Children’s Programming
M o n t h l y
volume 1 number 4
P ro g r a m s & IDE AS for Pr eschool T HRO UGH gra de 3
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ALA Editions purchases fund advocacy, awareness, and accreditation programs for library professionals worldwide.
from the
editor
contents
Winter Wonderland
3
Rob Reid
Welcome to Children’s Programming
Monthly, a compilation of ideas culled
from bestselling Editions programming
books. In this issue, five authors make
the most of those bright, snowy days that
mark winter for many of us. They bring
the magic of the outdoors in through a
variety of songs to lighten the mood, activities to keep the cold away, and stories
to share.
All of the books listed are still available,
many in new hardcover or paperback
editions, including some in Spanish.
For more information about the ALA
resources named in this issue, visit the
ALA Store (alastore.ala.org) or call toll
free 866-746-7252.
Stephanie Zvirin
[email protected]
Snowflake Dance
9
Kathy MacMillan
Winter
16
Judy Nichols
Mitten Weather
19
Diane Briggs
It’s Cold Outside
23
Saroj Nadkarni Ghoting and
Pamela Martin-Díaz
Children’s Programming Monthly
(ISSN 2156-8685) is published 13 times a year by the American Library Association,
50 E. Huron St, Chicago, IL. 60611. It is managed by ALA Editions.
To subscribe, visit the ALA Store, alastore.ala.org, or call 866-746-7252. Subscription
Rates: $50 per year; $10 per single copy. Address editorial correspondence to Stephanie
Zvirin, Editor ([email protected]).
Vol. 1 / No. 4 (ISBN 978-0-8389-5820-9)
Publisher: J. Michael Jeffers
Product Manager: Patrick Hogan
Editor: Stephanie Zvirin
DESIGN: Karen Sheets de Gracia
COMPOSITION: Patricia Galarza-Hernandez
Illustrations: ©Andere/Shutterstock, Inc.
Copyright © 2011 American Library Association.
All materials in this journal subject to copyright by the American Library Association.
a program to share?
Do you have a successful program or activity you would
like to share—a storytime, a puppet play, a flannelboard,
even a list of picture books your kids really love? Send
your submissions and suggestions to Stephanie Zvirin, ALA
Editions, American Library Association, 50 E. Huron St.,
Chicago, IL 60611; [email protected].
Children’s Programming Monthly Vol. 1 / no. 4 alastore.ala.org / 2
Winter
Wonderland
Rob Reid
H
ere’s a fun fact to pass on to families. Bethel, Maine, claims the
prize for the world’s tallest snowman (in this case, snow-woman).
Completed in 2008, she stood just over 122 feet and weighed 13,000,000
pounds. Volunteers, many of them school children, helped pack the snow
and create the features, which included an eight-foot nose and two thirtyfoot spruce trees for arms. She was called Olympia Snowe, in honor of the
state’s senior senator.
Excerpted from Family Storytimes.
Children’s Programming Monthly Vol. 1 / no. 4
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Winter Wonderland
Program at a Glance
Opening Song “So Cold Outside” from Tuning into Nature by
Fran Avni
Picture Book Duck at the Door by Jackie Urbanovic
Picture Book/ Felt Board Sleep, Black Bear, Sleep by Jane Yolen and Heidi
E. Y. Stemple
Musical Activity “Does Your Scarf Hang Low?” traditional; adapted by Rob Reid
Picture Book Winter Is the Warmest Season by Lauren Stringer
Musical Activity “If You’re Happy and You Know It—Winter Style,” traditional; adapted by Rob Reid
Picture Book Straight to the Pole by Kevin O’Malley
Movement Activity
“Snowball” by Rob Reid
Picture Book Snow Sounds: An Onomatopoeic Story
by David A. Johnson
Preparation and Presentation
Opening Song
“So Cold Outside.” From Tuning into Nature, by Fran Avni. Lemonstone, 2002.
Folks will want to cover up when they hear Avni shiver and sing “Brr—it’s
cold outside.” This song is perfect to set the tone for the program theme. Avni is
an expert in developing reading-readiness songs and activities for children.
Picture Book
Duck at the Door, by Jackie Urbanovic. HarperCollins, 2007.
