Beach Fun Toddler Storytime

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 #1 – Bears at the Beach by Shirley Parenteau, illustrated by David Walker

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

Transition #1 - 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 – Shells in the Hot, Hot Sand (color naming chant I adapted from one I found at Anne’s Library Life blog)

Instructions: Show the flannelboard shell to the audience.  Let them name the color of the shell.  Then, place the shell on the board.  When done showing the shells, count the total number of shells on the board.

So many shells in the hot, hot sand.
What color shell is in my hand?

Letter of the day - "H” is for hot, hot sand

Transition #2 – 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 – At the Beach by Clare Beaton (board book)

Closing – “Goin’ On a Bear Hunt” action song from Kids inAction by Greg & Steve 

Mermaids at Toddler Storytime

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 #1 – Can I Give You a Squish? by Emily Neilson

Stand-up activity – “If You’re Happy and You Know It” action song from Songs for Wiggleworms by Old Town School of Folk Music

Transition #1 - 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 – Little Crab Hiding Shapes

Directions: Place different colored sea stars on the board.  You can also place one crab shape.  Under the sea stars, place smaller shapes.  The children are to name the color and then name the shape under each sea star.  You can say this little rhyme before each guess

Little crab, little crab,
Are you hiding my shapes?
Little crab, little crab,
Which shape is under the _____ sea star?

Letter of the day - "S” is for squish

Transition #2 – 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 – Three Little Mermaids by Mara Van Fleet (pop-up)

Closing – “Goin’ On a Bear Hunt” action song from Kids inAction by Greg & Steve 

Sea Creatures Toddler Storytime

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 #1 – Pattern Fish by Trudy Harris, illustrated by Anne Canevari Green

Stand-up activity – “The Goldfish” from Best of Laurie Berkner Band by Laurie Berkner

Transition #1 - 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 – Summer Seashells (counting rhyme I found in Mailbox Preschool magazine, August/September 2008, page 28)

Letter of the day - "F” is for Fish

Transition #2 – 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 – What Comes in a Shell? By Susan Canizares and Betsey Chessen (non-fiction)

Closing – “Goin’ On a Bear Hunt” action song from Kids inAction by Greg & Steve 

Boats on the Waves Toddler Storytime

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 #1 – Boats on the Bay by Jeanne Walker Harvey, illustrated by Grady McFerrin

Stand-up activity – The Waves Around the Boat (action song adapted by Carol Hopkins to the tune of “The Wheels on the Bus”)

The waves around the boat go up and down,
Up and down, Up and down,
Up and down, Up and down,
The waves around the boat go up and down,
All day long.

The oars on the boat go rowing now,
Rowing now, rowing now,
Rowing now, rowing now,
The oars on the boat go rowing now,
All day long.

The person on the boat goes look around,
Look around,
Look around,
The person on the boat goes look around,
All day long.

The fish around the boat go jump, jump, jump,
Jump, jump, jump,
Jump, jump, jump,
The fish around the boat go jump, jump, jump,
All day long. 

Transition #1 - 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 – This Little Boat Went (ordinal number chant I found at Anne’s Library Life blog)

Literacy Tip – Talk about putting toys in ordinal number order (1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, etc.) like we did in this flannelboard to expand your child’s vocabulary and knowledge about numbers.   

Letter of the day - "B” is for boat

Transition #2 – 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 – Row, Row, Row Your Boat, Dinosaurs All Love to Float by Joe Fitzpatrick, illustrated by John Joseph (board book)

Closing – “Goin’ On a Bear Hunt” action song from Kids In Action by Greg & Steve 

 

 

Weather Fun Toddler Storytime

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 #1 – Red Rubber Boot Day by Mary Lyn Ray, illustrated by Lauren Stringer

Stand-up activity – “Eensy Weensy Spider” fingerplay song from Toddler Tunes by Cedarmont Kids

Transition #1 - 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 – Four Umbrellas (a counting rhyme I found at an old GeoCities storytime site that is no longer around)

Four umbrellas stood by the back door,
The RED one went outside, then there were three.
Three umbrellas pretty as can be,
The BLUE one went outside, then there were two.
Two umbrellas with nothing to do,
The GREEN one went outside, then there was one.
Just one umbrellas alone in the hall,
The PURPLE one went outside, and that was all!

Letter of the day - "U" is for umbrella

Transition #2 – 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 – What Can You Do in the Wind? by Anna Grossnickle Hines, illustrated by Thea Kliras (board book)

Closing – “Goin’ On a Bear Hunt” action song from Kids inAction by Greg & Steve 

 

 

Exploring Adventure Toddler Storytime

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 #1 – Silly Sally by Audrey Wood (BIG BOOK)

Stand-up activity – “Tempo Marches On” from Jim Gill Sings Do Re Mi On His Toe Leg Knee by Jim Gill

Transition #1 - 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 – Cuckoo Bird Shapes

Instructions: Create a selection of felt shapes as well as one shape of a small bird.  Hide the bird behind a shape.  Let the children guess which shape the cuckoo bird is hiding behind while saying this rhyme.

Cuckoo bird, cuckoo bird,
Where are you? 
Cuckoo bird, cuckoo bird, 
Peek-a-boo!

(Look under a shape)

Literacy Tip – Learning about shapes is also a great opportunity to point out how many things in our world have similar features, yet are still different. 

Letter of the day - "S" is for silly and Sally

Transition #2 – 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 Nature Walk by Lucy Cousins (pop-up)

Closing – “Goin’ On a Bear Hunt” action song from Kids In Action by Greg & Steve 

 

 

Bathtub Fun Toddler Storytime

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 – King Bidgood’s in the Bathtub by Audrey Wood, illustrated by Don Wood (BIG BOOK)

Stand-up activity – Bubbles All Around (action rhyme I found in a Mailbox magazine)

Transition #1 - 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 – Ten Rubber Duckies (counting chant I found in a book years ago)

Literacy Tip – Counting objects is a good way to learn one-to-one correspondence.  You can count anything: Fingers, toys, food, so many things!  

Letter of the day - "B” is for bubbles or bath

Transition #2 - 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)

Book #2 – Maisy Takes a Bath by Lucy Cousins

Closing - Jumping and Counting (action song from Jim Gill's Irrational Anthem & More Salutes to Nonsense by Jim Gill)