Space Storytime

Storytime for 1 to 3 year olds:

• Opening - Skinnamarink (from Car Songs: Songs to Sing Anywhere by Dennis Buck at Kimbo), Sticky Sticky Bubblegum
• Book #1 – I Want To Be an Astronaut by Byron Barton
• 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)

• Bridge - 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/Math Activity - 4 Little Stars (counting backwards rhyme, not sure where I found this one)

4 little stars winking at me.
One shot off, then there were three!
3 little stars with nothing to do.
One shot off, then there were two!
2 little stars afraid of the sun.
One shot off, then there was one!
1 little star alone is no fun.
It shot off, then there was none!

• Fingerplay - A Tiny Little Star (not sure where I found this fingerplay)

There's a tiny little star way up in the sky.
(put one hand in the air)
A tiny little star, up so very high.
(raise hand even higher)
It twinkles brightly throughout the night,
(open and close fist for blinking)
But during the day it's out of sight.
(hide hand behind back)

• Book #2 - Astronaut Piggywiggy by Christyan and Diane Fox
• Activity – Ring Around the Rocket Ship (action song I adapted to the tune of "Ring Around the Rosie")

Ring around the rocket ship
(spin around)
Dancing little stars
(dance and jump around)
Stardust, Stardust,
(flash hands out)
The stars fall down!
(fall to the floor)

• Closing - Popcorn Calling Me (scarf song found in Buzz Buzz by Laurie Berkner)
• Craft – Glue some cutout stars and yellow yarn pieces to a piece of black paper for some shooting stars