Dancing Feet - Baby Toddler Storytime

A Wednesday morning storytime for ages 0-2 years old.  

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 places to stick the gum)

 

 

Book: Dancing Feet! by Lindsey Craig, illustrated by Marc Brown

Themed activity #1:  "The Night I Had a Dream" action song from Whaddaya Think of That? by Laurie Berkner 

Themed activity #2: 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 riase 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...

...Before I tickle you on your little tum!

  

Lap rhyme #1: Tick Tock (lap bounce)

(bounce baby from leg to leg)

Tick tock, tick tock, I’m a little cuckoo clock.
Tick, tock, tick tock, now it is one o’clock… Cuckoo!
(raise baby up for each cuckoo)

(repeat for other times of day)
Now it is two o’clock… Cuckoo! Cuckoo!

Now it is three o’clock… Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo!

 

Lap rhyme #2: Counting Bubbles (counting rhyme I learned during a BrainDance workshop)

One bubble, two bubbles, three bubbles, top.
(pat legs with hands for each number chanted, then place hands on top of head)

Three bubbles, four bubbles, five bubbles, drop.
(pat legs with hands for each number chanted, then drop hands to lap)

Six bubbles, seven bubbles, nine bubbles, pop.
(pat legs with hands for each number chanted, then clap hands loudly in front of body)

Ten little bubbles floating down!
(twinkle hands down to floor)

Now let’s blow _____ bubbles.
(This is a breath exercise.  Pick a number and pretend to blow that number of bubbles through hand.  Don’t forget to pop the bubbles with a loud clap after blowing it up.  I count the bubble while I do the clap.) 

 

Lap rhyme #3: A Hippopotamus Got on a City Bus (lap bounce rhyme I found at Jbrary at https://youtu.be/OZOq5Wiiox8?si=guAfW8ip2WPwZAtq)

A sheep, a sheep, a sheep got on a city bus;
And all, and all, and all the people said,
"Baaaack up!"

A cow, a cow, a cow got on a bus;
And all, and all, and all the people said,
"Mooooove over!"

A hip, a hip, a hippopotamus got on, got on, got on a city bus;
And all, and all, and all the people said,
"You're squishing us!"
(hug baby)

 

Lap rhyme #4: Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes (traditional song)

Head, shoulders, knees, and toes,
Knees and toes.
Head, shoulders, knees and toes,
Knees and toes.
And eyes and, ears and, mouth and nose.
Head, shoulders, knees and toes,
Knees and toes.

   

Transition: 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) 

 

Letter of the day: “D” is for dancing  

 

 

Flannelboard: Five Little Dancers (counting down rhyme I adapted from a ballet dancer rhyme I found at https://jeninthelibrary.com/tag/dance/) 

Five little dancers
Prancing on their toes
They twirl and spin and jump
Then off the stage one goes.

4 little dancers…
3 little dancers…
2 little dancers…

One little dancer
Prancing on their toes
S/He twirls and spins and jumps
Then off the stage s/he goes.

No more dancers!
The performance is over.
And what do we do at the end of a performance?
We applaud!  (clap)

 

Closing song with scarves: "Nelly Go Cross the Ocean" from More Tickles & Tunes by Kathy Reid-Naiman 

 

 

 

 

Gross Motor Play at Playtime

Gross motor activities are essential for children of all ages to build large muscle strength, improve balance and coordination, and boost overall physical health. Most people think of activities, like running, jumping, and climbing when they think about gross motor play.  In an indoor Library Play Time (intended for ages 6 months to 6 years) I bring out these toys to get the kiddos moving:

-          Stepping/balance stones (plastic)

-          Hopscotch rug

-          Ladybug tunnel

Hedgehog Party #3

 Our third annual Hedgehog Party happened a few weeks ago.  These parties are becoming very popular!

Station #1 - Pet expert

A coworker found this hedgehog pet expert while working at a community event.  She works with a Hedgehog Rescue group to help pet hedgehogs that were not well cared for or kept illegally.  The pet expert brought in one of her rescued pets to show off.  There was no touching of these hedgehogs as they are very shy and can become sick easily.  The pet expert patiently answered all questions that came her way.  She was fabulous!

Station #2 - Craft table

I found a wood hedgehog ornament for participants to decorate.  I put out Sharpie pens, glue, craft foam shapes, and gem stickers.  I saw some very creative hedgehogs.  

  

Station #3 - Games

I created a spikey ball toss game: I brought a small cat bed from home and called it a hedgehog den.  I then had the children throw plastic spikey balls into the den.  

I also got out a children's board game where you place the spikes on the hedgehog after rolling a pair of dice.  

Station #4 - Scavenger hunt

One of my coworkers creates a scavenger hunt for the children every month.  This month, she created a hedgehog themed scavenger hunt to go along with my party theme.  The reward for finishing the hunt was a hedgehog sticker.

