Lunar New Year Storytime

Storytime for 1 to 3 year olds:

• Opening - Skinnamarink, Sticky Sticky Bubblegum

• Book #1 – My First Chinese New Year by Karen Katz

• Stand-up Activity – "The Tempo Marches On" from Jim Gill Sings Do Re Mi on His Toe Leg Knee by Jim Gill

• 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 - Five Green Dragons (counting backwards rhyme I found at everythingpreschool.com)

Five green dragons making such a roar.
One danced away and then there were four.
Four green dragons dancing around a tree.
One danced away and then there were three.
Three green dragons dancing around you.
One danced away and then there were two.
Two green dragons dancing in the sun.
One danced away and then there was one.
One green dragon having lots of fun
She danced away and then there were none.

• Book #2 – Ten Mice for Tet by Pegi Deito Shea and Cynthia Weill, illustrated by Tō Ngọe Trang, embroidery by Phạm Viết Ðinh

• Activity – Little Mouse, Little Mouse (action rhyme similar to "Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear Turn Around")

Little mouse, little mouse turn around.
Little mouse, little mouse creep to the ground.
Little mouse, little mouse scamper on your toes.
Little mouse, little mouse twitch your nose.
Little mouse, little mouse squeak up high.
Little mouse, little mouse jump to the sky.
Little mouse, little mouse pat your feet.
Little mouse, little mouse have a seat.

• Closing - Scarves to the song "Popcorn Calling Me" from Buzz Buzz by Laurie Berkner

• Art Experience – Bingo paint dabbers on restaurant food take-out boxes

Lunar New Year Storytime

Storytime for 1 to 3 year olds: 

• Opening - Skinnamarink (from Car Songs: Songs to Sing Anywhere by Dennis Buck at Kimbo), Sticky Sticky Bubblegum
• Book #1 – Ten Mice for Tet by Pegi Deito Shea and Cynthia Weill, illustrated by Tō Ngọe Trang, embroidery by Phạm Viết Ðinh
• Stand-up Activity - Little Mouse, Little Mouse (action rhyme similar to "Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear Turn Around")

Little mouse, little mouse turn around.
Little mouse, little mouse creep to the ground.
Little mouse, little mouse scamper on your toes.
Little mouse, little mouse twitch your nose.
Little mouse, little mouse squeak up high.
Little mouse, little mouse jump to the sky.
Little mouse, little mouse pat your feet.
Little mouse, little mouse have a seat.

• 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 - Five Green Dragons (counting backwards rhyme I found at everythingpreschool.com)

Five green dragons making such a roar.
One danced away and then there were four.
Four green dragons dancing around a tree.
One danced away and then there were three.
Three green dragons dancing around you.
One danced away and then there were two.
Two green dragons dancing in the sun.
One danced away and then there was one.
One green dragon having lots of fun
She danced away and then there were none.

• Book #2 - My First Chinese New Year by Karen Katz
• Activity – A Marching We Will Go (action chant)

A marching we will go
A marching we will go
Hi ho the derry oh
A Marching will will go

A jumping...
A spinning...
A running...
A sitting...

• Closing - Use scarves to the song "Milkshake" from Songs for Wiggleworms by Old Town School of Folk Music
• Craft – Chalk coloring on construction paper Chinese lanterns

Lunar New Year

Storytime for 1 to 3 year olds:

• Opening - Skinnamarink (from Car Songs: Songs to Sing Anywhere by Dennis Buck at Kimbo), Sticky Sticky Bubblegum
• Book #1 – Ten Mice for Tet by Pegi Deito Shea and Cynthia Weill, illustrated by Tō Ngọe Trang, embroidery by Phạm Viết Ðinh
• Stand-up Activity - Raw, Raw, New Year (action song written by Carol Hopkins to the tune of "Baa Baa Black Sheep")

Raw, raw new year let's go celebrate
Parties and dancing and parades go by
Fireworks and firecrackers boom in the air
Lanterns and candles light up the sky
Raw, raw new year let's go celebrate
Parties and dancing and parades go by

• 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/Math Activity - Five Green Dragons (counting backwards rhyme I found at http://www.everythingpreschool.com/themes/chinnesenewyear/songs.htm)
• Sit-down Activity - Ten Fingers (fingerplay I have seen in numerous places)

I have ten little fingers,
And they all belong to me.
I can make them dance,
Would you like to see?
I can shut them up tight,
Or open them wide.
I can put them together,
Or make them all hide.
I can make them jump high.
I can make them jump low.
I can fold them quietly,
And hold them just so.

• Book #2 - Lanterns and Firecrackers: A Chinese New Year Story by Jonny Zucker, illustrated by Jan Barger Cohen
• Activity – A Marching We Will Go (action song to the tune of "The Farmer In the Dell")

A marching we will go
A marching we will go
Hi ho the derry oh
A Marching will will go

A jumping...
A spinning...
A running...
A sitting...

• Closing - Scarves to the song "Flitter, Flutter" from The Second Line by Johnette Downing
• Craft – Decorate a paper Chinese lantern

Lunar New Year Storytime

Storytime for 1 to 3 year olds:

• Opening - Skinnamarink (from Car Songs: Songs to Sing Anywhere by Dennis Buck at Kimbo), Sticky Sticky Bubblegum
• Book #1 – My First Chinese New Year by Karen Katz
• Stand-up Activity - A Marching We Will Go (action rhyme)

A marching we will go
A marching we will go
Hi ho the derry oh
A Marching will will go

A jumping...
A spinning...
A running...
A sitting...

• 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/Math Activity - 5 Green Dragons (counting backwards rhyme I found at everythingpreschool.com)

Five green dragons making such a roar.
One danced away and then there were four.
Four green dragons dancing around a tree.
One danced away and then there were three.
Three green dragons dancing around you.
One danced away and then there were two.
Two green dragons dancing in the sun.
One danced away and then there was one.
One green dragon having lots of fun
She danced away and then there were none.

• Sit-down Activity - Roly Poly (fingerplay I adapted from a similar one I first found at King County Library System)

(roll hands together as indicated)
Roly poly, roly poly, ever so slooowly.
Roly poly, roly poly, faster and faster.
Roly poly, roly poly, ever so slooowly.
Roly poly, roly poly, faster and faster.
Roly poly, roly poly, comes to a stop.
(repeat)

• Book #2 - Ten Mice for Tet by Pegi Deito Shea and Cynthia Weill, illustrated by Tō Ngọe Trang, embroidery by Phạm Viết Ðinh
• Activity – 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.

• Closing - Popcorn Calling Me (scarf song found in Buzz Buzz by Laurie Berkner)
• Craft – Decorate a Chinese dragon