Thursday, May 20, 2010
Shark vs. Train by Chris Barton
What's Your Sound Hound the Hound? by Mo Willems
Weather
OPENING SONG: Clap your hands
BOOK: Like a Windy Day by Frank Asch
(Ok book. Some of the kids didn't know what was going on and got distracted. A few thought the wind was a ghost.)
FINGERPLAY: Can you be the wind
(This was a fun activity. I had the kids stand up and pretend to be the wind.)
http://www.perrypubliclibrary.org/Kids/Programs/Storytimes/wind.pdf
Can You Be the Wind?
Pheeewwooooo (make a sound like blowing wind)
Can you be the wind?
Can you be the gentle breeze
That whispers, whispers, in the trees?
Can you be the whirly wind
That twirly-whirls the autumn leaves?
Can you be the singing wind
That ting-a-lings the garden chimes?
Can you be the wafting wind
That flaps the washing on the line?
Can you be the wild wind
That tries to steal my hat from me!
FINGERPLAY: Make rain
(The kids enjoyed this but they only wanted to do it once.)
Rain starts as a drizzle (have the kids rub their hands together palms and fingers flat, rub slowly then faster)
Rain begins to pour down (quickly pat lap with hands, faster and faster)
Rain is really pouring down (stomp feet along with patting legs)
Lightning (have kids CLAP hands)
Storm lessens (slow everything down)
Go back to a drizzle and then stop (the sun has come out)
BOOK: Rainy Day by Patricia Lakin
(Cute book. They enjoyed seeing what the animals did in the rain. Nice ending with the kids going to the library.)
SONG: Rain, rain, go away
(Sang this song then so the rain would stop)
SONG: Sally Go Round the Sunshine #6 from Dancing Feet CD by Carole Peterson
(have children hold hands in a circle w/ adults helping. Walk around in circle and would stop and jump up and clap at different point in the song.)
BOOK: Duckie’s Rainbow by Frances Barry
(Great book. Love the colors and that the book is shaped like a rainbow.)
ACTIVITY: Umbrella activity w/sheet
(Had the kids pretend to dance around in puddles and then I would stop the music and they had to run under the umbrellas--or sheets. I had 2 sheets and the mom's helped me to hold them up over the kids heads)
TAKE HOME: kite coloring page
BOOK: Like a Windy Day by Frank Asch
(Ok book. Some of the kids didn't know what was going on and got distracted. A few thought the wind was a ghost.)
FINGERPLAY: Can you be the wind
(This was a fun activity. I had the kids stand up and pretend to be the wind.)
http://www.perrypubliclibrary.org/Kids/Programs/Storytimes/wind.pdf
Can You Be the Wind?
Pheeewwooooo (make a sound like blowing wind)
Can you be the wind?
Can you be the gentle breeze
That whispers, whispers, in the trees?
Can you be the whirly wind
That twirly-whirls the autumn leaves?
Can you be the singing wind
That ting-a-lings the garden chimes?
Can you be the wafting wind
That flaps the washing on the line?
Can you be the wild wind
That tries to steal my hat from me!
FINGERPLAY: Make rain
(The kids enjoyed this but they only wanted to do it once.)
Rain starts as a drizzle (have the kids rub their hands together palms and fingers flat, rub slowly then faster)
Rain begins to pour down (quickly pat lap with hands, faster and faster)
Rain is really pouring down (stomp feet along with patting legs)
Lightning (have kids CLAP hands)
Storm lessens (slow everything down)
Go back to a drizzle and then stop (the sun has come out)
BOOK: Rainy Day by Patricia Lakin
(Cute book. They enjoyed seeing what the animals did in the rain. Nice ending with the kids going to the library.)
SONG: Rain, rain, go away
(Sang this song then so the rain would stop)
SONG: Sally Go Round the Sunshine #6 from Dancing Feet CD by Carole Peterson
(have children hold hands in a circle w/ adults helping. Walk around in circle and would stop and jump up and clap at different point in the song.)
BOOK: Duckie’s Rainbow by Frances Barry
(Great book. Love the colors and that the book is shaped like a rainbow.)
ACTIVITY: Umbrella activity w/sheet
(Had the kids pretend to dance around in puddles and then I would stop the music and they had to run under the umbrellas--or sheets. I had 2 sheets and the mom's helped me to hold them up over the kids heads)
TAKE HOME: kite coloring page
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Frogs
OPENING SONG: Clap your hands from the Miss Anna's Music Class Volume II CD by Anna Stange
Showed them the tadpole puppet that turns into a frog from the storytime box.
BOOK: Little Green Frogs by Frances Barry
(Great book. Very interesting and a unique shape for a book. Good information.)
FINGERPLAY: 3 Green and Speckled Frogs
SONG: Hop like a Bunny from the Toddlers on Parade CD by Carol Hammett
(Great song. Kids enjoyed acting like the different animals. One of them is a frog.)
FINGERPLAY: I Have a Little Frog
BOOK: Ribbit by Bender & Bender (shortened with paperclips)
(Not that great. Didn't work out too well with the kids.)
BOOK: Down by the Cool of the Pool by Tony Mitton
(Good story. Kids enjoyed this one.)
SONG: Shaker Hop from the Dancing Feet CD by Carole Peterson
(Gave the kids a shaker and then had them shake it in and out to the music. Kind of like Hokey Pokey)
BOOK: Froggy Gets Dressed (with book prop from box)
(I shortened it but I think it was still fun. They didn't get the whole underwear thing but they liked telling me about the different clothes.)
ACTIVITY: Jumping Lily Pads
(Used carpet squares. Threw them around the room and played music. Let the children jump from one pad to the other. I had to keep encouraging them to jump but they eventually got the hang of it.)
TAKE HOME: Frog Puppet with paperbag
Showed them the tadpole puppet that turns into a frog from the storytime box.
BOOK: Little Green Frogs by Frances Barry
(Great book. Very interesting and a unique shape for a book. Good information.)
FINGERPLAY: 3 Green and Speckled Frogs
SONG: Hop like a Bunny from the Toddlers on Parade CD by Carol Hammett
(Great song. Kids enjoyed acting like the different animals. One of them is a frog.)
FINGERPLAY: I Have a Little Frog
BOOK: Ribbit by Bender & Bender (shortened with paperclips)
(Not that great. Didn't work out too well with the kids.)
BOOK: Down by the Cool of the Pool by Tony Mitton
(Good story. Kids enjoyed this one.)
SONG: Shaker Hop from the Dancing Feet CD by Carole Peterson
(Gave the kids a shaker and then had them shake it in and out to the music. Kind of like Hokey Pokey)
BOOK: Froggy Gets Dressed (with book prop from box)
(I shortened it but I think it was still fun. They didn't get the whole underwear thing but they liked telling me about the different clothes.)
ACTIVITY: Jumping Lily Pads
(Used carpet squares. Threw them around the room and played music. Let the children jump from one pad to the other. I had to keep encouraging them to jump but they eventually got the hang of it.)
TAKE HOME: Frog Puppet with paperbag
Silly
OPENING SONG: Clap your hands from the Miss Anna's Music Class Volume II CD by Anna Stange
BOOK: Silly Sally by Audrey Wood
(Went pretty well. The kids were pretty attentive and laughed at some of the pictures.)
FINGERPLAY: Tommy Thumbs
(This was a silly fingerplay that worked quite well.)
Tommy Thumbs are up,
(thumbs up, both hands)
Tommy Thumbs are down.
(thumbs down)
Tommy Thumbs are dancing,
(thumbs up and dance around)
All around the town.
(dance thumbs)
Dance them on your shoulders,
(bounce them on your shoulders)
Dance them on your head.
(bounce them on your head)
Dance them on your knees,
(bounce them on your knees)
And tuck them into bed.
(fold arms, hiding hands)
BOOK: Bark George
(Pretty funny book. I think the kids enjoyed it.)
SONG: Do Your Ears Hang Low from the Sing along with Bob Vol. 2 CD with Bob McGrath.
(The kids loved this! I had them practice it a few times and then we did it with the music twice. Lots of fun and they loved how it got faster each time.)
Do your ears hang low?
Do they wobble to and fro?
Can you tie them in a knot?
Can you tie them in a bow?
Can you throw them over your shoulder,
like a continental soldier?
Do your ears hang low?
FLIP BOOK: Blue Hat, Green Hat by Sandra Boynton
(This was the best thing ever. The kids LOVED it. Tons of laughing. They repeated the words with me. One of my co-workers made a flip book that makes the pictures bigger and easier to read for the kids. So much fun!)
FINGERPLAY: Ram, Sam Sam
(We practiced this a few times and then did the fingerplay twice. They loved this too!)
SONG: Shake Your Sillies Out
(Great stand by. Got the wiggles out.)
BOOK: A Birthday for Cow by Jan Thomas
(I love Jan Thomas' books. This was funny and short.)
ACTIVITY: Bubbles
(Gave a bottle of bubbles to the mom's and they blew bubbles around the room and the kids popped them. Fun, but the kids all wanted to blow the bubbles themselves.)
TAKE HOME: Silly face craft from Rachel's storytime folder
BOOK: Silly Sally by Audrey Wood
(Went pretty well. The kids were pretty attentive and laughed at some of the pictures.)
