Ready-to-Go Lesson Plans
Storytime Source Page
http://storytimepreschooltoddlers.blogspot.com/
Multiple storytime themes with read-alouds for toddlers, pre-school and school age and fingerplays, songs and story extensions.
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Storytime Blogs
Flannel Fridays
http://flannelfridaystorytime.blogspot.com/
A weekly round-up of flannel boards and other story extensions--librarians from around the world contribute!
Awesome Storytime
http://awesomestorytime.wordpress.com/
This children's librarian posts a few times a month with storytime books and activities
Beyond the Book Storytimes
http://btbstorytimes.blogspot.com/
One- or two- person puppet show adaptations of books, and other great story extensions
Read, Sing, Play: Adventures in Early Literacy
http://klmpeace.wordpress.com/
Great round-up of storytime plans, how kids and parents reacted, and ideas for slipping in early literacy tips. Includes some thoughtful other musings as well.
Librarian Lisa's Storytimes
http://www.lisasstorytimes.blogspot.com/
Storytime plans, complete with books, fingerplays, extensions, and early literacy tips.
Daycare Providers Home Page
http://www.daycareproviders.ca/
Big site. Scroll down to Circle, Craft and Activity Ideas. There are mostly fingerplays, crafts, and simple songs.
Enchanted Learning Rebus Rhymes
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/Rhymes.html
Contains the words to several nursery rhymes and fingerplays in rebus format. The rhymes are grouped in several categories, ranging from Alligators to Word Families.
Gayle’s Preschool Rainbow
http://www.preschoolrainbow.org/index.htm
Big site that lists several educational curriculum lesson plans, some that may be adapted for library story programs (although there are very few books mentioned). The site has several activities, games, crafts, and bulletin board ideas. Click on, “Rhymes, Songs and Fingerplays,” to find several practical library story program ideas.
Rhymes and Fingerplays
http://members.tripod.com/~Patricia_F/learning.html
Small site that contains 46 rhymes & finger plays grouped in the following categories: Animals, People, Counting, Seasons, and Miscellaneous. Also has a few songs and “Bear Hunt.”
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Daycare Providers Home Page
http://www.daycareproviders.ca/
Big site. Scroll down to Circle, Craft and Activity Ideas. There are mostly fingerplays, crafts, and simple songs.
DLTK’s Printable Crafts for Kids
http://www.dltk-kids.com/
You can find a variety of printable children’s crafts and coloring pages.
Enchanted Learning Crafts for Kids
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/
This is a huge listing of crafts from African Crafts to Wreaths.
First Preschool Themes
http://www.first-school.ws/themes.html
This big site has a variety of crafts, coloring sheets, fact sheets, recipes, online stories, etc. Click on “First Books” for follow-up activities for a small number of popular children’s books.
Gayle’s Preschool Rainbow
http://www.preschoolrainbow.org/index.htm
Big site that lists several educational curriculum lesson plans, some that may be adapted for library story programs (although there are very few books mentioned). The site has several activities, games, crafts, and bulletin board ideas. Click on, “Rhymes, Songs and Fingerplays,” to find several practical library story program ideas.
Kinder Art
http://kinderart.com/crafts/
A variety of easy to slightly-complex crafts including “Bug Village,” “Dinosaur Eggs,” and “Hand Print Angels.”
Making Friends.Com
http://makingfriends.com/concraft.htm
This site contains hundreds of crafts (simple to complex), craft recipes, costumes, coloring pages, and more.
No Time for Flashcards
http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/
Art projects, many with a math or letter focus, many open-ended ideas
The Activity Idea Place
http://www.123child.com/act/
Crafts and activity ideas grouped under “Animals,” “Seasonal/Holiday,” and “Misc.”
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DLTK’s Printable Crafts for Kids
http://www.dltk-kids.com/
You can find a variety of printable children’s crafts and coloring pages.
Enchanted Learning Rebus Rhymes
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/rhymes/coloring/
This is the nursery rhyme printout section of the Enchanted Learning web site mentioned above in the Fingerplays and Poems category.
First Preschool Themes
http://www.first-school.ws/preschool/printable-activities/index.htm
This big site has a variety of crafts, coloring sheets, fact sheets, recipes, online stories, etc. Click on “First Books” for follow-up activities for a small number of popular children’s books.
Making Friends.Com
http://makingfriends.com/concraft.htm
This site contains hundreds of crafts (simple to complex), craft recipes, costumes, coloring pages, and more.
Preschool Coloring Book
http://www.preschoolcoloringbook.com/
Dozens of color sheet patterns grouped by themes.
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Science and Math for Storytime
Mother Goose Booklists about Science and Math
http://www.mothergooseprograms.org/math_science_book_lists.php
Lists of books, broken down by age group, that will introduce or discuss various math and science concepts. This site also sells kits for use by librarians.
Becky’s Campfire Songbook
http://dragon.sleepdeprived.ca/songbook/songbook_index.htm
Song categories include “Introduction and Warm Ups,” “Action Songs,” “Yells, Chants & Repeating Songs,” “Other Silly Songs,” “Slower Songs,” and “Skipping Songs and Singing Games.”
NIEHS Kids’ Page
http://www.niehs.nih.gov/kids/musicchild.htm
Huge listing of traditional and original songs; many not found on the other music web sites. Most have sound clips.
Rhymes and Fingerplays
http://members.tripod.com/~Patricia_F/learning.html
Small site that contains 46 rhymes & finger plays grouped in the following categories: Animals, People, Counting, Seasons, and Miscellaneous. Also has a few songs and “Bear Hunt.”
Scoutsongs.Com Virtual Songbook
http://www.scoutsongs.com/categories/index.html
Contains lyrics and directions to over 100 children’s and scouting songs, many appropriate for library story programs (especially elementary age level programs).
The MacScouter’s Songs for Scouts and Scouters
http://www.macscouter.com/Songs/
Pick and choose from several songs can be used for library preschool and elementary story programs. Songs are grouped in categories, such as “Repeat After Me Songs,” “Action Songs,” “Short Songs, Silly Songs & Chants,” and “Gross Songs” (which are billed as rated G).
The Teacher’s Guide
www.theteachersguide.com/ChildrensSongs.htm
This is a large site with lyrics to dozens of songs. Some of the songs have sound clips.
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General Program Information
Babies’ Lap Time
http://katemcdowell.com/laptime/
The site contains resources to help librarians create programs for 6-24 month old. Includes ideas for getting started, tips on running the sessions, how to include parents, theme ideas, and four ready-to-go lesson plans.
Every Child Ready to Read, 2nd Edition
http://www.everychildreadytoread.org/
The Association for Library Service to Children of the American Library Association has put together resources to help librarians teach parents about early literacy concepts. These are great concepts to emphasize in your storytime, too. If you want to borrow an Every Child Ready to Read Kit, please contact Leah at langby@ifls.lib.wi.us.
Masters of Storytime: A Collection of Early Literacy Techniques
A DVD and manual featuring excellent story time practitioners from around the state, including clips of live storytime action and tips on including elements that enhance early literacy. Each IFLS library should have a copy of this resource. If you don't, contact Leah at langby@ifls.lib.wi.us