Here is a virtual preschool storytime I put together for a special group.
Opening - A Rum Sum-Sum Welcome to Storytime (action song written by Carol Hopkins to the theme of the traditional "Rum Sum-Sum" song)
(Start off by teaching sign language for “storytime”)
A rum sum-sum, a rum sum-sum,
(slap legs, clap, clap, slap legs, clap, clap)
Gooli-gooli, gooli-gooli,
(fists over fists, then switch)
Rum sum-sum.
(slap legs, clap, clap)
Hello! Hello!
(wave hands)
I’m glad you’re here at storytime.
(sign language for storytime)
A rum sum-sum, a rum sum-sum,
(slap legs, clap, clap, slap legs, clap, clap)
Gooli-gooli, gooli-gooli,
(fists over fists, then switch)
Rum sum-sum.
(slap legs, clap, clap)
I’m stretching! I’m stretching!
(stretch arms out to side)
I’m glad you’re here at storytime.
(hug self then sign language for storytime)
A rum sum-sum, a rum sum-sum,
(slap legs, clap, clap, slap legs, clap, clap)
Gooli-gooli, gooli-gooli,
(fists over fists, then switch)
Rum sum-sum.
(slap legs, clap, clap)
Blow a kiss! Blow a kiss!
(blow kisses)
I’m glad you’re here at storytime.
(sign language for storytime)
Math literacy flannel board - Ice cream scoop patterns
Directions: Start a simple pattern on the flannel board using an ice cream cone triangle and circles for
the ice cream scoops. Ask the children what the next color in the pattern should be. Do this with two
patterns.
Transition rhyme - Tommy and Tammy Thumb (fingerplay)
(Start off by showing two thumbs)
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.
Dance them, dance them everywhere.
Dance them on your knees.
Dance them on your shoulders.
Dance them on your head.
Then tuck them into bed.
(tuck hands under armpits)
Book #1 - My Pop Pop and Me by Irene Smalls, illustrated by Cathy Ann Johnson
Stand-up activity - I'm a Little Teapot (traditional action song)
I’m a little teapot short and stout.
Here is my handle.
Here is my spout.
When I get all steamed up,
Hear me shout.
Tip me over and pour me out!
I’m a clever teapot, yes, it’s true.
Here let me show you what I can do.
I can change my handle,
And my spout.
Tip me over and pour me out!
Sit-down activity - Can You? (action chant adapted by Carol Hopkins from one I found at Roving Fiddlehead KidLit)
Can you stretch your neck like a tall, tall giraffe?
Can you hop like a frog?
Can you bark like a dog?
Can you slither like a snake?
Can you fly like a parrot?
Can you wiggle your nose like a rabbit?
Can you swim like a fish?
Can you stretch like a cat?
Can you sit like a kid at storytime?
Book #2 - Stack the Cats by Susie Ghahremani
Closing - Skinnamarink (action song with scarf)
Skinnamarinky dinky dink
Skinnamarinky do,
I love you!
Skinnamarinky dinky dink
Skinnamarinky do,
I love you!
I love you in the morning,
And in the afternoon
I love you in the evening,
Underneath the moon…
Skinnamarinky dinky dink
Skinnamarinky do,
I love you!
Art activity - Stacking ice cream cones
Directions: Grown-ups, please be sure to print out this make at home art activity. You will need scissors,
glue, and coloring crayons/pencils/pens. There is one sheet with ice cream cones on it. There is another
sheet with ice cream scoops on it.
First, color the ice cream cones and the ice cream scoops.
Next, cut out the ice cream scoops only.
Then, glue the ice cream scoops stacked on top of the cones (show example).
If you want to make this into a math activity, roll a 6-sided die. Let your child count the number of pips,
or dots, that come up. Then glue on this number of ice cream scoops onto the page.