Max the duck stays behind when his flock heads south
for the winter. He knocks at Irene’s home, and she welcomes him and invites him to stay for the winter with
her and her menagerie. Making himself at home, Max
soon irritates the other animals (especially when he hogs
the television remote). His housemates are also tired of
the duck’s recipes, such as “Max’s Tofu Surprise” and
“Max’s Seaweed Chowder.” When spring arrives, Max is
reunited with his flock, but Irene and her animals find
themselves missing him. To their delight, he returns the
following winter—with the rest of his flock.
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Winter Wonderland
Picture Book/Felt Board
Sleep, Black Bear, Sleep by Jane Yolen and Heidi E. Y. Stemple.
HarperCollins, 2007.
Light verse describes various anthropomorphic animals that hibernate or are
fairly inactive during the winter months. These include the black bear, frog, bat,
snake, box turtle, gopher, skunk, badger, beaver, mouse, toad, and chipmunk.
Make felt characters of each animal ahead of time. Ask various children to place
the characters on the board as you read each little poem. Patterns to get you
started can be found on page 27.
Musical Activity
“Does Your Scarf Hang Low?” (traditional;
adapted by Rob Reid)
Bring several scarves and have members of
the audience put them on and do the following motions with you. If you have a large
audience, ask the indivuduals with scarves
to join you in front. Place your scarf around
your neck and move the ends to the lyrics as
you sing. Sing to the tune of “Do Your Ears
Hang Low?”
Does your scarf hang low?
Does it wobble to and fro?
Can you tie it in a knot?
Can you tie it in a bow?
Can you throw it over your shoulder
Like a Continental soldier?
Does your scarf hang low?
Picture Book
Winter Is the Warmest Season by Lauren Stringer. Harcourt, 2006.
A young boy states that winter is warm because that’s the season he wears
heavy clothing, eats hot foods, sits in front of the fireplace, takes warm baths,
and cuddles with his pets and stuffed animals. Bodies also sit close together to
share stories. As he lies in bed buried under the warm covers, he imagines “I
might dream of summer . . . just to cool me off!”
Musical Activity
“If You’re Happy and You Know It—Winter Style”
(traditional; adapted by Rob Reid)
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Winter Wonderland
Ask everyone to stand and mime the actions to this popular, traditional song.
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your mittens.
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your mittens.
If you’re happy and you know it and you really want to show it,
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your mittens.
If you’re happy and you know it, twirl your scarves.
If you’re happy and you know it, twirl your scarves.
If you’re happy and you know it and you really want to show it,
If you’re happy and you know it, twirl your scarves.
If you’re happy and you know it, stomp your boots.
If you’re happy and you know it, stomp your boots.
If you’re happy and you know it and you really want to show it,
If you’re happy and you know it, stomp your boots.
If you’re happy and you know it, throw a snowball.
If you’re happy and you know it, throw a snowball.
If you’re happy and you know it and you really want to show it,
If you’re happy and you know it, throw a snowball.
If you’re happy and you know it, make a snow angel.
If you’re happy and you know it, make a snow angel.
If you’re happy and you know it and you really want to show it,
If you’re happy and you know it, make a snow angel.
Picture Book
Straight to the Pole by Kevin O’Malley. Walker, 2003.
The storm is getting worse, and a little boy thinks
that he can’t go on. He asks us to remember him as he
stumbles through the snow to a bus-stop sign, where
he’s joined by his dog and some friends, also bundled
up and shivering. Suddenly the atmosphere changes
to joy; the boy learns that school has been canceled!
Ask the audience to make howling-wind noises as the
young narrator trudges toward his destination.
Movement Activity
“Snowball,” by Rob Reid.
This was inspired by the camp call-and-response chant “Flea Fly Mosquito.”
Ask the audience members if they ever had the experience of snow down their
backs. For those folks living in warmer climes, ask them to imagine an ice cube
running down the back of their shirts. Ask them to stand and repeat after each line.
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Winter Wonderland
Snow! (Snow!)
Snowball! (Snowball!)
Slushy-wushy snowball! (Slushy-wushy snowball!)
Slushy-wushy snowball sliding down my neck!
(Slushy-wushy snowball sliding down my neck!)
(Look panicked and slap at the back of your neck.)
Slushy-wushy snowball sliding down my back!
(Slushy-wushy snowball sliding down my back!)
(Slap at your back.)
Ooh it’s cold, it’s oh-so-cold, this snowball down my back!
(Ooh it’s cold, it’s oh-so-cold, this snowball down my back!)
(Hop around.)
Cold-cold, cold-cold-cold, oh, it’s really cold!
(Cold-cold, cold-cold-cold, oh, it’s really cold!)
