Sing-a-Song Storytime: Turkeys Eating Cheese Fondue

 Last year, a coworker and I created this video storytime to celebrate Thanksgiving while in-person events were still on hiatus.  We created this one with the desire to get young children moving around and singing.  It is filled with lots of favorite storytime songs and rhymes.  Instead of a book we brought in puppets and a flannelboard story.  I really wanted the grown-ups watching along with the kiddos to learn the songs, so I used a split screen technique on the videos to display the words to the songs/rhymes while I am singing and acting them out.  

Opening song – When Animals Get Up in the Morning (adaptation of a traditional song)

When pigs get up in the morning,
They always say “Good Day!”
When pigs get up in the morning,
They always say “Good Day!”
They say, "Oink!, Oink!, Oink!, Oink!,"
that is what they say.
They say, "Oink!, Oink!, Oink!, Oink!,"
that is what they say.

When pigs get up in the morning,
They always say “Good Day!”
When pigs get up in the morning,
They always say “Good Day!”
They say, "Grunt!, Grunt!, Grunt!, Grunt!,"
that is what they say.
They say, "Grunt!, Grunt!, Grunt!, Grunt!,"
that is what they say.

   

Flannelboard activity – Turkeys Eating Cheese Fondue (a counting rhyme found in Artsy Toddler Storytimes by Carol Garnett Hopkins)

  

Action song – Turkey Lurkey (to the tune of "Handy Spandy" performed with a ball)

Turkey Lurkey fine and dandy.
(ball on head)
Loves pumpkin pie and sugar candy.
(put down ball and sign language for "candy")
Bought it from a baker's shop,
(bounce ball)
And away did hop, hop, hop!
(toss ball into the air)

Action song – Where Is the Turkey? (action song to the tune of “Oh My Darling Clementine” found in a Mailbox Preschool magazine, Nov/Dec 2016, page 34)

 

Action song – The Turkeys Come Marching (adaptation of the "Ants Go Marching" song)

The turkeys come marching one by one
Hoorah!  Hoorah!
The turkeys come marching one by one
Hoorah!  Hoorah!
The turkeys come marching one by one.
The little one stops to suck their thumb.
And they all go marching,
Down,
Around
The farm,
Boom!  Boom!  Boom!  

The turkeys come marching two by two...
The little one stops to tie its shoe...

The turkeys come marching three by three...
The little one stops to gobble at me...

The turkeys come marching four by four...
The little one's feather was stuck in the door...

 

Closing song - Skinnamarink (https://youtu.be/95JkQfANW9M) 

Skinnamarinky dinky dink
Skinnamarinky do,
I love you!

Skinnamarinky dinky dink
Skinnamarinky do,
I love you!

I love you in the morning,
And in the afternoon
I love you in the evening,
Underneath the moon…

Skinnamarinky dinky dink
Skinnamarinky do,
I love you!

***The video for this storytime can be found on my library's YouTube channel.

Sing-a-Song Storytime: Autumn Leaves

 

Last fall, despite the library reopening to the public, the world-wide pandemic kept large gatherings such as storytimes unable to operate. Therefore, I continued my offerings of virtual storytimes.  I created this video storytime series along with a coworker, who is a talented musician, to get young children moving around and singing.  It is filled with lots of favorite storytime songs and rhymes.  I really wanted the grown-ups watching along with the kiddos to learn the songs, so I used a split screen technique on the videos to display the words to the songs/rhymes while I sang and acted them out.  

Opening song – When Animals Get Up in the Morning (adaptation of a traditional song)

When pigs get up in the morning,
They always say “Good Day!”
When pigs get up in the morning,
They always say “Good Day!”
They say, "Oink!, Oink!, Oink!, Oink!,"
that is what they say.
They say, "Oink!, Oink!, Oink!, Oink!,"
that is what they say.

When pigs get up in the morning,
They always say “Good Day!”
When pigs get up in the morning,
They always say “Good Day!”
They say, "Grunt!, Grunt!, Grunt!, Grunt!,"
that is what they say.
They say, "Grunt!, Grunt!, Grunt!, Grunt!,"
that is what they say. 

