Showing posts with label Birds. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Birds. Show all posts

Friday, February 27, 2026

Spring Animals - Baby Toddler Storytime

 A Tuesday 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 body parts)

 

 

Book: It’s Spring by Samantha Berger and Pamela Chanko, illustrated by Melissa Sweet

Themed activity #1: “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.

 

Themed activity #2: “If You’re Happy and You Know It” traditional action song from Songs for Wiggleworms

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: We’re Making a Purple Stew (story time song I saw a in a video from New York Public Library)

We’re making a {_purple_} stew,
Whip-whip-, whip-whip.
(pretend to stir a big pot in front of your body)

We’re making a {_purple_} stew,
Scooby-dooby-doo.

With {_purple_} potatoes,
(use one hand to pretend to throw potatoes from your shoulder into the pretend pot)

And {_purple_} tomatoes,
(use your other hand to pretend to throw tomatoes from your shoulder into the pretend pot)

And even a {_purple_} you!
(tickle baby’s tummy)

**What other colors should we do?
(repeat the song with other colors)

 

Lap rhyme #4: Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes (traditional body parts action 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: When singing, children hear the same short sentences over an over.  This helps them recognize simple sentence structures and patterns.            

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: "S” is for spring

 

 

Flannelboard: Five Little Chickadees (I found this rhyme in a Wild Animal Baby magazine Dec/Jan 2009). 

Closing song with egg shakers: “Bublebee Buzz Buzz” from Buzz Buzz by Laurie Berkner   




 

 

 

 

Friday, February 20, 2026

Spring Happiness - 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: Bird Shapes (a fun shape and color rhyme I found in my library’s flannelboard collection, it is very similar to this Bird House flannelboard I found at https://fallingflannelboards.wordpress.com/2013/01/18/flannel-friday-bird-houses/ )

 

  

 

Book #1: Hooray for Hoppy! by Tim Hopgood

Stand-up activity: “If You’re Happy and You Know It” traditional movement song from WeeSing

Activity: Jump, Jump Went the Little Green Frog (action chant)

 Jump, jump went the little green frog.

Jump, jump went the little green frog.
Jump, jump went the little green frog...
And his eyes went blink, blink.

Blink, blink went the little green frog.
Blink, blink went the little green frog.
Blink, blink went the little green frog...
And his tongue went glup, glup.

Glup, glup went the little green frog.
Glup, glup went the little green frog.
Glup, glup went the little green frog...
And his legs went jump, jump.

Jump, jump went the little green frog.
Jump, jump went the little green frog.
Jump, jump went the little green frog...
And then he swam away.

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:  When singing, children hear the same short sentences over and over.  This helps them recognize simple sentence structures and patterns.             

Book #2: Splish, Splash, Spring by Jan Carr, illustrated by Dorothy Donohue  

Book #3: It Looked Like Spilt Milk by Charles G. Shaw (Big Book)   

Closing music with bells: “The Tempo Marches On” from Jim Gill Sings Do Re Mi on His Toe Leg Knee by Jim Gill      

  



Art activity: Nest water color sheets with feathers to glue on 

Optional other books:
A Book of Babies by Il Sung Na
Spring Song by Barbara Seuling, illustrated by Greg Newbold

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday, November 26, 2025

Passive Craft Table: Winter Penguins

 


For this passive program, I set up a craft table on a no school day in December.  I found these penguin craft kits online at Baker Ross.  These kits were simple to put together and decorate.  I added gem stickers, coloring pens, and googly eyes for more decorating options.          

Supplies:

-         Penguin craft kits

-         Coloring pens

-         White glue

-         Gem stickers

-         Googly eyes

-         Tablecloth





Saturday, November 22, 2025

Penguins Up and Down - 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: Penguins Sliding Down the Hill (a counting and ordinal number flannelboard story written by Carol Hopkins

A bunch of little penguins went sliding down the hill.
They played all day, sliding on their tummies.

The first on the hill were the number _1’s_. 

The second down the hill were the number _2’s_.

The third on the hill were the number _3’s_.

The fourth down the hill were the number _4’s_.

(Continue through all the numbered penguins you have.  When all of the penguins are on the board, count the total number of penguins.)

_____ total penguins marching up the hill and then went down, sliding on their tummies! 

 


Book #1: Up & Down: A Lift-the-Flap Book by Britta Teckentrup  (lift-flap, moving pieces)  

Stand-up activity: 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!

