Morning with the Garbage Trucks - 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/Listening activity flannelboard: There Was an Old Woman Recycling Rhyme (adapted by Carol Hopkins from a rhyme found at Storytime Source Page)

Directions: Give each child a picture of bottles, cans, boxes, or newspapers.  Each child comes up to put their picture on the board when their recyclable item is said.  

There was an old woman who lived in a shoe 
She had so much trash, she didn't know what to do
She learned from a friend to separate a few
And got herself a Recycling Bin.

There was an old woman who lived in a shoe
She had so much trash, she didn't now what to do
She piled up the bottles, the bottles, the bottles,
And took them out back to the Recycling Bin.

There was an old woman who lived in a shoe
She had so much trash, she didn't know what to do
She piled up the cans, the cans, the cans,
And took them out back to the Recycling Bin.

There was an old woman who lived in a shoe
She had so much trash, she didn't now what to do
She piled up the newspapers, the newspapers, the newspapers,
And took them out back to the Recycling Bin.

  

Book #1: Trashy Town by Andrea Zimmerman and David Clemesha, illustrated by Dan Yaccarino

Stand-up activity: I'm a Little Garbage Truck (action song to the tune of "I'm a Little Teapot" written by Carol Hopkins)

I'm a little garbage truck, watch me go
Here is my hopper
Here is my cab
When I get all filled up, to the dump I go
Just tip me over and dump the garbage out

 

Sit-down activity: Morning at the Dump (fingerplay written by Carol Hopkins)

(show ten fingers)
Early in the morning, down at the dump
See the dump trucks standing all in a row
See them dump their garbage
(bend fingers)
Dump, dump, dump
Now watch them rolling away
(roll hands over each other)
To go gather more
(sign language for "more")

 

***Parent literacy tip:  When you are reading books with your child, don’t forget to talk about feelings.  This helps build vocabulary and understanding.              

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: I Stink by Kate and Jim McMullan

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

   

Art activity: Watercolor paint a recycling truck drawing and then add glued on shredded or scrap paper  

Optional other books:
Garbage Trucks by Marv Alinas
The Planet We Call Home by Aimee Isaac, illustrated by Jaime Kim
The Earth Book by Todd Parr

 

 

 

  

Habits of Rabbits - 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: The Wonderful Habits of Rabbits by Douglas Florian, illustrated by Sonia Sánchez

Stand-up activity: If You’re a Bunny and You Know It (action song to the tune of “If You’re Happy And You Know It” that I found at Adventures of a Bookwork blog at https://www.adventuresofabookworm.com/2019/04/17/storytime-bunnies-rabbits/#google_vignette)

If you’re a bunny and you know it, hop around
If you’re a bunny and you know it, hop around
If you’re a bunny and you know it and you really want to show it
If you’re a bunny and you know it, hop around

(flop your ears)

(wiggle your nose)

 

Sit-down activity: Bunny Jump Over the Great Big Stick (lap bounce action rhyme written by Carol Hopkins)

Bunny be nimble, Bunny be quick,
Bunny jump over the great big stick. 

Bunny be nimble, Bunny be slick,
Bunny dig under the great big stick.

Bunny be nimble, Bunny go click,
Bunny almost falls off the great big stick.

Bunny be nimble, Bunny be fine,
Bunny blows kisses at story time!

 

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: "R” is for Rabbits

 

 

Flannelboard: Spring Things (flannelboard I found in my library system’s collection)

One little frog croaks, “How do you do?”
Two little ducks quack, “How do you do too?”
Three little clouds drift across the sky.
Four little butterflies start to fly away.
Five little bunny go hopping on by.

 

***Literacy tip: Don’t forget to read non-fiction books with your children.  Even young children love learning new things.          

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

 

 

 

 

March Preschool Tours

 I had a wonderful time this month giving library tours along with a storytime for a local preschool.  

For the Two's and Three's classes I read:

Don't Push the Button by Bill Cotter
Piranhas Don't Eat Bananas by Aaron Blabey

For the Four's and Pre-K classes I read:

Crash, Splash, or Moo by Bob Shea
Dandelion Magic by Darren Farrell, illustrated by Maya Tatsukawa 
The Goat and the Stoat and the Boat by Em Lynus, illustrated by Matt Hunt 

Fun Stuff - 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: Maisy At the Fair by Lucy Cousins

***Literacy tip: When we say rhymes, play rhyming games, or point out rhyming words, it helps children hear the smaller sounds in words which helps them later when they learn to read.      

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

Sit-down activity: Alligator Pie (an action rhyme I found many years ago that I have seen on many websites)

Alligator, alligator, alligator pie, 
(Open and close arms like the jaws of an alligator)

If I don't get some, I think I'm gonna cry.
(Rub eyes like you are crying)

You can take away the grass,
(Point to the ground)

You can take away the sky,
(Point to the sky above)

But don't take away my alligator pie!
(Open and close arms like an alligator)  

 

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: 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) 

 

Letter of the day: "F” is for fair

 

 

• Flannelboard: Daddy Mouse House (color rhyme flannelboard)

(put up different color houses on the board, hide a baby mouse picture under one house)

 

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

(repeat by replacing the color yellow with other colored houses on the board until the baby mouse is found)

      

Closing song with egg shakers: “I Know a Chicken” from The Best of the Laurie Berkner Band by Laurie Berkner 

 

 

 

 

Windy Day Kites - 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: Kite Flying by Grace Lin

***Literacy tip: Language used in storybooks is different from what we use when we are speaking, so children hear different words when being read to, which builds vocabulary.    

Stand-up activity: My Kite (action song to the tune of “The Farmer In the Dell” adapted from a song found at https://preschooleducation.com/songs/kite-songs-for-preschool/)

My kite is up so high,
My kite is up so high,
Oh my – – just watch it fly
My kite is up so high.

My kite is falling down,
My kite is falling down,
Oh no – – it’s down so low
My kite is falling down.

The wind has caught my kite,
The wind has caught my kite,
What fun – – I’m on the run
The wind has caught my kite.

My kite is up so high,
My kite is up so high,
Oh my – – just watch it fly
My kite is up so high.

 

Sit-down activity: “Eensy Weensy Spider” traditional fingerplay found on Toddler Tunes by Cedarmont Kids

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: 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) 

 

Letter of the day: "K” is for kite

 

 

Flannelboard: What a Windy Day (rhyme to the tune of "The Wheels On the Bus" that I found in Mailbox Preschool magazine, April/May 2008, page 33)

The kites in the air are blowing in the wind,
Blowing in the wind, blowing in the wind.
The kites in the air are blowing in the wind,
What a windy day!

Other verses:
The leaves on the trees…
The clouds in the sky…
The flag on the lawn…
The hair on my head…

      

Closing song with egg shakers: “I Know a Chicken” from The Best of the Laurie Berkner Band by Laurie Berkner