St. Patrick's Day Green Storytime

Storytime for 1 to 3 year olds:

• Opening - Skinnamarink, Sticky Sticky Bubblegum

   

 

• Book #1 – Where Is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox and Judy Horacek

• Stand-up Activity – Green Are the Hills (action rhyme I found in Storytime Crafts by Kathryn Totten)

• 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 - Hi Ho for St. Patrick's Day (adapted by Carol Hopkins, to the tune of "The Farmer In the Dell")

This shamrock is green, this shamrock is green,
Hi, ho for St. Patrick's Day,
This shamrock is green.

This leprechaun wears green, this leprechaun wears green,
Hi, ho for St. Patrick's Day,
This shamrock is green.

(Repeat with more green objects: snake, bird, Popsicle, etc.)

• Letter of the Day - "S" is for sheep

• Book #2 – The Green Leaf by Gill and John Speirs (board book, pop-up book) 

• Activity – Little Clover (fingerplay written by Carol Hopkins)

Hey little clover with four leaves not three
I want to pick you to take home with me
One leaf for wisdom
One leaf for love
One leaf for happiness
And one leaf for luck

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

 

• Art Experience – Painting green paint on shamrock pictures

Green Leprechauns Preschool Storytime

Storytime for 3 to 5 year olds:

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

• Literacy activity - Leprechaun Gold

Create a set of paper gold coins that spell out the word "gold," with one letter on each coin.  Hand one coin to each child.  Every child brings up his or her coin to tape to the board as you say and write the letters on the board.  **Add a math element to this activity by counting the coins.  

  

      

• Book #1 - Ten Lucky Leprechauns by Kathryn Heling and Deborah Hembrook, illustrated by Jay Johnson

• Stand-up activity - Leprechaun, Leprechaun (action rhyme adapted by Carol Hopkins from the "Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear Turn Around" rhyme)

Leprechaun, leprechaun turn around
Leprechaun, leprechaun find gold on the ground
Leprechaun, leprechaun jump on your toes
Leprechaun, leprechaun scratch your nose
Leprechaun, leprechaun reach up high
Leprechaun, leprechaun see a rainbow in the sky
Leprechaun, leprechaun point to your feet
Leprechaun, leprechaun have a seat

• Sit down activity - "Five Green Apples" action song from Sing It! Say It! Stamp It! Sway It! volume 1 by Peter and Ellen Allard

• Book #2 - Way Up High In a Tall Green Tree by Jan Peck, illustrated by Valeria Petrone

• Book #3 - Green by Laura Vaccaro Seeger

• 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 - Green shamrock stamping and painting with corks and Q-tips.  

Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with Leprechaun Glasses

Help the children who visit your library increase their chances to catch leprechauns on St. Patrick's Day with this make-and-take craft.  

On St. Patrick's Day, set out a table for this passive library program. Set out some card stock glasses (we used a combination of some we bought pre-made and some we printed off the internet). The children then glue green cellophane wear the lenses should be.  Decorate with craft foam pieces, green paper scraps, and color pens.  The glasses then become the perfect tool to aid in the search for these magical creatures!  

More Green Storytime

Storytime for 1 to 3 year olds:

• Opening - Skinnamarink, Sticky Sticky Bubblegum

   

• Book #1 – Where Is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox, illustrated by Judy Horacek

• Stand-up Activity – Green Are the Hills (action rhyme I found in Storytime Crafts by Kathryn Totten)

• 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 - Hi Ho for St. Patrick's Day (adapted by Carol Hopkins, to the tune of "The Farmer In the Dell")

This shamrock is green, this shamrock is green,
Hi, ho for St. Patrick's Day,
This shamrock is green.

This leprechaun wears green, this leprechaun wears green,
Hi, ho for St. Patrick's Day,
This shamrock is green.

(Repeat with more green objects: snake, bird, Popsicle, etc.)