   

 

Flannelboard activity – Four Little Leaves (counting down color rhyme I found in a Preschool Mailbox magazine, October/November 2005, page 33) 

Stand-up Activity – Falling Leaves (scarf song to the tune of "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" I found at My Storytime Corner blog)

Leaves, leaves, leaves will fall
(stand up and sway) 

Gently all around

Falling left falling right
(arms move left and right with fluttering fingers)

Fluttering to the ground.
(fall to the ground)

Action song - Dancing Leaves (action rhyme I did with a scarf that I found in a Mailbox Preschool magazine, October/November 2008, page 33)

 

Action rhyme – Autumn Leaves Are Falling Down (scarf song to the tune of "London Bridges" that I found at the Yogi Librarian blog)

Autumn leaves are falling down,
Falling down, falling down,
Autumn leaves are falling down,
On this sunny day!

The wind will blow them round and round,
Round and round, round and round,
The wind will blow them round and round,
On this sunny day!

Take the rake and rake them up,
Rake them up, rake them up,
Take the rake and rake them up,
On this sunny day!

Now let's jump into the pile,
Into the pile, into the pile,
Now let's jump into the pile,
On this sunny day!

 

Closing song - Skinnamarink (https://youtu.be/95JkQfANW9M) 

Skinnamarinky dinky dink
Skinnamarinky do,
I love you!

Skinnamarinky dinky dink
Skinnamarinky do,
I love you!

I love you in the morning,
And in the afternoon
I love you in the evening,
Underneath the moon…

Skinnamarinky dinky dink
Skinnamarinky do,
I love you!

 

 

Sing-a-Song Storytime: Little White Rabbit

 Last year when the pandemic closed all large gatherings, my library continued offering virtual storytimes.  I created this video storytime series along with a coworker, who is a talented musician, to get young children moving around and singing.  It is filled with lots of favorite storytime songs and rhymes, and of course a book!  I really wanted the grown-ups watching along with the kiddos to learn the songs, so I used a split screen technique on the videos to display the words to the songs/rhymes while I am singing and acting them out.  

Opening song - Skinnamarink (https://youtu.be/95JkQfANW9M) 

Action song - A-Tisket, A-Tasket (traditional nursery rhyme sung with a stuffed animal)

A-tisket, a-tasket,
(swing stuffed animal back and forth)
A green and yellow basket.
I bought a basket for my love,
And on the way I dropped it.
(drop animal on the floor)
I dropped it! I dropped it!
(throw animal up in the air and let it land on the floor)
Yes, on the way I dropped it.
(throw animal up in the air and let it land on the floor)
A little baby picked it up,
(pick up animal)
And gave it to their love.
(hug animal)

Transition sit down song - I Have Ten Little Fingers (traditional fingerplay)

I have 10 little fingers

They all belong to me!

I can make them do things

Would you like to see?

I can close them up tight

I can open them up wide

I can raise them up high

I can put them at my side

I can wave them to and fro

And I can fold them - just like so.

 

Book - Little White Rabbit by Kevin Henkes (read with permission by HarperCollins Children's Books)

 

Action song - I Saw a Little Rabbit (action rhyme)

I saw a little rabbit go hop, hop, hop
(jump)
I saw his ears go flop, flop, flop
(flop hands on head)
I saw his eyes go blink, blink, blink
(point to eyes and blink)
I saw his nose go twink, twink, twink
(wiggle nose)
I said, "Little rabbit, won't you stay?"
(beckon with hand)
He looked at me and hopped away
(jump)

Action song - Bunny Jump Over the Great Big Stick (action rhyme written by Carol Hopkins, use a sock as the stick on the ground to jump over)

Bunny be nimble, bunny be quick,

Bunny jump over the great big stick

Bunny be nimble, bunny be slick

Bunny swim under the great big stick

Bunny be nimble, bunny go click

Bunny run around the great big stick

Bunny be nimble, bunny be fine

Bunny sit down for storytime

Closing song - Down By the Bay (traditional rhyming camp song)

Down by the bay
Where the watermelons grow
Back to my home
I dare not go
For if I do
My mother will say
"Did you ever you ever see a goose kissing a moose?"
Down by the bay!

..."Did you ever see a whale with a polka dot tail?"...

..."Did you ever see a fly wearing a tie?"...

