Hocus Pocus Fall Leaves - 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: Color Leaves Falling (color name flannelboard to the tune of "Are You Sleeping")

{_Red_} leaves falling
{_Red_} leaves falling
In the wind
In the wind
Bring it up right now
Bring it up right now
To the board
To the board

(Repeat with other leaf colors)

  

Book #1: Hocus Pocus, It’s Fall! by Anne Sibley O’Brien, illustrated by Susan Gal

Stand-up activity: “Little Squirrel” action song from Movin’ & Groovin’ Home 2 by Kindermusik

Sit-down activity: Autumn Leaves Are Falling Down (scarf song to the tune of "London Bridges" that I found at the Yogi Librarian blog)

Autumn leaves are falling down,
Falling down, falling down,
Autumn leaves are falling down,
On this sunny day!

The wind will blow them round and round,
Round and round, round and round,
The wind will blow them round and round,
On this sunny day!

Take the rake and rake them up,
Rake them up, rake them up,
Take the rake and rake them up,
On this sunny day!

Now let's jump into the pile,
Into the pile, into the pile,
Now let's jump into the pile,
On this sunny day!

 

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:  It takes 5 to 12 seconds for children to respond.  We need to be patient after asking a question.                   

Book #2: Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert

Book #3: Fall Leaves Fall! by Zoe Hall,  illustrated by Shari Halpern  

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

Art activity: Glue craft foam and paper leaves to a construction paper headband, plus coloring with metallic pens  

Optional other books:
Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf by Lois Ehlert (big book)
Leaf Jumpers by Carole Gerber, illustrated by Leslie Evans