Stars and the Moon

At this time of year when we spend so much time in the darkness we love to share stories about the stars and moon.

Books

And If the Moon Could Talk, Kate Banks

Kitten’s First Full Moon, Kevin Henkes

Night Lights, Steven Schnur

Papa Please Get the Moon for Me, Eric Carle

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star,

When Moon Fell Down, Linda Smith

Songs

An old favorite~
Twinkle Twinkle
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are.
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.

When the blazing sun is gone,
When he nothing shines upon,
Then you show your little light,
Twinkle, twinkle, all the night.

Then the traveler in the dark,
Thanks you for your tiny spark,
He could not see which way to go,
If you did not twinkle so.

In the dark blue sky you keep,
And often through my curtains peep,
For you never shut your eye,
Till the sun is in the sky.

As your bright and tiny spark,
Lights the traveler in the dark.
Though I know not what you are,
Twinkle, twinkle, little star.

Twinkle, twinkle, little star.
How I wonder what you are.
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.

Twinkle, twinkle, little star.
How I wonder what you are.
How I wonder what you are.

I LOVE STARS
Tune: “Three Blind Mice”

I love stars. I love stars.
Near or far, near or far.
I love stars in the apple I eat.
I love stars that are out of reach.
I love stars in flowers so sweet.
I love stars.

Poems & Rhymes

Four Little Stars

One little star came out tonight,
It twinkled and twinkled with all of it’s might.

Two little stars came out tonight,
They twinkled and twinkled with all of their might.

Continue – with three, four and then five little stars.
End with the children all holding up their hands and wiggling them.

Thousands of stars came out tonight,
Twinkling, and twinkling a beautiful sight!

Four Little Sea Stars

Four little sea stars sitting by the sea, One went swimming, that left three. Three little sea stars with nothing to do, One went swimming, that left two. Two little sea stars sitting in the sun, One went swimming, that left one. One little sea star now all alone, She decided to swim back home. No little sea stars sitting on the beach, They’ll come again, when the water retreats.

Traditional Rhyme

Starlight, star bright,
First star I see tonight,
I wish I may, I wish I might
Have this wish, I wish tonight.

In the Sky

In the sky in daytime light [Stretch arms up.]
We can see the sunshine bright [Keep arms up and make a circle with fingers.]
We can see the clouds puffed white [Wave hands slowly.]
Moving slowly in their flight.

In the sky in black midnight, [Stretch arms up.]
We can see the moon's clear light [Keep arms up and make a circle with fingers.]
We can see the stars in sight [Wiggle fingers to indicate twinkling stars.]
Twinkling high with all their might

Craft

Fun at Home

• Observe the stars in the sky on a clear night.

• Cut out star cookies using a star cookie cutter.

• Count the points on a cardboard star cutout.

• Cut a cardboard star into five puzzle pieces for your child to put together.
  

• Sponge-print stars. Trace around cookie cutters on thin sponges and cut out the shapes. Let your child dip the sponge shapes into white paint and press them on black paper. Have them sprinkle salt or glitter while the paint is wet.
  

• Star rubbings. Cut small star shapes out of cardboard or card stock. Tape them in a cluster on a table. Place white paper on top of stars. Unwrap dark blue crayons or sharpen dark blue colored pencils. Usingthe side of the crayon, let your child gently color over stars to create rubbing design.

Whoo Whoo

One of our favorite programs is all about Owls. And this is the perfect time of year to read some of our absolute favorite stories.

Books
Owl Babies by Martin Waddel
Owl Moon
Book of Sleep by Il Sung Nu
Little Owl Lost by Chris Haughton
Lazy Ozzie by Michael Coleman
Owly by Mike Thaler
Wake Up Oliver by Sue Hendra
Bear's New Friend by Karma Wilson
Owl Moon by Jane Yolen
Good Night Owl by Pat Hutchins

Songs
Owl in the Tree (sung to the tune of "Skip to My Lou")

Owl in the tree goes, “Hoo, hoo hoo,”
Owl in the tree goes, “Hoo, hoo hoo,”
Owl in the tree goes, “Hoo, hoo hoo,”
Skip to my lou, my darling.

Robin in the nest goes, “Tweet, tweet, tweet…”
Duck in the pond goes, “Quack, quack, quack…”
Rooster in the yard goes, “Cock a doodle doo…”

Poem

The Owl

There's a wide-eyed owl (circle fingers around eyes)
With a pointed nose (point to nose)
Two pointed ears (point to ears)
And claws for tows (touch toes)
When he sits up in the tree (point high in the air)
And he looks at you (circle fingers around eyes)
He flaps his wings (flap arms)
And says "WHOO WHOO!"

Hoot Owl

Five hoot owls sittin’ in a tree
One flew away! How many do you see?
One, two, three, four.

Four hoot owls sittin’ in a tree
One flew away! How many do you see?
One, two, three.

Craft

Owl Puppets
This week we created owls with old greeting card envelopes. Cut large black circles, approximately 3" and medium yellow circles, approximately 2" for the eyes. An orange square folded in half diagonally makes a great triangle nose. If you have feathers children can add those to their owl as well. To assemble, children simply glue their eyes and nose to the envelope, with the open section (where you would slide the card) facing down. When they are finished they can tell owl poems or stories with their owl puppet.