Showing posts with label Music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Music. Show all posts

Monday, June 15, 2026

Fishing Wishing Scarf Song

 I learned this fun scarf song from a PCLS Sharing Music with Young Children STARS class.  The caregivers at storytime really enjoyed acting it out with the children.  

I'm going fishing, fishing, fishing;
And I'm wishing, wishing, wishing;
For some jumpy fish!
(toss scarves into the air)

I'm going fishing, fishing, fishing;
And I'm wishing, wishing, wishing;
For some spinny fish!
(spin scarves in a large circle)

I'm going fishing, fishing, fishing;
And I'm wishing, wishing, wishing;
For some hiding fish!
(hide scarf in your hand behind your back)






Thursday, December 4, 2025

Music & Sounds - Baby Toddler Storytime

A Tuesday 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 body parts)

 

 

Book: Pots and Pans by Patricia Hubbell

Themed activity #1: Here Goes Turtle (action chant, not sure where I picked up this one)

Here goes turtle down the hill,
Creeping, creeping, creeping.

Here goes frog up the hill,
Boing, boing, boing.

Here goes elephant down the hill,
Thud, thud, thud.

Here goes snake up the hill,
Slither, slither, slither.

Here comes a rock down the hill,
Rolling, rolling, rolling,… Crash!

 

Themed activity #2: Quiet Mouse (adapted from a fingerplay rhyme I found at Mel’s Desk blog at http://melissa.depperfamily.net/blog/baby-storytime-noisy-and-quiet/)

Here’s a quiet little mouse that goes
“Squeak! Squeak!”
(Show fist and sign language for “mouse”)

Living in a quiet house
(Place fist inside other hand)

When all was quiet as could be…
Out they popped!
To tickle you under there…

 

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: We’re Making a Purple Stew (story time song I saw a in a video from New York Public Library)

We’re making a {_purple_} stew,
Whip-whip-, whip-whip.
(pretend to stir a big pot in front of your body)

We’re making a {_purple_} stew,
Scooby-dooby-doo.

With {_purple_} potatoes,
(use one hand to pretend to throw potatoes from your shoulder into the pretend pot)

And {_purple_} tomatoes,
(use your other hand to pretend to throw tomatoes from your shoulder into the pretend pot)

And even a {_purple_} you!
(tickle baby’s tummy)

**What other colors should we do?
(repeat the song with other colors)

 

Lap rhyme #4: 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.

   

***Literacy tip: Teachers like to say rhymers are readers because they have an easier time hearing word patterns.  So read lots of rhyming books with your child.          

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: "P” is for pots and pans

 

 

Flannelboard: Fingerband Is Coming to Town (flannelboard rhyme I found at https://veronastorytime.com/music-story-time-preschool/ to the tune of “Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush”)

The finger band is coming to town,
Coming to town, coming to town.
The finger band is coming to town
So early in the morning.

This is how they strum their guitar,
Strum their guitar, strum their guitar.
This is how they strum their guitar
So early in the morning.

This is how they play their flute,
Play their flute, play their flute.
This is how they play their flute
So early in the morning.

This is the way they bang the drums,
Bang the drums, bang the drums.
This is the way they bang the drums
So early in the morning.

(Repeat for different instruments, putting each instrument on the flannel board as you go.)

 Oh my! Look at the time, the band has played all day. It’s time for them to go!
The finger band is going away,
Going away, going away.
The finger band is going away,
They’ve played all day!

 

Closing song with egg shakers: “Bublebee Buzz Buzz” from Buzz Buzz by Laurie Berkner   



 

 

 

 

Monday, October 20, 2025

Parade of Music - Family Storytime

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

Opening #1: “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” from Songs for Wiggleworms 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 activity flannelboard: Band on the Bus (musical instrument flannelboard I found at https://pasadena-library.net/kids/2017/music-toddler-storytime/ to the tune of “Wheels On the Bus”)

The guitar on the bus goes strum, strum, strum 
Strum, strum, strum
Strum, strum, strum
The guitar on the bus goes strum, strum, strum
All through the town!

Other verses:

The trumpet on the bus goes toot, toot, toot… 
The drum on the bus goes bang, bang, bang… 
The bell on the bus goes ring, ring, ring… 

 

  


Book #1: Parade by Donald Crews

Stand-up activity: “The Goldfish” action song from Victor Vito by Laurie Berkner

Activity: 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) 

  

***Parent literacy tip:  Teachers like to say rhymers are readers, because rhymers have an easier time hearing word patterns.  Read lots of rhyming books with your child.                

Book #2: Everything a Drum by Sarah Warren, illustrated by Camila Carrossine

Book #3: Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons by Eric Litwin, illustrated by James Dean  

Closing music with bells: “The Tempo Marches On” from Jim Gill Sings Do Re Mi on His Toe Leg Knee by Jim Gill      

  


Art activity: Create jingle sticks!  Color a large craft stick.  Then string three jingle bells onto a pipe cleaner.  Wrap the pipe cleaner around the decorated craft stick. 

Optional other books:
Pearl Love to Sing! By Olivier Dunrea
Plinka Plinka Shake Shake by Emma Garcia

 

 

 

 

 


Wednesday, May 29, 2024

Sound - A Family STEAM & Stories event

This program was intended to introduce STEAM concepts through stories and exploration activity stations to families with children ages 3-8 years old.    