FINGERPLAY: Tommy Thumbs
(This was a silly fingerplay that worked quite well.)
Tommy Thumbs are up,
(thumbs up, both hands)
Tommy Thumbs are down.
(thumbs down)
Tommy Thumbs are dancing,
(thumbs up and dance around)
All around the town.
(dance thumbs)
Dance them on your shoulders,
(bounce them on your shoulders)
Dance them on your head.
(bounce them on your head)
Dance them on your knees,
(bounce them on your knees)
And tuck them into bed.
(fold arms, hiding hands)
BOOK: Bark George
(Pretty funny book. I think the kids enjoyed it.)
SONG: Do Your Ears Hang Low from the Sing along with Bob Vol. 2 CD with Bob McGrath.
(The kids loved this! I had them practice it a few times and then we did it with the music twice. Lots of fun and they loved how it got faster each time.)
Do your ears hang low?
Do they wobble to and fro?
Can you tie them in a knot?
Can you tie them in a bow?
Can you throw them over your shoulder,
like a continental soldier?
Do your ears hang low?
FLIP BOOK: Blue Hat, Green Hat by Sandra Boynton
(This was the best thing ever. The kids LOVED it. Tons of laughing. They repeated the words with me. One of my co-workers made a flip book that makes the pictures bigger and easier to read for the kids. So much fun!)
FINGERPLAY: Ram, Sam Sam
(We practiced this a few times and then did the fingerplay twice. They loved this too!)
SONG: Shake Your Sillies Out
(Great stand by. Got the wiggles out.)
BOOK: A Birthday for Cow by Jan Thomas
(I love Jan Thomas' books. This was funny and short.)
ACTIVITY: Bubbles
(Gave a bottle of bubbles to the mom's and they blew bubbles around the room and the kids popped them. Fun, but the kids all wanted to blow the bubbles themselves.)
TAKE HOME: Silly face craft from Rachel's storytime folder
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Circus
This is what I did at my circus preschool storytime.
OPENING SONG: Clap Your Hands from the Miss Anna's Music Class Volume II CD by Anna Stange
I asked if any of the kids had ever been to the circus. Then I talked about the different things they might see at the circus.
BOOK: Circus by Lois Ehlert
(This is a colorful book. I think the pictures were too abstract for the kids or maybe I should have shortened the portion I read to the kids. Some of them got restless and it was a distraction for the rest of the kids.)
FLANNEL BOARD STORY: Clancy the Clown (from the storytime box)
(This was a really fun story. The kids interacted by calling out the color and shape of the nose that was wrong. I loved this and will use it again!)
Clancy was a clown in a circus. Every day he put on a funny face that made the children clap and laugh. Then he did somersaults and rode a pig. Clancy blew a trumpet and that made the children clap and laugh too.
One day Clancy went to put on his funny face. He put on his silly eyes (place eyes). He put on his happy mouth (place mouth). He put on his crazy hair (place hair). But Clancy Clown couldn't find his funny nose.
"I know my nose", said Clancy. "My nose is round and red. Where is my funny nose?"
Clancy found a nose and put it on. (put on a blue square nose) Something wasn't quite right. Was this Clancy's nose? (let kids respond) Clancy said, "this is not my nose and he took it off." (The kids screamed NO. Then I had them tell me why it wasn't his nose. They called out the shape and color.)
Clancy found another nose and put it on. (put on a green triangle nose) Something wasn't right with this one either. Was this Clancy's nose? (let the kids respond) Clancy said, "this is not my nose and he took it off." (the kids screamed NO. Then I had them tell me why this wasn't his nose. They called out the shape and color. They really started to laugh at this point. I was amazed by how much they know about shapes and they were able to explain why it wasn't the right nose.)
Clancy found another nose and put it on. (put on a big yellow circle) Something didn't look right. Was this Clancy's nose? (children respond) Clancy said, "this is not my nose and he took it off".
Clancy found another nose and put it on. (put on a tiny purple circle). Something wasn't right with this one either. Was this Clancy's nose? (children respond) Clancy said, "this is not my nose and he took it off".
Clancy found another nose and put it on. (put on a yellow star). Something didn't look right. Was this Clancy's nose? (children respond) Clancy said, "this is not my nose and he took it off."
Clancy put on another nose. (a large orance circle). It looked almost right but not quite. Was this Clancy's nose? (children respond) Clancy said, "this is not my nose and he took it off".
Then Clancy put on the last nose (put on the large red circle). Was this Clancy's nose? (they all scream YES.) Yes it was red and it was round like a circle. This was Clancy's funny clown nose.
Clancy Clown went out to turn somersaults and ride a pig and blow his trumpet so the children would clap and laugh.
ACTION SONG: The Dance Along Gong Song from Jim Gill's Irrational Anthem CD
(I talked to the kids about clowns at the circus. Then I explained that clowns make people laugh and we are going to pretend to be clowns. We will dance around and make silly faces and then every time we hear the "gong" sound in the song we will freeze. They seemed to really enjoy this. They danceed and giggled and wiggled and froze. I've noticed that kids love freezing during a song.)
BOOK: Little Monkey Says Goodnight by Ann Whitford Paul
(Cute book. The kids quieted down and listened. I just wish the pictures were brighter and easier to see. Nice story that held their interest.)
ACTIVITY: Swing, Swing
(I got this idea from http://www.preschooleducation.com/szoo.shtml and I just changed the ending a little bit. I asked the kids if they had ever played ring around the rosie. They said yes so I told them to hold hands and helped them to get in a circle. I explained we were going to be monkeys and swing are arms like a tail. I had them practice and then we went through the fingerplay twice. Then I experimented and had them move around in a circle. It was hilarious. That part got all messed up. They didn't know what they were doing and the kids got all smooshed together and it was more like a pretzel. They had fun though!)
Little monkeys swinging in the tree,
all hold hands and swing with me.
swing up high and swing down low,
swing in the tree, now don't let go!
swing, swing, like I do.
Swing like monkeys at the circus do.
(swing arms back and forth while holding hands in a circle)
BOOK: Last Night I Dreamed a Circus by Maya Gottfried
(Nice and short. Unique illustrations. The kids were fairly attentive.)
ACTIVITY: Circus Extravaganza
I played the song Animal Parade from the Wee Sing Animals, Animals, Animals CD by Pamela Conn Beall
(I had the kids sit on the storytime rug while I quickly ran around and set up the activities. I put out the tunnel from baby/toddler storytime, I had allready put a line of masking tape down on the carpet, I threw a hula hoop on the ground, and had a cardboard animal with an open mouth and bean bags for them to throw inside. Then I explained the activity. They were circus performers and when I turned on the music they were going to walk on the tightrope, jump in and out of the hoop, crawl through the tunnel and throw the bean bags into the lions mouth. I showed them how to do it and then turned on the music. The kids had a blast doing this and they didn't want it to end. I played the song through twice. Finally I had to tell them it was over. The only problem was that we ended up with a traffic jam at the lion's mouth and the tunnel, but they didn't seem to care. One of the mom's helped me keep traffic moving and that made a big difference!)
TAKE HOME: Circus Elephant coloring page.
MUSIC CDs:
Miss Anna's Music Class Volume II CD by Anna Stange (Clap Your Hands)
Jim Gill's Irrational Anthem CD (The Dance Along Gong Song)
Wee Sing Animals, Animals, Animals by Pamela Conn Beall CD (Animal Parade)
OPENING SONG: Clap Your Hands from the Miss Anna's Music Class Volume II CD by Anna Stange
I asked if any of the kids had ever been to the circus. Then I talked about the different things they might see at the circus.
BOOK: Circus by Lois Ehlert
(This is a colorful book. I think the pictures were too abstract for the kids or maybe I should have shortened the portion I read to the kids. Some of them got restless and it was a distraction for the rest of the kids.)
FLANNEL BOARD STORY: Clancy the Clown (from the storytime box)
(This was a really fun story. The kids interacted by calling out the color and shape of the nose that was wrong. I loved this and will use it again!)
Clancy was a clown in a circus. Every day he put on a funny face that made the children clap and laugh. Then he did somersaults and rode a pig. Clancy blew a trumpet and that made the children clap and laugh too.
One day Clancy went to put on his funny face. He put on his silly eyes (place eyes). He put on his happy mouth (place mouth). He put on his crazy hair (place hair). But Clancy Clown couldn't find his funny nose.
"I know my nose", said Clancy. "My nose is round and red. Where is my funny nose?"
Clancy found a nose and put it on. (put on a blue square nose) Something wasn't quite right. Was this Clancy's nose? (let kids respond) Clancy said, "this is not my nose and he took it off." (The kids screamed NO. Then I had them tell me why it wasn't his nose. They called out the shape and color.)
Clancy found another nose and put it on. (put on a green triangle nose) Something wasn't right with this one either. Was this Clancy's nose? (let the kids respond) Clancy said, "this is not my nose and he took it off." (the kids screamed NO. Then I had them tell me why this wasn't his nose. They called out the shape and color. They really started to laugh at this point. I was amazed by how much they know about shapes and they were able to explain why it wasn't the right nose.)
