Chickens 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 – Big Fat Hen by Keith Baker
• Stand-up Activity - Little Chick, Little Chick (action rhyme adapted by Carol Hopkins from the "Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear Turn Around" jump rope rhyme)

(Suite actions to words.)
Little chick, little chick turn around.
Little chick, little chick scratch the ground.
Little chick, little chick strut on your toes.
Little chick, little chick touch your nose.
Little chick, little chick reach up high.
Little chick, little chick flap to the sky.
Little chick, little chick wiggle your feet.
Little chick, little chick find your nest 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 - Hens of a Different Color (color rhyme I found on a website)
• Sit-down Activity - Two Little Chickens Sitting On a Fence (fingerplay adapted from the rhyme "Two Little Blackbirds")

Two little chickens sitting on a fence.
One named Jack, the other named Jill.
Fly away Jack. Fly away Jill.
Come back Jack. Come back Jill.
Two little chickens sitting on a fence.

• Book #2 - Charlie Chick: A Pop-up Book by Nick Denchfield and Ant Parker
• Activity – Here's a Little Egg (action rhyme I have seen in a number of places, but I first found at http://www.geocities.com/mystorytime/chickens/htm#Fingerplays)

Here's a little egg, so smooth and white
(sit criss cross, head down, arms in lap)
Peck, peck, peck, there's something inside!
Peck, peck, peck, here comes a little beak.
(move head up and make beak with fingers)
Peck, peck, peck here come two little feet.
(extend feet)
Peck, peck, peck, here come the wings.
(flap arms as wings)
Peck, peck, peck, and a pick, pick, pick,
(move to squatting position)
And crack, crack, CRACK!
Out pops the baby chick!
(stand up, arms above head)

• Closing - Eggshakers to the song "I Know a Chicken" from Whaddaya Think of That? by Laurie Berkner
• Craft – Chicken walk coloring sheet