Families - 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.

 

 

Literacy activity flannelboard: Matching Mother and Baby Animals

I found some "Animal and their young" matching card print outs on the Twinkl education resource website. I made multiple copies of the baby animals and handed them out to the children. When I put a mother animal on the board, the children with the corresponding baby animal would then place their card on the board. 

  

  

Book #1: Grandma’s Tiny House by JaNay Brown-Wood, illustrated by Priscilla Burris  

Stand-up activity: “If You’re Happy And You Know It” from Wee Sing

Sit-down activity: 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) 

               

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: Just Like Daddy by Frank Asch

Book #3: All of Us by Carin Berger

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

   

 

Art activity: Decorate a around a circle that says “You are my sunshine” with lengths of colored ribbon and metallic pens

Optional other books:
The Family Book by Todd Parr
Loves Makes a Family by Sophie Beer (board book)
 

 

 

 

 

Families - Baby Toddler Storytime

A Tuesday morning storytime for ages 0-2 years old.  

Opening #1: Skinnamarink (action song from Car Songs: Songs to Sing Anywhere by Dennis Buck from Kimbo)

Opening #2: Sticky, Sticky Bubblegum (fingerplay)

Sticky, sticky bubblegum, bubblegum, bubblegum; 
Sticky, sticky bubblegum;
Stuck to your __________.
1, 2, 3, PULL!

(Repeat with more body parts)

 

 

Book: I Love Us!: A Book About Family by Theodore Henry, illustrated by Luisa Uribe (board book)

Stand-up activity: “If You’re Happy And You Know It” action song from Songs for Wiggleworms 

Sit-down activity: 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) 

 

Lap rhyme #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!

 

Lap rhyme #2: Counting Bubbles (counting rhyme I learned during a BrainDance workshop)

One bubble, two bubbles, three bubbles, top.
(pat legs with hands for each number chanted, then place hands on top of head)

Three bubbles, four bubbles, five bubbles, drop.
(pat legs with hands for each number chanted, then drop hands to lap)

Six bubbles, seven bubbles, nine bubbles, pop.
(pat legs with hands for each number chanted, then clap hands loudly in front of body)

Ten little bubbles floating down!
(twinkle hands down to floor)

Now let’s blow _____ bubbles.
(This is a breath exercise.  Pick a number and pretend to blow that number of bubbles through hand.  Don’t forget to pop the bubbles with a loud clap after blowing it up.  I count the bubble while I do the clap.) 

 

Lap rhyme #3: Choo Choo (fingerplay that crosses the midline that I found at https://youtu.be/gr4gtVYSAEg?si=ceNiLrI-2BuUbGMC)

Choo, choo, choo, choo, choo, choo, choo, choo,
Up the railroad track.
Choo, choo, choo, chook, choo, choo, choo, choo,
Then we come right back. 

First, we go to grandma’s house,
Up the railroad track.
Then, we go to monkey’s house,
Then we come right back. 

Choo, choo, choo, choo, choo, choo, choo, choo,
Up the railroad track.
Choo, choo, choo, chook, choo, choo, choo, choo,
Then we come right back. 

 

Lap rhyme #4: Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes (traditional body parts action song)

Head, shoulders, knees, and toes,
Knees and toes.
Head, shoulders, knees and toes,
Knees and toes.
And eyes and, ears and, mouth and nose.
Head, shoulders, knees and toes,
Knees and toes.

 

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.

 

Letter of the day: "H” is for happy

 

 

Flannelboard: Daddy Mouse House (rhyme written by Carol Hopkins)

(On the flannelboard put out 5-8 houses of different colors.  Make sure the little baby mouse is under one house. Say the rhyme with the children and peek under the house color the children request until you find the baby mouse.)

Daddy mouse, daddy mouse where is your baby?
Daddy mouse, daddy mouse look for your baby under the _________ house.

 

Closing song with scarves: “Milkshake” from Songs for Wiggleworms

 

 

 

 

Passive Craft Table: Paper Plate Snakes

 

This past summer, I had a live animal presentation planned for my library that got cancelled at the last moment.  Since we knew many people would be coming for the event, I was asked to put out a craft table to give those who showed up something to do. With less than one hour to plan, I looked at our craft supplies and decided to create a paper plate snake craft activity.  I relied heavily on the MomBrite website (at https://www.mombrite.com/paper-plate-snake-craft/) to write the craft directions.  I put out the supplies, the branch staff quickly made a few examples, and then I left the table out for the rest of the day.  The intention was to treat this as a passive table where children walk up and help themselves to the intended craft.  

