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.

Fire Trucks Toddler Storytime

Opening #1 - Skinnamarink (action song from Car Songs: Songs to Sing Anywhere by Dennis Buck from Kimbo)

Opening #2 - Sticky, Sticky Bubblegum (fingerplay)

Sticky, sticky bubblegum, bubblegum, bubblegum;
Sticky, sticky bubblegum;
Stuck to your __________.
1, 2, 3, PULL!

(Repeat with more body parts)

  

 

Book #1 – I Love Trucks! by Philemon Sturges, illustrated by Shari Halpern

Stand-up activity – “Drive the Fire Truck” action song from Songs for Wiggleworms by Old Town School of Folk Music

Transition #1 - 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 

 

 

Flannelboard – "Five Firefighters" counting rhyme I found in a Preschool Mailbox magazine (October/November 2007, page 40)

Letter of the day - "F” is for fire truck

Transition #2 – Come 'A' Look And 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 #2 – Maisy’s Fire Engine by Lucy Cousins (board book)

Closing – “Popcorn Calling Me” action song from Buzz Buzz by Laurie Berkner

 

 

 

Fall Apples Toddler Storytime

Opening #1 - Skinnamarink (action song from Car Songs: Songs to Sing Anywhere by Dennis Buck from Kimbo)

Opening #2 - Sticky, Sticky Bubblegum (fingerplay)

Sticky, sticky bubblegum, bubblegum, bubblegum;
Sticky, sticky bubblegum;
Stuck to your __________.
1, 2, 3, PULL!

(Repeat with more body parts)

Literacy Tip – Talking about bubblegum flavors before we do the “Sticky, Sticky Bubblegum” fingerplay is a great way to build vocabulary and to think about the flavors the children experience throughout the day.  

 

 

 

Book #1 – We Love Fall! by Diane Muldrow, illustrated by Jill Dubin

Stand-up activity – “Little Squirrel” from Movin’ & Groovin’ Home 2 by Kindermusik

Transition #1 - 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 

 

Flannelboard – Five Red Apples (counting down chant written by Carol Garnett Hopkins as found in the book Artsy Toddler Storytimes) 

Letter of the day - "A” is for apple

Transition #2 – Come 'A' Look And 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 #2 – Apples, Apples by Salina Yoon (board book)

Closing – “Popcorn Calling Me” from Buzz Buzz by Laurie Berkner

 

 

 

 

Snack Foods Toddler Storytime

Opening #1 - Skinnamarink (action song from Car Songs: Songs to Sing Anywhere by Dennis Buck from Kimbo)

Opening #2 - Sticky, Sticky Bubblegum (fingerplay)

Sticky, sticky bubblegum, bubblegum, bubblegum;
Sticky, sticky bubblegum;
Stuck to your __________.
1, 2, 3, PULL!

(Repeat with more body parts)

 

 

Book #1 – Early Bird by Toni Yuly 

Stand-up activity – “I’m a Little Teapot” action song from This Little Piggy by Adam Stemple, et al

Transition #1 - 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 

 

Flannelboard – Five Little Popcorn Kernels (a counting down rhyme I found on the Storytime Katie blog)

Letter of the day - "P” is for popcorn

Transition #2 – Come 'A' Look And 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 #2 – Maisy Makes Lemonade by Lucy Cousins

Closing – “Popcorn Calling Me” action song from Buzz Buzz by Laurie Berkner

 

 

 

 

Splashing Water Toddler Storytime

Opening #1 - Skinnamarink (action song from Car Songs: Songs to Sing Anywhere by Dennis Buck from Kimbo)

Opening #2 - Sticky, Sticky Bubblegum (fingerplay)

Sticky, sticky bubblegum, bubblegum, bubblegum;
Sticky, sticky bubblegum;
Stuck to your __________.
1, 2, 3, PULL!

(Repeat with more body parts)

 

 

 

Book #1 – Maisy’s Pool by Lucy Cousins 

Stand-up activity – “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” action song from Songs for Wiggleworms by Old Town School of Folk Music

Transition #1 - 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 

 

Flannelboard – Five Green and Speckled Frogs (traditional counting down song)

Letter of the day - "P” is for pool

Transition #2 – 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.

Book #2 – Splash! By Dinah Johnson (Bebop books)

Closing – “Goin’ On a Bear Hunt” action song from Kids in Action by Greg & Steve 

 

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!

 

 

Summer Outreach 2022

 I visited a few summer camps and daycare centers this past summer.  Here are some of my favorite books that I shared with them:

Buddy and the Bunnies In Don't Play With Your Food by Bob Shea 

Count the Monkeys by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Kevin Cornell

Little Penguin Gets the Hiccups by Tadgh Bentley 

More Bears by Kenn Nesbitt, illustrated by Troy Cummings