Snow Play - 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: Snowing Letters (I found this wonderful snowing rhyme flannelboard on the Once Upon a (Story) Time blog that I adapted for my flannelboard)
Directions: I gave each child a snowflake (clip art cut out on paper). Each snowflake had one letter written on the backside corresponding to the letters above in the rhyme. As I said the rhyme, I would then say the first letter of each underlined word. I would also write the letter on the board. The children were to place their snowflakes on the white board (with tape) when I said their letter. This turned out to be a great exercise in letter recognition. 

Snow on my forehead, (F)

Snow on my knee, (K)

Snow on my eyes, (E) 

Getting hard to see.

Snow on my boots, (B)

Snow on my hair, (H)

Snow on my mittens, (M)

Snow everywhere!

 

***Parent literacy tip:  If you read picture books to children, you will expose them to words they would not hear in daily conversations with adults.  This important vocabulary building! 

  

 

Book #1: I’m Going to Build a Snowman by Jashar Awan

Stand-up activity: This Is the Way We Play In the Snow (action song written by Carol Hopkins to the tune of "Here We go Round the Mulberry Bush")

This is the way we stomp through the snow, stomp through the snow, stomp through the snow.
This is the way we stomp through the snow,
When we go out to play.
This is the way we hop through the snow, hop through the snow, hop through the snow.
This is the way we hop through the snow,
When we go out to play.

(Repeat with other action words)

   

Sit-down activity: Itsy-Bitsy Snowflake Itsy Bitsy Snowflake (fingerplay I found in a Mailbox Preschool magazine, December/January 2007-8, page 26)

The itsy-bitsy snowflake fell down from the sky.
It landed on my nose
And it bounced upon my eye
It slid down to my chin
And it landed on my tongue
Then it melted all away
Now my snowflake song is done!

 

Transition: Open-Shut Them (fingerplay) 

Open, shut them
(open and close hands)
Open, shut them
Give a little clap (clap)
Open, shut them

Open, shut them
Put them in your lap
(put hands in lap)

Creep them, creep them
Under your chin
(creep fingers up chest)
Open your mouth, but don't put them in
(do as words say)

Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Give a little clap
Open shut them
Open shut them
Put them in your lap 

  

Book #2: Bears In the Snow by Shirley Parenteau, illustrated by David Walker

Closing music with jingle bells: “Fruit Salad Salsa” from Victor Vito by Laurie Berkner

   

Art activity: Snowman in a storm
Blue paper background, with a white snowperson cutout; Stamp white paint snowflakes made with receipt roll plastic cores; Add salt for a little sparkle. 

Optional books:
Snow by Manya Stojic
A Big Bed for Little Snow by Grace Lin
Cleo In the Snow by Caroline Mockford