Bridges Are for Crossing Storytime

Storytime for 1 to 3 year olds:

• Opening - Skinnamarink, Sticky Sticky Bubblegum

• Book #1 – Cross a Bridge by Ryan Ann Hunter, illustrated by Edward Miller

• Stand-up Activity – "London Bridge Is Falling Down" from Playtime Favorites by Music for Little People

• Bridge - Open, Shut Them (fingerplay)

Open, shut them
(open and close hands)
Open, shut them
Give a little clap (clap)
Open, shut them

Open, shut them
Put them in your lap
(put hands in lap)

Creep them, creep them
Under your chin
(creep fingers up chest)
Open your mouth, but don't put them in
(do as words say)

Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Give a little clap
Open shut them
Open shut them
Put them in your lap 

• Group Activity - Count the Cars on the Bridge Before It Falls (counting activity)

Directions: Make a simple bridge with a long strip of cardboard over two plastic cups. Be sure to name the parts of the bridge. Add small toy cars one at the time to the deck of the bridge, counting as you place the cars on the bridge. (I had to place the cars upside down so they would not roll off the bridge.) When the bridge falls down due to weight, add another cup under the deck of the bridge and start again.

• Letter of the Day - "B" is for bridge

• Book #2 – Freight Train by Donald Crews (big book)

• Activity – Chugging Down the Track (action chant written by Carol Hopkins)

Here is the choo-chootrainchugging down the track.

See it going forward,

See it going back.

Now it's going fast,

Faster, faster, faster!

Chugging over hills.

Chugging through tunnels.

Chugging over trestle bridges.

Speeding past people.

Now the bell is ringing.

Hear the whistle blow, "Toot! Toot!"

As it slows down perfectly to a stop in the station below. 

• Closing - Shaker eggs using the song "I Know a Chicken" from Whaddaya Think of That? by Laurie Berkner

    

 

• Art Experience – Glue craft sticks to a paper bowl and paper plate bridge to make a wooden bridge (I found the directions for this idea at eHow)