(Dance wildly in circles with your arms flailing.)
Oh! (pause) It’s not cold anymore. (Oh! [pause] It’s not cold anymore.)
(Stop and shrug your shoulders.)
Picture Book
Snow Sounds: An Onomatopoeic Story by David A. Johnson. Houghton
Mifflin, 2006.
The entire text consists of winter noises and is perfect as a call-and-response
piece. Ask the audience to repeat each word you say as they see the various winter pictures. A child snores, a cat purrs, a snowplow drives by with a “Swoosh
Slush Smoosh.” Another plow goes by with a “Crash Crush Clank” and backs
up with “beep beep beep beep.” A snowblower is at work while the child eats
breakfast. The sidewalk is scraped shortly before the school bus arrives with a
“Honk Honk.”
Mix and Match
Additional Picture Books
Butler, M. Christina. One Winter’s Day. Illustrated by Tina Macnaughton.
Good Books, 2006.
Little Hedgehog is having trouble keeping warm. He puts on his hat, scarf,
and mittens before heading to Badger’s home. Along the way, he finds a family of field mice huddling in the cold. He gives them his woolly hat. He next
comes across Otter, who is “huffing and puffing on his paws” to keep warm.
Little Hedgehog gives Otter his mittens. He next finds a fawn shivering in the
cold and gives the deer his scarf. He finally arrives at Badger’s all rolled up in
a snowball. The two return to Little Hedgehog’s home after the winter storm.
They find his nest rebuilt and decorated with his mittens, scarf, and hat.
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Winter Wonderland
Hogg, Gary. Look What the Cat Dragged In! Illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka.
Dutton, 2005.
The inhabitants of Lazybone Cabin are cold from the harsh winter. They threaten to skin the cat to make quilts and slippers. The frightened cat sneaks out and
drags back plenty of firewood. The ungrateful inhabitants complain about the
lack of food and discuss eating the cat. The cat rushes out and returns with a
sled full of fast-food items. After filling their stomachs, the family grows bored
and thinks of games to “torture” the cat, such as pin the tail on the cat. The cat
finds game boards and toys for them instead. When the complaining troupe
discusses selling the cat, the cat runs out and returns with bags of money. The
cat is finally fed up when they talk about buying a dog. It leaves again, returning this time with the law, and the Lazybone Cabin folks are hauled off to jail
for stealing.
Songs from Children’s Jukebox, by Rob Reid
““The Earth Is Still Sleeping.” McMahon, Elizabeth, Waltzing with Fireflies.
“Going Out to Play.” Silberg, “Miss Jackie,” The Complete Sniggles, Squirrels,
and Chicken Pox.
“Hibernation.” McCutcheon, John, Wintersongs.
“I Can Make a Snowman.” Peterson, Carole, H.U.M.—All Year Long.
“I Like to Be Cold and Wet.” Troubadour, On the Trail.
“Let’s Play in the Snow.” Buchman, Rachel, Sing a Song of Seasons.
“Put Another Log on the Fire (Winter Song).” Grunsky, Jack, Sing and Dance.
“Ring Those Bells.” Peterson, Carole, H.U.M.—All Year Long.
“Sleigh Bells.” Barchas, Sarah, Bridges across the World.
“Smells like Winter.” Byers, Kathy, Do You Wish You Could Fly?
“Snowman.” Rosenshontz, Family Vacation.
“Snowman’s Café.” McMahon, Elizabeth, Tea Party Shuffle.
“So Cold Outside.” Avni, Fran, Artichokes and Brussel Sprouts; Avni, Fran,
Tuning into Nature.
“Soup.” McCutcheon, John,
Wintersongs.
“Take a Toboggan Ride.” Charette, Rick,
Toad Motel.
“Tommy Don’t Lick That Pipe.”
McCutcheon, John, Wintersongs.
“Winter Sleep.” Rosenthal, Phil, Animal
Songs.
“Winter’s Come and Gone.” Mitchell,
Elizabeth, You Are My Little Bird.
“Wintersong.” McCutcheon, John,
Wintersongs.
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Kathy MacMillan
Snowflake Dance
C
oat, scarf, snowpants, mittens, boots, hat...it takes time to bundle up
for winter, and as the narrator of the prop activity “Getting Dressed to
Play in the Snow” (pg. 14) finds out, it’s easy to think you are ready, only to
find out there’s something important you forgot.
Excerpted from A Box Full of Tales.
