Polar Picnic

Monday, January 4th, 2010 @ 6 PM

Ages 3 and under

Bring your favorite stuffed animal to a Polar Picnic at the library! A program packed with polar bears, penguins, PAJAMAs, and YOU! PJs, stories, songs, and a snack! What could be better? No registration required

(Branch Program description the same, but a craft is added and it is for all ages)

Books

Animal Babies in Polar Lands by Jennifer Schofield (Branch)

Baby Beluga by Raffi (w/CD) (Toddler)

Cuddly Dudley by Jez Alborough (Branch)

Peek-A-Boo Polar Bear and Friends by Francesca Ferri (Toddler)

Penguins, Penguins, Everywhere! by Bob Barner (Toddler)

Nonfiction Books-(Not for read-alouds...for background info)

Arctic Hunter by Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith

A Child's Alaska by Claire Rudolf Murphy

The Igloo by Charlotte Yue

The Inuit by Jennifer Fleischner

Fingerplays/Rhymes/Etc.

"Five Little Penguins"

Have children stand, use fingers to count

Five little penguins standing in a row. (hold up 5 fingers)

Five little penguins standing in the snow.

Brrrr, it's cold! I cannot stay! (Hug self and shiver)

And one little penguin waddled away. (waddle in place)

Four little penguins...etc.

Mary Jean Sulham, Mount Carmel Head Start, Mount Carmel, PA (taken from Mailbox Magazine)

"Matching Penguins Game" (See magboard wiki--0015)

"Penguin Shuffle"

Do actions as rhyme indicates

Penguins shuffle shuffle to left, left, left.

Penguins shuffle shuffle to the right, right, right.

Give a little wiggle

Give a little hop

Waddle round the iceberg

Never want to stop!

taken from: http://www.canteach.ca/elementary/songspoems25.html

Music

"Rock Hopper Penguin" (CD: Fins and Grins by Johnette Downing) w/shaky eggs

"Polar Bears Picnic" (Tune: Teddy Bears Picnic)

Adapted from an adult version found at http://americandigest.org/mt-archives/on_the_land/the_polar_bears.php

If you go out in the arctic today

You're sure of a big surprise.

If you go out in the arctic today

You'd better go in disguise.

For every bear that ever there was

Will gather there for certain, because

Today's the day the polar bears have their picnic.

Every poloar bear thats been good

Is sure of a treat today.

There's lots of marvelous fish to eat

And wonderful games to play.

Beneath the ice where nobody sees

They'll hide and seek as long as they please

'Cause that's the way the polar bears have their picnic.

If you go out on the ice today

You'd better not go alone.

It's lovely out on the ice today

But safer to stay at home.

For every bear that ever there was

Will gather there for certain, because

Today's the day the polar bears have their picnic.

Picnic time for polar bears

The little polar bears are having a lovely time today.

Watch them, catch them unawares,

And see them picnic on their holiday.

See them gaily gad about.

They love to play and shout.

They never have any care;

At six o' clock there mummies and daddies

Will take them home to bed

Because they're tired little polar bears.

Snacks

Ice Cream Sandwiches 

Activities/Other... 

Modern Eskimo Ice Cream: 1 cup solid vegetable shortening (Crisco); 1 cup sugar: 1/2 cup water, berry juice, or 2 cups loose snow (optional); 4 cups fresh berries (blueberries, cloudberries, cranberries, salmon berries, or blackberries)--In a large bowl, cream shortening and sugar until fluffy. Add water, berry juice, or snow and beat until well combined. Fold in berries, 1 cup at a time, until blended. Place in freezer to firm up before serving.

     Taken from: http://whatscookingamerica.net/History/Akutaq_EskimoIceCream.htm

Activities, Crafts, Eskimo Cuisine at http://www2.grand-forks.k12.nd.us/ms/iditarod/inuitact.html  (fun info to share with older kids)

For the 3 and under program, we read our stories in an igloo