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Toddler Programs Chapter

By Laura Douglas

“Tip Toe Through the Tulips”

Tiny Tim (1968)

Books To Share

Books to Show or Booktalk

Bulletin Boards

Growing Readers

Create a simple garden scene for the background of the bulletin board. Develop a coloring sheet for the children to decorate and add to the bulletin board. Or, add flowers with titles of books about flowers and garding written on the petals to create a flower garden. You may with to use the flannel board patterns provided at the end of this program for The Flower Garden by Eve Bunting.

Flower Power

Use neon colored paper for the background on the bulletin board. Prepare flower die cuts in complementary neon colors. Let the children decorate the flowers and add them to the board, or write book titles about flowers or gardening on each flower.

Nametags

Flower Power

Create nametags from flower-shaped die cuts.

Refreshments

Serve any of these “flower power” snacks.

Rhymes and Poetry

The Flower

(Traditional.)

Here’s a green leaf, (Show hand)

And here’s a green leaf; (Show other hand)

That, you see makes two. (Hold up two fingers)

Here is a bud (Cup hands together)

That makes a flower.

Watch it bloom for you! (Open cupped hands gradually)

Make a Garden

(Traditional.Suit actions to words.)

Dig! Dig! Dig! Rake just so.

Plant the seeds, watch them grow.

Chop! Chop! Chop! Pull out weeds.

Warm rain and sun my garden needs.

Up! Up! Up! Green stems climb.

Open wide, it’s blossom time!

Songs

This Is the Way We Plant a Garden

(Adapted by Laura Douglas. Sing to the tune of “Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush.” Suit actions to words.)

This is the way we dig the dirt,

Dig the dirt, dig the dirt,

This is the way we dig the dirt,

So early in the morning.

Additional verses:

… plant the seeds …

… water the plants …

… watch them grow …

Flannel Board

Flower Garden

Develop a flannel or magnet board using the patterns provided at the end of this program for Flower Garden by Eve Bunting. As the characters in the book plant the flowers in the window box, add the pieces to the board.

Early Literacy Skills Activities

These activities support six early literacy skills that children need to know before they learn how to read: letter knowledge, phonological awareness, print awareness, narrative skills, vocabulary, and print motivation. For more information, see the introduction to this manual, or visit the Every Child Ready to Read @ your library web site, www.ala.org/ala/alsc/ECRR/ECRRHomePage.htm.

Bugs, Bugs, Bugs

Extend the story Bugs! Bugs! Bugs! by Bob Barner with puppets or props. Let the children identify the types of insects. As the insects appear, ask the children questions about them.

The Carrot Seed

Read the story The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss through once. Then ask a few questions such as, “What did the little boy grow?” and “Did you think the carrot would come up?” If your group is smaller, try to ask questions that have do not require a yes or no answer such as “Where did the little boy plant the seed?” or “How did he take care of it?”

Hands Can

As you introduce the story Hands Can by Cheryl Willis Hudson, instruct the children to perform the actions with their hands as you read the story.

Statements about the six early literacy skills that may be used in the program to educate and inform parents about the importance of early literacy may be found in the book, Early Literacy Storytimes @ Your Library by Saroj Nadkarni Ghoting and Pamela Martin-Diaz.

Audio Recordings

Crafts

Flower Window Panels

Materials
Directions

In advance, cut the contact paper so that each child will have two 8.5-inch by 11-inch pieces. Have a parent or adult helper remove the backing from one of the sheets and place it on the table sticky side up. Let the child stick the flowers to the sticky side, and then cover them with the other piece of contact paper after removing the backing. Press the flowers between two pieces of contact paper to seal them. Punch one hole in each corner of the top of the paper. String the yarn between the two holes to make a hanger. The Flower Window Panel can then be hung in a window.

Plant a Sunflower Seed

Materials
Directions

Place potting soil in containers, and place spoons, and small bowls of water on the planting table.Give each child one Ziploc® bag and four sunflower seeds. Let the children put four spoonfuls of potting soil into Ziploc® bags. As they add the four sunflower seeds to the potting soil, explain that planting more than one seed is a good idea because some seeds may not grow. Let the children put two spoonful of water into the baggie, seal the bag well, and gently shake so the seeds are covered by the soil. Tell the children to put the bag in a sunny spot in the house or tape it to a window when they get home. They will be able to watch the seeds open, the roots grow down, and the sprouts grows up. The seeds should be transplanted in a garden shortly after they sprout.

Professional Resources

Craft Materials

Growing Readers Bulletin Board (AND)
Flower Garden Flannel Board (Page 1 of 4)

flannel board pattern

Growing Readers Bulletin Board (AND)
Flower Garden Flannel Board (Page 2 of 4)

flowers

Growing Readers Bulletin Board (AND)
Flower Garden Flannel Board (Page 3 of 4)

flowers

Growing Readers Bulletin Board (AND)
Flower Garden Flannel Board (Page 4 of 4)

tulips

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