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Snowflake Dance
Books
d = material especially useful with toddlers
Snowmen at Night by Caralyn Buehner. Penguin Putnam, 2002.
Animals in Winter by Henrietta Bancroft. HarperCollins. 1996.
There Was a Cold Lady Who Swallowed Some Snow by Lucille Colandro.
Scholastic, 2003.
It Feels Like Snow by Nancy Cote. Boyds Mills Press, 2003.
Danny’s First Snow by Leonid Gore. Atheneum, 2007
Snow! Snow! Snow! by Lee Harper. Simon & Schuster, 2009.
The First Day of Winter by Denise Fleming. Henry Holt, 2005.
d Time to Sleep by Denise Fleming. Henry Holt, 1997.
First Snow by Bernette Ford. Holiday House, 2005.
d Oh! by Kevin Henkes. Greenwillow, 1999.
d What Can You Do in the Snow? by Anna Grossnickle Hines. Greenwillow, 1999.
Snow Happy by Patricia Hubbell. Tricycle, 2010
First Snow by Emily Arnold Mccully. HarperCollins, 2003.
Snow by Steve Sanfield. Philomel, 1995.
d Millions of Snowflakes by Mary McKenna Siddals. Clarion, 1998.
Little Fern’s First Winter by Jane Simmons. Little, Brown, 2001.
Snow by Manya Stojic. Knopf, 2002.
d Mouse’s First Snow by Lauren Thompson. Simon and Schuster, 2005.
Hello, Snow! by Hope Vestergaard. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2004.
A Winter Wonderland by Wong Herbert Yee. Houghton, 2010.
Recorded Music
d “Snow Song” from Hello Everybody! Playsongs and Rhymes from a
Toddler’s World by Rachel Buchman. A Gentle Wind, 1986.
d “Snow Fun” from Preschool Action Time by Carol Hammett. Kimbo
Educational, 1988.
d “Rock and Roll Freeze Dance” from So Big: Activity Songs for Little Ones by
Hap Palmer. Hap-Pal Music,
1994.
“Mitten Weather” and “Let’s Play in
the Snow” from Sing a Song of
Seasons by Rachel Buchman.
Rounder Kids, 1997.
d “I’m a Little Snowflake” from
Whaddaya Think of That? by
Laurie Berkner. Two Tomatoes,
2001.
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Snowflake Dance
Fingerplays/Songs
“Here’s a Snowball”
You start out with a bunch of snow,
Then you pick it up just so.
Pat that snow into a ball,
Now throw that little snowball!
“Snow Is Falling”
Snow is falling from the sky.
It’s so pretty, me oh my.
Snow is something I would miss
If I didn’t get to see it DANCE like this.
. . . TWIST
. . . TURN
. . . FALL
“Ten Little Snowflakes”
(to the tune of “Ten Little Indians”)
1 little, 2 little, 3 little snowflakes,
4 little, 5 little, 6 little snowflakes,
7 little, 8 little, 9 little snowflakes,
10 little snowflakes drifting down.
“I’m a Little Snowman”
(to the tune of “I’m a Little Teapot”)
I’m a little snowman short and fat.
Here is my scarf and here is my hat.
When the snow is falling come and play.
Sun comes up, I melt away.
“I’m Going to Play in the Snow”
(to the tune of “We’re All Together Again”)
I’m going to play in the snow, in the snow.
I’m going to play in the snow, in the snow.
What do I need to play in the snow?
First I need my coat.
Repeat with other items of clothing.
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Snowflake Dance
“Snow Down My Back”
(to the tune of “Spider on the Floor”)
I’ve got snow down my back, down my back.
I’m gonna have a heart attack.
I’ve got snow down my back.
I’ve got snow down my back, down my back.
I’ve got snow in my shoe, in my shoe / What am I gonna do? . . .
I’ve got snow in my ear, in my ear / Oh, I really really fear . . .
I’ve got snow down my leg, down my leg / Oh, help me I beg . . .
I’ve got snow on my face, on my face / It’s quite a hopeless case . . .
Props
d Flannelboard or Prop Rhyme
“Five Little Snowmen”
Pieces needed: 5 snowmen with red, blue, green, yellow, and purple scarves
or 5 snowman masks and red, blue, green, yellow, and purple scarves for
volunteers to wear
I made 1 little snowman.
I put a hat on his head.
I gave him eyes of coal,
And a scarf of red
I made another snowman,
So now I had 2.
I gave him eyes of coal,
And a scarf of blue.
