Flannel Board Fun: March 2016

Chickens and Chicks

Okay, spring has sprung! And with spring come chicks, and eggs, and other stuff not featured in this post. Such as the Cadbury mini eggs I'm eating by the handful.

These happy chicks are felt versions from this post from Mel's Desk. Here's the poem:

One Little Chick

One little chick was yellow

One little chick was brown

One little chick was blue

And one was upside down!

I cannot WAIT to share this with my Two Year Olds. They were so excited about Silly Sally when I read it to them today, and I know they're going to flip when I put that gray chick on the board upside down! Oh the giggles!!

This particular set isn't for sale, but please check out my shop with many of my other sets:

Flannel Board Fun Shop

The pieces below come from the same post at Mel's Desk. I didn't do this one in felt--just found some clip art and printed it out. I took the pictures before the set was laminated--yay for no glare!

Ten Fluffy Chickens

Five eggs and five eggs (Add a clutch of eggs each time you say “five eggs”)

And that makes ten

Sitting on top (Add the hen)

Is Mother Hen

Cackle cackle cackle (Clap hands as you say Cackle!)

What do I see?

Ten fluffy chickens (Flip over each clutch of eggs)

Yellow as can be.

I need to do more of these super simple sets--I love them, and I know my littlest ones will too.

Flannel Friday is being hosted this week by Miss Kelly at the Library! You can also find tons of ideas at Flannel Friday's Pinterest Pages, the Flannel Friday Blog, and Flannel Friday's Facebook page.

Three Green and Speckled Frogs

This school year I've been so focused on making flannel versions of new songs and stories, that some of my old favorites have been sort of forgotten. I've had a Three Green and Speckled Frogs flannel board set for many years. I actually like it a lot--I didn't really need to make a new set, but for the fact that one of our bugs (or at least one of its antennae) is missing.

But I wanted cuter eyeballs, and bigger everything...

And so, I made these adorable replacement froggies and buggies. And I wrote some other fun songs to go with the set, so I can use this a billion times instead of just a million :) (Here's Three Green Frogs on a Log, for example.)

Do you need these cuties in your life?

Click here to buy these guys :)

Just in case you need them, here are the lyrics:

Three green and speckled frogs

Sat on a speckled log
Eating some most delicious bugs. Yum! Yum!
One jumped into the pool
Where it was nice and cool
Now there are two green speckled frogs--glub glub.

Two green and speckled frogs
Sat on a speckled log
Eating some most delicious bugs. Yum! Yum!
One jumped into the pool
Where it was nice and cool
Now there is one green speckled frog--glub, glub.

One green and speckled frog
Sat on a speckled log
Eating some most delicious bugs. Yum! Yum!
He jumped into the pool
Where it was nice and cool
Now there are no green speckled frogs--glub glub!

Herman the Worm

When I was a little girl, my aunt Suzie told me the most hilarious story about her friend Herman, who ate various animals and grew bigger and bigger, until finally he burped and went back to his normal size. I remember asking her to tell the story over and over again (she was quite the dramatic storyteller!), but I had forgotten all about it until I saw this post and the video that's linked in there.

I googled some clipart and the results are below. I hope I can tell it with as much flair as my dear aunt Suzie--can't wait to give it a try soon!

Herman the Worm

One day, I was walking down the street and I saw Herman, and he was this big! And I said, Herman! What have you done?!?

And he said, "I ate an ant."

The next day, I was walking down the street and I saw Herman, and he was this big! And I said, Herman! What have you done?!?

And he said, "I ate a chicken."

The next day, I was walking down the street and I saw Herman, and he was this big! And I said, Herman! What have you done?!?

And he said, "I ate a cow."

The next day, I was walking down the street and I saw Herman, and he was this big! And I said, Herman! What have you done?!?

And he said, "I ate an elephant."

The next day, I was walking down the street and I saw Herman, and he was this big! And I said, Herman! What have you done?!?

And he said, "I burped."

Felt Doll Set

Here's another set I made to sell at my upcoming vendor fair. This is definitely one I'll also keep available for the kids to use independently. I know lots of story telling, vocabulary building, and conversations will happen while this one is in use.

These remind me so much of the paper dolls I used to love as a child, but they're so much easier to use. I can't wait to bring this out, and I'm sure I'll add more clothes and accessories every now and then.

This set is available in my shop!

So Many Fish!

I've updated this post with pictures of my new fishies! See below for the chant that goes along with this one--though now that I've made this big new set, I can see lots of other ways to use these, similar to ways we use my Mitten Match set...

This is a set I made many years ago. The fish are cut from sheets of foam. I drew them with coordinating colors of marker on the foam and then cut them out, and stuck a square of velcro on the back of each one. I think this probably works best in a classroom, where the teachers know the names of all the children--not sure how valuable it would be for librarians, unless you know your group well enough that you know every child's name... It definitely works well for me when I have a smaller group of children, so there's not a long wait for anyone to come up and take their fish.