Supplies:

-         Paper plates

-         Googly eyes and eye stickers

-         Coloring pens

-         Bingo dabber pens

-         Small pieces of scrap construction paper (for the tongue)

-         White glue and scissors 

 

Everyone was happy with the results of this craft table.  Families who showed up expecting a program still had something to do.  The activity was not a strain on the staff.  Plus, there were some adorable snakes created!  

Passive Craft Table: Peacock Paper Craft

This past summer, I put out a craft table that was available all day long.  The intention of this passive table was to walk up and help yourself to the intended craft.  

 

This craft table was put up to create a paper peacock.  I found it online at Krokotak (https://krokotak.com/2016/08/glue-less-printable-peacock/ ).

 Supplies:

-         Printed template from the website

-         Coloring pens, including some metallic ones

-         Feathers

-         White glue

 

It turns out, folding these peacocks was a little tricky, but the results were beautiful.  They were a low cost, low staff intensive activity with fun results!  

Passive Craft Table: Turtle Craft

 

This past summer, I put out a craft table that was available all day long.  The intention of this passive table was to walk up and help yourself to the intended craft.  

This craft table was put up to create a turtle.  I found it online at Crafty Morning (https://www.craftymorning.com/cupcake-liner-turtle-craft-kids/ ).

Supplies:

-         White cupcake liners

-         Coloring pens

-         Green strips of craft foam (the website suggested using paper, which I think is a better option, but I had craft foam I wanted to use up)

-         Googly eyes

-         Rubber stamps and stamp pads

 

These turtles were very simple to make and decorate.  They were a low cost, low staff intensive activity with fun results!  

Thank You - Baby Toddler Storytime

A Tuesday morning storytime for ages 0-2 years old.  

Opening #1: Skinnamarink (action song from Car Songs: Songs to Sing Anywhere by Dennis Buck from Kimbo)

Opening #2: Sticky, Sticky Bubblegum (fingerplay)

Sticky, sticky bubblegum, bubblegum, bubblegum; 
Sticky, sticky bubblegum;
Stuck to your __________.
1, 2, 3, PULL!

(Repeat with more body parts)

 

 

Book: Thank You Bees by Toni Yuly

Stand-up activity:  “If You’re Happy And You Know It” traditional action song from Songs for Wiggleworms

 Sit-down activity: Ten Fat Turkeys (not sure where I picked up this fingerplay)

(Count fingers)
Ten fat turkeys standing in a row.
They spread their wings and tails just so.
They look to the left,
They look to the right,
When they strut their stuff, they're quite a sight!
But you won't see them on Thanksgiving Day,
'Cause one by one they'll run away.  

 

Lap rhyme #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!

 

Lap rhyme #2: Frog Jump Over the Great Big Stick (lap bounce action rhyme written by Carol Hopkins)

Frog be nimble, frog be quick,
Frog jump over the great big stick.
(lift baby/arms up)

Frog be nimble, frog be slick,
Frog swim under the great big stick.
(make swimming motions with arms)

Frog be nimble, frog go click,
Frog almost falls off the great big stick.
(pretend to fall off lap)

Frog be nimble frog be fine,
Frog gets a kiss at storytime.
(blow kisses)

 

Lap rhyme #3: Roly Poly (hand rolling opposites action rhyme)

Roly poly, roly poly, up, up, up.
Roly poly, roly poly, down, down, down.
Roly poly, roly poly, out, out, out.
Roly poly, roly poly, in, in, in.
Roly poly, roly poly, clap, clap, clap.
Roly poly, roly poly, tap, tap, tap.
Roly poly, roly poly, fast, fast, fast.
Roly poly, roly poly, slow, slow, slow.
Roly poly, roly poly, I love you!

 

Lap rhyme #4: Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes (traditional body parts action song)

Head, shoulders, knees and toes,
Knees and toes.
Head, shoulders, knees and toes,
Knees and toes.
And eyes and, ears and, mouth and nose.
Head, shoulders, knees and toes,
Knees and toes.

 

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) 

 

***Literacy tip: Readers are made in the laps of their loved ones.  This special connection is a huge part of their future success when learning to read. 

Letter of the day: "T is for turkey or thankful or Thanksgiving

 

 

Flannelboard: Turkey’s Tail (a story I adapted and shortened that tells how turkey got his colorful tail feathers)

Closing song with Scarves: “Around and Around” from Welcome from Miss Carole by Carole Peterson

Optional book:
The Thank You Book by Diana Smith, illustrated by Juliana Perdomo (board book)