Station #5 - Building

I set out straw connector toys and a sign suggesting that participants create prototype hedgehog cages.  And they did!!!

Station #6 - Education boards

I set out two poster boards with information about hedgehogs.  One board listed what hedgehogs eat in the wild and as pets.  The other board was a map showing where hedgehogs can be found in the wild.  

Station #7 - Sensory Touch Table

After a suggestion from a coworker, I created this new activity station.  I borrowed some shed hedgehog quills from our pet expert and put out a bunch of random stuff with different tactile experiences.  

Summer Colors - Baby Toddler Storytime

A Tuesday morning storytime for ages 0-2 years old.  

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 places to stick the gum)

 

 

Book: Sandy Toes: A Summer Adventure by Shauntay Grant, illustrated by Candice Bradley 

Themed activity #1:  “If You’re Happy And You Know It” action song from Songs for Wiggleworms 

Themed activity #2: Crabs Are Crawling (my notes do not say where I found this fingerplay to the tune of “Frere Jacques”)

Crabs are crawling, crabs are crawling
On the rocks, on the rocks
Watch out for their pinchers, watch out for their pinchers
Snap, snap, snap!
Snap, snap, snap!

 

Lap rhyme #1: Tick Tock (lap bounce)

(bounce baby from leg to leg)

Tick tock, tick tock, I’m a little cuckoo clock.
Tick, tock, tick tock, now it is one o’clock… Cuckoo!
(raise baby up for each cuckoo)

(repeat for other times of day)
Now it is two o’clock… Cuckoo! Cuckoo!

Now it is three o’clock… Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo!

 

Lap rhyme #2: Counting Bubbles (counting rhyme I learned during a BrainDance workshop)

One bubble, two bubbles, three bubbles, top.
(pat legs with hands for each number chanted, then place hands on top of head)

Three bubbles, four bubbles, five bubbles, drop.
(pat legs with hands for each number chanted, then drop hands to lap)

Six bubbles, seven bubbles, nine bubbles, pop.
(pat legs with hands for each number chanted, then clap hands loudly in front of body)

Ten little bubbles floating down!
(twinkle hands down to floor)

Now let’s blow _____ bubbles.
(This is a breath exercise.  Pick a number and pretend to blow that number of bubbles through hand.  Don’t forget to pop the bubbles with a loud clap after blowing it up.  I count the bubble while I do the clap.) 

 

Lap rhyme #3: Dance Your Fingers (fingerplay adaption from a video I saw from New York Public Library)

Dance your fingers up;
(put fingers high in the air)

Dance your fingers down;
(touch the ground)

Dance your fingers from side to side;
(move hands from left to right side of body and back again, several times)

And dance them all around.
(hands move in a large wiggly circle in the air in front of your body)

Dance them on your shoulders;
(fingers wiggle on your shoulders)

Dance them on your head;
(fingers wiggle on top of your head)

Dance them on your tummy;
(fingers wiggle on top of your tummy)

And put them all to bed.
(fold hands in lap or tuck under armpits)

 

Lap rhyme #4: Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes (traditional song)

Head, shoulders, knees, and toes,
Knees and toes.
Head, shoulders, knees and toes,
Knees and toes.
And eyes and, ears and, mouth and nose.
Head, shoulders, knees and toes,
Knees and toes.

   

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 

 

Letter of the day: “S” is for Sand  

Flannelboard: Ice Cream Colors (adapted from the book Ice Cream Colors by Jon Fosberg)

White (vanilla)
Pink (strawberry)
Yellow (butter pecan)
Purple (blackberry)
Orange (orange creamsicle)
Green (pistachio or lime sherbert or mint chocolate chip)
Brown (chocolate fudgesicle)
Red (cherry)
All those yummy ice cream flavors!

  

Closing song with scarves: “Milkshake Song” from Songs for Wiggleworms by Old Town School of Folk Music    

Optional extra book:
Maisy Goes On a Nature Walk by Lucy Cousins 

 

 

 

 

Summer Ice Cream - 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.

 

Opening #3: Fee Fi Fo Fum

Fee fi fo fum,
(clap for each syllable)

See my fingers,
(wiggle fingers)

See my thumbs.
(wiggle thumbs)

Fee fi fo fum,
(clap for each syllable)

Good bye fingers,
(hide one hand behind back)

Good bye thumbs.
(hide the other hand behind back)

(Repeat several times moving and saying the words faster and faster)

 

Literacy activity flannelboard: Ice Cream Colors (color rhyme flannelboard found at Step By Step blog at https://www.stepbystepcc.com/foods/icecream.html)

We have ice cream, the best in town,
Let us begin with chocolate brown.

Now, let us scoop us some bubble-gum pink,
It is sweet and yummy, the best, some think.

Here is ice cream minty and green,
It is the creamiest I have ever seen.

