Penguins Up and Down - 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: Penguins Sliding Down the Hill (a counting and ordinal number flannelboard story written by Carol Hopkins

A bunch of little penguins went sliding down the hill.
They played all day, sliding on their tummies.

The first on the hill were the number _1’s_. 

The second down the hill were the number _2’s_.

The third on the hill were the number _3’s_.

The fourth down the hill were the number _4’s_.

(Continue through all the numbered penguins you have.  When all of the penguins are on the board, count the total number of penguins.)

_____ total penguins marching up the hill and then went down, sliding on their tummies! 

 

  

Book #1: Up & Down: A Lift-the-Flap Book by Britta Teckentrup  (lift-flap, moving pieces)  

Stand-up activity: Waddling Around the Iceberg (action song to the tune of “Ring Around the Rosie” written by Carol Hopkins

Waddling around the iceberg,
Moving little feet,
Jumping, Jumping,
We all go for a swim!

Swimming in the water,
Eating lots of fish,
Splashing icebergs,
We all jump up!

 

Activity: Two Little Penguins (fingerplay variant of the rhyme “Two Little Blackbirds” that I found at https://kcls.org/content/two-little-penguins/)

Two little penguins sitting on the ice 
(Hold up two index fingers)
One bows once, the other bows twice 
(Make fingers bow)
Waddle, little penguins, waddle away 
(Put fingers behind back)
Come back penguins, time to play 
(Bring fingers back to front)

(Adaptation by Carol Hopkins)
Two little penguins sitting on the ice
(Hold up two index fingers)
One bows once, the other bows twice
(Make fingers bow)
Waddle, little penguins, waddle out and away
(Put fingers far out to the sides)
Come back penguins, time for a coffee latte
(Bring fingers back to front and pretend to sip a drink)

 

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:  Develop small motor skills by allowing your child to pick up leaves, flowers, twigs, and rocks.  This helps their fingers prepare to write.             

Book #2: I am Small by Emma Dodd  

Book #3: Grumpy Pants by Claire Messer    

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

  

Art activity: Penguin cut outs on blue paper with Q-tip white painting, cotton balls to glue, eye stickers, and orange triangle beaks

Optional other books:
One Day On Our Blue Planet… In the Antarctic by Ella Bailey
If You Were a Penguin by Wendell and Florence Minor