..."Did you ever see a fairy inside a library?"... 

Sing-a-Song Storytime: Biscuit's Valentine's Day

   With the pandemic closing the library and all large gatherings last year, my library offered virtual storytimes.  I created this video storytime series along with a coworker, who is a talented musician, to get young children moving around and singing.  It is filled with lots of favorite storytime songs and rhymes, and of course a book!  I really wanted the grown-ups watching along with the kiddos to learn the songs, so I used a split screen technique on the video to display the words to the songs/rhymes while I am singing and acting them out.  

Opening song - Skinnamarink (https://youtu.be/95JkQfANW9M) 

Action song - Valentine's Day Is Here to Stay (action song to the tune of "Jingle Bells" written by Carol Hopkins)

Hug a friend, hug a friend, hug a friend today

Valentine's Day is here to stay

Let's celebrate all day!

Blow a kiss, blow a kiss, blow a kiss today

Valentin'es Day is here to stay

Let's celebrate all day!

(repeat with more actions)

Transition sit down song - Come A' Look A' 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 - Biscuit's Valentine's Day by Alyssa Satin Capucilli, illustrated by Pat Schories (read with permission by HarperCollins Children's Books)   

 

Action song - I Have a Little Heart (action chant I picked up someplace, I have seen different adaptations of it in many places)

I have a little heart
(hand over heart)
And it goes thump, thump, thump
(pat chest with fingers)
It keeps right on beating when I jump, jump, jump
(jump)
I get a special felling when I look at you
(point to children)
It makes me want to blow a kiss or two
(blow kisses)

Action song - Hi Ho a Valentine (action song to the tune of "The Farmer In the Dell" written by Carol Hopkins)

A walking we will go,
A walking we will go,
Hi ho a Valentine,
A walking we will go.

A jumping we will go...

A running we will go...

A stomping we will go...

A sitting we will go...

Closing song - Down By the Bay (traditional rhyming camp song)

Down by the bay
Where the watermelons grow
Back to my home
I dare not go
For if I do
My mother will say
"Did you ever you ever see a goose kissing a moose?"
Down by the bay!

..."Did you ever see a whale with a polka dot tail?"...

..."Did you ever see a fly wearing a tie?"...

..."Did you ever see a fairy inside a library?"... 

Sing-a-Song Storytime: Biscuit Is Thankful

Last year when the pandemic closed the library and all large gatherings, I created this video storytime series along with a coworker, who is a talented musician, to get young children moving around and singing.  It is filled with lots of favorite storytime songs and rhymes, and of course a book!  I really wanted the grown-ups watching along with the kiddos to learn the songs, so I used a split screen technique on the videos to display the words to the songs/rhymes while I am singing and acting them out.  

Opening song - Skinnamarink (https://youtu.be/95JkQfANW9M) 

Action song - Turkeys Come Marching (adaptation of the "Ants Go Marching" song)

The turkeys come marching one by one
Hoorah!  Hoorah!
The turkeys come marching one by one
Hoorah!  Hoorah!
The turkeys come marching one by one.
The little one stops to suck their thumb.
And they all go marching,
Down,
Around
The farm,
Boom!  Boom!  Boom!  

The turkeys come marching two by two...
The little one stops to tie its shoe...

The turkeys come marching three by three...
The little one stops to gobble at me...

The turkeys come marching four by four...
The little one's feather was stuck in the door...

Transition sit down song - Ten Fat Turkeys (not sure where I picked up this fingerplay)

(count fingers)

Ten fat turkeys standing in a row.

They spread their wings and tails just so.

They look to the left,

They look to the right,

When they strut their stuff, they're quite a sight!

But you won't see them on Thanksgiving Day,

'Cause one by one they'll run away.   

Book - Biscuit Is Thankful by Alyssa Satin Capucilli, illustrated by Pat Schories (read with permission by HarperCollins Children's Books)

 

Action song - I'm a Little Teapot (action song)

I’m a little teapot

Short and stout

Here is my handle

(one hand on hip)

Here is my spout

(other arm out straight)

When I get all steamed up

Hear me shout

“Tip me over

and pour me out!”

(lean over toward spout)

I’m a clever teapot,

Yes it’s true

Here let me show you

What I can do

I can change my handle

And my spout

(switch arm positions)

Just tip me over and pour me out!

