Tissue Paper Art

Thursday Thing--Tissue Paper Art 

Fun for all ages!

Star Wars STEM

Our first Thursday Thing activity landed on May the 4th, so of course we had to do something with Star Wars!

We had four different STEM activities related to Star Wars:

Dagobah Slime

We used this recipe

Mix together:  1/4 cup of glue

1/4 cup water

Several drops of food coloring

Stir in 1/4 cup liquid starch  

Keep stirring until all liquid is absorbed

Ewok Catapults

Just before the program started I got the idea of making the little Storm Troopers for kids to try to knock down.  (small pictures of storm troopers taped to clothespins)

Relative Size of Star Wars Ships

Definitely for the older kids, but it was interesting...

Use the Force
Without touching your hands to the 3rd cup, place it on top of the the other two.  Supplies given:  cups, craft sticks, yarn, paper clips, paper binders, clothes pins, rubber bands, paper plates

Here are a few of the creative ways the kids meet this challenge!

I had two teen volunteers to help (thank heavens!) with 25 attending the event (which is a good number for my little library)

The library district provided some Star Wars crafts...

Star Wars activity sheets, Chewbacca bookmark, origami Yoda, and (leftover) Styrofoam balls to make a Death Star or planet.

Here is a Death Star the library page made as an example:

Silly Storytime

Two storytimes in one week...did some things the same, but also changed things up too.

Books

My Dog, Bob

by Richard Torrey

Silly Sally

Audrey Wood

Is Everyone Ready for Fun?

Jan Thomas

(2nd day)

Is That Wise Pig?

Jan Thomas

(1st day)

Songs/Movement

ABC Welcome Song

Silly Dance Contest/Jim Gill

Bean Bag Song (2 different ones)
Hap Palmer

At my 2nd storytime I forgot the CD for The Bean Bag Song so we did this little song to the tune of If You're Happy and You Know It

Put your beanbag on your hair, on your hair
Put your beanbag on your hair, on your hair
Put your beanbag on your hair, and leave it right up there
Put your beanbag on your hair, on your hair

Toe--life it high and lift it low
Hand--toss it up and watch it land

Animal Goodbyes

Play and Learn
Make a silly creature

Circle Art

For one our after school art activities we made circle art.  We traced a variety of different round things--masking tape, lids, and card board cut into 4" circles.  Here are some of the results:

Children's Book Week

Children’s Book Week is May 1-7.  I know, for us doing stoytime every week is Children’s Book Week!  But it does give us a reason to celebrate the wonderful books out there with great stories, great illustrations, and a great way for adults and child to bond.

Children’s Book Week is an annual celebration of books for kids and teens.  It was launched in 1919 and is the longest-running national literacy initiative in the country. This year is its 98th anniversary.

In connection with Children’s Book Week they have a Children’s Choice Book Award through The Children’s Book Council!  I love looking at books that children have chosen as their favorites!  Although they start with K-2^nd many of the books are appropriate for storytime. Here are some from the past few years that I have used (or would be fun to use) in storytime.  

Don’t Wake Up the Tiger 

by Britta Teckentrup

Peep and Egg:  I’m Not Hatching

by Laura Gehl; illustrated by Joyce Wan

Monkey and Duck Quack Up!   

by Jennifer Hamburg; illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham

Found 

by Salina Yoon

The Pigeon Needs a Bath!

by Mo Willems

 You can find full lists on Children’s Book Council here.