS HERE.  

Let's say that again using our hand motions.  You got it!

Next Buster goes to the STY.  Who lives in a STY?  Will you guess?  

You're right!  The pig!  What sound does he make?  OINK OINK!  

Does the pig have eggs for Buster's breakfast?

OH DEAR, NO EGGS HERE

Next Buster goes to the dog house.  Who lives in a dog house?  Do you know?

Of course, the dog!

BARK BARK!

Does the dog have eggs for Buster's breakfast?  

OH DEAR, NO EGGS HERE

Next Buster goes to the stable.  Who lives in a stable?  

Oh my, you are so smart.  You're right - the horse!

What does the horse say?

NEIGH NEIGH

Does this horse have eggs for Buster's breakfast? 

OH DEAR, NO EGGS HERE

Next Buster goes to the HUTCH.  Who lives in a HUTCH?

A bunny lives in a hutch!

Does this bunny have eggs for Buster?

OH DEAR, NO EGGS HERE

Where will Buster go next?

Let's see first he went to the BARN

(practice your sequencing skills!) 

Then he went to the STY

Next he went to the DOG HOUSE

After that he went to the STABLE

And then to the HUTCH

And finally he will go to the HEN HOUSE!

Who lives in the HEN HOUSE?  

(of course they all know by now! Thank heavens!)

Could it be?

Do you think?

Do we see... a HEN????

Hmmm, does she have eggs for Buster's breakfast?

What do you think?

YES! YES! YES!

Yes! The hen has two eggs for Buster's breakfast!

HOORAY!

We skipped a few of the animals from the story. I intentionally leave out the duck because some of the little ones know that ducks lay eggs and the story takes a detour. I avoid that.

And it appears our sheep has gone missing ...I think she's serving double duty 

and is with Mary, (had a little lamb) right now!

And NEXT...we have the shaker eggs!  Of course!  And it's confirmed already that we all love Miss Nina and her shaker eggs. Click it!   You will not regret that click!  She's a doll!  So shake it on baby...with your shaker eggs.

P.S. (Piper Script)  I love dancing with the shaker eggs!  

These flannels were made the old school way, back in the "olden days".  I drew them, colored them with crayon and marker, laminated them and added flannel to the backs.  Oh - the two eggs are made from tan foam and I have tons of them so everyone can place an egg on the flannel board.