The Mayor at Storytime - Family Storytime

A Saturday morning storytime for ages 0-6 years old, with a special guest reader!  

Opening #1: “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” from Songs forWiggleworms by Old Town School of Folk Music

Opening #2: Roly Poly Opposites (hand rolling body part chant adapted by Carol Hopkins)

Roly poly, roly poly, oh so fast!
Roly poly, roly poly, oh so slowly.
Roly poly, roly poly, up.
Roly poly, roly poly, down.
Roly poly, roly poly, out.
Roly poly, roly poly, in.
Roly poly, roly poly, hands on your head.
Roly poly, roly poly, hand on your feet.

(Repeat with other opposites)

Roly poly, roly poly, oh so fast again!
Roly poly, roly poly, hands in your lap.

 

Opening #3: Fee Fi Fo Fum (clapping chant)

Fee, fi, fo, fum,
(clapping)
See my fingers,
(wave fingers)
See my thumbs.
(wave thumbs)
Fee, fi, fo, fum,
(clapping)
Goodbye fingers,
(one hand behind back)
Good by thumbs.
(other hand behind back)

(Repeat going faster)

Literacy activity: Camping Chant (from https://madelynslibraryprogramming.com/2016/08/10/toddler-storytime-camping/)

I was laying in my sleeping bag

I couldn’t go to sleep

I looked at my watch and wanted to weep

 

I rolled to my left

I rolled to my right

but all I could hear were animal noises in the night.

 

I heard a {Owl} go {Hoo, hoo, hoo}.

 

(continue with other night noise animals like cricket, frog, dog, bear, etc.)

 

  

Mayor’s choice book #1: Hooray for Hat by Brian Won

Stand-up activity: “If You’re Happy and You Know It” action song from Songs for Wiggleworms by Old Town School of Folk Music

Sit-down activity: “Baby Bumblebee” from Toddler Action Songs by Cedarmont Kids

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) 

 

Mayor’s choice book #2: The Mixed-Up Truck by Stephen Savage

Mayor’s choice book #3: Bark, George! By Jules Feiffer

***Parent literacy tip: Our action songs and craft activities encourage your child to use finger and arm motions of various kinds. These motions help them later when they are learning to write.   

Closing music with bean bags: “Bean Bag Rock” from Bean Bag Activities & Coordination Skills by Georgiana Stewart

Art activity: Paper cup lanterns

Punch two holes in a paper cup.  Use a pipe cleaner to connect the two holes to create a handle.  Decorate the outside of the paper cup with color pens, stickers, and ribbon glued on with glue sticks.  Finish up by adding a battery operated tea light candle inside the cup.