Swimming Fish - Family Storytime

A Saturday morning storytime for ages 0-6 years old.  

Opening #1: “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” from Songs forWiggleworms by Old Town School of Folk Music

Opening #2: Roly Poly Oh So Fast (hand rolling body part chant adapted by Carol Hopkins)

Roly poly, roly poly, oh so fast!
Roly poly, roly poly, oh so slowly.
Roly poly, roly poly, up.
Roly poly, roly poly, down.
Roly poly, roly poly, hands on your head.
Roly poly, roly poly, hand on your feet.

(repeat with other body parts)

Roly poly, roly poly, hands in your lap.

 

Opening #3: Fee Fi Fo Fum (clapping chant)

Fee, fi, fo, fum,
(clapping)
See my fingers,
(wave fingers)
See my thumbs.
(wave thumbs)
Fee, fi, fo, fum,
(clapping)
Good bye fingers,
(one hand behind back)
Good by thumbs.
(other hand behind back)

(Repeat going faster)

 

Literacy flannelboard: Little Fish Swimming in the Sea (animal recognition chant)

Hand every child a fish with one animal sticker on it.  Each child will bring their fish up to the board when their animal is called out in the rhyme.

 

Little ________ fish are swimming in the sea,
Swimming in the sea,
Swimming in the sea.
Little ________ fish are swimming in the sea,
Swimming up right now!

(Call out an animal for the blank)

 

  

 

Book #1: Chomp:A Shark Romp by Michel Paul

***Parent literacy tip: Sharing informational books (non-fiction) builds background knowledge. Children with strong background knowledge are more likely to understand what they read.  

Stand-up activity: “The Goldfish" from Victor Vito by Laurie Berkner 

Sit-down activity: Slippery Fish (action song as seen done by Jbrary at https://youtu.be/0C9HSOlb4qI) 

Transition: Come 'A' Look And See (fingerplay song I first picked up at a workshop conducted by Jane Cobb but can also be found on the music CD The Baby Record by Bob McGrath)

Come a' look a' see,
Here's my mama, 
(point to thumb)
Come a' look a' see,
Here's my papa, 
(point to index finger)
Come a' look a' see,
My brother tall, 
(point to tall finger)
Sister, baby, 
(point to ring, then baby finger) 
I love them all. 
(Kiss the fingertips of your finger family) 

 

Book #2: I'm the Biggest Thing In the Ocean by Kevin Sherry

Book #3: Hooray for Fish by Lucy Cousins 

Closing music with scarves: “Popcorn Calling Me” action song from Buzz Buzz by Laurie Berkner

Art activity: Giant kelp cut and weave (not a process art project but it used up something I found in my desk)