Mice Are Nice 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 – Ten Little Mice by Joyce Dunbar, illustrated by Maria Majewska (big book)
• Stand-up Activity - Little Mouse (adapted from a Teddy Bear action rhyme by Carol Hopkins)

Little mouse, little mouse turn around.
Little mouse, little mouse creep to the ground.
Little mouse, little mouse scamper on your toes.
Little mouse, little mouse twitch your nose.
Little mouse, little mouse squeak up high.
Little mouse, little mouse jump to the sky.
Little mouse, little mouse pat your feet.
Little mouse, little mouse have a seat.

• 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 - Five Mean Tabby Cats (counting backwards rhyme that I don't remember where I found it)
• Sit-down Activity - Hickory Dickory Dock (fingerplay)

Hickory dickory dock
(clapping)
A mouse ran up the clock
(one hand run up the other arm)
The clock struck 1
(clap once)
The mouse ran down
(one hand run down the other arm)
Hickory dickory dock
(clapping)

Hickory dickory dock
A mouse ran up the clock
The clock struck 2
(clap twice)
The mouse said "BOO!"
(try to tickle child)
Hickory dickory dock

Hickory dickory dock
A mouse ran up the clock
The clock struck 3
(clap three times)
The mouse said "Wheee!"
(one hand slide down the other arm and the down to the floor as if on a slide)
Hickory dickory dock

Hickory dickory dock
A mouse ran up the clock
The clock struck 4
(clap 4 times)
There is no more
(shake head, show empty hands)
Hickory dickory dock.

• Book #2 - Lunch by Denise Fleming
• Activity – Little Mice Go Creeping (action rhyme I found in What'll I Do with the Baby-O? by Jane Cobb)
• Closing - Goin' On a Bear Hunt (rhythm stick song from Kids In Action by Greg & Steve)
• Craft – Mouse face with a teardrop shape and a heart shape

Garden 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 – Mrs. McNosh and the Great Big Squash by Sarah Weeks, pictures by Nadine Bernard Westcott
• Stand-up Activity - A Little Plant (action rhyme I found in 52 Programs for Preschoolers by Diane Briggs)
• 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 - Four Little Flowers (this is actually a fingerplay written by Jean Warren that I found on a website, not sure which one)

Four little flowers I did see.
I picked one, there there were three.

Three little flowers pretty and new.
I picked another, then there were two.

Two little flowers out in the sun.
I picked one more, there there was one.

One little flower left in the sun.
I picked it too, then there were none!

• Sit-down Activity -Ten Little Flowers (fingerplay written by Carol Hopkins)

(show and count your ten fingers)
Ten little flowers standing in the sun
(stretch and spread out fingers)
Ten thirsty flowers begin to droop
(bow down fingers)
Along come the clouds
(point to the sky)
And the rain begins to fall
(flutter hands down)
Ten little flowers lift their head to the sun again.
(lift fingers up from the bow)

• Book #2 - Jasper's Beanstalk by Nick Butterworth and Mick Inkpen
• Activity – I'm a Little Sunflower (action song to the tune of "I'm a Little Teapot" I found in a Mailbox magazine)
• Closing - Goin' On a Bear Hunt (rhythm stick song from Kids In Action by Greg & Steve)
• Craft – Paper and yarn beanstalk

Fathers 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 – My Dad by Anthony Browne
• Stand-up Activity - Do It for Your Father (action song to the tune of "Row, Row, Row Your Boat")

(suite actions to words)
Roll, roll, roll your hands
As fast as fast can be.
Do it now, let me see,
Do it for your father.
Clap, clap, clap your hands
As loud as loud can be.
Do it now, let me see,
Do it for your father.
Stomp, stomp, stomp your feet
As hard as hard can be.
Do it now, let me see,
Do it for your father.
Jump, jump, jump your feet
As high as high can be.
Do it now, let me see,
Do it for your father.
Roll, roll, roll your hands
As fast as fast can be.
Do it now, let me see,
Do it for your father.