I made another snowman,
So now how many? 3.
I gave him eyes of coal,
And a scarf of green.
I made another snowman,
He was my 4th fellow.
I gave him eyes of coal,
And a scarf of yellow.
I made one last snowman,
That made 5 snowpeople.
I gave the last one eyes of coal,
And a scarf of purple.
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Snowflake Dance
The sun came up, I’m sad to say,
And the snowman with the red scarf melted away.
How many are left? 4!
The sun was very bright that day,
And the snowman with the blue scarf melted away.
How many are left? 3!
Even though I still wanted to play,
The snowman with the green scarf melted away.
How many are left? 2!
I asked the snowmen to please stay,
But the snowman with the yellow scarf melted away.
How many are left? 1!
The sun still shone on that day,
And the snowman with the purple scarf melted away.
How many are left? None!
Goodbye snowmen!
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Snowflake Dance
d Flannelboard Rhyme
“Five Little Snowflakes”
Pieces needed: 5 snowflakes. (See pattern on page 28).
The air was cold in the town,
And 1 little snowflake started drifting down.
The air grew colder in the town.
Now 2 little snowflakes are drifting down.
The wind started blowing in the town.
Now 3 little snowflakes are drifting down.
The air grew frosty in the town.
Now 4 little snowflakes are drifting down.
It’s colder than ever in the town,
And 5 little snowflakes are drifting down.
d Flannelboard Rhyme
“Color Mittens”
Pieces needed: Pairs of mitten shapes in felt, 2 of each color or pattern. Place
one of each pair on the flannelboard, and give the others to the children.
I have two little mittens.
I wear them on my hands.
But I have lost a mitten.
Please help me if you can.
Look at your mitten, what do you see?
If your mitten is _____, please bring it to me.
Repeat with other colors, inviting the children to place their mittens on the
flannelboard.
Prop Story: “Getting Dressed to Play in the Snow”
Pieces needed: A coat, a scarf, a sweater, snowpants, socks, boots, a hat,
mittens. Select a volunteer to play the main character and put on/take off the
clothes throughout the story--or do this yourself. Invite the children to mime
the actions as you proceed.
One day I wanted to play in the snow. I put on my coat and said, “Mom, I’m
ready to go play in the snow.” And my mom said, “No, you’re not. You’ve forgotten something.”
So I thought about it, and then I said, “Oh, right! My scarf!” So I took off my
coat, put on my scarf, put my coat back on, and said, “Mom, I’m ready to go play
in the snow.” And my mom said, “No, you’re not. You’ve forgotten something.”
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Snowflake Dance
Repeat the pattern, adding on the sweater, snowpants, socks, boots, hat, and
mittens.
“Now are you ready to go play in the snow?” said my mom. And I said, “No.
Now I’m too tired!”
Crafts
Cotton Swab Snowflakes
Materials: 1 piece of blue construction paper for each child, cotton swabs,
glue, glitter
Directions:
1. Glue the cotton swabs onto the paper to make a snowflake design.
2. Decorate with glitter.
Cupcake Liner Snowmen
Materials: 1 piece of construction paper for each child, 3 cupcake liners for
each child, glue, crayons
Directions:
1.Glue the 3 cupcake liners onto the paper to form a snowman.
2. Decorate with crayons as desired.
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Judy Nichols
Winter
A
fter your winter-themed storytime, steer parents looking for
seasonal activites to books like Maxine Anderson’s Explore
Winter: 25 Great Ways to Learn about Winter (Nomad, 2007)
or Nancy F. Castaldo’s Winter Day Play! (Chicago Review Press,
2001), or Kathy Ross’s Crafts to Make in the Winter (Millbrook,
1999). Filled with ideas to use indoors and out, they’ll help stem
the tide of cabin fever.
Excerpted from Storytime for Two-year-olds.
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Winter
Books
The Biggest Snowman Ever
(Scholastic, 2005)
STEVEN KROLL
Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You
Hear (Holt, 1992)
BILL MARTIN
Duck Skates (Holt, 2005)
LYNNE BERRY
The Snowy Day (Viking, 1962;
Spanish: Un día de nieve)
EZRA JACK KEATS
El Invierno (Barron’s, 2004)
NURIA ROCA
Frozen Noses (Scholastic, 2001)
JAN CARR
In the Snow (Holt, 2000)
HUY VOUN LEE
It’s Winter (Millbrook, 2002)
LINDA GLASER
The Lonesome Polar Bear
(Random, 2003)
JANE CABRERA
Tacky and the Emperor
(Houghton, 2002)
HELEN LESTER
Tiny the Snow Dog (Puffin, 2001)
CARI MEISTER
Winter Book (Groundwood, 2005)
ROTRAUT SUSANNE BERNER
Winter Is the Warmest Season
(Harcourt, 2006)
LAUREN STRINGER
Rhythms, Rhymes, and Fingerplays
It’s Snowing
(to the tune: “A Tisket, a Tasket”)
It’s snowing! It’s snowing!
