Cats Stack - Family Storytime

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

Opening #1: “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” from Songs for Wiggleworms 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.

 

 

Literacy activity flannelboard: Cat Fur Patterns (vocabulary flannelboard rhyme written by Carol Hopkins to the tune "If You're Happy And You Know It")

If you’re a {tabby} and you know it,
Come on up.

If you’re a {tabby} and you know it,
Come on up.

If you’re a {tabby} and you know it,
Then meow to really show it.

If you’re a {tabby} and you know it,
Come on up.

(repeat while substituting other cat pattern names such as calico, solid color, colorpoint, and tortoise shell)

  

  

Book #1: Feathers for Lunch by Lois Ehlert (big book)

***Parent literacy tip: It’s fun and easy for children to learn about topics that are relevant to them.  For instance, books about animals they know help young children make sense of their world. 

Stand-up activity: “If I was a Bird” from Wiggleworms Love You by Old Town School of Folk Music

Sit-down activity: Five Kittens (fingerplay I picked up somewhere)

Five little kittens standing in a row
They nod their heads to the children so
They run to the left
They run to the right
They stand up and stretch in the bright sunlight
Along comes a dog who’s in for some fun
Meow! See those little kittens run away

 

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: Cookie’s Week by Cindy Ward, illustrated by Tomie de Paola

Book #3: Stack the Cats by Susie Ghahremani

Closing music with rhythm sticks: “Goin’ On a Bear Hunt” from Kids in Action by Greg & Steve

   

Art activity: Chalk coloring on a black construction paper silhouette plus scissors to cut it out.