Yellow ice cream is lemony and tart,
We like its taste from the very start.

Scoops of blueberry would make my day,
Look at all this ice cream, hip, hip hurray!

Red ice cream is a strawberry delight,
All these scoops are a heavenly sight.

Vanilla white is a popular flavor,
It tastes very good to an ice-cream craver.

Purple ice cream really gives me a kick,
Good and yummy till the very last lick.

Ice cream, ice cream, what a cool sensation,
We love ice cream in any combination!

 

  

 

Book #1: 20 Big Trucks In the Middle Of the Street by Mark Lee, illustrated by Kurt Cyrus 

Theme activity #1: Put Your Ice Cream Up High (adaptation of a rhyme I found on the Librionyian blog to the tune of “Famer In the Dell”)  

(Pretend to hold an ice cream cone.  Suite actions to words.)

Put your ice cream up high
Put your ice cream down low
Hold your ice cream, go round and round
Round! And round! And round!

Put your ice cream up high
Put your ice cream down low
Put your ice cream on the ground
Eeeewww! Don’t do that!

Put your ice cream up high
Put your ice cream down low
Lick your ice cream ‘til it’s all gone
It’s yummy in my tummy!

  

Theme activity #2: “If You’re Happy and You Know It” from Wee Sing Children’s Songs & Fingerplays 

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.

  

Book #2: Downpour Splish! Splash! Ker-splash! by Yuko Ohnari and Koshiro Hata 

Book #3: Summer Is Here by Reneé Watson, illustrated by Bea Jackson 

Closing music with rhythm sticks: “Goin’ On a Bear Hunt” from Kids In Action by Greg & Steve       

  

 

Art activity:  Bingo dabber pens and rubber stamps on a cardstock sun visor

Optional other books:
Leo at the Park by Anna McQuinn, illustrated by Ruth Hearson 
Sandy Feet! Whose Feet?: Footprints at the Shore by Susan Wood, illustrated by Steliyana Doneva 

 

 

 

 

Ozobots - A Drop-In STEAM Exploration Table

 

Put the mini Ozobot robots on a table.  Add their magnetic tiles and some simple directional information.  Now you've got an easy passive STEAM event enjoyable by many ages.  

The direction cards I put out this time were inspired by the Power Point slides I found on the Kinder Shenangigans blog at https://kindershenanigans.com/coding-in-kindergarten.  The topics included:

• What is an Ozobot?
• How does an Ozobot know where to go?
• How to calibrate an Ozobot
• Ozobot codes

Bikes & Toys - Family Storytime

A Wednesday 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.

 

Opening #3: Fee Fi Fo Fum

Fee fi fo fum,
(clap for each syllable)

See my fingers,
(wiggle fingers)

See my thumbs.
(wiggle thumbs)

Fee fi fo fum,
(clap for each syllable)

Good bye fingers,
(hide one hand behind back)

Good bye thumbs.
(hide the other hand behind back)

(Repeat several times moving and saying the words faster and faster)

 

Literacy activity flannelboard: Stacking Colored Blocks

(Hand out colored blocks to the children.  When you call their color, the children then bring up their block to stack onto a pile or two.)  

 

  

 

Book #1: Maisy Goes on a Bike Ride by Lucy Cousins 

Theme activity #1: "If You're Happy And You Know It" traditional action song from WeeSing  

Theme activity #2: Alligator Pie  (an action rhyme I found many years ago that I have seen on many websites)

Alligator, alligator, alligator pie, 
(Open and close arms like the jaws of an alligator)

If I don't get some, I think I'm gonna cry.
(Rub eyes like you are crying)

You can take away the grass,
(Point to the ground)

You can take away the sky,
(Point to the sky above)

But don't take away my alligator pie!
(Open and close arms like an alligator)  

 

Transition: Dance Your Fingers (fingerplay adaption from a video I saw from New York Public Library)

Dance your fingers up;
(put fingers high in the air)

Dance your fingers down;
(touch the ground)

Dance your fingers from side to side;
(move hands from left to right side of body and back again, several times)

And dance them all around.
(hands move in a large wiggly circle in the air in front of your body)

Dance them on your shoulders;
(fingers wiggle on your shoulders)

Dance them on your head;
(fingers wiggle on top of your head)

Dance them on your tummy;
(fingers wiggle on top of your tummy)

And put them all to bed.
(fold hands in lap or tuck under armpits)

  

Book #2: Don't Push the Button by Bill Cotter

Book #3: Ada, Go Go, Go! by Daishu Ma (board book) 

Closing music with egg shakers: “I Know a Chicken” from Whaddaya Think of That? by Laurie Berkner        

  

 

Art activity:  Shape collage by gluing a variety of paper shapes onto a paper circle or paper plate

Optional other books:
Blocks by Irene Dickson 
On Mother's Lap by Ann Herbert Scott, illustrated by Glo Coalson