Another summer of storytimes at a local summer camp for 5- and 6-year-olds! It is a short storytime with a simple art project. The children and counselors really enjoy these visits.
Books:
Gaston by Kelly Dipucchio, illustrated by Christian Robinson
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A white paper dog cut out glued inside fringe paper scissor cut worksheet that looks like grass.
Our third annual Hedgehog Party happened a few weeks ago. These parties are becoming very popular!
Station #1 - Pet expert
A coworker found this hedgehog pet expert while working at a community event. She works with a Hedgehog Rescue group to help pet hedgehogs that were not well cared for or kept illegally. The pet expert brought in one of her rescued pets to show off. There was no touching of these hedgehogs as they are very shy and can become sick easily. The pet expert patiently answered all questions that came her way. She was fabulous!
Station #2 - Craft table
I found a wood hedgehog ornament for participants to decorate. I put out Sharpie pens, glue, craft foam shapes, and gem stickers. I saw some very creative hedgehogs.
Station #3 - Games
I created a spikey ball toss game: I brought a small cat bed from home and called it a hedgehog den. I then had the children throw plastic spikey balls into the den.
I also got out a children's board game where you place the spikes on the hedgehog after rolling a pair of dice.
Station #4 - Scavenger hunt
One of my coworkers creates a scavenger hunt for the children every month. This month, she created a hedgehog themed scavenger hunt to go along with my party theme. The reward for finishing the hunt was a hedgehog sticker.
Station #5 - Building
I set out straw connector toys and a sign suggesting that participants create prototype hedgehog cages. And they did!!!
Station #6 - Education boards
I set out two poster boards with information about hedgehogs. One board listed what hedgehogs eat in the wild and as pets. The other board was a map showing where hedgehogs can be found in the wild.
Station #7 - Sensory Touch Table
After a suggestion from a coworker, I created this new activity station. I borrowed some shed hedgehog quills from our pet expert and put out a bunch of random stuff with different tactile experiences.
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: Cat's Colors by Jane Cabrera
Themed activity
#1:
Five little kittens standing in a row
They nod their heads to the children so
They run to the left
They run to the right
They stand up and stretch in the bright sunlight
Now those kitties have the giggles
Those kitties have the wiggles
Those kitties go tickle, tickle, tickle on your little tum!
Themed activity
#2:
On my toe there is a flea,
Now he’s climbing up on me,
Past my stomach, past my nose,
On my head where my hair grows.
On my head there is a flea
Now he’s climbing down on me,
Past my stomach, past my knee,
On my toe,
Take THAT, you flea!
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: Little Owls Say Shhhh! (a quiet time or
transition song I adapted from one I learned from Librarian Michelle A. to the
tune of “Are You Sleeping?”)
Little owls, little owls,
They say, “Who!”
They say, “Who!”
All very quietly, all very quietly,
Now they say, “Shhhh!”
Now they say, “Shhhh!”
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.
Transition: Dance Your Fingers (fingerplay adaption from a video I saw from New York Public Library)
Dance your fingers up;
(put fingers high in the air)
Dance your fingers down;
(touch the ground)
Dance your fingers from side to side;
(move hands from left to right side of body and back again, several times)
And dance them all around.
(hands move in a large wiggly circle in the air in front of your body)
Dance them on your shoulders;
(fingers wiggle on your shoulders)
Dance them on your head;
(fingers wiggle on top of your head)
Dance them on your tummy;
(fingers wiggle on top of your tummy)
And put them all to bed.
(fold hands in lap or tuck under armpits)
Letter of the
day: “P” is for Pets
Flannelboard:
Closing song with egg shakers: “Shake With You” from Bouncy Blue from the Learning Groove by Mr. Eric & Mr. Michael
Optional extra
book:
Stack the Cats by Susie Ghahremani
A Wednesday 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.
Opening #3: Fee Fi Fo Fum
Fee fi fo fum,
(clap for each syllable)
See my fingers,
(wiggle fingers)
See my thumbs.
(wiggle thumbs)
Fee fi fo fum,
(clap for each syllable)
Good bye fingers,
(hide one hand behind back)
Good bye thumbs.
(hide the other hand behind back)
(Repeat several
times moving and saying the words faster and faster)
Literacy activity
flannelboard:
If you’re a {tabby} and you know it,
Come on up.
If you’re a {tabby} and you know it,
Come on up.
If you’re a {tabby} and you know it,
Then meow to really show it.
If you’re a {tabby} and you know it,
Come on up.
(repeat while substituting other cat pattern names such
as calico, solid color, colorpoint, and tortoise shell, etc.)
Book #1: The Man Who Didn't Like Animals by Deborah Underwood, illustrated by LeUyen Pham
Theme activity #1:
Theme activity #2: 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.
Transition: Dance Your Fingers (fingerplay adaption from a video I saw from New York
Public Library)
Dance your fingers up;
(put fingers high in the air)
Dance your fingers down;
(touch the ground)
Dance your fingers from side to side;
(move hands from left to right side of body and back again, several times)
And dance them all around.
(hands move in a large wiggly circle in the air in front of your body)
Dance them on your shoulders;
(fingers wiggle on your shoulders)
Dance them on your head;
(fingers wiggle on top of your head)
Dance them on your tummy;
(fingers wiggle on top of your tummy)
And put them all to bed.