Clancy found another nose and put it on. (put on a big yellow circle) Something didn't look right. Was this Clancy's nose? (children respond) Clancy said, "this is not my nose and he took it off".
Clancy found another nose and put it on. (put on a tiny purple circle). Something wasn't right with this one either. Was this Clancy's nose? (children respond) Clancy said, "this is not my nose and he took it off".
Clancy found another nose and put it on. (put on a yellow star). Something didn't look right. Was this Clancy's nose? (children respond) Clancy said, "this is not my nose and he took it off."
Clancy put on another nose. (a large orance circle). It looked almost right but not quite. Was this Clancy's nose? (children respond) Clancy said, "this is not my nose and he took it off".
Then Clancy put on the last nose (put on the large red circle). Was this Clancy's nose? (they all scream YES.) Yes it was red and it was round like a circle. This was Clancy's funny clown nose.
Clancy Clown went out to turn somersaults and ride a pig and blow his trumpet so the children would clap and laugh.
ACTION SONG: The Dance Along Gong Song from Jim Gill's Irrational Anthem CD
(I talked to the kids about clowns at the circus. Then I explained that clowns make people laugh and we are going to pretend to be clowns. We will dance around and make silly faces and then every time we hear the "gong" sound in the song we will freeze. They seemed to really enjoy this. They danceed and giggled and wiggled and froze. I've noticed that kids love freezing during a song.)
BOOK: Little Monkey Says Goodnight by Ann Whitford Paul
(Cute book. The kids quieted down and listened. I just wish the pictures were brighter and easier to see. Nice story that held their interest.)
ACTIVITY: Swing, Swing
(I got this idea from http://www.preschooleducation.com/szoo.shtml and I just changed the ending a little bit. I asked the kids if they had ever played ring around the rosie. They said yes so I told them to hold hands and helped them to get in a circle. I explained we were going to be monkeys and swing are arms like a tail. I had them practice and then we went through the fingerplay twice. Then I experimented and had them move around in a circle. It was hilarious. That part got all messed up. They didn't know what they were doing and the kids got all smooshed together and it was more like a pretzel. They had fun though!)
Little monkeys swinging in the tree,
all hold hands and swing with me.
swing up high and swing down low,
swing in the tree, now don't let go!
swing, swing, like I do.
Swing like monkeys at the circus do.
(swing arms back and forth while holding hands in a circle)
BOOK: Last Night I Dreamed a Circus by Maya Gottfried
(Nice and short. Unique illustrations. The kids were fairly attentive.)
ACTIVITY: Circus Extravaganza
I played the song Animal Parade from the Wee Sing Animals, Animals, Animals CD by Pamela Conn Beall
(I had the kids sit on the storytime rug while I quickly ran around and set up the activities. I put out the tunnel from baby/toddler storytime, I had allready put a line of masking tape down on the carpet, I threw a hula hoop on the ground, and had a cardboard animal with an open mouth and bean bags for them to throw inside. Then I explained the activity. They were circus performers and when I turned on the music they were going to walk on the tightrope, jump in and out of the hoop, crawl through the tunnel and throw the bean bags into the lions mouth. I showed them how to do it and then turned on the music. The kids had a blast doing this and they didn't want it to end. I played the song through twice. Finally I had to tell them it was over. The only problem was that we ended up with a traffic jam at the lion's mouth and the tunnel, but they didn't seem to care. One of the mom's helped me keep traffic moving and that made a big difference!)
TAKE HOME: Circus Elephant coloring page.
MUSIC CDs:
Miss Anna's Music Class Volume II CD by Anna Stange (Clap Your Hands)
Jim Gill's Irrational Anthem CD (The Dance Along Gong Song)
Wee Sing Animals, Animals, Animals by Pamela Conn Beall CD (Animal Parade)
Friday, February 19, 2010
February Baby/Toddler
I keep the same handout for 3 weeks. The repetition seems to work well with this age group (babies-2+). I have ongoing songs and rhymes that I use each week (I have listed those in a separate entry.) I also read a different book and provide a different music and motion activity weekly.
OPENING SONG: The More We Get Together
OPENING FINGERPLAY: Open, Shut Them
FINGERPLAY: Jack in the Box (another version of Peek-A-Boo)
(Children love peek-a-boo. Repeated the fingerplay two/three times)
Jack in the box
(cover babies eyes)
Sits so still
Won’t you come out?
Yes, I will!
(throw out your arms)
FINGERPLAY: Dinosaurs
(I used a T-rex puppet that we have from Folkmanis. The kids loved this one. I had them practice the different actions and then we did the fingerplay twice.)
Dinosaurs lived long ago.
Some walked (stomp in place)
Some swam (pretend to swim)
Some flew, you know! (flap arms at sides)
Some were big (holds hands high)
Some were small (crouch low)
Some were gigantic (stretch arms wide)
V-e-r-y tall! (stretch arms up high).
FINGERPLAY: Clap Your Hands
(Kids had fun clapping fast and slow. Did fingerplay twice.)
Clap, clap, clap your hands
(clap hands in rhythm with words)
Clap your hands with me.
Clap them fast!
(clap quickly)
Clap – them – slow.
(clap slowly)
Clap your hands with me.
(return to original rhythm)
ACTION SONG: Ladies Ride from the Wiggleworms Love You CD by The Old Town School of Folk Music
(The children love this activity. They have lots of fun. Toddlers that are not on a lap usually jump or sway themselves back and forth. Consistently fun action song.)
This is the way the ladies ride.
Trit, Trot, Trit, Trot. (slowly sway)
This is the way the ladies ride.
Early in the morning.
This is the way the gentlemen ride.
Clip, clop, clip, clop. ( little faster)
This is the way the farmers ride.
Clippity, cloppity (even faster)
This is the way the cowgirls/cowboys ride.
Giddy-up, giddy-up. (very fast)
Yeehah! Repeat.
EXERCISE RHYME: Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
(The kids love this one. We do it three times. Regular, then fast, and then slow. A favorite!)
BOOK:
If You See a Kitten by John Butler (Week 1)
(This is my all time favorite book for baby/toddler storytime! Children and moms love it. It has good participation, sweet pictures, and a fun rhythm to it.)
Won't You Be My Kissaroo? by Joanne Ryder (Week 2) (Worked ok with the smaller group but not with the larger group. The illustrations a light pastel and hard to see. I shortened the story by using paper clips but even then I was just trying to get through it. It didn't hold their interest and didn't seem to have enough to grab this age group. Some of the mom's did kiss and hug baby along with the story which was what I had hoped, but probably won't use again.)
Peek-a-boo, You! by Roberta Grobel Intrater (Week 3) (This is one of my old stand by's. This is a nice interactive book for younger children.)
Fire fighter PiggyWiggy by Christyan Fox (Week 3) (I tried this one because it has bright colors. Only the kids were wired and kept standing in front of the book and it was probably to long and advanced for the age group especially with the number of kids today.)
FINGERPLAY: I'm a Little Teapot
(Lots of fun. The kids enjoy this one. I do it twice and have them switch sides for the handle and spout.)
I’m a little teapot,
Short and stout -
Here is my handle, (one hand on hip)
Here is my spout. (bend other arm out to side)
When I get all steamed up, (rock from side to side)
Hear me SHOUT -
“Tip me over and pour me out!” (tilt body to “spout” side)
ACTION SONG: Grand Old Duke of York from the Where is Thumpkin? Action Songs for Every Month CD
(The kids love this one. I use it alot. I have them march in place and emphasize that they aren't to run around. If the child is on a lap they get lifted into the air and if they are marching (toddler) they get to jump up and down.)
The grand old Duke of York, (salute)
He had ten thousand men, (hold up both hands for 10)
He marched them up to the top of the (march arms in place)
hill and he marched them down again.
And when they’re up they’re up.
(lift baby up)
And when they’re down they’re down.
(bring baby down)
And when they’re only half way up,
They’re neither up nor down. (up and down)
TICKLE: Criss Cross Applesauce
(I love this tickle. Very gentle on the back and always gets kids giggling.)
Criss-cross applesauce.
(Draw X with finger on child’s back)
Spiders crawling up your back.
(Walk fingers up child’s back)
Cool breeze.
(Gently blow on child’s neck)
Tight squeeze.
(Hug child)
Makes you get the sillies.
(Gently tickle child)
FINGERPLAY: Itsy Bitsy Spider
(Always popular almost like a familiar friend.)
The itsy-bitsy spider
Went up the water spout.
(Walk fingers up arm or in the air)
Down came the rain
(Flick your fingers overhead)
And washed the spider out.
Out came the sun
(Big circle with arms overhead)
And dried up all the rain.
And the itsy bitsy spider
(walk fingers up arm or in the air)
Went up the spout again.
LAPJOG: Pop Goes the Weasel
(I have a song I like to use for this one but I decided to try just singing it and it worked out really well. The babies were lifted up on "pop" and the toddlers jumped. I repeated it twice and the kids love it.
All around the cobbler’s bench
The monkey chased the weasel.
The monkey thought ‘twas all in fun.
POP! Goes the Weasel.
(Bounce and lift baby up with the word POP!)
ACTION SONG: Go, Go, Go
(All time favorite. I use this song at the end of every baby/toddler storytime. I use a stop sign and the kids run in place and stop at certain points in the song.)
