Shapes 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 – Round Is a Mooncake: A Book of Shapes by Roseanne Thong, illustrated by Grace Lin
• Stand-up Activity - Big and Round (action rhyme adapted by Carol Hopkins)

Watermelon, watermelon sitting on the ground
I see you big, green, and round
Bright sun, bright sun shining all around
I see you big, yellow, and round
Car tire, car tire rolling with a sound
I see you big, black, and round
Shining moon, shining moon giving light unbound
I see you big, white, and round

• 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 - Shape Match Up (adapted by Carol Hopkins to the tune of "Muffin Man")

Directions: Hand out a red circle, blue rectangle, or yellow triangle to the children (only one shape per child). Review the different aspects of each shape (sides, corners, etc.). Then sing the song for each shape and allow the children to place their shapes on the flannelboard.

Can you find a red circle, a red circle, a red circle?
Can you find a red circle, then bring it up right now.

• Sit-down Activity - Circles, Triangles, Rectangles (fingerplay to the tune of "Jingle Bells" written by Carol Hopkins)

Circles round, circles round, circle in the air
Circles can be small or big
We see them everywhere
Triangles, triangles, triangle in the air
Triangles can be slim or huge
We see them everywhere
Rectangles, rectangles, rectangle in the air
Rectangle can be as big as a door
We see them everywhere

• Book #2 - Maisy Big, Maisy Small: A Book of Maisy Opposites by Lucy Cousins
• Activity – Rolling Hands (fingerplay to the tune "Farmer in the Dell" written by Carol Hopkins

We're rolling our hands, we're rolling our hands
Roll them high
Roll them low
We're rolling our hands
We're rolling them slow, we're rolling them slow
Roll them high
Roll them low
We're rolling them slow
We're rolling them fast, we're rolling them fast
Roll them high
Roll them low
We're rolling them fast

• Closing - Scarves to the song "Flitter, Flutter" from The Second Line by Johnette Downing
• Craft – Glue a mosaic with different cut out shapes

Valentine's Day - Family Storytime

This is for an all ages, whole family storytime:

• Opening - If You're Happy and You Know It
• Book #1 - My Heart Is Like a Zoo by Michael Hall
  
• Book #2 - Where Is Baby's Valentine? by Karen Katz (lift-flap board book)
  
• Stand up activity - Hi Ho a Valentine (action song to the tune of "Farmer In the Dell")

A walking we will go,
A walking we will go,
Hi ho a Valentine,
A walking we will go.

A jumping we will go...

A running we will go...

A stomping we will go...

A sitting we will go...

• Flannelboard - The Wind and the Red Paper Square (a cut and tell story that I found in a book many years ago, it has been so long that I don't remember which book it came from)
  
• Book #3 - The Day It Rained Hearts by Felicia Bond
  
• Activity - I Have a Little Heart (action chant I picked up someplace, I have seen different adaptations of it in many places)

I have a little heart
(hand over heart)
And it goes thump, thump, thump
(pat chest with fingers)
It keeps right on beating when I jump, jump, jump
(jump)
I get a special felling when I look at you
(point to children)
It makes me want to blow a kiss or two
(blow kisses)

• Closing - Egg shakers with the song "Bumblebee (Buzz Buzz)" from Buzz Buzz by Laurie Berkner
  
• Family Small Motor Activity - Create special Valentines by decorating heart shaped paper with heart craft foam and color pens
  

Backyard Critters - Family Storytime

This is for an all ages, whole family storytime:

• Opening - If You're Happy and You Know It
• Book #1 - Those Darn Squirrels by Adam Rubin, illustrated by Daniel Salmieri
• Book #2 -Big Frog Can't Fit In by Mo Willems (pop-up)
  
• Stand up activity - Little Squirrel (action song from Movin' and Grovin' Home 2 by Kindermusik)
• Flannelboard - Bluebird, Bluebird Through My Window (song)
  
• Book #3 -Splash! by Ann Jonas
  
• Activity - Here Goes Turtle (action chant, not sure where I picked up this one)

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

• Closing - Egg shakers with the song "Bumblebee (Buzz Buzz)" from Buzz Buzz by Laurie Berkner
  
• Family Small Motor Activity - Create animal traps with straw connectors
  

Valentine'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 – Snappy Little Hugs by Dugald Steer, illustrated by Derek Matthews
• Stand-up Activity - Valentine's Day Is Here to Stay (action song written by Carol Hopkins, to the tune of "Jingle Bells")

Hug a friend, hug a friend, hug a friend today
Valentine's Day is here to stay let's celebrate all day
Blow a kiss, blow a kiss, blow a kiss today
Valentine's Day is here to stay let's celebrate all day
Jump around, jump around, jump around today
Valentine's Day is here to stay let's celebrate all day
Dance around, dance around, dance around today
Valentine's Day is here to stay let's celebrate all day

• 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 -Eight Valentine Cards (written by Carol Hopkins)
• Sit-down Activity - Put Your Valentine On Your Nose (fingerplay written by Carol Hopkins)

Put your Valentine on your nose, on your nose
Put your Valentine on your nose, on your nose
It's a heart for love and friendship
A hug for everyone
Put your Valentine on your nose
Put your Valentine on your toes...
Put your Valentine on your head...
(repeat with more body parts)

• Book #2 - Lilly's Chocolate Heart by Kevin Henkes (board book)
• Activity – Valentine, Valentine (action rhyme similar to "Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear Turn Around")

Valentine, Valentine turn around.
Valentine, Valentine touch the ground.
Valentine, Valentine blow a kiss.
Valentine, Valentine swim like a fish.
Valentine, Valentine give a hug.
Valentine, Valentine jump like a bug.
Valentine, Valentine find your feet.
Valentine, Valentine find your seat.