The winter wind is blowing
Snowflakes swirling round and round
And covering the ground.
The ground, the ground.
Snowflakes all around,
Snow is falling from the sky
And covering the ground.
Snowman
Here’s a jolly snowman (Mime a chubby tummy with hands)
He has a carrot nose (Touch your nose)
Along came a bunny (Hop)
Looking for some lunch (Look around)
He ate that snowman’s carrot nose (Touch your nose)
Nibble (Hop), Nibble (Hop), Crunch! (Sit down)
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Winter
Five Little Snowmen
Five little snowmen all in a row
(Hold up five fingers)
Each with a hat
(Pat the top of your head)
And a big red bow.
(Pull at your neck as if you are fixing a bow tie)
Out came the sun
(Make your arms form big circle over your head)
And it stayed all day.
(Lean to the left)
And one of those snowmen melted away!
(Make a melting motion with your arms and body)
Repeat with four, three, two, and one.
Parents’ Follow-Up Ideas
Trace your toddler’s hands onto a paper sack to make a mitten pattern. Cut two
mittens from several kinds of materials (paper, cloth, sandpaper, cardboard).
Put one of each kind on a table and the others in another paper sack. Have your
child pull one mitten from the sack and match it with its mate. This matching
game will work with socks, towels, shoes, or any paired items in the home.
Craft
Five Little Snowmen
You will need: White, black, and red felt, scissors, glue, a pen or a washable
marker, a flannelboard
Draw five snowmen (three circles on top of each other) on the white felt. Make
them all different sizes and shapes. Draw five different sized hats on the black
felt and bows on the red felt. Cut them out. Turn the pencil marks to the back
and assemble each snowman by gluing the hat and bow in place. Draw a face on
each one.
Line the snowmen up on the flannelboard or a sofa cushion and recite the
“Five Little Snowmen” rhyme. Remove one snowman as each melts. Your child
will soon take over the task of “melting” the snowmen. Use the snowmen to talk
about size and placement in line: “Let’s melt the big one,” or “The one in the
middle is going to melt next.”
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Diane Briggs
Mitten
Weather
M
y mother always
sewed a long string
on my mittens, thinking,
rightly in my case, that
I would be less likely to
“misplace” the ones she
had so painstakingly
knitted. The tactic never
worked with my own child,
who lost his mittens as
fast as we supplied them.
Diane Briggs’s activities
and read-alouds are sure
to put both children and
parents in mind of times
when snowgear seems
to disappear as fast as
snowflakes fly.
Excerpted from
Preschool Favorites.
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mitten Weather
Read-Alouds
Aylesworth, Jim. The Mitten. Scholastic, 2009.
Brett, Jan. The Mitten: A Ukrainian Folktale. Putnam, 1989.
Cook, Lisa Broadie. Martin MacGregor’s Snowman. Walker, 2003.
Denslow, Sharon Phillips. In the Snow. Greenwillow, 2005.
Ehlert, Lois. Snowballs. Harcourt, 1995.
Fleming, Denise. The First Day of Winter. Holt, 2005.
Ford, Bernette G. First Snow. Holiday House, 2005.
George, Kristine O’Connell. One Mitten. Clarion, 2004.
Henkes, Kevin. Oh! Greenwillow, 1999.
Lareau, Kara. Snowbaby Could Not Sleep. Little, Brown, 2005.
Mahoney, Daniel. A Really Good Snowman. Clarion, 2005.
Plourde, Lynne. A Mountain of Mittens. Charlesbridge, 2009.
Thompson, Lauren. Mouse’s First Snow. Simon and Schuster, 2005.
Fingerplays and Poems
The Mitten Song (traditional)
“Thumbs in the thumb-place, (Hold up your thumbs)
Fingers all together!” (Hold up four fingers of each hand)
This is the song
We sing in mitten-weather. (Wave your hands)
When it is cold, (Hold yourself and shiver)
It doesn’t matter whether (Shake your head)
Mittens are wool,
Or made of finest leather.