CLOSING RHYME
MUSIC AND MOTION:
Bell Horses (BELLS) (Week 1) from the Baby Record CD by Bob McGrath and Katharine Smithrim
(Went pretty good. I have them play the bells and then they hide them behind their back and bring them out again. I played the song twice.)
Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride (SCARVES) (Week 2) from the Lilo and Stitch Movie Soundtrack Disney CD
(This is one of my favorites to use because it has a nice beat and goes great with scarves. The kids wave them back and forth and it works as a hula, swimming, dancing or whatever.)
Rockin' Robin (TAMBOURINES) (Week 3) from the Dancin Magic Joanie Bartels CD.
(One of my old standbys. Nice beat fun for the kids.)
MUSIC CDs:
Wiggleworms Love You CD by Old Town School of Folk Music (Ladies Ride)
Where is Thumpkin? Action Songs for Every Month CD (Grand Old Duke of York)
Baby Record CD by Bob McGrath and Katharine Smithrim (Bell Horses) (BELLS)
Lilo and Stitch Movie Soundtrack Disney CD (Hawaiian Rollercoaster Ride) (SCARVES)
Dancin Magic by Joanie Bartels CD (Rockin' Robin) (TAMBOURINES)
OPENING SONG: The More We Get Together
OPENING FINGERPLAY: Open, Shut Them
FINGERPLAY: Jack in the Box (another version of Peek-A-Boo)
(Children love peek-a-boo. Repeated the fingerplay two/three times)
Jack in the box
(cover babies eyes)
Sits so still
Won’t you come out?
Yes, I will!
(throw out your arms)
FINGERPLAY: Dinosaurs
(I used a T-rex puppet that we have from Folkmanis. The kids loved this one. I had them practice the different actions and then we did the fingerplay twice.)
Dinosaurs lived long ago.
Some walked (stomp in place)
Some swam (pretend to swim)
Some flew, you know! (flap arms at sides)
Some were big (holds hands high)
Some were small (crouch low)
Some were gigantic (stretch arms wide)
V-e-r-y tall! (stretch arms up high).
FINGERPLAY: Clap Your Hands
(Kids had fun clapping fast and slow. Did fingerplay twice.)
Clap, clap, clap your hands
(clap hands in rhythm with words)
Clap your hands with me.
Clap them fast!
(clap quickly)
Clap – them – slow.
(clap slowly)
Clap your hands with me.
(return to original rhythm)
ACTION SONG: Ladies Ride from the Wiggleworms Love You CD by The Old Town School of Folk Music
(The children love this activity. They have lots of fun. Toddlers that are not on a lap usually jump or sway themselves back and forth. Consistently fun action song.)
This is the way the ladies ride.
Trit, Trot, Trit, Trot. (slowly sway)
This is the way the ladies ride.
Early in the morning.
This is the way the gentlemen ride.
Clip, clop, clip, clop. ( little faster)
This is the way the farmers ride.
Clippity, cloppity (even faster)
This is the way the cowgirls/cowboys ride.
Giddy-up, giddy-up. (very fast)
Yeehah! Repeat.
EXERCISE RHYME: Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
(The kids love this one. We do it three times. Regular, then fast, and then slow. A favorite!)
BOOK:
If You See a Kitten by John Butler (Week 1)
(This is my all time favorite book for baby/toddler storytime! Children and moms love it. It has good participation, sweet pictures, and a fun rhythm to it.)
Won't You Be My Kissaroo? by Joanne Ryder (Week 2) (Worked ok with the smaller group but not with the larger group. The illustrations a light pastel and hard to see. I shortened the story by using paper clips but even then I was just trying to get through it. It didn't hold their interest and didn't seem to have enough to grab this age group. Some of the mom's did kiss and hug baby along with the story which was what I had hoped, but probably won't use again.)
Peek-a-boo, You! by Roberta Grobel Intrater (Week 3) (This is one of my old stand by's. This is a nice interactive book for younger children.)
Fire fighter PiggyWiggy by Christyan Fox (Week 3) (I tried this one because it has bright colors. Only the kids were wired and kept standing in front of the book and it was probably to long and advanced for the age group especially with the number of kids today.)
FINGERPLAY: I'm a Little Teapot
(Lots of fun. The kids enjoy this one. I do it twice and have them switch sides for the handle and spout.)
I’m a little teapot,
Short and stout -
Here is my handle, (one hand on hip)
Here is my spout. (bend other arm out to side)
When I get all steamed up, (rock from side to side)
Hear me SHOUT -
“Tip me over and pour me out!” (tilt body to “spout” side)
ACTION SONG: Grand Old Duke of York from the Where is Thumpkin? Action Songs for Every Month CD
(The kids love this one. I use it alot. I have them march in place and emphasize that they aren't to run around. If the child is on a lap they get lifted into the air and if they are marching (toddler) they get to jump up and down.)
The grand old Duke of York, (salute)
He had ten thousand men, (hold up both hands for 10)
He marched them up to the top of the (march arms in place)
hill and he marched them down again.
And when they’re up they’re up.
(lift baby up)
And when they’re down they’re down.
(bring baby down)
And when they’re only half way up,
They’re neither up nor down. (up and down)
TICKLE: Criss Cross Applesauce
(I love this tickle. Very gentle on the back and always gets kids giggling.)
Criss-cross applesauce.
(Draw X with finger on child’s back)
Spiders crawling up your back.
(Walk fingers up child’s back)
Cool breeze.
(Gently blow on child’s neck)
Tight squeeze.
(Hug child)
Makes you get the sillies.
(Gently tickle child)
FINGERPLAY: Itsy Bitsy Spider
(Always popular almost like a familiar friend.)
The itsy-bitsy spider
Went up the water spout.
(Walk fingers up arm or in the air)
Down came the rain
(Flick your fingers overhead)
And washed the spider out.
Out came the sun
(Big circle with arms overhead)
And dried up all the rain.
And the itsy bitsy spider
(walk fingers up arm or in the air)
Went up the spout again.
LAPJOG: Pop Goes the Weasel
(I have a song I like to use for this one but I decided to try just singing it and it worked out really well. The babies were lifted up on "pop" and the toddlers jumped. I repeated it twice and the kids love it.
All around the cobbler’s bench
The monkey chased the weasel.
The monkey thought ‘twas all in fun.
POP! Goes the Weasel.
(Bounce and lift baby up with the word POP!)
ACTION SONG: Go, Go, Go
(All time favorite. I use this song at the end of every baby/toddler storytime. I use a stop sign and the kids run in place and stop at certain points in the song.)
CLOSING RHYME
MUSIC AND MOTION:
Bell Horses (BELLS) (Week 1) from the Baby Record CD by Bob McGrath and Katharine Smithrim
(Went pretty good. I have them play the bells and then they hide them behind their back and bring them out again. I played the song twice.)
Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride (SCARVES) (Week 2) from the Lilo and Stitch Movie Soundtrack Disney CD
(This is one of my favorites to use because it has a nice beat and goes great with scarves. The kids wave them back and forth and it works as a hula, swimming, dancing or whatever.)
Rockin' Robin (TAMBOURINES) (Week 3) from the Dancin Magic Joanie Bartels CD.
(One of my old standbys. Nice beat fun for the kids.)
MUSIC CDs:
Wiggleworms Love You CD by Old Town School of Folk Music (Ladies Ride)
Where is Thumpkin? Action Songs for Every Month CD (Grand Old Duke of York)
Baby Record CD by Bob McGrath and Katharine Smithrim (Bell Horses) (BELLS)
Lilo and Stitch Movie Soundtrack Disney CD (Hawaiian Rollercoaster Ride) (SCARVES)
Dancin Magic by Joanie Bartels CD (Rockin' Robin) (TAMBOURINES)
Cowboys
This is what I did for my preschool storytime on Cowboys.
OPENING SONG: Clap Your Hands from the Miss Anna's Music Class Volume II CD by Anna Stange
I asked the kids what does a cowboy wear and what does a cowboy do?
BOOK: What I did on My Summer Vacation by Mark Teague
(This book was way too long. I had some new kids that weren't used to sitting still and it didn't hold their interest. Worked last time but not this time.)
FINGERPLAY: I'm A Little Cowboy
(I didn't sing this to the tune of "I'm a Little Teapot". I just repeated it like a rhyme and had the kids follow the actions. They seemed to like this one.)
I’m a little cowboy.
Here is my hat
(point to self, then to hat)
Here are my spurs
(point to your heels)
And here are my chaps
(pat legs)
As soon as I get up,
(stretch, pretend to wake up)
I work all day
(pretend to lasso a cow)
I get on my horse
(pretend to get on a horse)
And ride away.
(run in place and pretend to hold reins)
BOOK: Clip, Clop by Nicola Smee
(Cute book. Simple and straightforward. The kids enjoyed the pictures and humor. I emphasized the "clip clopping" sound of the horses hooves.)
SONG: Ladies Ride from the Wiggleworms Love You CD by the Old Town School of Folk Music (DRUMS)
(I talked to the kids about making the sound of horses hooves on the drums. Then the different riders (i.e. ladies, gentlemen, farmer, cowboy). We practiced going faster and faster patting their hands on their legs. Then I handed out the drums and turned on the music. Most of the kids seemed to enjoy this but a few gave me their drums before the song ended. Next time I think I will only play it halfway through and not have them do the activity twice.)