• Closing - Scarves to the song "Flitter, Flutter" from The Second Line by Johnette Downing
• Craft – Glue conversation hearts onto a heart cut out

Colors 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 – I Went Walking by Sue Williams, illustrated by Julie Vivas
• Stand-up Activity - I Look and Look (action rhyme written by Carol Hopkins)

I look and look and what do I see?
A bright red apple hanging in the tree
I look and look and what do I see?
A yellow sun shining right on me
I look and look and what do I see?
A great orange fruit, shiny and round
I look and look and what do I see?
Some green grass growing on the ground
I look and look and what do I see?
The blue waves on the ocean and sea
I look and look and what do I see?
All of the colors around you and me

• 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 - Five Little Crayons (counting rhyme I found in the Mailbox Preschool magazine, Aug/Sept 2003, page 6)
• Sit-down Activity - When I See (fingerplay, I don't know where I found this one)
• Book #2 - Freight Train by Donald Crews
• Activity – Choo-Choo Train (action rhyme I have seen in many places)

This is a choo-choo train puffing down the track.
(Bend arms at elbows, rotate forearms in rhythm)
Now it's going forward,
(Rotate arms forward while walking forward)
Now it's going back.
(Rotate arms backwards while walking backwards)
Now the bell is ringing.
(Pretend to pull cord with closed fist)
Now the whistle blows.
(Hold fist near mouth and make "Toot, Toot!" sound)
What a lot of noise it makes,
(Cover ears with hands)
Everywhere it goes.
(Stretch out arms)

• Closing - Scarves to the song "Flitter, Flutter" from The Second Line by Johnette Downing
• Craft – Make a rainbow out of dot stickers

Royal Toddler 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 – The Missing Tarts by B.G. Hennessy, picture by Tracey Campbell Pearson
• Stand-up Activity - Grand Old Duke of York (traditional action song)

The grand old duke of York, he had 10,000 men
He marched them up the hill and then he marched them down again
When you're up, you're up
When you're down, you're down
And when you're only halfway up
Your neither up or down

• 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 -Little Girl, Little Girl (nursery rhyme)

Little girl, little girl, where have you been?
Gathering roses to give to the queen
Little girl, little, girl, what gave she you?
She gave me a diamond as big a my shoe

• Sit-down Activity - Lords and Ladies In a Row (fingerplay written by Carol Hopkins)

Five ladies in waiting, standing in a row
They bow their heads to honor the queen
Five noble lords, standing in a row
They bow their heads to honor the king
They stand in two straight lines and politely applaud
Then they come together and dance at the ball

• Book #2 - King Bidgood's In the Bathtub by Audrey Wood, illustrated by Don Wood
• Activity – Not Much Different (action chant written by Carol Hopkins)

A prince has a crown, and he bows to say, "Hello."
A princess has a crown and she curtseys to say, "How do you do."
They can run
They can dance
They can jump
They can sit
They are not much different from you or me

• Closing - Scarves to the song "Flitter, Flutter" from The Second Line by Johnette Downing
• Craft – Decorate paper plate crowns

Lunar New Year

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 – Ten Mice for Tet by Pegi Deito Shea and Cynthia Weill, illustrated by Tō Ngọe Trang, embroidery by Phạm Viết Ðinh
• Stand-up Activity - Raw, Raw, New Year (action song written by Carol Hopkins to the tune of "Baa Baa Black Sheep")

Raw, raw new year let's go celebrate
Parties and dancing and parades go by
Fireworks and firecrackers boom in the air
Lanterns and candles light up the sky
Raw, raw new year let's go celebrate
Parties and dancing and parades go by

• 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 - Five Green Dragons (counting backwards rhyme I found at http://www.everythingpreschool.com/themes/chinnesenewyear/songs.htm)
• Sit-down Activity - Ten Fingers (fingerplay I have seen in numerous places)

I have ten little fingers,
And they all belong to me.
I can make them dance,
Would you like to see?
I can shut them up tight,
Or open them wide.
I can put them together,
Or make them all hide.
I can make them jump high.
I can make them jump low.
I can fold them quietly,
And hold them just so.

• Book #2 - Lanterns and Firecrackers: A Chinese New Year Story by Jonny Zucker, illustrated by Jan Barger Cohen
• Activity – A Marching We Will Go (action song to the tune of "The Farmer In the Dell")

A marching we will go
A marching we will go
Hi ho the derry oh
A Marching will will go

A jumping...
A spinning...
A running...
A sitting...

• Closing - Scarves to the song "Flitter, Flutter" from The Second Line by Johnette Downing
• Craft – Decorate a paper Chinese lantern