With my new found skills and insight (!) I will be re-making this set using felt (no little velcro squares to tempt the children to peel, peel, peel), and I will make the fish much bigger. These are fine for small group time, but bigger is generally better. I'm not sure why I always made my story/game pieces so small in the past. What was I thinking?

Dinosaur Set

One last set that I'l be offering for sale at my school's vendor fair. This one's for all my dinosaur fans--I hope they will love playing with these pieces! I'm debating making a few more of everything, but sometimes simple is best... I was inspired by Byron Barton's Dinosaurs Dinosaurs for the scenery, and I may end up making another set with copies of his dinos, instead of the clipart inspired versions I used for this one.

Click here to buy this set at my shop!

Flannel Friday is being hosted this week by Kim at Literary Commentary! You can also find tons of ideas at Flannel Friday's Pinterest Pages, the Flannel Friday Blog, and Flannel Friday's Facebook page.

Ocean Set

Here's another set I'll be offering for sale at my school's upcoming Vendor Sale. This one's similar to the Space Set, and I think I'll make a copy for my own use in the classroom. I ~~intend to add~~ have now added a shark, and could easily have these to accompany Slippery Fish, Down by the Ocean, or various other ocean songs and rhymes. And I know the kids will enjoy having these on hand for open-ended play, too.

Click here to buy this set at my shop!

Space Set

This is a simplified copy of my classroom Space Set. I didn't use the collage method on this, as I think it would tempt children to pull the pieces apart, and I also find that the collaged pieces don't stick as easily since I use stiff felt for those and they are a bit heavy. My set is quit a bit larger--I might add a few more pieces to this one, too.

Anyway, this is a set I'll be selling at our upcoming Vendor Fair at my school along with some other sets! I think having sets like this on hand so children can do their own, completely open-ended storytelling would be wonderful in the classroom or library setting. You could of course use a set that corresponds with your storytime theme, but having random sets available allows the child to lead, which is always a benefit in my opinion.

Click here to buy this set!

Here's a video of this set in action!

Flower Set

For my school's upcoming Vendor Fair, I made this little flower set. Almost everything comes apart--the children can build flowers and butterflies, and can tell little stories with the tiny bugs...

Though I wouldn't use these myself in front of a group, I think having sets like this on hand so children can do their own, completely open-ended storytelling would be wonderful in the classroom or library setting. You could of course use a set that corresponds with your storytime theme if you use them, but having random sets available allows the child to lead, which is always a benefit in my opinion.

Click here to buy this set!

Town Set

My school is having a Vendor Fair in April, and I've been invited to sell my flannel board sets! I have no idea what I'm doing in terms of selling, but I did have a thought that the families might be more interested in buying felt play sets than the sets I use as a teacher. So, I whipped up this little town set the other day, as well as flower and space sets.

I have plans to make little portable felt boards--flexible and rollable. I'd better get on that...

Though I wouldn't use these myself in front of a group, I think having sets like this on hand so children can do their own, completely open-ended storytelling would be wonderful in the classroom or library setting. You could of course use a set that corresponds with your storytime theme, but having random sets available allows the child to lead, which is always a benefit in my opinion.

Check out all my felt goodies in the shop!

Oh I Wish I Were...

We have a music teacher in our school who sings "I Wish I Were a Little Bar of Soap" with the kids, so when I saw this song and flannel from Kelly at Welcome to Storytime I had to copy it! Even though Kelly said she wasn't happy with her lyrics, I thought they were adorable and I'm sure the kids will, too! In case you don't click on the link, here they are:

I Wish I Were (sung to the tune of "If You're Happy and You Know It")

Oh, I wish I were a floating butterfly, (2 x)
I’d go flutter, flutter, fly in the bright blue sunny sky,
Oh, I wish I were a floating butterfly.

Oh, I wish I were a shiny little fish, (2 x)
I’d go swimmy, swimmy, glide in the big blue ocean tide,
Oh, I wish I were a shiny little fish.

Oh, I wish I were a silver airplane, (2 x)
I’d go soar, soar, soar as my engines loudly roar,
Oh, I wish I were a silver airplane.

Oh, I wish I were a tall, tall leafy tree, (2 x)
I’d be a place to rest for the birdies in their nest,
Oh, I wish I were a tall, tall leafy tree.

Oh, I wish I were a green and speckled frog, (2 x)
I’d go croaky, croaky, croak as I jump into the brook,
Oh, I wish I were a green and speckled frog.

Oh, I wish I were a bright and shining star, (2 x)
I’d go twinkle, twinkle, spark in the nighty nighttime dark,
Oh, I wish I were a bright and shining star.

This particular set isn't for sale, but please check out my shop with many of my other sets:

Flannel Board Fun Shop

Flannel Friday is being hosted this week by Anne at So Tomorrow! You can also find more fantastic ideas at Flannel Friday's Pinterest pages, or Flannel Friday's Facebook Page --check them out!

