Summer STEM – Film Canister Rocket

by Lauren Abbott | Jul 6, 2020 | Blog, Craft Instructions Post, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 comments

Film Canister Rocket

Week 4 of Summer STEM from Your Library

Watch the Instruction Video Watch the Slow Motion Video

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Learn about Newton’s 3rd Law with these film canister rockets! Do this activity with an accompanying adult.

You will need antacid tablets and a film canister.

In an OUTDOOR place, put one antacid tablet in the film canister. Do the next steps quickly:

2. Add a tsp of water. Put the lid on tightly and put the canister cap side down on the ground.

3. STEP BACK AT LEAST SIX FEET.

4. About ten seconds later, the film canister will launch! If it does not launch, wait 30+ seconds before examining. Usually the cap is not on tight enough.

Enter the Summer STEM drawing!

Enter to win STEM-themed prizes by sending us a photo of you doing one of these activities! Place the photo in the body of your email (no attachments) and send it to madisonlib.org@gmail.com. We’ll hold drawings at the end of the month!

Kid ‘n’ Tween Activities February 2026

by Mary Kirkpatrick | January 30, 2026 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

Story Time and Early Literacy Join us this February for Early Literacy Programs as we explore a snowy theme! Toddler Time (Ages 1-3, walking toddlers & grown-ups) - Mondays and Tuesdays at 9:30 AM in the Community Room. Enjoy songs, stories, and sensory building...

January 2026 Programs for Kids ‘n’ Tweens

by Mary Kirkpatrick | December 29, 2025 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

Story Time and Early Literacy Join us for stories, songs, and fun all month long as we explore the letter D! We'll groove with Dance, learn from Service Dogs, try on costumes for Dress Up, and finish with something brand new just for you! Story Time is on Tuesdays and...

November 2025 Kids ‘n’ Tweens Programs

by Mary Kirkpatrick | October 31, 2025 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Story Time, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

Story Time and Early Literacy Start your little ones on their reading journey with age-appropriate stories, songs, and activities! Book Babies is for infants not yet walking. Toddler Time is for walking littles 1-3 years old. Story Time is for preschoolers ages 3-5....

October Activities for Kids ‘n’ Tweens

by Mary Kirkpatrick | September 29, 2025 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Story Time, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

Story Time and Early Literacy Start your little ones on their reading journey with age-appropriate stories, songs, and activities! Weekly Schedule: Mondays: Toddler Time 9:30 AM | Spanish Story Time 10:30 AM (No early literacy programs Mon. Oct. 6) Tuesdays: Toddler...

Story Time: A is for Alphabet

by Marybeth Isle | September 24, 2025 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Story Time | 0 Comments

I have 26 members, but no family. I start with A and end with Z, but you won't find me in a zoo. What am I? Of course, I am the alphabet! Help your child discover language through letter recognition and their accompanying sounds. Try beginning with your child’s name...

September Activities for Kids ‘n’ Tweens

by Mary Kirkpatrick | August 25, 2025 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

Story Time and Early Literacy Dive into tales, tunes, and tiny triumphs at our Early Literacy programs in the Community Room—tailored for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and their grown-ups! Story Time (ages 2–5 + adult) Tue 10:30 AM & 6:30 PM (Activity Room) |...

July Programs for Kids ‘n’ Tweens

by Mary Kirkpatrick | June 30, 2025 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Story Time, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

Summer Reading is Here! You can sign up now for Summer Reading: Color Our World! With Beanstack you can sign up online, or you can visit us at the Library and track your reading on paper. Check out our Summer Reading page for our prize schedule and more details.Story...

June Events for Kids ‘n’ Tweens

by Mary Kirkpatrick | June 2, 2025 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Story Time, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

May Kids ‘n’ Tween Programs

by Mary Kirkpatrick | April 28, 2025 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

Books For Boys & Great Reads for GirlsMeet Princess Cimorene—a princess who refuses to be proper. She’s everything a princess shouldn’t be: headstrong, tomboyish, smart… And bored. So bored she runs away to live with Kazul, one of the most powerful dragons around!...

April Kids ‘n’ Tween Programs

by Mary Kirkpatrick | March 31, 2025 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

Story TimeGet ready for April celebrations with our early literacy programs! Book Babies – Wednesdays at 9:30 AM* for babies not yet walking and their grown-ups. Enjoy songs, stories, baby sign language, movement, and sensory activities. Toddler Time – Mondays &...