• 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 - Daddy Mouse

(Make 6-8 different colored houses and put them on the board. Put a small mouse under one of these houses. Before you look under a house, say the rhyme with the children.)
Daddy Mouse, Daddy Mouse, where is your baby?
Daddy Mouse, Daddy Mouse, look for your baby in the yellow house.
(Be sure to use different house colors.)

• Sit-down Activity - 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 cd The Baby Record by Bob McGrath)
• Book #2 - Just Like Daddy by Frank Asch
• Activity – If You're Happy and You Know It (action song from Songs for Wiggleworms by Old Town School of Folk Music)
• Closing - Goin' On a Bear Hunt (rhythm stick song from Kids In Action by Greg & Steve)
• Craft – Tissue paper scales glued onto a fish shape

Mouse Tales - Preschool Storytime

Preschool storytime for 3 to 5 year olds:

• Opening – Row, Row, Row Your Boat from Songs for Wiggleworms from Old Town School
• Alphabet activity - Lower case letters in the hat
  
• Book #1 - A Visitor for Bear by Bonny Becker, illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton
  
• Stand-up activity - The Great Big Bear (action chant written by Carol Hopkins)

The great big bear,
(sing language for bear)
Gives a warning with a soft little growl.
(growl)
Waves its paws in the air.
(move hands like claws)
Shakes its great big head
(shake head)
Rubs its furry little ears
(rub ears)
Gives a great big roar
(loud roar)
Then goes to sleep in its lair.
(hands to side of face for sleep)

• Book #2 - Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh
  
• Book #3 - If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff, illustrated by Felicia Bond
  
• Activity – Can You Scamper Like a Mouse? (adapted from a rhyme told by Rob Reid)

(suite actions to words)
Can you scamper like a mouse?
Can you stalk like a cat looking for a mouse?
Can you growl like a tiger?
Can you hop like a frog?
Can you climb like a monkey?
Can you bark like a dog?
Can you slither like a snake?
Can you fly like a bat?
Can you howl like a wolf?
Can you sit like a kid at storytime?

• Closing – Round of Applause (action rhyme adapted from one told by Rob Reid)
• Craft - Make a little mouse face with a teardrop shaped face, a heart cut in half for ears, some dot stickers, glue sticks, and color pens.
  

Fathers Storytime - Preschool

Preschool storytime for 3 to 5 year olds:

• Opening – Row, Row, Row Your Boat from Songs for Wiggleworms from Old Town School
• Alphabet activity - Lower case letters in the hat
  
• Book #1 - My Father the Dog by Elizabeth Bluemle, illustrated by Randy Cecil
  
• Stand-up activity - Some Dogs (action chant adapted by Carol Hopkins)
  

(suite actions to words) Some dogs run
Some dogs bark
Some dogs jump
Some dogs growl
Some dogs roll in the grass
Some dogs yip
Some dogs sniff
Some dogs howl
And some dogs just wag their tails all day.

• Book #2 -Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me by Eric Carle
  
• Book #3 - My Dad the Magnificent by Kristy Parker, illustrated by Lillian Hoban
  
• Activity – Do It for Your Father (action song to the tune of "Row, Row, Row Your Boat")

(suite actions to words)
Roll, roll, roll your hands
As fast as fast can be.
Do it now, let me see,
Do it for your father.

Clap, clap, clap your hands
As loud as loud can be.
Do it now, let me see,
Do it for your father.

Stomp, stomp, stomp your feet
As hard as hard can be.
Do it now, let me see,
Do it for your father.

Jump, jump, jump your feet
As high as high can be.
Do it now, let me see,
Do it for your father.

Roll, roll, roll your hands
As fast as fast can be.
Do it now, let me see,
Do it for your father.

• Closing – Round of Applause (action rhyme adapted from one told by Rob Reid)
• Craft - Water color sheet