Mmm... Pancakes - A Storytime Outline

Who knew pancakes would be such an awesome success! As a storytime theme, I mean. Yes, a storytime theme! Sometimes I have the concern that a new theme won't go over well with the children, especially if there aren't a lot of books to choose from, especially for a certain age group. Well, one of the greatest things about storytime is that isn't always about the books you read. It can be about the activities and flannel boards that you can do! Both my Toddler and Preschool storytime were so well received that I deem this theme perfect! Take that any naysayers!

T = Toddler Storytime
P = Preschool Storytime

BOOKS

Round is a Pancake written by Joan Sullvan Barnaski and illus. by Yu-Mei Han (T)
This books isn't entirely about pancakes, but its about round things, which is a great shape concept to introduce to toddlers.

How to Make a Pancake written by Dave Max and illus. by Jeffery Ebbeler (T)
Almost very instructional in nature, but is a Easy Reader perfect for storytime nonetheless. There are cute little mice that help the chef make the pancakes so make sure to point them out. You can also emphasize the tall stack of delicious pancakes that was made and how the chef ate them all! Oy!

Mr. Wolf's Pancakes written and illus. by Jan Fearnly (P)
A great take on "The Little Red Hen". The children thought it was funny when he tried to read a book that was upside down, and agreed how all his neighbors were rude! Everyone thought it was funny when he ate his neighbors then his pancakes! Sorry gave the plot away!

If You Give a Pig a Pancake written by Laura Numeroff and illus. by Felicia Bond (P)
How can you not read this book???

SONGS & RHYMES
Opening Rhyme: Open, Shut Them (T, P)
(follow actions)
Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Give a little clap
Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Lay them in your lap
Creep them, creep them up to your chin
Open your mouth wide, but don't put your fingers in!
Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Give a big clap
Open, shut them
Lay them in your lap.

Make a Pancake (T)
Make a pancake, pat, pat, pat
Do not make it fat, fat, fat
You must make it flat, flat, flat
Make a pancake just like that!
Source: Youth Services Organization Program Page

Pat a Cake (T)
Pat a cake, Pat a cake
Baker's man.
Bake me a cake as fast as you can.
You pat it and roll it
And mark it with a 'B'
Put it in the oven for baby and me!

Mixin' Pancakes (T, P)
Mixin' pancakes,
Stirrin' pancakes,
Pop em' in the pan;
Fryin' pancakes
Flippin' pancakes
Catch 'em if you can!
Source: Youth Services Organization Program Page

Five Crispy Pancakes (T, P)
Five crispy pancakes in a frying pan,
Flip them and toss them and catch them if you can.
Along came (child's name)
For a pancake one day
Sprinkled with sugar and took it away.
Source: Youth Services Organization Program Page

Closing Rhyme: Touch Your Nose (T, P)

(follow actions)

Touch your nose

Touch your chin

That's the way this game begins

Touch your eyes

Touch your knees

Now pretend you're going to sneeze!

Aaachooooo!

Touch your hair

Touch one ear

Touch your two red lips right here

Touch your elbow where it ends

And that's the way this touch game ends.

FLANNEL BOARDS

Mixin' Pancakes (T, P)
Before doing the rhyme I handed out little felt circles to each of the children. Moved our hips and arms when mixing and stirring, then we made our palm flat to make a pan to keep the circle on. Then when it was time to say "Catch 'em if you can" we all had to toss up our circles like pancakes and see if we could catch them. Toddlers and preschoolers LOVED it!!!!!!

Five Crispy Pancakes (T, P)
I used a large circle and a separate narrow rectangle to make a frying pan. Then I used five medium circles to make pancakes. I had the children one by one take a pancake off the board, which is a fun twist from the often activity of putting something on the board.

CRAFTS

Pancake Toppings (T)
The toddlers got to clue a brown circle to a paper plate and glue blueberry, strawberry and banana toppings.

Pancake Tossers (P)
Tape/glue (I recommend tape cause it's fast) a craft stick to the bottom of a small paper place, then tape a piece of string to the top of the plate then tape a brown circle to the other end of the string. Color and decorate your new frying pan. Then try to flip the pancake up and see if you can catch it! Craft inspired by 
Source: Youth Services Organization Program Page

SPECIAL ACTIVITIES

Egg Shakers (T)
Any Children's Librarian knows that you cannot be without egg shakers. I always have them on hand in my storytime room. Today I used them because I tied them into my pancake breakfast theme. The children love them! Remember to shake toward the sky, then down low by the toes, behind your back, by your tummy, from side to side, really loud and fast then really slow and quiet. Repeat as long as you want!

How Do You Top Your Pancake? (T, P)
After doing the Five Crispy Pancakes rhyme, I removed the frying pans handle, which is why I made sure the elements were separated, and the large circle becomes a plate! Genius, I know. The children had to put the pancakes back on the plate, and I handed out felt shapes that were blueberries, strawberries, bananas, pats of butter and splotches of syrup. One by one they had to put their fruit, butter and syrup on the pancakes! They loved it! I added a egg and bacon to the Preschool Storytime fun by asking, "What else can you eat with pancakes?".

PICTURES

Topped off pancakes from each of the programs! All the kids were budding chefs!

How Do You Top Your Pancake?, Toddler Storytime,
created by Dorothy, WP-CC 2012

How Do You Top Your Pancake? Preschool Storytime,
created by Dorothy, WP-CC 2012.