Transitions During Storytime

Sometimes during a storytime, I need to take the children from a noisy, active song and then sit down for a book.  To do this successfully, I use short transition rhymes or songs.  These rhymes or songs require the children to be seated to complete.  They usually involve some easy finger and arm gestures.  They are said in a calm and even manner.  By the time I am done with the transition rhyme, the kiddos are ready to sit and listen to a book.  

The following rhymes and songs have worked well to transition my storytime kids from a boisterous activity to sitting for a book.  

-- 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 

-- Come A' Look A' 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)

-- Tommy & Tammy Thumb (fingerplay I adapted for this purpose)

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.

-- Two Little Blackbirds (traditional fingerplay)

Two little blackbirds sitting on a hill.
One named Jack and one named Jill.
Fly away Jack, flay away Jill.
Come back Jack, come back Jill.

Two little blackbirds flying in the sky.
One named Low and one named High...

Two little blackbirds sitting on a pole.
One named Fast and one named Slow...

Two little blackbirds sitting on a gate...
One named Early and one named Late...

Some of My Favorite Action Songs and Rhymes (Part 2)

I have no problem singing in key or off key during storytime.  I am even known to make up words to my own songs.  But sometimes it can be fun to sing and dance to a song found on a cd from the library's collection.  These favorites never fail to get my storytime kids moving.  

"Clap Your Hands" action song from Toddler Action Songs by Cedarmont Kids

"If You're Happy and You Know It" from Songs for Wiggleworms by Old Town School of Folk Music 

"Shakin' Like a Leafy Tree" action song from Racing to the Rainbow by The Wiggles

"I'm a Little Teapot" from This Little Piggy by Jane Yolen, Adam Stemple, et al.

"Jumping and Counting" from Jim Gill's Irrational Anthem and More Salutes to Nonsense by Jim Gill

"We Are the Dinosaurs" from Whaddaya Think of That? by Laurie Berkner

"Baby Bumblebee" from Toddler Action Songs by Cedarmont Kids

 

Some of My Favorite Action Songs and Rhymes (Part 1)

A good action song or rhyme gets children moving, using their voice to sing or chant, and sometimes a chance to be a little silly.  The young children at my storytimes are still learning how to sit still for a story or book.  I use an action song or rhyme to give the kiddos a break between books.  

I have a few action songs or rhymes that I rely on a lot.  These favorites never fail to get my group of younglings moving along with me.  

If You're Happy and You Know It (A video of me doing a version of this song.)

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear Turn Around (Better Beginnings from the State Library of Western Australia has a great video version of this song)

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star (A great version from Jbrary)

Wheels on the Bus (A video of me doing a version of this song.)  

Grand Old Duke of York (This video from Debbie Doo Kids is a good introduction to the song for anyone unfamiliar with it.)

Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes (Jbrary has a great introduction to this song.)

Itsy Bitsy Spider (Jbrary again with some good instructions on using this song)

Alligator Pie (A rhyme I found many years ago. I have seen it on many websites. But did not find a video that does it the same way I do.)  

Alligator, alligator, alligator pie, 

(Open and close arms like the jaws of an alligator)
If I don't get some I think I'm gonna cry.

(Rub eyes like you are crying)

You can take away the grass,

(Point to the ground)
You can take away the sky,

(Point to the sky above)
But don't take away my alligator pie!

(Open and close arms like an alligator)

https://hubpages.com/education/swamp

Storytime Song Videos Round 3

Two more of the storytime song videos I created before my work furlough finally made their way to YouTube.  I was learning so much working on these videos.  I wish I had time to make more before I left. 

Wheels on the Bus

Shake Your Shakers (A song I created just for this video!)

Storytime Song Videos Round 2

As I continue to learn how to work from home and conduct library programs online, I created two more storytime song videos.

Open-Shut Them

Tommay and Tammy Thumb

https://wordart.com/create 

Storytime Song Videos Round 1

In this time of quarantine and COVID-19, we are all learning new ways of doing things.  Before the virus hit, I knew nothing about video editing.  During my first few weeks working from home, I learned about it.  Plus, I attempted to make some storytime song videos for my library to use.  Take a look!

Skinnamarink

Sticky Sticky Bubblegum

https://www.flickr.com/photos/anned/8700093610/