BOOK: Giddy up, Cowgirl! by Jarret Krosoczka
(This book worked pretty well, overall. Some of the kids paid attention but I had a much bigger group than usual and half of them weren't listening very well.)
MATCHING ACTIVITY: Boots
(My coworker made a matching activity with colorful cowboy boot sets. I tried to do this but it didn't work out very well. I usually struggle with matching games during storytime. The kids get out of control, they crowd the board, and they want to be the one to take off the matches. Someone always gets mad and cries because they missed out. In the end it was a trainwreck! I think I will avoid matching in the future.)
ACTION SONG: BOOTS from the Victor Vito CD by Laurie Berkner
(Fun song. I had the kids pretend to put on boots and then they stomped, jumped and splashed along with the song as they wore different kinds of boots. They had alot of fun with this and got the wiggles out and helped us to recover from the matching activity.)
BOOK: Are You a Horse by Andy Rash
(Great book!! Very funny. The kids listened attentively. I probably should have read this earlier in the storytime. Great pictures, funny storyline and hilarious surprise ending.)
ACTIVITY: Rounding up the Cattle
(I explained how cowboys used to rustle up the cattle and put them in the corral. Then I threw cotton balls everywhere and played music while the kids ran around gathering up the cows and putting them in the corral (a chair). It was fun but it got a little crazy because I kept throwing cotton balls out and saying that cows were escaping from the corral. Pretty soon they were throwing cotton balls everywhere instead of gathering them up. Need to re-think the approach. They did have fun it just got a little crazy towards the end.
TAKE HOME: A Cowboy hat
(out of construction paper)
MUSIC CDs:
Miss Anna's Music Class Volume II CD by Anna Stange (Clap Your Hands)
Wiggleworms Love You CD by The Old Town School of Folk Music (Ladies Ride)
Victor Vito CD by Laurie Berkner (BOOTS)
OPENING SONG: Clap Your Hands from the Miss Anna's Music Class Volume II CD by Anna Stange
I asked the kids what does a cowboy wear and what does a cowboy do?
BOOK: What I did on My Summer Vacation by Mark Teague
(This book was way too long. I had some new kids that weren't used to sitting still and it didn't hold their interest. Worked last time but not this time.)
FINGERPLAY: I'm A Little Cowboy
(I didn't sing this to the tune of "I'm a Little Teapot". I just repeated it like a rhyme and had the kids follow the actions. They seemed to like this one.)
I’m a little cowboy.
Here is my hat
(point to self, then to hat)
Here are my spurs
(point to your heels)
And here are my chaps
(pat legs)
As soon as I get up,
(stretch, pretend to wake up)
I work all day
(pretend to lasso a cow)
I get on my horse
(pretend to get on a horse)
And ride away.
(run in place and pretend to hold reins)
BOOK: Clip, Clop by Nicola Smee
(Cute book. Simple and straightforward. The kids enjoyed the pictures and humor. I emphasized the "clip clopping" sound of the horses hooves.)
SONG: Ladies Ride from the Wiggleworms Love You CD by the Old Town School of Folk Music (DRUMS)
(I talked to the kids about making the sound of horses hooves on the drums. Then the different riders (i.e. ladies, gentlemen, farmer, cowboy). We practiced going faster and faster patting their hands on their legs. Then I handed out the drums and turned on the music. Most of the kids seemed to enjoy this but a few gave me their drums before the song ended. Next time I think I will only play it halfway through and not have them do the activity twice.)
BOOK: Giddy up, Cowgirl! by Jarret Krosoczka
(This book worked pretty well, overall. Some of the kids paid attention but I had a much bigger group than usual and half of them weren't listening very well.)
MATCHING ACTIVITY: Boots
(My coworker made a matching activity with colorful cowboy boot sets. I tried to do this but it didn't work out very well. I usually struggle with matching games during storytime. The kids get out of control, they crowd the board, and they want to be the one to take off the matches. Someone always gets mad and cries because they missed out. In the end it was a trainwreck! I think I will avoid matching in the future.)
ACTION SONG: BOOTS from the Victor Vito CD by Laurie Berkner
(Fun song. I had the kids pretend to put on boots and then they stomped, jumped and splashed along with the song as they wore different kinds of boots. They had alot of fun with this and got the wiggles out and helped us to recover from the matching activity.)
BOOK: Are You a Horse by Andy Rash
(Great book!! Very funny. The kids listened attentively. I probably should have read this earlier in the storytime. Great pictures, funny storyline and hilarious surprise ending.)
ACTIVITY: Rounding up the Cattle
(I explained how cowboys used to rustle up the cattle and put them in the corral. Then I threw cotton balls everywhere and played music while the kids ran around gathering up the cows and putting them in the corral (a chair). It was fun but it got a little crazy because I kept throwing cotton balls out and saying that cows were escaping from the corral. Pretty soon they were throwing cotton balls everywhere instead of gathering them up. Need to re-think the approach. They did have fun it just got a little crazy towards the end.
TAKE HOME: A Cowboy hat
(out of construction paper)
MUSIC CDs:
Miss Anna's Music Class Volume II CD by Anna Stange (Clap Your Hands)
Wiggleworms Love You CD by The Old Town School of Folk Music (Ladies Ride)
Victor Vito CD by Laurie Berkner (BOOTS)
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Food
This is what I did for my preschool storytime on Food.
OPENING SONG: Clap Your Hands from the Miss Anna's Music Class Volume II CD by Anna Stange
I asked the kids about their favorite foods.
BOOK: How Do Dinosaurs Eat Their Food by Jane Yolen
(Fun and silly book. The kids were quiet and paid attention and laughed.)
FINGERPLAY: Five Little Jelly Beans
(I used flannel jelly beans on the board and had a dinosaur t-rex puppet. We repeated the rhyme and counted down and the dinosaur would eat the jellybeans off of the flannel board. I had the kids call out the color that he should eat next. The kids loved the dinosaur puppet and yelling out the color.)
5 little jelly beans
I wish I had more!
I'll eat the (color) one
Now there are four!
4 little jelly beans
Tasty as can be
I'll eat the (color) one
Now there are 3!
3 little jelly beans
Only a few.
I'll eat the (color) one
Now there are 2.
2 little jelly beans
Eating them is fun
I'll eat the (color) one
Now there is one.
1 little jelly bean
The last one for me
I'll eat the (color) one
I'm as happy as be!
FINGERPLAY: Jelly on my head
(I had the kids stand up and then we practiced. They matched the actions to the fingerplay. Then we went through the fingerplay 3 times and we got faster each time. They seemed to enjoy it.)
Jelly on my head, jelly on my toes
Jelly on my shirt, jelly on my nose
Jelly on my belly, jelly on my knee
Jelly on my elbow, jelly on my ear
Jelly is my favorite food
And when I'm in a jelly mood
I can't ever get enough
Of that yummy, yummy stuff!
BOOK: Wide Mouthed Frog by Keith Faulkner
(Fun pop-up book. The kids seemed to enjoy the humor of it. I had them tell me what each animal eats.)
POEM ACTIVITY: Monster's Lunch
(My coworker made a big monster with a see-through stomach and the animals that go with the poem. As I read the poem I put each animal into his mouth and the kids could see it fall into his stomach. I think they are still too young for this and I needed to practice more. I was always trying to find the right animal and it messed with the flow of the poem. Probably won't use again.)
The monster can eat a hearty lunch.
Among his favorites to munch and to crunch
Are alligator eyeballs, armadillos, and bears.
He also adores anaconda in a luscious sauce of pears.
If his stomach still grumbles,
He'll eat a moose,
And perhaps consume a hog, mud turtle, or goose.
But when he's depressed,
Chocolate-covered tarantulas are best.
He enjoys bats because they're chewy,
And slimy slugs are nice and gooey,
And wolverines make a feisty foodstuff.
When you think he's had enough,
He can still consume a whale,
Ingest an ox's tail,
And nibble on a hedgehog or two.
When he's finally through,
With nothing left to chew,
He goes off to sleep,
To dream of sheep,
And mint green jelly,
And other things to put in his belly.
ACTION SONG: Popcorn from the Snack Time CD by Bare Naked Ladies
(I told the kids to get down low like a popcorn kernal then we would jump when the kernel popped and keep jumping. I played this twice and the kids loved it. It was alot of fun and it was fun to have a different popcorn song than Raffi. The kids especially loved jumping non-stop. I stopped the song before the end because it gets a little long and then had them get back down and we started again.)
FINGERPLAY: Five Ice Cream Cones (can be sung to Frere Jacques)
(I added this at the last minute. It was ok but not fantastic. I had 5 ice cream cones with different colored ice cream. I had the kids count each time and tell me which color to get rid of. This was pretty good I just felt a little unsure because I hadn't read through the fingerplay yet. I chose not to sing this and I only said each line once.)
Five ice cream cones, five ice cream cones
In the sun, in the sun.
Dripping down my fingers, dripping down my fingers
Run, run, run, now one's done!