Mitten Match

The first place I saw this was on Storytime Katie-- I absolutely love her use of the clothesline, and intend to use one myself some day soon. I have it, and the clothespins, so what am I waiting for??

What is is about mittens that is so appealing to children?! They're just so darn snuggly and warm, and when they don't have to actually wear them, they're even better! (I write this having just spent most of the time on the playground this morning picking up discarded mittens as the children frolicked about happily with freezing fingers...) That said, when they get to come put a mitten on the board to make a pair, they are so proud of themselves. And when they see all those colors and shapes matched up and lined up, they know something is just right in their world.

Flannel Friday is being hosted this week by Anne at So Tomorrow! You can also find more fantastic ideas at Flannel Friday's Pinterest pages, or Flannel Friday's Facebook Page --check them out!

Six Houses

I wanted to spruce up our Little Mouse houses, which were laminated construction paper from over ten years ago. Out popped these little cuties.

You can buy this set right here.

Or make it yourself with this pattern!

This is an endlessly fun game for children of all ages! Patting their knees as they chant it is a great way to help children become aware of a beat and of syllables in words:

Little Mouse, Little Mouse

Are you in the Purple House?

Little Mouse, little mouse,

Playing hide and seek...

Are you in the green house?

Let's take a peek!

You can see my video of this set right here:

Click here to buy this set!

Flannel Friday is being hosted this week by Anne at So Tomorrow! You can also find more fantastic ideas at Flannel Friday's Pinterest pages, or Flannel Friday's Facebook Page --check them out!

Rainbow Stew

I've had this pinned on my Flannels to Make Pinterest board for a while now, but yippee--I've finally made it! I was inspired by this post at Roving Fiddlehead. Below the picture you'll find the words to the chant and a video that goes along with the pieces.

Take an apple

Put it in the pot

Stir it, stir it, stir it a lot.

Take it out. What will it be?

The prettiest red you ever did see.

And I have a video of this set in action right here:

(I've updated the tune and sing it to Over in the Meadow, as I've discovered that the original tune (Jimmy Crack Corn) has questionable roots.)

Have your rainbow strips already set up in a bowl or cooking pot, and have a spoon at the ready. Don't let the kids see those strips hiding in the pot--after you add each piece of fruit and stir it up, you can magically pull out the rainbow strip the fruit has turned into! (You can buy this set right here.)

With the success I've had with my veggies and The Soup is Boiling up, I'm sure this Rainbow Stew is going to be a hit!

Oh, and good news! You can find a pattern for this set right here:

The original set looked like this, but I've simplified the blueberries and grapes to save on creation time:

Flannel Friday is being hosted this week by Laura at Literacious!

Monkeys!

I've had various versions of Five Little Monkeys Swinging in a Tree/Jumping on the Bed in my classroom over the years. But a couple of the monkeys seem to have gone missing from the tree set, and I was never that fond of the laminated version I made of the bed set, so...

Mel's desk and Storytime Katie to the rescue!

I'll use my alligator hand puppet with this set, but he's in the puppet basket at school right now so he's not pictured here...

After making these I remembered seeing Amy's super cute monkey version of The Itsy Bitsy Spider over at One Little Librarian. All I needed was a lion to complete the set. I googled "cute simple lion clipart" and used the first image that came up as my pattern. The results and the words to the song are below. I can't wait to use them! ( I also have a bunch of foam letters that I'm going to put out on a table with the tree and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom with my three-year-olds next week. Should be a fun time! )

This particular set isn't for sale, but please check out my shop with many of my other sets:

The itsy bitsy monkey climbed up the coconut tree.

Down came a coconut and hit him on the knee -- OWWW!
Out came a lion shaking his mighty mane
& the itsy bitsy monkey went up the tree again.

Flannel Friday is being hosted this week by Laura at Literacious! You can also find more fantastic ideas at Flannel Friday's Pinterest pages, or Flannel Friday's Facebook Page --check them out!

Jungle and Farm Finger Puppets

I really like to use finger puppets to add a little visual to songs. These little guys are so great, because they also stick to the flannel board. Just today I used the farm animals with a felt bus, and they hung on like champs! I will sometimes put one puppet on while we move like that animal, or I'll just put them up on the board to watch us move. It's also always fun to hide one behind a book and then have it peek up over the top, and then have that little puppet help us read the story, or point things out in the pictures, or whatever!

I bought the patterns for both sets at Precious Patterns. It's been months since I made them, but I remember that it was super easy, the instructions were great, and I think they are pretty darn adorable.

This particular set isn't for sale, but please check out my shop with many of my other sets:

Flannel Board Fun shop

Some songs to go along with these include Old MacDonald, The Animals on the Bus, Down by the Ocean, Down on Grandma's Farm, and I'm sure there are a million more.

Flannel Friday is being hosted this week by Laura at Literacious! You can also find more fantastic ideas at Flannel Friday's Pinterest pages, or Flannel Friday's Facebook Page --check them out!

Goodies