This is the song
We sing in mitten-weather:
“Thumbs in the thumb-place,
Fingers all together!”
Dancing Snowflakes (To the tune of “Frère Jacques”)
(Tell the children to dance like snowflakes. Repeat the song as many times
as you like.)
Snowflakes dancing, snowflakes dancing,
In the air, everywhere,
Gently twirling snowflakes, lovely little snowflakes,
Twirling here, whirling there.
Children’s Programming Monthly Vol. 1 / no. 4 alastore.ala.org / 20
mitten Weather
MORE
RESOURCES
mitten weather
The printable flannelboard
patterns can be found on
pages 29 & 30.
I’m a Little Snowman (folk rhyme; to the tune of “I’m a Little Teapot”)
I’m a Little Snowman
Short and fat
Here is my broomstick (Pretend to hold a broomstick)
Here is my hat (Pretend to put a hat on your head)
When the sun comes out I melt away (Raise your arms in a circle overhead)
Down, down, down, down, I’m a puddle. (Gradually slump to the floor)
Chubby Little Snowman (folk rhyme)
A chubby little snowman had a carrot for a nose.
Along came a bunny, and what do you suppose?
That hungry little bunny was looking for his lunch . . .
And he ATE that snowman’s carrot nose . . . nibble, nibble . . . CRUNCH.
Flannelboard Poem
Directions
Place the items on the snowman as you recite the following poem. The orange
carrot is, of course, the nose. You can let individuals participate by having
them place the items on the board as you recite. The patterns at left, downloadable in full size, will help you get started. Children will probably want you
to do this more than once.
Hey, Mr. Snowman
I went walking
Through a winter wonderland
And spied a frosty snowman
Who needed a hand.
Hey, Mr. Snowman, what do you need?
I need some eyes. Put them on me, please.
Hey, Mr. Snowman, what do you see?
I see an orange carrot. Put it on me, please.
Hey, Mr. Snowman, now what do you see?
I see a purple hat. Put it on me, please.
Hey, Mr. Snowman, now what do you see?
I see some red licorice. Put it on me, please.
Hey, Mr. Snowman, now what do you see?
I see some brown sticks. Put them on me, please.
Hey, Mr. Snowman, now what do you see?
I see a green scarf. Put it on me, please.
Hey, Mr. Snowman, now what do you see?
Children’s Programming Monthly Vol. 1 / no. 4 alastore.ala.org / 21
mitten Weather
I see some red mittens. Put them on me, please.
Hey, Mr. Snowman, now what do you see?
I see some black buttons. Put them on me, please.
Hey, Mr. Snowman, now what do you see?
I see some yellow boots. Put them on me, please.
Hey, Mr. Snowman, now what do you see?
I see the coolest snowman ever. . . ME!
Music
Play or sing songs from the CD Sing a Song of Seasons by Rachel Buchman.
The winter songs on this CD are “The Mitten Song,” “On a Cold and Frosty
Morning,” “Let’s Play in the Snow,” and “Mystery of the White Things.”
Craft: Snow People Doilies
Glue white paper doilies to black construction paper to form snowman shapes
and decorate with interesting craft products such as glitter, sequins, eyes,
beads, or buttons.
Supplies
□□
□□
□□
□□
□□
□□
□□
□□
White doilies
Construction paper (for background, scarves, mittens, hats, etc.)
Glue sticks
Wiggle eyes
Glitter
Buttons
Beads
Sequins
Children’s Programming Monthly Vol. 1 / no. 4 alastore.ala.org / 22
It’s Cold Outside
Saroj Nadkarni Ghoting and
Pamela Martin-Díaz
I
n Early Literacy Storytimes @ your library, the
authors explain how to turn any storytime into an early
literacy experience. In the following program, they key
activities designed to enhance vocabulary and phonological
awareness in very young children to a winter theme.
Excerpted from Early
Literacy Storytimes @
your library.
Children’s Programming
Programming Monthly Monthly Vol.
Vol. 11 // no.
no. 4
4
Children’s
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23
alastore.ala.org It’s Cold Outside
Storytime Introduction
To the adults:
Research indicates that phonological awareness, or the ability to hear and
experiment with the small sounds in words, is an important skill for children
to learn before they go to school. We are going to play around with words and
their sounds during today’s storytime by segmenting words, or breaking them
into their syllables. We are also going to play with some rhyming words.