BOOK: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff
(Great story. Unfortunately I had a smaller version of the book and the kids had a difficult time seeing the pictures so they kept standing up, but they did point to the pictures and laugh but I had to keep encouraging them to sit down. Next time I will make sure I have a bigger copy of the book.)
ACTIVITY: Food Twister
(I used an instrumental version of the Bunny Hop from the Dance Party Vol. 2 CD by Rich Acocella. This was so much fun. We had about 20 different plastic Strawberry Shortcake Dance Mats from the Food library storytime box. I asked the kids how many feet they have, how many hands, etc. Then I talked about the food that was on the dance mat and we practiced. Put one hand on the lemon and one on the cupcake, etc. Then I turned on the music and would call out 2 foods for their hands and 2 for their feet. then I would have them stand up and shake it off and we would start again. I intentionally got them all twisted up and there was alot of giggling. We kept playing until the song was done. Great idea. Lots of fun.)
TAKE HOME: Make your own pizza coloring page
(Two white pieces of paper. One with a circle and the other with a variety of pizza toppings for them to color and glue on the circle.)
MUSIC CDs:
Miss Anna's Music Class Volume II CD by Anna Stange (Clap Your Hands)
Snack Time CD by Bare Naked Ladies (Popcorn)
Dance Party Vol. 2 by Rich Acocella (Bunny Hop Instrumental)
OPENING SONG: Clap Your Hands from the Miss Anna's Music Class Volume II CD by Anna Stange
I asked the kids about their favorite foods.
BOOK: How Do Dinosaurs Eat Their Food by Jane Yolen
(Fun and silly book. The kids were quiet and paid attention and laughed.)
FINGERPLAY: Five Little Jelly Beans
(I used flannel jelly beans on the board and had a dinosaur t-rex puppet. We repeated the rhyme and counted down and the dinosaur would eat the jellybeans off of the flannel board. I had the kids call out the color that he should eat next. The kids loved the dinosaur puppet and yelling out the color.)
5 little jelly beans
I wish I had more!
I'll eat the (color) one
Now there are four!
4 little jelly beans
Tasty as can be
I'll eat the (color) one
Now there are 3!
3 little jelly beans
Only a few.
I'll eat the (color) one
Now there are 2.
2 little jelly beans
Eating them is fun
I'll eat the (color) one
Now there is one.
1 little jelly bean
The last one for me
I'll eat the (color) one
I'm as happy as be!
FINGERPLAY: Jelly on my head
(I had the kids stand up and then we practiced. They matched the actions to the fingerplay. Then we went through the fingerplay 3 times and we got faster each time. They seemed to enjoy it.)
Jelly on my head, jelly on my toes
Jelly on my shirt, jelly on my nose
Jelly on my belly, jelly on my knee
Jelly on my elbow, jelly on my ear
Jelly is my favorite food
And when I'm in a jelly mood
I can't ever get enough
Of that yummy, yummy stuff!
BOOK: Wide Mouthed Frog by Keith Faulkner
(Fun pop-up book. The kids seemed to enjoy the humor of it. I had them tell me what each animal eats.)
POEM ACTIVITY: Monster's Lunch
(My coworker made a big monster with a see-through stomach and the animals that go with the poem. As I read the poem I put each animal into his mouth and the kids could see it fall into his stomach. I think they are still too young for this and I needed to practice more. I was always trying to find the right animal and it messed with the flow of the poem. Probably won't use again.)
The monster can eat a hearty lunch.
Among his favorites to munch and to crunch
Are alligator eyeballs, armadillos, and bears.
He also adores anaconda in a luscious sauce of pears.
If his stomach still grumbles,
He'll eat a moose,
And perhaps consume a hog, mud turtle, or goose.
But when he's depressed,
Chocolate-covered tarantulas are best.
He enjoys bats because they're chewy,
And slimy slugs are nice and gooey,
And wolverines make a feisty foodstuff.
When you think he's had enough,
He can still consume a whale,
Ingest an ox's tail,
And nibble on a hedgehog or two.
When he's finally through,
With nothing left to chew,
He goes off to sleep,
To dream of sheep,
And mint green jelly,
And other things to put in his belly.
ACTION SONG: Popcorn from the Snack Time CD by Bare Naked Ladies
(I told the kids to get down low like a popcorn kernal then we would jump when the kernel popped and keep jumping. I played this twice and the kids loved it. It was alot of fun and it was fun to have a different popcorn song than Raffi. The kids especially loved jumping non-stop. I stopped the song before the end because it gets a little long and then had them get back down and we started again.)
FINGERPLAY: Five Ice Cream Cones (can be sung to Frere Jacques)
(I added this at the last minute. It was ok but not fantastic. I had 5 ice cream cones with different colored ice cream. I had the kids count each time and tell me which color to get rid of. This was pretty good I just felt a little unsure because I hadn't read through the fingerplay yet. I chose not to sing this and I only said each line once.)
Five ice cream cones, five ice cream cones
In the sun, in the sun.
Dripping down my fingers, dripping down my fingers
Run, run, run, now one's done!
BOOK: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff
(Great story. Unfortunately I had a smaller version of the book and the kids had a difficult time seeing the pictures so they kept standing up, but they did point to the pictures and laugh but I had to keep encouraging them to sit down. Next time I will make sure I have a bigger copy of the book.)
ACTIVITY: Food Twister
(I used an instrumental version of the Bunny Hop from the Dance Party Vol. 2 CD by Rich Acocella. This was so much fun. We had about 20 different plastic Strawberry Shortcake Dance Mats from the Food library storytime box. I asked the kids how many feet they have, how many hands, etc. Then I talked about the food that was on the dance mat and we practiced. Put one hand on the lemon and one on the cupcake, etc. Then I turned on the music and would call out 2 foods for their hands and 2 for their feet. then I would have them stand up and shake it off and we would start again. I intentionally got them all twisted up and there was alot of giggling. We kept playing until the song was done. Great idea. Lots of fun.)
TAKE HOME: Make your own pizza coloring page
(Two white pieces of paper. One with a circle and the other with a variety of pizza toppings for them to color and glue on the circle.)
MUSIC CDs:
Miss Anna's Music Class Volume II CD by Anna Stange (Clap Your Hands)
Snack Time CD by Bare Naked Ladies (Popcorn)
Dance Party Vol. 2 by Rich Acocella (Bunny Hop Instrumental)
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Space
This is what I did for my preschool storytime on Space.
OPENING SONG: Clap Your Hands from the Miss Anna's Music Class Volume II CD by Anna Stange
We have a storytime rug with clouds and sun that the kids sit on during storytime. I pointed them out and talked about what we see in the daytime and night-time skies.
BOOK: Star Climbing by Lou Fancher
(Not the best book to start with. The kids had a hard time focusing. The pictures were not as obvious. A little too artistic for their attention span.)
SONG: Are You Sleeping (BELLS)
(I had the kids pretend to be asleep then when we I played the song and when we got to "morning bells are ringing" they woke up and rang the bells. I played the song twice with one verse of the song. They seemed to enjoy it.)
FINGERPLAY: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star (BELLS)
(I explained that we were going to pretend that the bells were stars and so the kids rang the bells throughout the fingerplay. Went pretty well. They seemed to enjoy ringing the bells for both activities. I repeated the fingerplay twice--felt a little long towards the end.)
BOOK: Kitten’s First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes
(The kids listened very well to this book and giggled about kitten's misadventures. Nice calm story with soothing illustrations.)
FINGERPLAY: Hey Diddle Diddle
(I had the kids stand up and we practiced jumping over the moon and running in place as the dish ran away with the spoon. Then I said the fingerplay three times to get all of their wiggles out.)
BOOK: What Does the Moon See? by Nancy Tafuri
(I read both sides of this book. The kids were getting restless and so they weren't real attentive at the end. So I decided to do an action song next.)
ACTION SONG: Wake Up Toes from the Morning Magic Joanie Bartels CD
(The kids had a lot of fun with this. We were able to get alot of wiggles out and they calmed down somewhat. Fun song. Towards the end I made up stuff for them to do because she stops singing and there is just music. They loved it.)
BOOK: Astronaut Piggy Wiggy by Christyan and Diane Fox
(Fun book with nice bright colors. The kids were just tired of sitting. Most of them were attentive but I was losing part of the group by this point.)
ACTIVITY: Balloon Rocket
(I had allready attached a string on the wall just below the ceiling. I had a straw on the string with an empty balloon taped to it. I explained that we were going to shoot off a rocket. I had the kids stand to one side of the room. Then I blew up the balloon and held the end. I had them count down from 10 with me and shout BLAST OFF. Then I let go of the balloon. I held the string tightly at an angle and the balloon went pretty far. The kids loved it. I tried it again and it worked well but the string came off the wall at the end. The children probably would have wanted to do this a bunch more times. Fun activity.) http://www.sciencebob.com/experiments/balloonrocket.php
ACTIVITY: Star Toss
(I had a sheet and the kids grabbed the ends of the sheet. I threw soft balls (stars) on the sheet and they had alot of fun trying to toss them off of the sheet. Got a little wild. They were screaming and yelling. I know they loved this activity. I threw the balls back on to the sheet and we repeated the activity 3 times. I had to say that time was up. They wanted to keep going. Lots of fun.)
