Apples Growing Falling - 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: Letter Apples Falling Down 

(I handed out paper apple shapes with the letters of for the word "apple" written on them.  The children taped their apples to the board when I called their letter.) 

  

  

 

Book #1: Apple Farmer Annie by Monica Wellington  

Theme activity #1: “I’m a Little Teapot” traditional action song from This Little Piggy: And Other Rhymes to Sing and Play by Adam Stemple, Jane Yolen, et al.  

Theme activity #2: "Shakin' Like a Leafy Tree" from Racing to the Rainbow by The Wiggles 

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: An Apple Grows (Ready, Set, Grow: Plants series) by Rex Ruby

Book #3: Orange Pear Apple Bear by Emily Gravett 

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

Art activity:  Yarn lacing cardstock apples similar to this idea I found on the Little Red Window blog at https://littleredwindow.com/hungry-caterpillar-apple-lacing-cards/ 

Optional other books:
The Apple Pie Tree by Zoe Hall, illustrated by Shari Halpern 
Every Autumn Comes the Bear by Jim Arnosky 

 

 

 

 

Educational Toys at Playtime

 

Children should play with toys because they boost cognitive development, cultivate motor skills, and encourage social growth. Play-based learning helps young children make sense of the world through safe, engaging exploration. 

The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) has a nice article about selecting toys for your child: https://www.naeyc.org/our-work/families/why-this-toy.

Toys enjoyed at my Playtimes:

Forest and safari animal footprint stones

Animal puppets

Dinosaur number train

Clothespin counting set

Shape turtles

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Animal Play - Baby Toddler Storytime

A Wednesday 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 places to stick the gum)

 

 

Book: Here Come Poppy and Max by Lindsey Gardiner 

Themed activity #1:  Waddling Around the Iceberg (action song to the tune of “Ring Around the Rosie” written by Carol Hopkins

Waddling around the iceberg,
Moving little feet,
Jumping, Jumping,
We all go for a swim!

Swimming in the water,
Eating lots of fish,
Splashing icebergs,
We all jump up!

 

Themed activity #2: “Itsy Bitsy Spider” traditional fingerplay

The itsy-bitsy spider crawled up the water spout.
Down came the rain, and washed the spider out.
Out came the sun, and dried up all the rain,
Then the itsy-bitsy spider went up the spout again.

The great big hairy spider crawled up the water spout.
Down came the rain, and washed the spider out.
Out came the sun, and dried up all the rain,
Then the great big hairy spider went up the spout again.

 

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: A Hippopotamus Got on a City Bus (lap bounce rhyme I found at Jbrary at https://youtu.be/OZOq5Wiiox8?si=guAfW8ip2WPwZAtq)

A sheep, a sheep, a sheep got on a city bus;
And all, and all, and all the people said,
"Baaaack up!"

A cow, a cow, a cow got on a bus;
And all, and all, and all the people said,
"Mooooove over!"

A hip, a hip, a hippopotamus got on, got on, got on a city bus;
And all, and all, and all the people said,
"You're squishing us!"
(hug baby)

 

Lap rhyme #4: Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes (traditional 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: “A” is for animals

Flannelboard: Carl Chameleon's Walk 

Closing song with scarves: "Nelly Go Cross the Ocean" from More Tickles & Tunes by Kathy Reid-Naiman 

 

 

 

 

Night Sky - 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: I’m Going Out to Space (vocabulary building flannelboard activity to the tune of “The Farmer In the Dell”)

(Hand out felt pieces for stars, planets, rocket ships, and moons to the children.  The children bring their pieces up to the board when it is said in the song.)

I’m going out to space;
I’m going out to space;
I think I’ll see a { planet } there;
I’m going out to space.

  

  

Book #1: When the Sky Glows by Nell Cross Beckerman, illustrated by David Litchfield 

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

  

Theme activity #2: Just Like an Owl (action song to the tune of “London Bridges” that I found at the Upper Hudson Library System webpage)

Flap your wings and fly around, fly around, fly around.
Flap your wings and fly around, just like an owl. 

