Pets We Like - Family Storytime

A Wednesday 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: Cat Fur Patterns (vocabulary flannelboard rhyme written by Carol Hopkins to the tune "If You're Happy And You Know It")

If you’re a {tabby} and you know it,
Come on up.

If you’re a {tabby} and you know it,
Come on up.

If you’re a {tabby} and you know it,
Then meow to really show it.

If you’re a {tabby} and you know it,
Come on up.

(repeat while substituting other cat pattern names such as calico, solid color, colorpoint, and tortoise shell, etc.)

  

   

 

Book #1: The Man Who Didn't Like Animals by Deborah Underwood, illustrated by LeUyen Pham

Theme activity #1:  “The Goldfish” an action song from Victor Vito by Laurie Berkner

Theme activity #2: Hickory Dickory Dock (traditional fingerplay)

Hickory dickory dock 
(clapping) 
A mouse ran up the clock 
(one hand run up the other arm) 
The clock struck 1 
(clap once) 
The mouse ran down 
(one hand run down the other arm) 
Hickory dickory dock 
(clapping) 

Hickory dickory dock 
A mouse ran up the clock 
The clock struck 2 
(clap twice) 
The mouse said "BOO!" 
(try to tickle child) 
Hickory dickory dock 

Hickory dickory dock 
A mouse ran up the clock 
The clock struck 3 
(clap three times) 
The mouse said "Wheee!" 
(one hand slide down the other arm and the down to the floor as if on a slide) 
Hickory dickory dock 

Hickory dickory dock 
A mouse ran up the clock 
The clock struck 4 
(clap 4 times) 
There is no more 
(shake head, show empty hands) 
Hickory dickory dock.

  

Transition: Dance Your Fingers (fingerplay adaption from a video I saw from New York Public Library)

Dance your fingers up;
(put fingers high in the air)

Dance your fingers down;
(touch the ground)

Dance your fingers from side to side;
(move hands from left to right side of body and back again, several times)

And dance them all around.
(hands move in a large wiggly circle in the air in front of your body)

Dance them on your shoulders;
(fingers wiggle on your shoulders)

Dance them on your head;
(fingers wiggle on top of your head)

Dance them on your tummy;
(fingers wiggle on top of your tummy)

And put them all to bed.
(fold hands in lap or tuck under armpits)

  

Book #2: Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell (lift-flap)

Book #3: Stack the Cats by Susie Gahremani 

Book #4:  Dog by Matthew Van Fleet, photography by Brain Stanton (lift-flap and movie parts) 

Closing music with egg shakers: “I Know a Chicken” from Whaddaya Think of That? by Laurie Berkner        

Art activity:  Colorful chalk drawing on large dog silhouette on black construction paper

Optional other books:
Short Dog, Long Dog: A Book of Opposites by Ann Hrachovec (board book)