A Strong Right Arm

 

A Strong Right Arm. The Story of Mamie "Peanut" Johnson. By Michelle Y. Green.  

I choose this book as part of the Bluestem nominated books for 2014.  I don't think I would chosen it on its own but it is actually a great short biography of one of only three females that played on the Negro Leagues.  An inspirational tale that shows how hard work, determination, and faith can make dreams come true.  Mamie narrates the story and her short career as a professional baseball player in a male dominated sport during difficult and trying times.  Her positive attitude is palpable throughout the book and her dreams go on as she plans to rebuild Miller's Field and continue promoting the Negro Leagues Baseball.

Totally Tots- Pirates

Today was our first day of Totally Tots and since tomorrow is International Talk Like a Pirate Day our theme was  Pirates! Our little matey's were full of energy and ready to row our boat, scrub our deck, furl our sails, and sway away.  We "argh" our way through songs and flannel stories and listened to pirate adventures. The tots loved the flannel board so we improvised and told different stories our friend Pirate Moe had experienced. The action rhymes were also a hit.

Our books were

    Bubble Bath, Pirates! by Jarrett J. Krosoczka,   

Peg Leg Peke by Brie Spangler

Pirate Nap by Danna Smith

Opening song:  “The More We Get Together”

Wiggle/action rhyme: “Let’s Start Story Time”

Action Song: “If You’re a Pirate and You Know It”   

If you’re a pirate & you know it, swab the deck (swish, swish)      

If you’re a pirate & you know it, swab the deck (swish, swish)      

If you’re a pirate & you know it, then you’ll hear sea winds a’blowin         

If you’re a pirate & you know it, swab the desk (swish, swish)      

(Walk the plank, stomp stomp // Say ahoy, ahoy!) 

Credit: BornLibrarian

Fingerplay: “Ten Little Pirates”
Ten little pirates stood in a row (hold up all ten fingers)
They bowed to their captain so (lower and raise fingers)
They marched to the left (march hands to left)
And marched to the right (march hands to right)
They shouted yo-ho! (cup hands over mouth)
And gave their captain a fright (act scared, cover mouth with hands)

Credit: Born Librarian

 

This Old Pirate-Flannel  I made a flannel similar to this one from Mel's Desk

This old pirate, has a hat
Where a skull and crossbones sat.
With an Ar, Ar, Ar, and an Ay Matey!
This old pirate sailed the sea.

Additonal Verses:
This old pirate has a hook, uses it to hold a book.
This old pirate has a map, keeps it handy in his lap
This old pirate has a bird, barely knows a single word.
This old pirate has a ship, travels the world in a single trip.
This old pirate looking for treasure, more than anyone could measure!

Row Your Pirate Ship

Row, row, row your ship, gently across the sea, (pretend to row)

Yo-ho, yo-ho, a pirate’s life at sea

Scrub, scrub, scrub the deck, gently across the sea (move hands back and forth as if washing the deck)

Yo-ho, yo-ho, a pirate’s life at sea.

Furl, furl, furl your sail, gently across the sea  (move hand over hand as if pulling a rope)

Yo-ho, yo-ho, a pirate’s life at sea

Sway, sway, sway your ship, gently across the sea (sway your body side to side)

Yo-ho, yo-ho, a pirate’s life at sea. Credit: Artsy Toddler Storytimes

Closing Song: “We Wave Goodbye Like This”