Wild Animals Count - 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: Walking Through the Zoo (based on a flannelboard rhyme I found at https://www.abbythelibrarian.com/2011/03/this-storytimes-zoo.html ) 
Directions: I handed out animal felt pieces to each child.  When I called out their animal, they brought it up to the flannelboard.  When all the animals were called, we then counted them. 

Walking through the zoo and what did I see? 
I saw a {_lion_} looking at me!

(repeat with other animals)

 

  

Book #1: Count! by Denise Fleming 

***Parent literacy tip:  Imitating animal noises helps children hear the small sounds in words, which is good for when they are starting to sound out words to read.    

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

Sit-down activity: The Big Panda Bear (action chant written by Carol Hopkins)

The big panda bear 
(sign language for bear)

Gives a warning with a soft little growl 
(growl)

Waves its paws in the air 
(move hands like claws)

Shakes its great big head 
(shake head)

Rubs its furry black ears 
(rub ears)

Gives a great big roar 
(loud roar)

Then goes to sleep among the green bamboo trees 
(hands to side of face for sleep)

 

Transition: 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 

  

Book #2: Jungle Beasts Pop-Up: A SafariFace-to-Face by Sally Hewitt, illustrated by Chris Gilvan-Cartwright

Book #3: A Parade of Elephants by Kevin Henkes

Closing music with jingle bells: “Fruit Salad Salsa” from Victor Vito by Laurie Berkner

   

 

Art activity: Color with metallic pens on an elephant finger puppet, then cut it out. 

Optional books:
Old Mikamba Had a Farm by Rachel Isadora
Roar! By Margaret Mayo and Alex Agliffe