Opening Rhyme
Hello, Hello
Hello, hello.
Hello and how are you?
I’m fine, thanks.
I’m fine, thanks.
I’m hoping you are too!
Book
The Snowy Day (Viking, 1962)
By Ezra Jack Keats
Read the book through, making sure to point out any new words. Tell the
children that you are going to use some of the words from the story in the following activity.
Activity
Choose words with varying numbers of syllables to get things started, then
encourage children to participate.
What’s a winter word you remember from the story? Let’s clap the number of
syllables that each word has.
To the adults:
Clapping out words into their parts or syllables with all kinds of words,
wherever you might be, helps your children’s phonological awareness.
Let’s see what happens to a family of snow people in our next book.
Children’s Programming Monthly Vol. 1 / no. 4 alastore.ala.org / 24
It’s Cold Outside
Book
Snowballs (Harcourt, 1995)
By Lois Ehlert
Lois Ehlert’s books are excellent for dialogic reading. Point out new vocabulary words, the names of birds, and the various things used to decorate the
snowballs. Some open-ended questions might include
• Where do you think they made the snow people?
• What have they put on the snow dad to make it look like a dad?
• How can you tell it is a snow mom?
• What else might the squirrel eat?
• What would have happened if the sun hadn’t been so warm?
• What names could you give the snow people?
Song
“I’m a Little Snowman”
(Sing to the tune of “I’m a Little Teapot”)
I’m a little snowman, round and fat.
Here is my scarf and here is my hat!
Pebbles for my buttons, a carrot for my nose
Made of snow from head to toes.
Sing the song through once and then sing it again, with emphasis on the
rhyming words. Ask the children to identify which words rhyme, or sound
alike.
One of the hardest parts about winter is getting ready to go out and play. Let’s
see what happens when one child puts all of his winter clothes on.
Activity
Everyone stand up. Let’s dress for a cold snowy day.
Pretend to put on various pieces of winter clothing, talking about each as
you do it.
Now let’s see what happens when some animals find a mitten.
Children’s Programming Monthly Vol. 1 / no. 4 alastore.ala.org / 25
It’s Cold Outside
Book
The Mitten (Putnam, 1989)
By Jan Brett
To the adults:
The ability to rhyme is another part of phonological awareness. We have done
quite a bit with rhyme, so let’s see if the children are able to come up with their
own rhyming words. Try rhyming with your children as you go about your daily
activities. Rhyme with their names, and the things you see and do.
Who can think of some words that sound like these words from the story? Let’s
say words that rhyme with them.
Activity
Pick out some words from the story. Say each word and have the children
repeat it.
Materials needed: paper, crayons or markers, or an assortment of craft
odds and ends.
Draw a picture of how you look when you go out in the snow. Or, here are some
different materials you can use to decorate your own snow people! Draw a
circle on the white paper and let’s see who you make.
Closing Song
“Storytime Is at an End”
(Sing to the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”)
Storytime has reached its end.
Say good-bye to all your friends.
We’ve read some books and had some fun!
Feels like we have just begun!
Storytime is over, friends.
We have really reached the end!
Closing
Have fun as you rhyme your way through the day. See you next week. Don’t
forget to get some books to share!
Children’s Programming Monthly Vol. 1 / no. 4 alastore.ala.org / 26
Patterns for “Winter Wonderland”
from Kathy MacMillan and Christine Kirker’s Storytime Magic
Children’s Programming Monthly Vol. 1 / no. 4 alastore.ala.org / 27
Patterns for “snowflake dance”
from Kathy MacMillan and Christine Kirker’s Storytime Magic
Children’s Programming Monthly Vol. 1 / no. 4 alastore.ala.org / 28
Patterns for “mitten weather”
from Diane Briggs’s Preschool Favorites
(continued on next page)
Children’s Programming Monthly Vol. 1 / no. 4 alastore.ala.org / 29
Patterns for “mitten weather” (continued)
from Diane Briggs’s Preschool Favorites
Children’s Programming Monthly Vol. 1 / no. 4 alastore.ala.org / 30
to
Preschool Favorites
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CREATIVITY AND INVENTIVENESS
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35 Storytimes
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Having children think up their own endings to stories helps
develop their imagination. Being ready to learn includes a
healthy dose of creativity! You can also ask “What if . . . ?”
and see what ideas they come up with. Tip
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Early Literacy Storytimes
Partnering with Caregivers for Success
Saroj Ghoting and Pamela Martin-Diaz
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