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!)

Color Play Toddler Storytime

Storytime for 1 to 3 year olds:

·         Opening - Skinnamarink, Sticky Sticky Bubblegum

 

  

·         Book #1 – Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes by Eric Litwin, illustrated by James Dean

·         Stand-up Activity – Colored Shoes (action chant written by Carol Hopkins)

Walking in my red shoes, red shoes, red shoes

Walking in my red shoes, here at storytime.

Running in my blue shoes, blue shoes, blue shoes,

Running in my blue shoes, here at storytime.

Sliding in my green shoes, green shoes, green shoes,

Sliding in my green shoes, here at storytime.

Twirling in my pink shoes, pink shoes, pink shoes,

Twirling in my pink shoes, here at storytime.

Sitting in my white shoes, white shoes, white shoes,

Sitting in my white shoes, here at storytime.

·         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 - Colorful Clothespins 

I strung up a length of yarn between a chair and a table in my storytime room.  I then handed the children colored plastic clothespins. Then I had the children come clip their clothespins to the line when I called out their color.  

·         Letter of the Day - "C" is for colors

·         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.

·         Book #2 –  Freight Train by Donald Crews (big book) 

·         Closing -  Scarves to the song "Water, Wind and World" from The Second Line: Scarf Activity Songs by Johnette Downing

 

·         Art Experience – Peel and stick stickers on a crayon cut out

Hopping Frogs Toddler Storytime

Storytime for 1 to 3 year olds:

·         Opening - Skinnamarink, Sticky Sticky Bubblegum

 

 

  

·         Book #1 – Leap Back Home to Me by Lauren Thompson, illustrated by Matthew Cordell 

·         Stand-up Activity – Frog Jump Over the Great Big Stick (action rhyme written by Carol Hopkins)

Frog be nimble, frog be quick,

Frog jump over the great big stick

Frog be nimble, frog be slick

Frog swim under the great big stick

Frog be nimble, frog go click

Frog run around the great big stick

Frog be nimble, frog be fine

Frog sit down for storytime

·         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 - Five Green and Speckled Frogs (traditional counting backwards song)

·         Letter of the Day - "G" is for green frogs

·         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.

·         Book #2 –  In the Small, Small Pond by Denise Fleming

·         Closing -  Scarves to the song "Water, Wind and World" from The Second Line: Scarf Activity Songs by Johnette Downing

 

 

  

·         Art Experience – Bingo paint dabbers on frog cut-outs

Family Together Toddler Storytime

Storytime for 1 to 3 year olds:

·         Opening - Skinnamarink, Sticky Sticky Bubblegum

 

 

  

·         Book #1 – One Family by George Shannon, illustrated by Blanca Gómez

·         Stand-up Activity – "If You're Happy and You Know It" from Songs for Wiggleworms by Old Town School of Folk Music 

·         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 - Daddy Mouse House (rhyme written by Carol Hopkins)

(On the flannelboard put out 5-8 houses of different colors.  Make sure the little baby mouse is under one house. Say the rhyme with the children and peek under the house color the children request until you find the baby mouse.)

Daddy mouse, daddy mouse where is your baby?
Daddy mouse, daddy mouse look for your baby under the _________ house.

·         Letter of the Day - "F" is for family

·         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.

·         Book #2 –  Just Like Daddy by Frank Asch 

·         Closing -  Scarves to the song "Water, Wind and World" from The Second Line: Scarf Activity Songs by Johnette Downing

 

 

·         Art Experience – Use glue sticks to glue the words "Love Is Easy to Spot" onto a paper placemat, then decorate the placemat with dot stickers

Sleepy Bedtime Toddler Storytime

Storytime for 1 to 3 year olds:

·         Opening - Skinnamarink, Sticky Sticky Bubblegum

 

  

·         Book #1 – The Napping House by Audrey Wood, illustrated by Don Wood

·         Stand-up Activity – "The Night I Had a Dream" from Whaddaya Think of That? by Laurie Berkner

·         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 - Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed (traditional counting down rhyme)

·         Letter of the Day - "H" is for happy

·         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.

·         Book #2 –   Maisy's Bedtime by Lucy Cousins

·         Closing -  Scarves to the song "Water, Wind and World" from The Second Line: Scarf Activity Songs by Johnette Downing

 

·         Art Experience – Glue turtle cut-out onto a card-stock bed and then cover with a cloth blanket

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