(lean over toward spout)

Action song - Turkey Lurkey (to the tune of "Handy Spandy" performed with a ball)

Turkey Lurkey fine and dandy.
(ball on head)
Loves pumpkin pie and sugar candy.
(put down ball and sign language for "candy")
Bought it from a baker's shop,
(bounce ball)
And away did hop, hop, hop!
(toss ball into the air)

Closing song - excerpt from the Carpenter's song "Sing a Song" (also a classic Sesame Street song https://youtu.be/-nI7IfwLoBI)

Sing-a-Song Storytime: Pigs and Pirates

 

Despite the library reopening, the world-wide pandemic is still closing down all large gatherings at my library.  Therefore, I continue with my summer offering of virtual storytimes.  I created this video storytime series along with a coworker, who is a talented musician, to get young children moving around and singing.  It is filled with lots of favorite storytime songs and rhymes.  For the summer series, we changed things up a bit!  Instead of a book we are bringing in puppets and a flannelboard story or rhyme.  I really wanted the grown-ups watching along with the kiddos to learn the songs, so I used a split screen technique on the videos to display the words to the songs/rhymes while I am singing and acting them out.  

Opening song – When Animals Get Up in the Morning (adaptation of a traditional song)

When pigs get up in the morning,
They always say “Good Day!”
When pigs get up in the morning,
They always say “Good Day!”
They say, "Oink!, Oink!, Oink!, Oink!,"
that is what they say.
They say, "Oink!, Oink!, Oink!, Oink!,"
that is what they say.

When pigs get up in the morning,
They always say “Good Day!”
When pigs get up in the morning,
They always say “Good Day!”
They say, "Grunt!, Grunt!, Grunt!, Grunt!,"
that is what they say.
They say, "Grunt!, Grunt!, Grunt!, Grunt!,"
that is what they say.

   

 

Flannelboard activity – Five Little Pirate Boats (adapted by Carol Hopkins)

Five little pirate boats, bright and shiny clean.
One tipped over, it was green.

Four little pirate boats, with all sails spread.
One sailed into a storm, it was red.

Three little pirate boats, what a dreadful sight!
One bumped into a shark, it was grey and white.

Two little pirate boats, coming close for a view.
One smashed into the rocks, it was blue.

One little pirate boat, now a lonely fellow.
He went looking for treasure, he was yellow.  

 

Stand-up Activity – Ten Little Pirates (fingerplay found at Born Librarian blog)

Ten little pirates stood in a row 
(hold up all ten fingers)
They bowed to their captain so 
(lower and raise fingers)
They marched to the left 
(march hands to left - or opposite since kids will mirror you)
They marched to the right 
(march hands to right - or opposite since kids will mirror you)
They shouted yo ho! 
(cup hands over mouth)
And gave their captain a fright 
(act scared, cover mouth with hands)

Action song - Have You Ever Seen a Sailboat? (scarf song found at Step By Step Childcare blog to the tune of "Did You Ever See a Lassie?")

Have you ever seen a sailboat,
A sailboat, a sailboat?
Have you ever seen a sailboat
Waving its sail?

Wave this way and that way,
Wave that way and this way.
Have you ever seen a sailboat
Waving its sail?

 

Action rhyme – Row, Row, Row Your Boat (traditional action song)

Row, row, row your boat,
Gently down the stream.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
Life is but a dream.

Sway, sway, sway your boat,
Gently down the stream.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
Life is but a dream.

Bounce, bounce, bounce your boat,
Gently down the stream.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
Life is but a dream.

Twist, twist, twist your boat,
Gently down the stream.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
Life is but a dream.

Hide, hide, hide your boat,
Gently down the stream.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
Life is but a dream. 

Closing song - Skinnamarink (https://youtu.be/95JkQfANW9M) 

Skinnamarinky dinky dink
Skinnamarinky do,
I love you!

Skinnamarinky dinky dink
Skinnamarinky do,
I love you!

I love you in the morning,
And in the afternoon
I love you in the evening,
Underneath the moon…

Skinnamarinky dinky dink
Skinnamarinky do,
I love you!

 

***The video for this storytime can be found on my library's YouTube channel.