• Letter of the Day - "g" for green

• Book #2 – The Green Tractor from Cottage Farm/Hothouse Books (board book)

• Activity – "There's a Little Wheel a-Turnin' In My Heart" from Buzz Buzz by Laurie Berkner (action song)

• Closing - Dance with scarves using the song "Milkshake" from Songs for Wiggleworms by Old Town School of Folk Music

  

 

• Art Experience – Crayon coloring on shamrock drawing

Green Colored St. Patrick's Day Toddler Storytime

Storytime for 1 to 3 year olds:

• Opening - Skinnamarink, Sticky Sticky Bubblegum

• Book #1 – Froggy Green by Anna Walker

• Stand-up Activity – Leprechaun, Leprechaun (action rhyme adapted by Carol Hopkins from the "Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear Turn Around" rhyme)

Leprechaun, leprechaun turn around
Leprechaun, leprechaun find gold on the ground
Leprechaun, leprechaun jump on your toes
Leprechaun, leprechaun scratch your nose
Leprechaun, leprechaun reach up high
Leprechaun, leprechaun see a rainbow in the sky
Leprechaun, leprechaun point to your feet
Leprechaun, leprechaun 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 - Hi Ho for St. Patrick's Day (adapted by Carol Hopkins, to the tune of "The Farmer In the Dell")

This shamrock is green, this shamrock is green,
Hi, ho for St. Patrick's Day,
This shamrock is green.

This leprechaun wears green, this leprechaun wears green,
Hi, ho for St. Patrick's Day,
This shamrock is green.

(Repeat with more green objects: snake, bird, Popsicle, etc.)

• Book #2 – Where Is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox, illustrated by Judy Horacek

• Activity – Little Clover (fingerplay written by Carol Hopkins)

Hey little clover with four leaves not three
I want to pick you to take home with me
One leaf for wisdom
One leaf for love
One leaf for happiness
And one leaf for luck

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

• Art Experience – Paint on green shamrocks

Green for St. Patrick's Day

Storytime for 1 to 3 year olds: 

• Opening - Skinnamarink (from Car Songs: Songs to Sing Anywhere by Dennis Buck at Kimbo) and Sticky Sticky Bubblegum
• Book #1 – St. Patrick's Day Countdown by Salina Yoon (board book)
• Stand-up Activity - Leprechaun, Leprechaun (action rhyme adapted by Carol Hopkins from the "Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear Turn Around" rhyme)

Leprechaun, leprechaun turn around
Leprechaun, leprechaun find gold on the ground
Leprechaun, leprechaun jump on your toes
Leprechaun, leprechaun scratch your nose
Leprechaun, leprechaun reach up high
Leprechaun, leprechaun see a rainbow in the sky
Leprechaun, leprechaun point to your feet
Leprechaun, leprechaun 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 

• Hi Ho for St. Patrick's Day (adapted by Carol Hopkins, to the tune of "The Farmer In the Dell")

This shamrock is green, this shamrock is green,
Hi, ho for St. Patrick's Day,
This shamrock is green.

This leprechaun wears green, this leprechaun wears green,
Hi, ho for St. Patrick's Day,
This shamrock is green.

(repeat with more green objects)

• Book #2 - Where Is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox and Judy Horacek
• Activity – Little Clover (fingerplay written by Carol Hopkins)

Hey little clover with four leaves not three
I want to pick you to take home with me
One leaf for wisdom
One leaf for love
One leaf for happiness
And one leaf for luck

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

Green for St. Patrick's Day

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 – Where Is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox and Judy Horacek
• Stand-up Activity - The Little Green Frog (action song from It's Toddler Time by Carol Hammett and Elaine Bueffel)
• 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 - Hi Ho for St. Patrick's Day (adapted by Carol Hopkins, to the tune of "The Farmer In the Dell")

