Plants Around Us - Family Storytime

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

Opening #2: “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” from Songs forWiggleworms by Old Town School of Folk Music

Opening #2: Roly Poly Oh So Fast (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, hands on your head.
Roly poly, roly poly, hand on your feet.

(Repeat with other body parts)

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

 

Literacy flannelboard: Pretty Flower Colors (color literacy flannelboard song to the tune of “Are You Sleeping” written by Carol Hopkins)

Pretty flowers;
Pretty flowers.
Is yours {_purple_}?
Is yours {_purple_}?
Bring it up right now;
Bring it up right now.
Let’s find some more;
Let’s find some more.

(Repeat with other color names)

 

  

Book #1: Call Me Tree by Maya Christina Gonzalez

Stand-up activity: “My Ups and Downs” from Jim Gill Sings Do Re Mi On His Toe Leg Knee by Jim Gill

Sit-down activity: Plant a Little Seed (I found this pretend play rhyme in my library system’s Gardening storytime box)

I plant a little seed in the cold, cold ground.
(Pretend to plant a seed in the ground)

Out comes the yellow sun, big and round.
(Circle arms above head like sun)

Down come the raindrops soft and slow.
(Dancing fingers down)

Up comes the flower grow, grow, grow.
(Move arms up and out)

 

Transition: Tommy & Tammy Thumb (fingerplay)

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.

Dancing, dancing, dancing,
Dance them on your knees,
Dance them on your head,
Dance them on your shoulders,
Then tuck them into bed.

 

Book #2: Up, Down, and Around by Katherine Ayres, illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott

Book #3: Big Yellow Sunflower by Frances Barry (fold-out) 

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

 

Art activity: Use cut straws to stamp flowers on paper.  

 

 

Extra activity #1: Plant radish seeds in peet pots

***Parent literacy tip: Watching a seed turn into a plant is a magical experience for most children. They are fascinated by the process.  

 

Extra activity #2: Use magnifying glasses to look at different seeds and leaves.  (Just before storytime, I went outside the library building and picked a bunch of interesting leaves.  The seeds were part of a kit I was borrowing at the time.)