STEAM Storytime Spotlight: The Inaugural Box Play Party!

It’s getting to be that time of year when I host a special box storytime/play party! I sure do miss this program… and I’m sure my former teammates miss me recycling all their holiday boxes! This Throwback Thursday, I’m remembering the very first one back in January 2020.

Rhyme: Bread & Butter*

Play: Mr. Fox (Flannel)

We looked for Mr. Fox behind several felt boxes. We found lots of other animals, too, thereby setting the stage for…

Read: Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell

Sing: If I Was a Bird by the Old Town School of Folk Music

Read: Not a Box by Antoinette Portis

This book ends with a bunny blasting off into space with a rocket, so OF COURSE we had to sing…

Sing: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom with Extra Verses

Zoom, zoom, zoom.
We’re going to the moon!
Zoom, zoom, zoom.
We’re going to the moon.
If you want to take a trip,
Climb aboard my roket ship!
Zoom, zoom, zoom.
We’re going to the moon!
In 5… 4… 3… 2… 1…
BLASTOFF!

Repeat: far to the stars, fun to the sun

CREDIT: JBRARY

Stay and Play with Boxes

Photo: Two young children emerging from cardboard boxes pushed together into a tunnel.

The box tunnel was a HUGE hit!

Photo: Two children stand next to a tower of boxes stacked almost to the ceiling!

I have no idea how these two kids got this tower so tall! They waited very patiently for the room to clear out before I would let them knock it over. It made the most satisfying crash!

Before and After Photos: Before, Jessica smiles from inside the box tunnel. Afterwards, Jessica lays collapsed from exhaustion on the floor.

Phew! This program wiped me out.

What are some of your favorite ways to use recycled materials in programs? I’d love to learn more in the comments below!

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*Please visit this page to learn more about my regular storytime songs and routines.

I may be a school-age librarian now, but kids of all ages love boxes! Stay tuned for an upcoming blog post about big box play with older kids.