Spring Butterflies - Family Storytime

 A Saturday morning storytime for ages 0-6 years old.  

Opening: “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” from Songs forWiggleworms by Old Town School of Folk Music

 

Literacy flannelboard: Clap for a Butterfly (shape recognition rhyme adapted from a flannelboard rhyme I found on the Pasadena Library website)

(Hand out a butterfly shape to each child.  Each butterfly should have a shape on it.)

Caterpillars, caterpillars spinning cocoons.
(Roll hands)
Hoping spring would be here soon.
With a little bit of magic
(wiggle fingers in the air)
And some warm sunshine
(arms overhead for a round sun)
Clap, clap, clap for a {circle} butterfly to appear!
(Children with circle butterflies bring their butterflies to the board)

(Repeat with other shapes)

… Clap, clap, clap for a {triangle} butterfly to appear…

… Clap, clap, clap for a {square} butterfly to appear…

… Clap, clap, clap for an {oval} butterfly to appear…

 

  

Book #1: Good Night, Sweet Butterflies: A Color Dreamland by Dawn Bentley, illustrated by Heather Cahoon (board book)

Stand-up activity: “Baby Bumblebee” action song from Toddler Action Songs by Cedarmont Kids

Sit-down activity: “Itsy Bitsy Spider” traditional fingerplay

***Parent literacy tip: Singing develops listening skills and helps children remember things for a longer time.  

Extra lap rhymes #1: Tick Tock (lap bounce)

(Bounce baby from leg to leg)
Tick tock, tick tock, I’m a little cuckoo clock.
Tick, tock, tick tock, now it is one o’clock… Cuckoo!
(raise baby up for each cuckoo)

(Repeat for other times of day)
Now it is two o’clock… Cuckoo! Cuckoo!
Now it is three o’clock… Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo!

 

Transition: Come 'A' Look And See (fingerplay song I first picked up at a workshop conducted by Jane Cobb but can also be found on the music CD The Baby Record by Bob McGrath)

Come a' look a' see,
Here's my mama, 
(point to thumb)
Come a' look a' see,
Here's my papa, 
(point to index finger)
Come a' look a' see,
My brother tall, 
(point to tall finger)
Sister, baby, 
(point to ring, then baby finger) 
I love them all. 
(Kiss the fingertips of your finger family) 

 

Book #2: Bugs! Bugs! Bugs! by Bob Barner

Book #3: Butterfly Butterfly by Petr Horáček (pop-up)

Closing music with scarves: “Popcorn Calling Me” action song from Buzz Buzz by Laurie Berkner

 

Art activity: Fly butterflies on straws (Color the butterfly shapes, cut them out with scissors, then tape the specially folded shapes to a straw.)