Almost Christmas - Last Storytime of the Year

Today we had the last public librarytimes of 2012.  We didn't have a huge turnout, but sometimes that makes for great group dynamics and participation!


Almost Christmas Storytime
As it was our last session before Christmas, I couldn't get away without doing something Christmassy so we followed the usual format with the addition of some holiday tweaks.


SONG: Hello, how are you? The great thing with small groups is that we can include a verse for everyone.  Most went a bit shy when in the limelight, but beamed when it passed on to the next child.


ACTION SONG/RHYME: This is big, big, big  I use this song (written by Mel, of Mel's Desk) so often, that now my Storytime and Rising 3's groups start singing before I've finished saying that we're about to do it!


NURSERY RHYME: Little Jack Horner

Little Jack Horner, sat in the corner

Eating his Christmas Pie.

He put in his thumb and pulled out a plum

And said "What a good boy am I!"


This is the only nursery rhyme I could think of with a Christmas connection - If you know any others, please leave a comment. 
We did it a couple of times with actions.  One of today's visitors can only communicate with a few hand signals and facial expressions (she doesn't sign). This rhyme could have been made just for her, 'thumbs-up' is her best sign! I got lots of those, and lots of smiles too (it made my day, I hope we made hers a little happier too!).

Home made mincemeat a la Delia Smith's Christmas

We had a good chat about pies and things that we leave out to sustain Santa and Rudolph - carrots, cookies, sugar lumps and mince pies. BTW mince pies are a UK Christmas pastry made with mincemeat filling (a sweet jam-like mixture of dried fruits, nuts, citrus peel and juice and spices). I make my own filling, although it can be bought. I've included a picture as evidence!





COUNTING RHYME: Counting Pies This is an adapted version of  Miss Allison is Blogging's Reindeer Cookies. I used clip art mince pies on a paper plate covered with clear contact paper.


Five mince pies sitting on a plate
Waiting for Santa
But he was running late.
Along came a reindeer and guess what he ate?
CRUNCH! [pull off one of the pies]
One of the mince pies sitting on the plate.
[Removing pies until there are none]


We also had carrots and cookies, just in case.


ACTION SONG: If you want to read a book, clap your hands


ACTION SONG: The Wiggle Song


STORY: Aliens love Panta Claus by Claire Freedman [This was very popular, lots a giggles and laughter from adults and children]

STORY: Happy Christmas, Boris by Sam Lloyd [A book with a built in hand puppet, who likes to do a lot of 'kissy, kissy!']

ACTION SONG: Rudolph! Rudolph! Turn around [an adaptation of Teddy bear, Teddy bear turn around ] We did it with our hands on our heads as a pair of antlers and the had a lot of fun 'touching the ground' and 'turning off the light' with our antlers. 

Rudolph! Rudolph! Flannel

FLANNEL RHYME: Rudolph's Noses (Rudolph! Rudolph!) from last week's Flannel Friday Holiday Extravaganza.

ACTION SONG: Five Little Christmas Trees (from Mollie's What happens in storytime post). she was right, the kids DO love the chopping actions!

CLOSING SONG: Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star  I almost always use this as a closing song.  We often 'whisper sing' it second time around, and the concentration used on making as little noise as possible, brings the children down to a nice quiet level for choosing books, and/or going home.


The Flannel Friday Roundup this week is hosted by Mrs D at Putting Smiles on Faces and links to past and future roundups can be found at SoTomorrow. Images of flannel friday posts are displayed on Flannel Friday Pinterest.