Friends Together - 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: One Bear, One Dog by Paul Stickland 

Themed activity #1:  The Great Big Bear (action chant 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)

 

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: 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: Rhymes and songs help children learn the cadence of language.  

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: “T” is for together

Flannelboard: Six Little Ducks (traditional song used on a flannelboard with six felt ducks)

Six little ducks that I once knew,
Fat ones, skinny ones, fair ones, too.
But the one little duck with the feather on his back,
He led the others with a quack, quack, quack!
Quack, quack, quack, quack!
He led the others with a quack, quack, quack!

Down to the river they would go,
Wibble, wobble, wibble, wobble, to and fro.
But the one little duck with the feather on his back,
He led the others with a quack, quack, quack!
Quack, quack, quack, quack!
He led the others with a quack, quack, quack!

Back from the river they would come,
Wibble, wobble, wibble, wobble, hum, hum, hum.
But the one little duck with the feather on his back,
He led the others with a quack, quack, quack!
Quack, quack, quack, quack!
He led the others with a quack, quack, quack!

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

 

 

 

 

Ducks and Geese - Baby Toddler Storytime

 A Tuesday morning storytime for ages 0-2 years. 

Opening #1: “Skinnamarink” action song from Car Songs by Dennis Buck (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 #1: Ducks Away by Mem Fox and Judy Horacek

Parent literacy tip: Books are a great way to introduce your child to early math concepts like numbers, counting, and shapes. 

Stand-up activity: I’m a Duck/Goose (sung to the tune of "Frere Jacques," adapted by Carol Hopkins from a song found at Step By Step Child Care)

I'm a duck, I'm a duck
(sign language for duck)
Watch me waddle, as I walk
(waddle walk)
Hear me when I talk, hear me when I talk
Quack, quack quack! Quack, quack, quack!

I'm a goose, I'm a goose
(sign language for goose)
Watch me sway, as I walk
(waddle walk)
Hear me when I talk, hear me when I talk
Honk, honk, honk! Honk, honk, honk!

 

Sit-down activity: Goose Pops Out of the Water (action song written by Carol Hopkins to the tune of "Pop Goes the Weasel")

The goose waddles all over the town
(waddle walk)
The goose walks up to the water
The goose stops to make a sound
(pause to honk like a goose)
Now HOP right into the water!
(jump)

The goose swims all around
(make swimming motions)
The goose swims in the water
The goose stops to make a sound
(pause to honk like a goose)
Now POP right out of the water!
(jump)

 

Lap rhyme #1: Roly Poly (rolling hands opposites fingerplay)

Roly poly, roly poly up, up, up.
Roly poly, roly poly down, down, down.
Roly poly, roly poly clap, clap, clap.
Roly poly, roly poly tap, tap, tap.
(tap top of head)
Roly poly, roly poly fast, fast, fast.
Roly poly, roly poly slow, slow, slow.
Roly poly, roly poly I love you!

 

Lap rhyme #2: 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 #3: 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.

  

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: "D" is for duck

Flannelboard: Old Macdonald Had a Farm (traditional farm animal song) 

Closing scarf song: “Popcorn Calling Me” action song from Buzz Buzz by Laurie Berkner

Optional extra book: I Went Walking by Sue Williams, illustrated by Julie Vivas 

 

 

 

Little Ducks - Family Storytime

A Saturday morning storytime for ages 0-6 years old.  

Opening #2: “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” from Songs forWiggleworms 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 flannelboard: Ducky Duck Colors (flannelboard color rhyme written by Carol Hopkins)

Directions: Make a set of geese in different colors. Hand these geese out to the children, one per child. Say the rhyme, naming one color each time. The children come up and place their goose on the board when you say the color of their goose.

 Ducky, ducky, duckling,
Please come play with me.
Ducky, ducky, {red} duck,
Join the flock and me.