TAKE HOME: Astronaut Helmet
(I had an astronaut helmet on white cardstock for the kids to color and cutout at home then attach a piece of yarn so they could wear the helmet around their head.)
MUSIC CDs:
Miss Anna's Music Class Volume II CD by Anna Stange (Clap Your Hands)
Magic Morning by Joanie Bartels (Wake Your Toes)
(Are you sleeping)
OPENING SONG: Clap Your Hands from the Miss Anna's Music Class Volume II CD by Anna Stange
We have a storytime rug with clouds and sun that the kids sit on during storytime. I pointed them out and talked about what we see in the daytime and night-time skies.
BOOK: Star Climbing by Lou Fancher
(Not the best book to start with. The kids had a hard time focusing. The pictures were not as obvious. A little too artistic for their attention span.)
SONG: Are You Sleeping (BELLS)
(I had the kids pretend to be asleep then when we I played the song and when we got to "morning bells are ringing" they woke up and rang the bells. I played the song twice with one verse of the song. They seemed to enjoy it.)
FINGERPLAY: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star (BELLS)
(I explained that we were going to pretend that the bells were stars and so the kids rang the bells throughout the fingerplay. Went pretty well. They seemed to enjoy ringing the bells for both activities. I repeated the fingerplay twice--felt a little long towards the end.)
BOOK: Kitten’s First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes
(The kids listened very well to this book and giggled about kitten's misadventures. Nice calm story with soothing illustrations.)
FINGERPLAY: Hey Diddle Diddle
(I had the kids stand up and we practiced jumping over the moon and running in place as the dish ran away with the spoon. Then I said the fingerplay three times to get all of their wiggles out.)
BOOK: What Does the Moon See? by Nancy Tafuri
(I read both sides of this book. The kids were getting restless and so they weren't real attentive at the end. So I decided to do an action song next.)
ACTION SONG: Wake Up Toes from the Morning Magic Joanie Bartels CD
(The kids had a lot of fun with this. We were able to get alot of wiggles out and they calmed down somewhat. Fun song. Towards the end I made up stuff for them to do because she stops singing and there is just music. They loved it.)
BOOK: Astronaut Piggy Wiggy by Christyan and Diane Fox
(Fun book with nice bright colors. The kids were just tired of sitting. Most of them were attentive but I was losing part of the group by this point.)
ACTIVITY: Balloon Rocket
(I had allready attached a string on the wall just below the ceiling. I had a straw on the string with an empty balloon taped to it. I explained that we were going to shoot off a rocket. I had the kids stand to one side of the room. Then I blew up the balloon and held the end. I had them count down from 10 with me and shout BLAST OFF. Then I let go of the balloon. I held the string tightly at an angle and the balloon went pretty far. The kids loved it. I tried it again and it worked well but the string came off the wall at the end. The children probably would have wanted to do this a bunch more times. Fun activity.) http://www.sciencebob.com/experiments/balloonrocket.php
ACTIVITY: Star Toss
(I had a sheet and the kids grabbed the ends of the sheet. I threw soft balls (stars) on the sheet and they had alot of fun trying to toss them off of the sheet. Got a little wild. They were screaming and yelling. I know they loved this activity. I threw the balls back on to the sheet and we repeated the activity 3 times. I had to say that time was up. They wanted to keep going. Lots of fun.)
TAKE HOME: Astronaut Helmet
(I had an astronaut helmet on white cardstock for the kids to color and cutout at home then attach a piece of yarn so they could wear the helmet around their head.)
MUSIC CDs:
Miss Anna's Music Class Volume II CD by Anna Stange (Clap Your Hands)
Magic Morning by Joanie Bartels (Wake Your Toes)
(Are you sleeping)
Monday, February 1, 2010
Favorite Music and Motion Songs
I include a music and motion activity at the end of each baby/toddler storytime. I have some old standbys that I use when I don't have time to find a new song or I just want a tried and true "fun" activity.
Here are my favorites:
SCARVES
Let's Go Fly a Kite from the Walt Disney Mary Poppins movie soundrack CD.
At the Codfish Ball from the Singin' in the Bathtub John Lithgow CD
Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride from the Lilo & Stitch original movie soundtrack CD
SHAKERS
Freeze from the Kids in Motion Greg and Steve CD
Rockin' Robin from the Dancin' Magic Joanie Bartels CD
Mexican Hat Dance from the Dream Catcher Jack Grunsky CD
Purple People Eater from the More Silly Songs Disney CD
Spanish Numba Rumba from the Sesame Street Fiesta Songs CD
TAMBOURINES
Down in the Valley from the Dream Catcher Jack Grunsky CD
MARACAS
It's a Small World from the Disney Mania 2 CD
DRUMS
Hampster Dance Song from the How to Eat Fried Worms Soundtrack CD
Uninvited Parade & Return of the Uninvited Parade from the Blue Moo Sandra Boynton CD
Animal Parade from the Wee Sing Animals, Animals, Animals CD
Day O from the Six Little Ducks CD
STREAMERS
Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room from the Disney Mania CD (Hillary Duff song) CD
What a Wonderful World from the Jazz for Kids (Louis Armstrong) CD
BELLS
Chopsticks from the All Wound Up! CD
Bell Horses (repeat song) from the Songs and Games for Toddlers Bob McGrath CD
Here are my favorites:
SCARVES
Let's Go Fly a Kite from the Walt Disney Mary Poppins movie soundrack CD.
At the Codfish Ball from the Singin' in the Bathtub John Lithgow CD
Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride from the Lilo & Stitch original movie soundtrack CD
SHAKERS
Freeze from the Kids in Motion Greg and Steve CD
Rockin' Robin from the Dancin' Magic Joanie Bartels CD
Mexican Hat Dance from the Dream Catcher Jack Grunsky CD
Purple People Eater from the More Silly Songs Disney CD
Spanish Numba Rumba from the Sesame Street Fiesta Songs CD
TAMBOURINES
Down in the Valley from the Dream Catcher Jack Grunsky CD
MARACAS
It's a Small World from the Disney Mania 2 CD
DRUMS
Hampster Dance Song from the How to Eat Fried Worms Soundtrack CD
Uninvited Parade & Return of the Uninvited Parade from the Blue Moo Sandra Boynton CD
Animal Parade from the Wee Sing Animals, Animals, Animals CD
Day O from the Six Little Ducks CD
STREAMERS
Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room from the Disney Mania CD (Hillary Duff song) CD
What a Wonderful World from the Jazz for Kids (Louis Armstrong) CD
BELLS
Chopsticks from the All Wound Up! CD
Bell Horses (repeat song) from the Songs and Games for Toddlers Bob McGrath CD
Friday, January 29, 2010
January Baby/Toddler
I keep the same handout for 3 weeks. The repetition seems to work well with this age group (babies-2+). I have ongoing songs and rhymes that I use each week (I have listed those in a separate entry.) I also read a different book and provide a different music and motion activity weekly.
OPENING SONG: The More We Get Together
OPENING SONG: The More We Get Together
OPENING FINGERPLAY: Open, Shut Them
FINGERPLAY: Where is Thumbkin?
(Fun. The children love this one.)
Where is Thumbkin? (hide thumbs)
Where is thumbkin?
Where is thumbkin?
Here I am! Here I am! (show thumbs)
How are you today sir?
Very well I thank you.
Run away. Run away.(hide thumbs)
(Fun. The children love this one.)
Where is Thumbkin? (hide thumbs)
Where is thumbkin?
Where is thumbkin?
Here I am! Here I am! (show thumbs)
How are you today sir?
Very well I thank you.
Run away. Run away.(hide thumbs)
FINGERPLAY: Did You Ever See a Baby
(Not my favorite. The mom's and children didn't seem to enjoy it. Doesn't flow and I stopped using it by the third week.)
Did you ever see a baby, (child sit on your lap)(Not my favorite. The mom's and children didn't seem to enjoy it. Doesn't flow and I stopped using it by the third week.)
A baby, a baby?
Did you ever see a baby,
Go this way and that? (rock from side to side)
Go this way and that way, (forward and back)
And that way and this way. (side to side)
Did you ever see a baby,
Go this way and that? (forward and back)
FINGERPLAY: Chubby Little Snowman
(Great winter fingerplay. I use it every winter and it works nicely with the age group.)
A chubby little snowman
Had a carrot nose. (point to nose)
Along came a bunny
(hold up two fingers on right hand to make bunny)
And what do you suppose? (hold out hands)
That hungry little bunny
Looking for his lunch
(make glasses over eyes)
Ate that little snowman's nose
(pretend to grab nose and eat carrot)
Nibble, nibble, crunch.
ACTION SONG: Humpty Dumpty from the I Love Wiggleworms CD by Old Town School of Folk Music
(a favorite action song for baby/toddler storytime. Lots of fun. The kids love being dropped between the legs on the word Fall...)
Humpty Dumpty sat on the wall.
Humpty Dumpty had a great FAAAALL…
(drop child between legs)
Then all the kings horses and all the kings men
they couldn’t put Humpty back together again.
(bounce child on lap)
All the kings horses and all the kings men
they couldn’t put Humpty back together again.
(bounce child on lap)
Repeat Twice.
