Bugs in the Grass - 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: Clap for a Butterfly (shape recognition rhyme adapted from a flannelboard rhyme I found on the Pasadena Library website)

(Hand out a butterfly shape to each child.  Each butterfly should have a shape on it.)

Caterpillars, caterpillars spinning cocoons.
(Roll hands)
Hoping spring would be here soon.
With a little bit of magic
(wiggle fingers in the air)
And some warm sunshine
(arms overhead for a round sun)
Clap, clap, clap for a {circle} butterfly to appear!
(Children with circle butterflies bring their butterflies to the board)

(Repeat with other shapes)

… Clap, clap, clap for a {triangle} butterfly to appear…

… Clap, clap, clap for a {square} butterfly to appear…

… Clap, clap, clap for an {oval} butterfly to appear…

  

Book #1: In the Tall, Tall Grass by Denise Fleming (big book)

Stand-up activity: "Baby Bumblebee" from Toddler Action Songs by Cedarmont Kids 

Sit-down activity: Here Is a Beehive (as seen at Jbrary YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/8X0FjXqCw0Y?si=ActSHUys3Gg5HEnk )

Here is the beehive,
But where are the bees?
Hidden away where nobody sees.
Watch and you'll see them come out of the hive,
1, 2, 3, 4, 5... They're alive!
Buzzzzzzz!

 

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 

  

***Parent literacy tip:  Singing develops listening skills and helps children remember things for a longer time.                  

Book #2: Maisy Loves Bees by Lucy Cousins (board book)

Book #3: Butterfly, Butterfly: A Book ofColors by Petr Horáček (pop-up)

Closing music with scarves: “Flitter Flutter” from The Second Line by Johnette Downing  

Art activity: Watercolor painting on an outline of a bug, plus use a glue stick to small squares of crepe paper onto the bug painting  

Optional other books:
Caterpillar’s Wish by Mary Murphy
Some Bugs by Angela DiTerlizzi, illustrated by Brenden Wenzel