Flowers All Around - Family Storytime

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

Opening #1: “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” from Songs for Wiggleworms 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, hands in your lap.

 

 

Color literacy activity 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: Up, Down, and Around by Katherine Ayers, illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott (big book)

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 (not sure where I found this action chant)

I plant a little seed in the cold, cold ground
(bend down and pretend to plant a seed)

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

Down come the raindrops soft and slowly
(dancing fingers downward)

Up comes the flower grow, grow, grow
(jump as flower emerges)

 

***Parent literacy tip:  Naming the parts of plants or flowers or trees is helpful in building vocabulary, which will help children when they learn to read.            

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: Max Loves Sunflowers by Ken Wilson-Max (lift-flap)

Closing music with stretchy-band: “Walk Along the River” from Rocketship Run by Laurie Berkner Band

Art activity: On a bare tree drawing, paint on green leaves with cotton balls inside a clothespin  

Optional other books:
The Surprise Garden by Zoe Hall, illustrated by Shari Halpern
A Seed Grows by Antoinette Portis
Seeds by Carme Lemniscates