Touch the Night - 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.

 

Opening #3: Fee Fi Fo Fum

Fee fi fo fum,
(clap for each syllable)

See my fingers,
(wiggle fingers)

See my thumbs.
(wiggle thumbs)

Fee fi fo fum,
(clap for each syllable)

Good bye fingers,
(hide one hand behind back)

Good bye thumbs.
(hide the other hand behind back)

(Repeat several times moving and saying the words faster and faster)

 

Literacy activity flannelboard: Twinkle, Twinkle Colored Stars

 Directions: Hand out colored stars to every child. Sing the song once. Then change out the word "little" with a color of a star. The children comes up to place their star on the board when their color is sung. 

  

  

 

Book #1: Touch the Brightest Star by Christie Matheson

Theme activity #1: "The Night I Had a Dream" action song from Whaddaya Think of That? by Laurie Berkne

Theme activity #2: Two Little Barn Owls (adaptation of “Two Little Blackbirds” fingerplay rhyme by Carol Hopkins)

Two little barn owls sitting on a roof.
One named Jack.  The other named Jill.
Fly back Jack.  Fly back Jill.
Two little barn owls sitting on a roof.

Two little barn owls sitting on a roof.
One named Jack. The other named Jill.
Fly high Jack.  Fly low Jill.
Two little barn owls sitting on a roof.

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: What Color Is Night? by Grant Snider 

Book #3: Night Light by Nicholas Blechman 

Closing music with rhythm sticks: “Goin’ On a Bear Hunt” from Kids In Action by Greg & Steve       

  

 

Art activity:  Create paper cup tealite lanterns by coloring on a white paper cup with crayons; punching holes in the cup with a hole punch (I did this ahead of time); threading pipe cleaners through the holes for decorations and a handle; adding a battery operated tealite candle.  

Optional other books:
A Big Mooncake for Little Star by Grace Lin
The Very Lonely Firefly by Eric Carle