(fold hands in lap or tuck under armpits)
Book #2: Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell (lift-flap)
Book #3: Stack the Cats by Susie Gahremani
Book #4: Dog by Matthew Van Fleet, photography by Brain Stanton (lift-flap and movie parts)
Closing music with egg shakers: “I Know a Chicken” from Whaddaya Think of That? by Laurie Berkner
Art activity: Colorful chalk drawing on large dog silhouette on black construction paper
Optional other books:
Short Dog, Long Dog: A Book of Opposites by Ann Hrachovec (board book)
Our Hedgehog Party last year was so successful, we did it again!
Station #1 - Pet expert
A coworker found this hedgehog pet expert while working at a community event. She works with a Hedgehog Rescue group to help pet hedgehogs that were not well cared for or kept illegally. The pet expert brought in couple of her pets to show off. There was no touching of these hedgehogs as they are very shy and can become sick easily. The pet expert patiently answered all questions that came her way. She was fabulous!
Station #2 - Craft table
I found a hedgehog craft kit online. I added a gem stickers and glitter glue to what came in the kit. Participants made some very creative hedgehogs.
Station #3 - Games
I created a spikey ball toss game: I got a portable bean bag toss game, and switched out the bean bags for plastic spikey balls.
I also bought a children's board game where you place the spikes on the hedgehog after rolling a pair of dice.
Station #4 - Scavenger hunt
One of my coworkers creates a scavenger hunt for the children every month. This month, she created a hedgehog themed scavenger hunt to go along with my party theme. The reward for finishing the hunt was a hedgehog sticker.
Station #5 - Building
I set out straw connector toys and a sign suggesting that participants create prototype hedgehog cages. And they did!!!
Station #6 - Education boards
I set out two poster boards with information about hedgehogs. One board listed what hedgehogs eat in the wild and as pets. The other board was a map showing where hedgehogs can be found in the wild.
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: Lots of Little Owls (color literacy flannelboard adapted by Carol
Hopkins from a rhyme found at https://www.northmankato.com/sites/default/files/images/Owl%20Miss%20You%20Storytime.pdf)
(Hand out
colored owls to the children. Instruct the children to place their
owl on the flannelboard when their color is said in the rhyme. Start
off with one solitary owl on the board.)
One little
owl when the moon was new,
Along came some more, and they were blue.
Lots of
little owls perched high in the tree,
Along came some more, and they were green.
Lots of
little owls flew down for a drink,
Along came some more, and they were pink.
Lots of
little owl flew around the town,
Along came some more, and they were brown.
(Count
the owls on the board)
_____ little owls
saying, “Whoo! Whoo!”
Then they all flapped their wings and they flew away.
Book #1: Is Your Mama a Llama? by Deborah
Guarino, illustrated by Steven Kellogg (BIG BOOK)
Stand-up
activity: "Jumping
and Counting" action song from Jim
Gill's Irrational Anthem and More Salutes to Nonsense by Jim Gill
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.
Transition: 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
***Parent
literacy tip: Most songs have a different note for
each syllable. This helps children hear individual
sounds in words, an important pre-reading skill.
Book #2: Big Fat Hen by Keith Baker
Book #3: Pete the Cat I Love My White Shoes
by Eric Litwin, illustrated by James Dean
Closing
music with scarves: “Flitter
Flutter” from The Second Line by Johnette Downing
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Art
activity: Decorating
white slap bracelets with color pens and alphabet stickers
Optional other
books:
Jungle Beasts Pop-Up: A Safari Face-To-Face by Sally Hewitt, illustrated by
Chris Gilvan-Cartwright
Jamberry by Bruce Degen
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: The Wonderful Habits of Rabbits
by Douglas Florian, illustrated by Sonia Sánchez
Stand-up activity: If You’re a Bunny and You Know It
(action song to the tune of “If You’re Happy And You Know It” that I found at
Adventures of a Bookwork blog at https://www.adventuresofabookworm.com/2019/04/17/storytime-bunnies-rabbits/#google_vignette)
If you’re a bunny and you know it, hop around
If you’re a bunny and you know it, hop around
If you’re a bunny and you know it and you really want to show it
If you’re a bunny and you know it, hop around
(flop your ears)
(wiggle your nose)
Sit-down activity: Bunny Jump Over the Great Big
Stick (lap bounce action rhyme written by Carol Hopkins)
Bunny
be nimble, Bunny be quick,
Bunny jump over the great big stick.
Bunny
be nimble, Bunny be slick,
Bunny dig under the great big stick.
Bunny
be nimble, Bunny go click,
Bunny almost falls off the great big stick.
Bunny
be nimble, Bunny be fine,
Bunny blows kisses at story time!
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: Choo Choo (fingerplay that
crosses the midline that I found at https://youtu.be/gr4gtVYSAEg?si=ceNiLrI-2BuUbGMC)
Choo,
choo, choo, choo, choo, choo, choo, choo,
Up the railroad track.
Choo, choo, choo, chook, choo, choo, choo, choo,
Then we come right back.
First,
we go to grandma’s house,
Up the railroad track.
Then, we go to monkey’s house,
Then we come right back.
Choo,
choo, choo, choo, choo, choo, choo, choo,
Up the railroad track.
Choo, choo, choo, chook, choo, choo, choo, choo,
Then we come right back.
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: Tommy & Tammy Thumb (fingerplay)
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.
Letter of the day: "R” is for Rabbits
Flannelboard: Spring Things (flannelboard I found in my library
system’s collection)
One little frog croaks, “How do you
do?”
Two little ducks quack, “How do you do too?”
Three little clouds drift across the sky.
Four little butterflies start to fly away.
Five little bunny go hopping on by.
***Literacy tip: Don’t forget to read non-fiction
books with your children. Even young
children love learning new things.
Closing song with scarves: “Milkshake” from Songs for Wiggleworms
