Stars and Aliens - 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: I’m Going Out to Space (vocabulary building flannelboard activity to the tune of “The Farmer In the Dell”)

(Hand out felt pieces for stars, planets, rocket ships, and moons to the children.  The children bring their pieces up to the board when it is said in the song.)

I’m going out to space;
I’m going out to space;
I think I’ll see a { planet } there;
I’m going out to space.

 

  

Book #1: There Was a Bold Lady WhoWanted a Star by Charise Mericle Harper

Stand-up activity: Blast Off to the Moon (action rhyme I found in many places)

Let's take a rocket to the moon
First we climb into our rocket ship
(pretend to climb ladder into rocket)
Next we buckle ourselves in
(crouch down and pretend to but a seat belt across your shoulder)
Now for the countdown... 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 - Blast off!
(jump up)
We go flying around the earth and over to the moon
(airplane arms)
Now stop on the moon and look around
(look around with hand over eyes)
Now it's time to go back home so we climb back into our rocket ship
(pretend to climb ladder)
Buckle ourselves in
(pretend seat belt)
5, 4, 3, 2, 1 - Blast off!
(jump up)
We fly around the moon and fly around the earth
(airplane arms)
And finally come back home
(land on the ground)

 

Activity: Stars Around the Rocketship (to the tune of "Ring Around the Rosie" written by Carol Hopkins)

Spinning around the rocket ship,
Dancing little stars.
Jumping, jumping,
The stars fall down.

Stardust all around us,
Moving here and there.
Swirling, twirling,
The stars jump up!

 

Transition: Tommy & Tammy Thumb (fingerplay)

Tommy Thumb up, 
Tommy Thumb down,
Tommy Thumb dancing all around town.

Tammy Thumb out,
Tammy Thumb in,
Tammy Thumb dancing all in a spin.

Dancing, dancing, dancing,
Dance them on your knees,
Dance them on your head,
Dance them on your shoulders,
Then tuck them into bed.

  

***Parent literacy tip:  Singing and rhyming together builds listening skills in children.  This helps them hear that words are made up of smaller sounds.    

Book #2: There’s an Alien In Your Book by Tom Fletcher, illustrated by Greg Abbott

Book #3: Space (National Geographic Little Kids First Board Book) by Ruth A. Musgrave (board book)

Closing music with bean bags: “Rocketship Run” from Rocketship Run by The Laurie Berkner Band

  

Art activity: Paper plate moon stamping with receipt paper roll cores plus star stickers

Optional other books:
Hush, Little Rocket by Mo O’Hara, illustrated by Alexandra Cook
Sheep Blast Off! by Nancy Shaw, illustrated by Margot Apple