Toddler Time and Book Babies – June 29 and July 1

by Lauren Abbott | Jul 1, 2020 | Blog, Book Babies, Kid's Corner | 0 comments

Toddler Time and Book Babies – June 29 and July 1

Toddler Time and Book Babies – June 29 and July 1, 2020

Toddler Time for ages 10 to 23 months – 9:45 am Mondays (June 29)

Book Babies for ages 0 to 9 months – 9:45 am Wednesdays (July 1)

This week in Toddler Time and Book Babies, we went “up” and “down” the beanstalk with Jack. We also had fun with other nursery rhymes that go up and down. Nursery rhymes are timeless, not only because they have great rhythm and rhyme, but they also teach concepts such as opposites. So, grab a shaker and sing some nursery rhymes with your child!

See the Toddler and Baby Time Videos on Facebook!

Welcome Songs

Here We Are Together

Here we are together, together, together!
Oh, here we are together in our library.
There’s (sing names)…
Here we are together in our library!

Hello Everybody

Hello everybody let’s clap our hands*,
clap our hands,
clap our hands.
Hello everybody let’s clap our hands today!

*pat our head, stretch up high, wiggle our fingers, tickle our knees, kick our feet, bounce up high!

S, T, R, W, P

(Sing while pointing to each finger on your child’s hand.)

Sing, talk, read, write, play!
Sing, talk, read write, play!
Sing, talk, read, write, play!
Sing, talk, read, write, play each day!

Books Presented

Songs and Rhymes

Jack and the Beanstalk

Tune “Shortnin Bread”

Jack and the beanstalk, beanstalk, beanstalk.
Jack and the beanstalk growing up high.

Looking for the giant, giant, giant.
Looking for the giant up in the sky.

Climbing back down, climbing back down.
Climbing back down quick, quick, quick!

One, Two, Buckle My Shoe

One, two,
Buckle my shoe;
Three, four,
Knock at the door;
Five, six,
Pick up sticks;
Seven, eight,
Lay them straight:
Nine, ten,
A big fat hen

–Traditional

Let’s Tap Our Feet Together

(Tune: The More We Get Together)

Let’s tap our feet together, together, together,
Let’s tap our feet together
It’s so fun to do.

(Additional verses):
Clap our hands . . .
Touch our nose . . .
Blink our eyes . . .

Diaper Changing: You’re My Little Baby, Soft and Sweet

(Tune: I’m a Little Teapot)

You’re my little baby
So soft and sweet
Here are your hands
Here are your feet
I’ll watch you clap your hands
And tap your feet
I love you baby
So soft and sweet

Itsy Bitsy Spider

Itsy bitsy spider climbed up the water spout (climb your hands upward)

Down came the rain and washed the spider out (spread hands out)

Out came the sunshine and dried up all the rain (pretend to make the sun)

And the itsy bitsy spider climbed up the spout again (have the spider climb up the spout again)

– Traditional

The Grand Old Duke of York

The Grand Old Duke of York
The Grand Old Duke of York
He had ten thousand men.
He marched them up to the top of the hill
And marched them down again!

And when they’re up, they’re up.
And when they’re down, they’re down.
And when they’re only half-way up,
They’re neither up nor down!

He marched them to the left
He marched them to the right.
He marched them to the top of the hill
And marched them out of sight.

– Traditional

Hickory Dickory Dock

Hickory dickory dock. The mouse went up the clock
The clock struck one. The mouse went down
Hickory dickory dock

-Traditional

Up, Up, Up in the Sky

Up, up, up in the sky like this!
(lift baby up)
Down, down, down for a great big kiss!
(lower baby and give a kiss)
Up like this,
(lift once more)
Down for a kiss,
(down once more)
You’re my special baby!
(give baby a big hug!)

– Jbrary.com

Jack and Jill Went Up the Hill

Jack and Jill went up the hill
To fetch a pail of water
Jack fell down and broke his crown
And Jill came tumbling after

Jack got up, and home did trot
As fast as he could caper
To old dear Bob, who patched his nob
With vinegar and brown paper

Jack and Jill went up the hill
To fetch a pail of water
Jack fell down and broke his crown
And Jill came tumbling after.

-Traditional

Craft Activity

DIY Sensory Bottles

Help your child experience the concepts of up and down with a DIY magnet sensory bottle. Place metal objects or toys such as paper clips in an empty bottle with a smooth surface. Used VOSS or Ice water bottles work well. Fill it with clear baby oil or mineral oil, and seal the lid with a strong glue. Show your child how the items can move up and down as you drag a kitchen or wand magnet along the outside.

Find more information

Signing Songs

“Sleep”

(tune “The Farmer in Dell)
We ask to go to SLEEP,
we ask to go to SLEEP.
(Open hand at top of head, pull down and bring fingers together)
When it’s time to go to bed,
we ask to go to SLEEP.

