Animal Sounds - 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: Night Sounds Camping Chant

 I was laying in my sleeping bag

I couldn’t go to sleep

I looked at my watch and wanted to weep

 

I rolled to my left

I rolled to my right

but all I could hear were animal noises in the night.

 

I heard a {Owl} go {Hoo, hoo, hoo}.

 

(continue with other night noise animals like cricket, frog, dog, bear, etc.)

  

 

Book #1: Barnyard Banter by Denise Fleming (big book)   

Stand-up activity: Little Goose, Little Goose (action rhyme adapted by Carol Hopkins from the tradition rhyme "Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear Turn Around")

Little goose, little goose waddle around. 
Little goose, little goose touch the ground.
Little goose, little goose wings go flap.
Little goose, little goose beak goes, "Honk! Honk!"
Little goose, little goose jump into the river.
Little goose, little goose give a little shiver.
Little goose, little goose find your feet.
Little goose, little goose find your seat.

 

Sit-down activity: Hickory Dickory Dock (traditional fingerplay)

Hickory dickory dock 
(clapping) 
A mouse ran up the clock 
(one hand run up the other arm) 
The clock struck 1 
(clap once) 
The mouse ran down 
(one hand run down the other arm) 
Hickory dickory dock 
(clapping) 

Hickory dickory dock 
A mouse ran up the clock 
The clock struck 2 
(clap twice) 
The mouse said "BOO!" 
(try to tickle child) 
Hickory dickory dock 

Hickory dickory dock 
A mouse ran up the clock 
The clock struck 3 
(clap three times) 
The mouse said "Wheee!" 
(one hand slide down the other arm and the down to the floor as if on a slide) 
Hickory dickory dock 

Hickory dickory dock 
A mouse ran up the clock 
The clock struck 4 
(clap 4 times) 
There is no more 
(shake head, show empty hands) 
Hickory dickory dock.

 

***Parent literacy tip:  Describing an object or an event helps us understand it.  Don’t forget to talk about noises when you describe things.  In any language! 

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: Bark, George by Jules Feiffer

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

Art activity: Cut, color, and glue on a farm animal pattern worksheet I found in a Mailbox magazine many years ago.  

Optional other books:
The Seals on the Bus by Lenny Hort, illustrated by G. Brian Karas
Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? by Bill Martin Jr., illustrated by Eric Carle
Animal Sounds by Christopher Silas Neal (board book)