Open your eyes big and wide, big and wide, big and wide.
Open your eyes big and wide, just like an owl. 

Land on the ground and hop along, hop along, hop along.
Land on the ground and hop along, just like an owl. 

Turn your head and say, “Who! Who!”  Say, “Who! Who!” Say, “Who! Who!”
Turn your head and say, “Who! Who!,” just like an owl.

Find your nest and sit right down, sit right down, sit right down.
Find your nest and sit right down, just like an owl. 

  

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)

 

***Parent literacy tip: Describing an object or event helps us understand it.  Don't forget to talk about noises when you are describing things.  

Book #2: Parade of Elephants by Kevin Henkes 

Book #3: Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes 

Closing music with scarves: “Silly Dance Contest” from Jim Gill Sings the Sneezing Song & Other Contagious Tunes by Jim Gill    

  

 

Art activity:  Paper plate moon made from paint stamping with recipt core craters and star stickers

Optional other books:
A Big Mooncake for Little Star by Grace Lin
Tractors In Space by Ross Mackay, illustrated by Alex Willmore 

 

 

 

 

Moon at Night - Baby Toddler Storytime

A Wednesday 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 places to stick the gum)

 

 

Book: Night Owl by Toni Yuly 

Themed activity #1:  "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" traditional song from Songs for Wiggleworms

Themed 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.

 

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: A Hippopotamus Got on a City Bus (lap bounce rhyme I found at Jbrary at https://youtu.be/OZOq5Wiiox8?si=guAfW8ip2WPwZAtq)

A sheep, a sheep, a sheep got on a city bus;
And all, and all, and all the people said,
"Baaaack up!"

A cow, a cow, a cow got on a bus;
And all, and all, and all the people said,
"Mooooove over!"

A hip, a hip, a hippopotamus got on, got on, got on a city bus;
And all, and all, and all the people said,
"You're squishing us!"
(hug baby)

 

Lap rhyme #4: Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes (traditional 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.

   

***Literacy tip: Describing an object or an event helps us understand it.  Don't forget to talk about noises when you are describing things.  

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: “N” is for night

 

 

Flannelboard: Phases of the Moon 

I cut some paper plates to create four phases of the moon (full, gibbous, half, crescent). I introduced these phases to the children and then read a poem about the moon I found on the Guybrarian blog. 

 

Closing song with scarves: "Nelly Go Cross the Ocean" from More Tickles & Tunes by Kathy Reid-Naiman 

 

 

 

 

Storytime at Summer Camp, Visit #2

 Another summer of storytimes at a local summer camp for 5- and 6-year-olds!  It is a short storytime with a simple art project.  The children and counselors really enjoy these visits.    

 

 

Books:

Gaston by Kelly Dipucchio, illustrated by Christian Robinson 

   

Craft activity:

A white paper dog cut out glued inside fringe paper scissor cut worksheet that looks like grass.

More Flannelboards at Playtime

Interacting with flannelboards helps build early literacy while also supporting math concepts.  Telling a story with felt pieces builds vocabulary and may also mimic the left-to-right process we use for reading in English.  They can be used to teach counting, sequencing, sorting, and shape recognition.

I love watching a caregiver and child tell a story together using the felt pieces. 

I usually bring out two flannelboard sets at each playtime.  Some of the popular sets include:

-          Five little penguins

-          Mouse Loves Cheese

-          Great Enormous Turnip

-          Five Little Umbrellas

-          Number set 0-10

Storytime at Summer Camp, Visit #1

Another summer of storytimes at a local summer camp for 5- and 6-year-olds!  It is a short storytime with a simple art project.  The children and counselors really enjoy these visits.    

 

 

 

Books:

I'm a Unicorn by Helen Yoon

This Is a Ball by Beck & Matt Stanton 

   

Craft activity:

The children color and folded and taped papers to make a small paper pocket with a unicorn face clip art on it.  Place this pocket on a straw and then blow into the straw to allow the unicorn to fly.