Read books about airplanes and helicopters to the children. Both fiction and non-fiction books can fit well into a story time program. Read a non-fiction book about the Wright Brothers and talk briefly about their aircraft invention. "Airplanes!: Soaring! Diving! Turning!" by Patricia Hubbell and "The Wright Brothers" by Margaret Hudson would appeal to young children. Sing an airplane song; try making up simple words to the tune of "I'm a Little Teapot," substituting words about flying an airplane instead. Encourage kids to put their arms straight out as if they are airplanes. Lead a paper airplane craft activity.
Select books to share with the children that focus on the American flag. Both fiction and non-fiction stories can highlight the American flag and what it means. Read a story about the history of the flag and how it has changed throughout American history. "The American Flag" by Lloyd G. Douglas and "The American Flag: The Red, White, and Blue" by Jon Wilson would be suitable book choices. Create a flag art activity in which children glue red, white and blue flag pieces onto a white rectangle.
Plan a story time program with a recycling theme to mark national America Recycles Day on Nov. 15. Talk about the importance of recycling and reusing objects to help the environment. Read fiction and non-fiction books that help children understand how they can help the environment by recycling. "Reusing and Recycling" by Charlotte Guillain and "The Adventures of an Aluminum Can: A Story About Recycling" by Alison Inches might interest the children. Have the children work together to make a large collage about recycling. Find pictures of recyclable objects in magazines and cut them out. Have children glue all the photos onto a large piece of poster board. Add each child's name to the collage as an "environmental helper" who recycles.
Choose a simple book that depicts the first Thanksgiving. "The First Thanksgiving" by Nancy Davis and "Thanksgiving Is Here!" by Diane Goode are enjoyable Thanksgiving stories. Ask children what they like best about the holiday and allow them to share their Thanksgiving thoughts. Create a Thanksgiving turkey craft in which children cut out an oval turkey body, a round turkey head, a triangle beak and circle eyes. Help the children glue the turkey together onto background paper and then provide each child with several feathers to glue on the turkey.