 

Activity: Two Little Penguins (fingerplay variant of the rhyme “Two Little Blackbirds” that I found at https://kcls.org/content/two-little-penguins/)

Two little penguins sitting on the ice 
(Hold up two index fingers)
One bows once, the other bows twice 
(Make fingers bow)
Waddle, little penguins, waddle away 
(Put fingers behind back)
Come back penguins, time to play 
(Bring fingers back to front)

(Adaptation by Carol Hopkins)
Two little penguins sitting on the ice
(Hold up two index fingers)
One bows once, the other bows twice
(Make fingers bow)
Waddle, little penguins, waddle out and away
(Put fingers far out to the sides)
Come back penguins, time for a coffee latte
(Bring fingers back to front and pretend to sip a drink)

 

Transition: Tommy & Tammy Thumb (fingerplay)

Tommy Thumb up, 
Tommy Thumb down,
Tommy Thumb dancing all around town.

Tammy Thumb out,
Tammy Thumb in,
Tammy Thumb dancing all in a spin.

Dancing, dancing, dancing,
Dance them on your knees,
Dance them on your head,
Dance them on your shoulders,
Then tuck them into bed.

  

***Parent literacy tip:  Develop small motor skills by allowing your child to pick up leaves, flowers, twigs, and rocks.  This helps their fingers prepare to write.             

Book #2: I am Small by Emma Dodd  

Book #3: Grumpy Pants by Claire Messer    

Closing music with bean bags: “Rocketship Run” action song from Rocketship Run by The Laurie Berkner Band     

  



Art activity: Penguin cut outs on blue paper with Q-tip white painting, cotton balls to glue, eye stickers, and orange triangle beaks

Optional other books:
One Day On Our Blue Planet… In the Antarctic by Ella Bailey
If You Were a Penguin by Wendell and Florence Minor

 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday, November 18, 2025

Penguin Family Love - Baby Toddler Storytime

A Tuesday 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 body parts)

 

 

Book: I Like it When… by Mary Murphy

Themed activity #1: “If You’re Happy And You Know It” action song from Songs for Wiggleworms 

Themed activity #2: 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) 

 

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: Gregory Griggs (lap bounce rhyme I first saw as a Jbrary video at https://youtu.be/ntrcaKL_esA?si=twwqYr0wAanW2hrJ)

Gregory Griggs, Gregory Griggs,
Had 27 different wigs. 
He wore them up. (lift baby up)
He wore them down. (bring baby back down)
To please the people of the town.
He wore them east. (tip baby to one side)
He wore them west. (tip baby to the other side)
But which one did he love the best?
This one! (hug or tickle baby)

 

Lap rhyme #4: Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes (traditional body parts action 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: Develop small motor skills by allowing your child to pick up leaves, flowers, twigs, and rocks.  This helps their fingers prepare to write.        

Transition: Tommy & Tammy Thumb (fingerplay)

Tommy Thumb up, 
Tommy Thumb down,
Tommy Thumb dancing all around town.

Tammy Thumb out,
Tammy Thumb in,
Tammy Thumb dancing all in a spin.

Dancing, dancing, dancing,
Dance them on your knees,
Dance them on your head,
Dance them on your shoulders,
Then tuck them into bed.

 

Letter of the day: "P” is for penguins

 

 

Flannelboard: Penguin Family (fingerplay rhyme I found inside a penguin themed flannelboard kit at my library)

One royal penguin feeling very blue,
Called for his brother, then there two.
Two royal penguins swimming in the sea,
Called for their sister, then there were three.
Three royal penguins waddle on the shore,
Called for their mother, then there were four.
Four royal penguins learning how to dive,
They called for their father, then there were five. 

 

Closing song with scarves: “The Ponies Are Walking” from Baby’s Boat: The Best of Kathy Reid Naiman   




 

 

 

 

Tuesday, September 16, 2025

Storytime at Summer Day Camp, Week 6

 My weekly storytime at a local summer camp for 5- and 6-year-olds.  It is a short storytime with a simple art project, but sometimes when it is hot outside that is about all the children need.  

 

 

Books:

Hoot Owl, Master of Disguise by Sean Taylor, illustrated by Jean Jullien

Crick, Crack, Crow! by Janet Lord, illustrated by Julie Paschkis

  

 

Craft activity:

The children made a place for their paper owls to hide in.  Each child got one die cut owl plus a sheet of green paper.  The green paper had lines for creating fringe cut grass and a line for where to fold the grass.  Then, they used a little bit of glue from a glue stick to hide their owls in the grass.  The campers showed a lot of creativity in coloring and hiding their owls. 

 


 

 

 

 

Friday, August 22, 2025

Storytime at Summer Day Camp, Week 4

  My weekly storytime at a local summer camp for 5- and 6-year-olds.  It is a short storytime with a simple art project, but sometimes when it is hot outside that is about all the children need.  

 

 

 

Books:

Don’t Feed the Coos by Jonathan Stutzman, illustrated by Heather Fox
What’s Next Door? by Nicola O’Byrne

 

 

Craft activity:

I used clip art to make a bird silhouette that the campers colored and cut out with scissors.  (I love to inflict scissor cutting on these kiddos!)  After folding the bird in half, they taped it to one end of a straw.  Now they had a flapping, flying bird.