Apples Storytime

Storytime for 1 to 3 year olds:

• Opening - Skinnamarink, Sticky Sticky Bubblegum

• Book #1 – Apple Farmer Annie by Monica Wellington

• Stand-up Activity – "I'm a Little Teapot" from This Little Piggy by Adam Stemple, Jane Yolen, et al. 

• 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 - Four Little Apples (counting down rhyme found in Ready to Go Storytimes: Fingerplays, Scripts, Patterns, Music, & More by Gail Benton and Trisha Waichulaitis)

• Letter of the Day - "A" is for apple

• Book #2 – Ten Red Apples: A Bartholomew Bear Counting Book by Virginia Miller 

• Activity – Great Big Apple Tree (action song to the tune of "Are You Sleeping?" written by Carol Hopkins)

Great big apple tree
Great big apple tree
Standing tall
Standing tall
Moving your branches
When the wind blows
Then the apples fall
Down to the ground

• Closing - Shaker eggs using the song "I Know a Chicken" from Whaddaya Think of That? by Laurie Berkner

     

 

• Art Experience – Paint apple drawings

Bridges Are for Crossing Storytime

Storytime for 1 to 3 year olds:

• Opening - Skinnamarink, Sticky Sticky Bubblegum

• Book #1 – Cross a Bridge by Ryan Ann Hunter, illustrated by Edward Miller

• Stand-up Activity – "London Bridge Is Falling Down" from Playtime Favorites by Music for Little People

• 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 

• Group Activity - Count the Cars on the Bridge Before It Falls (counting activity)

Directions: Make a simple bridge with a long strip of cardboard over two plastic cups. Be sure to name the parts of the bridge. Add small toy cars one at the time to the deck of the bridge, counting as you place the cars on the bridge. (I had to place the cars upside down so they would not roll off the bridge.) When the bridge falls down due to weight, add another cup under the deck of the bridge and start again.

• Letter of the Day - "B" is for bridge

• Book #2 – Freight Train by Donald Crews (big book)

• Activity – Chugging Down the Track (action chant written by Carol Hopkins)

Here is the choo-chootrainchugging down the track.

See it going forward,

See it going back.

Now it's going fast,

Faster, faster, faster!

Chugging over hills.

Chugging through tunnels.

Chugging over trestle bridges.

Speeding past people.

Now the bell is ringing.

Hear the whistle blow, "Toot! Toot!"

As it slows down perfectly to a stop in the station below. 

• Closing - Shaker eggs using the song "I Know a Chicken" from Whaddaya Think of That? by Laurie Berkner

    

 

• Art Experience – Glue craft sticks to a paper bowl and paper plate bridge to make a wooden bridge (I found the directions for this idea at eHow)

Chickens Storytime

Storytime for 1 to 3 year olds:

• Opening - Skinnamarink, Sticky Sticky Bubblegum

• Book #1 – This Little Chick by John Lawrence

• 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 - Hens of a Different Color (color rhyme I picked up somewhere many years ago)

• Letter of the Day - "C" is for chickens

• Book #2 – Charlie Chick by Nick Denchfield and Ant Parker (pop-up)

• 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.

• Closing - Shaker eggs using the song "I Know a Chicken" from Whaddaya Think of That? by Laurie Berkner

    

 

• Art Experience – Coloring sheet with crayons

Hay Is for Horses Storytime

Storytime for 1 to 3 year olds:

• Opening - Skinnamarink, Sticky Sticky Bubblegum

• Book #1 – The Cow Loves Cookies by Karma Wilson, illustrated by Marcellus Hall

• Stand-up Activity – "Wild Running Horses" from Sing It! Say It! Stamp It! Sway It! volume 3 by Peter and Ellen Allard

• 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 - She'll Be Coming Around the Mountain (traditional song, I got the idea for this from the Sunflower Storytime blog)

• Letter of the Day - "H" is for horses

• Book #2 – Clip-Clop by Nicola Smee

• Activity – Ponies (action rhyme I adapted from a similar one I found)

Frisky little ponies in a meadow green

Silliest little ponies I've ever seen

They go for a walk

(walk in place)

They go for a trot

(trot in place)

They go for a gallop

(run in place)

They start to jump!

(jump in place)

They come to a halt in the big feed lot

(sign language for "stop")

Silly little ponies fat and well fed

Curl up to sleep in a soft straw bed.

(hands to the side of the face and pretend to sleep)

• Closing - Rhythm sticks using "Goin' On a Bear Hunt" song from Kids In Action by Greg and Steve 

    

 

• Art Experience – Stickers on a horseshoe drawing

Join the Music Storytime

Storytime for 1 to 3 year olds:

• Opening - Skinnamarink, Sticky Sticky Bubblegum

• Book #1 – Parade by Donald Crews

• Stand-up Activity – "The Tempo Marches On" from Jim Gill Sings Do Re Mi on His Toe Leg Knee by Jim Gill

• 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 - "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" traditional song

Directions: Hand out 3-5 different colored stars to each child. Each time you sing the star, name a different color of star until all of the children have brought up their stars to place on the board. 

• Letter of the Day - "m" is for music

• Book #2 – Maisy's Band by Lucy Cousins (pop-up)

• Activity – "Clap Your Hands" from Toddler Action Songs by Cedarmont Kids

• Closing - Rhythm sticks using "Goin' On a Bear Hunt" song from Kids In Action by Greg and Steve 

   

 

• Art Experience – Glue streamers to paper plate maracas