This shamrock is green, this shamrock is green,
Hi, ho for St. Patrick's Day,
This shamrock is green.
This leprechaun wears green, this leprechaun wears green,
Hi, ho for St. Patrick's Day,
This shamrock is green.
(repeat with more green objects)

• Sit-down Activity - Little Clover (fingerplay written by Carol Hopkins)

Hey little clover with four leaves not three
I want to pick you to take home with me
One leaf for wisdom
One leaf for love
One leaf for happiness
And one leaf for luck

• Book #2 - St. Patrick's Day Countdown by Salina Yoon (board book)
• Activity – Leprechaun, Leprechaun (action rhyme adaptation of "Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear Turn Around" written by Carol Hopkins)

Leprechaun, leprechaun turn around
Leprechaun, leprechaun find gold on the ground
Leprechaun, leprechaun jump on your toes
Leprechaun, leprechaun scratch your nose
Leprechaun, leprechaun reach up high
Leprechaun, leprechaun see a rainbow in the sky
Leprechaun, leprechaun point to your feet
Leprechaun, leprechaun have a seat

• Closing - Scarves to the song "Flitter, Flutter" from The Second Line by Johnette Downing
• Craft – Put dot stickers on a leprechaun pot

Green for St. Patrick's Day - Family Storytime

This is for an all ages, whole family storytime:

• Opening - Look Up, Look Down (sign language song from Pick Me Up!: Fun Songs for Learning Signs)
• Book #1 - Jamie O'Rourke and the Big Potato by Tomie DePaola
• Book #2 - Hooray for St. Patrick's Day by Joan Holub, illustrated by Paul Meisel (lift-flap) (alternative book: The Little Green Pea by Alison Barber, illustrated by Paige Keiser)
• Stand up activity - Leprechaun, Leprechaun (action rhyme similar to "Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear Turn Around")

Leprechaun, leprechaun turn around
Leprechaun, leprechaun touch the ground
Leprechaun, leprechaun dance on your toes
Leprechaun, leprechaun touch your nose
Leprechaun, leprechaun reach up high
Leprechaun, leprechaun jump to the sky
Leprechaun, leprechaun find your feet
Leprechaun, leprechaun have a seat

• Flannelboard - 5 green and speckled frogs (counting down song)
• Book #3 - Caterpillar Spring, Butterfly Summer by Susan Hood, illustrated Claudine Gevry (pop-up) (alternative book: Way Up High In a Tall Green Tree by Jan Peck, illustrated by Valeria Patrone)
• Activity - If You're Happy and You Know It (action song from Wee Sing Children's Songs and Fingerplays)
• Closing - Flitter-Flutter (scarf song from The Second Line by Johnette Downing)
• Family Math Activity - Count and sort scoops of Lucky Charms cereal

Green 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 – Little Green by Keith Baker
• Stand-up Activity - Little Bird (action rhyme I first found in Toddle On Over by Robin Works Davis, but I have also seen it on a number of websites)

I saw a little bird go hop, hop, hop
(jump)
I told the little bird to stop, stop, stop
(hold up hand, palm out)
I went to the window to say, "How do you do?"
(bow)
He wagged his little tail and flew away
(make flying motion with arms)

• 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 and Speckled Frogs (counting down song)
• Sit-down Activity - Fee Fi Fo Fum (fingerplay)

Fee fi fo fum
(clap)
See my fingers
(wiggle fingers)
See my thumbs
(wiggle thumbs)
Fee fi fo fum
(clap)
Good-bye fingers
(put one hand behind back)
Good-bye thumbs
(put other hand behind back)

• Book #2 - Where Is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox and Judy Horacek
• Activity – 5 Little Sheep (fingerplay)

This little sheep eats grass.
This little sheep eats clover.
This little sheep drinks water.
This little sheep jumps away.
This little sheep does nothing at all, but lies around all day and sleep.

• Closing - Popcorn Calling Me (scarf song found in Buzz Buzz by Laurie Berkner)
• Craft – Chalk coloring on construction paper shamrocks