Intro song:  Hello Friends (sign language action song for the words hello, friends, math, fun, and time)

Hello friends,
Hello friends,
Hello friends,
It's time to say hello.

Hello math,
Hello math,
Hello math,
It's time to have some fun.  
 

 

Demonstration and Storytime:

·         Brainstorm a list of sounds on the white board. 

·         Show the word cards for sound.  Talk about what this word means. 

 

 

·         Read: Sounds All Around by Wendy Pfeffer, illustrated by Anna Chernyshova



·         Show the children a glass bowl with cling wrap on the bowl tight.  Sprinkle some table salt on top of the cling wrap.  Show how sound makes vibrations by drumming a snare drum near the bowl.

·         Show the word cards for sound waves and vibrations.  Talk about the definitions of the words.   

·         Pass out egg shakers and play the song “I Know a Chicken by Laurie Berkner from Whaddaya Think of That? cd. 

·         Talk about the sounds we made and heard during the song. 

·         Show the word card for pitch.  Talk about the definition of the word. 

·         Instruct on how to use the stations. 

 

Stations: 

 


Station #1- Make a tiny drum (as seen at https://librerin.wordpress.com/2018/06/19/tinker-thinkers-sound-and-drums/)

The children make a small drum using a paper cup, a cut up balloon, and a rubber band.  My paper cups were white, so the children were able to decorate them with color pens.  I gave them an unsharpened pencil to use as the drumstick.        

 



Station #2 – Play with pitch in two ways

#1 – Fill glass jars with various levels of water.  Use a metal spoon to tap the jar to hear the different pitches of jars.  (as seen at https://brownbagteacher.com/sound-1st-grade-science/)

#2 – Play with pitched toy bells (preschool bells can be found most anywhere toys are sold, such as these) 

  


Station #3 – Craft stick kazoo

Use two wide craft sticks, a cut up drinking straw, and three rubber bands to make a kazoo.  (A great set of directions can be found at https://www.waukeshacountymuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Popsicle-Stick-Kazoo-Directions.pdf)  

  

 

Station #4 – Seeing sound and exploring musical instruments

On the storytime rug I left the snare drum and wrapped glass bowl for the children to explore.  I also put out various toddler-friendly storytime instruments for the children to play with. 

 

 

 

Monday, February 5, 2024

Playing Music - Baby Toddler Storytime

A Tuesday 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 body parts)

 

 

Book: Brilliant Baby Plays Music by Laura Gehl, illustrated by Jean Claude (board book)

Stand-up activity:  “Jumping and Counting” from Jim Gill’s Irrational Anthem and More Salutes to Nonsense by Jim Gill

 Sit-down activity: Two Little Blackbirds (traditional fingerplay)

Two little blackbirds sitting on a fence
One named Jack, the other named Jill
Fly away Jack
Fly away Jill
Come back Jack
Come back Jill
Two little blackbirds sitting on a fence

 

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: Frog Jump Over the Great Big Stick (lap bounce action rhyme written by Carol Hopkins)

Frog be nimble, frog be quick,
Frog jump over the great big stick.
(lift baby/arms up)

Frog be nimble, frog be slick,
Frog swim under the great big stick.
(make swimming motions with arms)

Frog be nimble, frog go click,
Frog almost falls off the great big stick.
(pretend to fall off lap)

Frog be nimble frog be fine,
Frog gets a kiss at storytime.
(blow kisses)

 

Lap rhyme #3: Roly Poly (hand rolling opposites action rhyme)

Roly poly, roly poly, up, up, up.
Roly poly, roly poly, down, down, down.
Roly poly, roly poly, out, out, out.
Roly poly, roly poly, in, in, in.
Roly poly, roly poly, clap, clap, clap.
Roly poly, roly poly, tap, tap, tap.
Roly poly, roly poly, fast, fast, fast.
Roly poly, roly poly, slow, slow, slow.
Roly poly, roly poly, I love you!

 

Lap rhyme #4: 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) 

 

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

Letter of the day: "j” is for jumping

 

 

Flannelboard: Fingerband Is Coming to Town (flannelboard rhyme I found at https://veronastorytime.com/music-story-time-preschool/ to the tune of “Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush”)

The finger band is coming to town,
Coming to town, coming to town.
The finger band is coming to town
So early in the morning.

This is how they strum their guitar,
Strum their guitar, strum their guitar.
This is how they strum their guitar
So early in the morning.

This is how they play their flute,
Play their flute, play their flute.
This is how they play their flute
So early in the morning.

This is the way they bang the drums,
Bang the drums, bang the drums.
This is the way they bang the drums
So early in the morning.

(Repeat for different instruments, putting each instrument on the flannel board as you go.)

 

Oh my! Look at the time, the band has played all day. It’s time for them to go!

The finger band is going away,
Going away, going away.
The finger band is going away,
They’ve played all day!

 

Closing song with Scarves: “Around and Around” from Welcome from Miss Carole by Carole Peterson

Optional book:
Pots and Pans by Patricia Hubbell, illustrated by Diane DeGroat