Fun with Boxes Preschool Storytime

Storytime for 3 to 5 year olds:

• Opening - "A Tooty Ta" from Dance Like This by Mr. Al

• Literacy activity flannelboard - Alphabet Boxes

I passed out one Toddler Alphabet Discovery Box to each child. We then slowly sang the ABC song. When a child heard his or her box letter, then he or she brought it up to the table at the front of the room. 

 

  

• Book #1 - Thank You Bear by Greg Foley

• Stand-up activity - The Great Big Bear (action chant from Artsy Toddler Storytimes written by Carol Hopkins)

The great big bear,
(sing language for bear)
Gives a warning with a soft little growl.
(growl)
Waves its paws in the air.
(move hands like claws)
Shakes its great big head
(shake head)
Rubs its furry little ears
(rub ears)
Gives a great big roar
(loud roar)
Then goes to sleep in its lair.
(hands to side of face for sleep)

• Activity - "Where Is Thumbkin?" fingerplay song from Wee Sing Children's Songs and Fingerplays

 

• Book #2 - A Box Can Be Many Things by Dana Meachen Rau, illustrated by Paige Billin-Frye

• Book #3 - Not a Box by Antoinette Portis

• Closing - Rhythm sticks to the song "Red Red Robin Stick Dance" from Stinky Cake by Carole Peterson

  

 

• Art experience - Color, cut out, and glue stick together a popcorn box I found at www.TheImaginationBox.com

Box Storytime

Storytime for 1 to 3 year olds:

• Opening - Skinnamarink, Sticky Sticky Bubblegum

 

 

• Book #1 – What to Do with a Box by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Chris Sheban

• Stand-up Activity – "If You're Happy and You Know It" from Songs for Wiggleworms by Old Town School of Folk Music

• Bridge - 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 

• Flannelboard - How Many Boxes High?

I took this set of alphabet boxes my library got from Lakeshore Learning and stacked the boxes one on top of the other. I had the children count with me as I stacked the boxes until the tower fell.  We did this twice. 

• Letter of the Day - "B" is for Box

• Book #2 – Flora's Box by Tina Athaide, illustrated by Priscilla Burris

• Activity – Jumping In My Box (action chant written by Carol Hopkins)

I'm jumping in my box,

I'm jumping in my box.

Jumping, jumping... up and down,

I'm jumping in my box.

I'm marching around my box,

I'm marching around my box.

Marching, marching... stomp, stomp, stomp,

I'm marching around my box.

(repeat with more action words such as lifting, sitting, etc.)

• Closing - Rhythm sticks using "Goin' On a Bear Hunt" from Kids In Action by Greg and Steve 

 

 

• Art Experience – Color pens on take-out dining boxes