Guest Post: Balloon Story Time & STEAM Craft, by Miss Erin

Today's guest post comes from one of my staffers, Miss Erin. She is sharing a preschool story time program that she offered in our library last week. One of my favorite aspects of her program: the Mini Marshmallow Shooter STEAM craft! Engineering + Arts, with fidelity to her theme... terrific! Without further ado, it's Miss Erin!

Balloon Story Time

Opening Song: "Finger Family"

Song: "Where is Thumbkin?"

Story: Emily’s Balloon by Komako Sakai
     While this book has a story to narrate, I decided to use it for a picture walk. Preschoolers helped me tell a story about a little girl named Emily and her yellow balloon.

Song: "Animal Action I" by Greg and Steve

Story: POP! Went Another Balloon! by Keith Faulkner, illustrated by Rory Tyger
     This story demonstrated counting and subtracting in a fun and repetitious way. Ended up being a great interactive story!

Song: "Body Rock" by Greg and Steve

Story: Sally’s Great Balloon Adventure by Stephen Huneck (didn’t get to this book)
     This is a story about a dog,Sally, who goes to a hot air balloon race. While looking at the balloons, Sally smells fried chicken! In an attempt to find the chicken, Sally finds herself in a hot air balloon, alone and floating away. While Sally’s adventure makes the news, all she can do is worry about the fried chicken.

Closing Song: "If You’re Happy & You Know It!"

Craft: Mini Marshmallow Shooters (from www.cometogetherkids.com)
     Materials Needed: plastic cups;   balloons;   mini marshmallows;   scissors

1. Cut the bottom part off of the cup. 
2. Tie a knot at the end of a balloon and cut off about ½” from the other end opposite of the knot. 
3. Stretch the open end of the balloon over the end of the cup. That’s it! You are now ready to launch marshmallows!

     Each child made two shooters. I had the cups already cut. The children tied the balloons, cut the ends off, and placed balloons over cups. As they were leaving, I supplied them with a baggie of marshmallows and balloon coloring sheets.

*lead photo by Erin Gilmer