Orange in the Fall - A PreS Program (in the library)

Orange * Orange * Orange* - a library program



Today I took a 21 mo. old "library goer" to the Cedar Rapids Public Library for the library's  "Twenty fun-filled minutes of tiny tales & tunes in interactive fashion for little library-goers!"  Thanks to Karla - the CRPL leader of the session, Mr. PEB had a delightful time.

The theme was the color ORANGE - Karla read two delightful stories to the group of PRE-K attendees.

The first book Move Over Rover! is a delightful tale by Karen Beaumont, with illustrations by Jane Dyer (HMH, 2006).  The tale is a variation of sorts on the familiar Mitten story that can be read in several versions.  For some of those titles see the page associated with Jim Aylesworth's version The Mitten at http://www.ayles.com/themitten2.html.  Notice the orange flowers that are beside Rover's doghouse.  The shaggy white dog, with brown ears.  Orange flowers -- and animals abound.

Orange flowers are here too.  See the orange flower on the fanciful hat.  Along comes the wind and "Swoosh!" the hat lands on someone else -- "Whose hat is that?"  It fits just fine on a number of animals: an orange cat, a rooster, snake, cow, peacock, horse, or maybe a polar bear.  Only when the fashionable young girl appears in a dress matching the hat's fabric do we find out whose hat is that.
An orange flower on the hat...  Make hats or find some inexpensive hats to decorate with a large orange flower.



Several tie-ins to the concept of orange (adapted here from the CRPL session)

Using the familiar plastic eggs -- orange of course, place a jingle bell inside and superglue the two sections together -- cover the seam with an orange polka dot ribbon.  The musical egg rattles can be used to provide some activity during the session.  Shake your rattle up high, shake your rattle down low, shake your rattle behind you, and shake your rattle in front of you.  Using the rattle provides young children with an opportunity to learn directional language and to learn how to follow directions.
Note that many versions of these rattles can be found on the Internet but they use beans, or rice, or other similar things that would create a rattle when shaken - but I would be fearful that if the seal broke or even if taped with duct tape, that the seam would come apart and the beans or rice would come out.  Thus, the jingle bell is a better option, in my opinion.  Even if the eggs comes apart for any reason, the bell is still safe for young shakers.

 The group talked about other things orange -- here are a few ...

And after the formal session, the group had a short play time with toys and one another.  Mr. PEB found a toy train immediately (well immediately after the multi-colored ball).  But right now he is extremely into choo-choos.

I think the smile on Mr. PEB's face says it all -- a  great session at the Cedar Rapids Public Library - Thanks Karla