“Bed”

(tune “The Farmer in Dell)
We ask for BED like this,
we ask for BED like this.
(Lay head on back of hands and lean to side)
When we’re tired and want a nap,
we ask for BED like this.

“Up”

You can use this sign with the Grand Old Duke of York rhyme above.

“Down“

You can use this sign with the Grand Old Duke of York rhyme above.

Early Literacy Tip and Activity:

Tip

Some Nursery Rhymes help children develop narrative skills. Those skills will later help them understand what they read. Giving children aids, like flannel board pieces, help them to remember the sequence of a story and makes it easier for them to retell the story in the correct order. Try this at home!

Activity

Download the PDF of “Learning Center Activities for ‘One, Two, Buckle My Shoe'” by Bobby Wilson. As you recite each line of the rhyme, “One, Two Buckle my Shoe,” put up on a board, or show the appropriate piece to your child: shoe, door, sticks, gate, big red hen.

Download the PDF

Additional Books

Story Time – June 30, 2020

by Lauren Abbott | Jun 30, 2020 | Blog, Kid's Corner, Story Time | 0 comments

Story Time – June 30, 2020

10:30 am ONLINE on Facebook – ages 2 to 5

Has your child seen the giant beanstalk here in the library? We grew one in story time, too! Jack and the Beanstalk is a great story to talk about the things that a seed needs to grow, and it’s not just magic! There are also seeds like kindness, or anger, which will also grow if we feed them. Try some of the activities and books below with your child to see what kind of seeds you can grow.

See the Story Time Video on Facebook!

Early Literacy Tip and Activity:

Tip

Activity

Print off and cut out Jack and the Beanstalk flannel pieces. Velcro or magnet tape makes it easy to place them on a board, or you can tape them to a straw. Then read Jack and the Beanstalk with your child from a book or online, and have them retell the story in their own words using the flannel pictures as a prompt.

Go to the flannel board pictures

Books Presented

Songs, Rhymes and Fingerplays

If You’re Jack and You Know it

If you’re Jack and you know it climb the beanstalk
If you’re Jack and you know it grab the hen (ba-kaw!)
If you’re Jack and you know it run away
If you’re Jack and you know it use your axe (chop chop!)
If you’re Jack and you know it take a rest

– Librarybonanza.com

Two Little Blackbirds

Two little blackbirds sitting on a hill,
One named Jack and the other named Jill
Fly away Jack, fly away Jill,
Come back Jack and come back Jill!

– Pasadena-library.net

Here is a Giant

Here is a giant who is tall, tall, tall.
And here is an elf who is small, small small.
The elf who is small will try, try, try
To reach the giant who is high, high, high.

– Storytimesecrets.blogspot.com

The Grand Old Duke of York

The Grand Old Duke of York
The Grand Old Duke of York
He had ten thousand men.
He marched them up to the top of the hill
And marched them down again!

And when they’re up, they’re up.
And when they’re down, they’re down.
And when they’re only half-way up,
They’re neither up nor down!

He marched them to the left
He marched them to the right.
He marched them to the top of the hill
And marched them out of sight.

– Traditional

Five Fat Peas

Five fat peas in a pea pod pressed (hold up five fingers)
One grew (hold up one finger)
Two grew (hold up two fingers)
And so did the rest (hold up the rest of your fingers)
They grew and they grew and they did not stop (open and shut hands)
Until one day, the pod went pop! (clap hands together on pop)

Craft Activities

jack-and-the-beanstalk-castle-coloring-page

Print out this Jack and the Beanstalk coloring page or color online!

Go to the coloring page

This craft is a fun combination of a fairy tale and science experiment! It’s a great opportunity to teach children about what plants need in order to grow.

Find instructions here!

Count magic beans in this fun math activity!

Find full instructions here

Additional Books

Toddler Time and Book Babies – June 22 and 24

by Lauren Abbott | Jun 24, 2020 | Blog, Book Babies, Kid's Corner | 0 comments

Toddler Time and Book Babies – June 22 and 24

Toddler Time and Book Babies – June 22 and 24, 2020

Toddler Time for ages 10 to 23 months – 9:45 am Mondays (June 22)

Book Babies for ages 0 to 9 months – 9:45 am Wednesdays (June 24)

Bibbidi-bobbidi… WHO? Do you know the magic words to be a prince or a princess for a day? If you don’t say the proper magic words, you might turn into a dog, cat, duck, or frog!

See the Toddler and Baby Time Videos on Facebook!