 

 
 

Book #1: Come Along, Daisy by Jane Simmons

***Parent literacy tip: Exploring emotions through stories and books is a safe way to process potentially fearful situations and feelings.  With a trusted adult they feel safe reading these stories while developing critical thinking skills needed to navigate unknown situations. 

Stand-up activity: Little Duck, Little Duck (action rhyme adapted from the jump rope rhyme "Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear Turn Around")

Little duck, little duck waddle around.
Little duck, little duck touch the ground.
Little duck, little duck wings go flap.
Little duck, little duck beak goes "Quack! Quack!"
Little duck, little duck jump into the river.
Little duck, little duck give a little shiver.
Little duck, little duck find your feet.
Little duck, little duck find your seat.

Sit-down activity: Little Ducklings (action chant adapted by Carol Hopkins)

Ten little duckling line up in a row

(stand up straight)

Quack, quack, quack

(clap three times)

And away they go.

They walk behind their mother waddling to and fro

(waddle walk)

Quack, quack, quack

(clap three times)

And away they go.

Down to the big pond, happy as can be

(make large circle with both arms)

Quack, quack, quack

(clap three times)

And away they go.

They jump in the water to bob up and down

(bend knees a couple of times to bob)

Quack, quack, quack

(clap three times)

And away they go.

They swim all around, and swim right out of sight

(make swimming motions)

Quack, quack, quack

(clap three times)

And away they went.

(wave good-bye)

 

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) 

 

Book #2: Five Little Ducks by Denise Fleming 

Closing music with scarves: “Popcorn Calling Me” action song from Buzz Buzz by Laurie Berkner

Art activity: Color with dot markets and then cut out duck feet that can be taped around the ankle.  

 

 

 

 

Duck, Duck, Goose Preschool Storytime

Storytime for 3 to 5 year olds.

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

• Color recognition flannelboard - Goosey Goose Colors 

A flannelboard color rhyme written by Carol Hopkins.

Directions: Make a set of geese in different colors. Hand these geese out to the children, one per child. Say the rhyme, naming one color each time. The children come up and place their goose on the board when you say the color of their goose.

Goosey, goosey gander

Please come play with me.

Goosey, goosey "red" goose

Join the flock and me.

• Book #1 - Look Out Suzy Goose by Petr Horáček

• Stand-up activity - Goose Pops Out of the Water (action song written by Carol Hopkins to the tune of "Pop Goes the Weasel")

The goose waddles all over the town

(waddle walk)

The goose walks up to the water

The goose stops to make a sound

(pause to honk like a goose)

Now HOP right into the water!

(jump)

The goose swims all around

(make swimming motions)

The goose swims in the water

The goose stops to make a sound

(pause to honk like a goose)

Now POP right out of the water!

(jump)

• Activity - Little Ducklings (action chant adapted by Carol Hopkins)

Ten little duckling line up in a row

(stand up straight)

Quack, quack, quack

(clap three times)

And away they go.

They walk behind their mother waddling to and fro

(waddle walk)

Quack, quack, quack

(clap three times)

And away they go.

Down to the big pond, happy as can be

(make large circle with both arms)

Quack, quack, quack

(clap three times)

And away they go.

They jump in the water to bob up and down

(bend knees a couple of times to bob)

Quack, quack, quack

(clap three times)

And away they go.

They swim all around, and swim right out of sight

(make swimming motions)

Quack, quack, quack

(clap three times)

And away they went.

(wave good-bye)

  

  

• Book #2 - Come Along Daisy! by Jane Simmons

• Book #3 - Goose Needs a Hug by Tad Hills (board book)

• Closing - Dance with scarves to the song "Silly Dance Contest" from Jim Gill Sings the Sneezing Song and Other Contagious Tunes by Jim Gill

 

 

 

• Art experience - Use crayons, scissors, and glue sticks with the Duck, Duck, Goose pattern worksheet I found in the August/September 2008 Mailbox magazine