EXERCISE RHYME: Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
(Favorite. I repeat three times. Regular, fast and slow)
(Favorite. I repeat three times. Regular, fast and slow)
BOOK:
Can You Moo? by David Wojtowycz (Week 1) (Mom's helped alot with this book. Encouraged children to make sounds.)
Piggies by Audrey Wood (Week 2) (Pretty fun book. Kids had fun moving their fingers along with the story.)
Dinosaur Roar by Paul Stickland (Week 3) (A little long so I paper-clipped some of the pages together and it helped. Children really loved the dinosaurs and roaring along.)
RHYME: Jack Be Nimble
(This is a fun one. The children love to be lifted into the air. If the toddler isn't on a lap they "jump" into the air. They love that too.)
Jack Be Nimble
Jack be nimble,
Jack be quick,
Jack jump over the candlestick.
(bounce baby on knees. lift baby up to jump over)
(This is a fun one. The children love to be lifted into the air. If the toddler isn't on a lap they "jump" into the air. They love that too.)
Jack Be Nimble
Jack be nimble,
Jack be quick,
Jack jump over the candlestick.
(bounce baby on knees. lift baby up to jump over)
ACTION SONG: Milkshake Song from the Songs for Wiggleworms CD by Old Town School of Folk Music
(This is a very popular one with my storytime kids. They love being "stirred" up as they bounce around after we pretend to turn on the blender.)
You take a little milk…Pour some milk.
(Pretend to pour milk)
And you take a little cream…Pour some cream.
(Pretend to pour cream)
You stir it all up.
(make a stirring motion)
You shake it and you’ll sing.
(bounce baby lightly)
ONE TWO THREE FOUR
Milkshake, milkshake, shake it up, shake it up.
Milkshake, milkshake, shake it all up!
Repeat
(Bounce or wiggle baby for “milkshake”)
TICKLE: The Beehive
(This is the first time I used this one and the kids loved it. Pleasantly surprised. Definitely will use in the future. Nice because it works for counting and as a tickle.)
Here is the beehive.
Where are the bees?
Hidden away where nobody sees.
Watch as they come out
Of their hive.
(display closed fist)
One, two, three, four, five!
(extend fingers and thumb)
They’re alive!
(shake fingers and tickle child)
FINGERPLAY: Tall and Small
(Love this one. I used to use it with music but I now just sing it and we repeat it 3 times. The kids love being TALL and small.)
I’m very, very tall; (arms up high)
I’m very, very small, (curl up small)
Tall, small;
Now I’m a little ball. (curl up like a ball or cuddle child)
ACTION SONG: Go, Go, Go
CLOSING RHYME
MUSIC AND MOTION: Day O (DRUMS) (Week 1) from the Six Little Ducks CD by Kimbo Educational
Flight of the Bumblebee (BEE PUPPETS) (Week 2)
Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room (STREAMERS) (Week 3) from the Disney Mania CD with Hilary Duff
MUSIC CDs:
Wiggleworms Love You CD by Old Town School of Folk Music (Humpty Dumpty)
Songs for Wiggleworms CD by Old Town School of Folk Music (Milkshake Song)
Six Little Ducks CD by Kimbo Educational (Day O) (DRUMS)
Disney Mania CD by Walt Disney (Tiki Tiki Tiki Room) (STREAMERS)
Wiggleworms Love You CD by Old Town School of Folk Music (Humpty Dumpty)
Songs for Wiggleworms CD by Old Town School of Folk Music (Milkshake Song)
Six Little Ducks CD by Kimbo Educational (Day O) (DRUMS)
Disney Mania CD by Walt Disney (Tiki Tiki Tiki Room) (STREAMERS)
Weekly Baby/Toddler Storytime Songs
I use these songs every week.
OPENING SONG: The More We Get Together from the Six Little Ducks CD by Kimbo Educational
(A nice calm opening song. I use a childlike puppet called Dewey during storytime to demonstrate for the parents. I rock Dewey back and forth on my lap and use his hands to point to the kids. I stop the song half way through before it changes to something else.)
OPENING FINGERPLAY: Open Shut Them from the Songs for Wiggleworms CD by Old Town School of Folk Music
(A fun fingerplay that the younger kids really enjoy. I repeat it twice and they giggle when we get to the tickling part of the song.)
EXERCISE RHYME: Heads, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes
(This is my middle rhyme right before I read the book. I tell the kids we are going to do our exercises. We do the rhyme 3 times. Regular speed, then fast, then slow. They love standing up and going faster and it helps get all the wiggles out before we read the book.)
CLOSING ACTION SONG: Go, Go, Go from the Miss Anna's Music Class #2 CD by Anna Stange
(This is the kids favorite song! I created a stop sign and taped it to a ruler. I ask what the sign means and then we practice running in place and stopping. Then I play the song twice and the kids run and stop throughout the song. Lots of fun. Plenty of giggling. A perfect song for storytime!)
CLOSING RHYME
(I tweaked the last two lines of this song so that it fit better with the way I do storytimes. We don't end after this rhyme. We still have music and motion and playtime so no "goodbye" necessary.)
Our hands say thank you
with a clap, clap, clap.
Our feet say thank you
with a tap, tap, tap.
Clap, clap, clap
Tap, tap tap.
Roll your hands.
We've had such fun.
OPENING SONG: The More We Get Together from the Six Little Ducks CD by Kimbo Educational
(A nice calm opening song. I use a childlike puppet called Dewey during storytime to demonstrate for the parents. I rock Dewey back and forth on my lap and use his hands to point to the kids. I stop the song half way through before it changes to something else.)
OPENING FINGERPLAY: Open Shut Them from the Songs for Wiggleworms CD by Old Town School of Folk Music
(A fun fingerplay that the younger kids really enjoy. I repeat it twice and they giggle when we get to the tickling part of the song.)
EXERCISE RHYME: Heads, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes
(This is my middle rhyme right before I read the book. I tell the kids we are going to do our exercises. We do the rhyme 3 times. Regular speed, then fast, then slow. They love standing up and going faster and it helps get all the wiggles out before we read the book.)
CLOSING ACTION SONG: Go, Go, Go from the Miss Anna's Music Class #2 CD by Anna Stange
(This is the kids favorite song! I created a stop sign and taped it to a ruler. I ask what the sign means and then we practice running in place and stopping. Then I play the song twice and the kids run and stop throughout the song. Lots of fun. Plenty of giggling. A perfect song for storytime!)
CLOSING RHYME
(I tweaked the last two lines of this song so that it fit better with the way I do storytimes. We don't end after this rhyme. We still have music and motion and playtime so no "goodbye" necessary.)
Our hands say thank you
with a clap, clap, clap.
Our feet say thank you
with a tap, tap, tap.
Clap, clap, clap
Tap, tap tap.
Roll your hands.
We've had such fun.
Pets
This is what I did for my Pets preschool storytime.
OPENING SONG: Clap Your Hands from the Miss Anna's Music Class Volume II CD by Anna Stange
I started out by showing the kids a bunch of different puppets that they might have as a pet (dog, lizard, rat, rabbit, cat, turtle). I showed them the turtle last and explained that in our first book a little boy wanted a turtle more than anything in the world.
BOOK: My Birthday Pet by Ellen Javernick
(Great book. Kids loved it. Really held their interest and they listened quietly.)
FINGERPLAY: Little Turtle
(This was fun. I repeated it a few times so they could get the hang of it.)
There was a little turtle (Make fist like turtle)
That lived in a box
He swam through the puddles (Pretend to swim)
And climbed on the rocks (Pretend to climb)
He snapped at a mosquito (clap)
He snapped at a flea (clap)
He snapped at a minnow (clap)
He snapped at me (clap)
He caught the mosquito (pretend to catch with hand)
He caught the flea
He caught the minnow
But he didn't catch me! (wave finger back and forth)
BOOK: Pet Wash by Dayle Ann Dodds
FINGERPLAY: Animals
(I had the kids stand up and I talked about how different animals move. How would a rabbit hop, a frog, etc. Then I went through the actions and we repeated the action rhyme about 3 times. Got all the wiggles out and they had alot of fun.)
Can you hop like a rabbit?
(Do motions to match words)Can you jump like a frog?
Can you waddle like a duck?
Can you run like a dog?
Can you fly like a bird?
Can you swim like a fish?
Can you sit really still?
(Sit back down with hands in lap)
Like this!
BOOK: Aaaarrgghh Spider! by Lydia Monks
(I showed them a spider puppet and talked about a little spider that just wants to be a pet. That really got them talking. I now know that spiders are a flash point for little kids. Everyone had a story about "dangerous" spiders biting a family member. Major ick factor. Took me a few minutes to calm them down for the book but they loved it once we got going)
FINGERPLAY: Itsy Bitsy Spider
SONG: Do Your Ears Hang Low from the Sing along with Bob #2 CD by Bob McGrath
(I haven't used this song before. I am glad I finally did. The kids loved it. The song gets faster each time. I went over the actions with the kids a few times and then turned on the music. They laughed and loved that it got faster. I played the song twice.)
BOOK: Please Don’t Tease Tootsie by Margaret Chamberlain
(Nice story. Colorful pictures. Uses rhyme and humor to teach kids not to tease their pets. A mom came up afterwards and asked if she could check out my copy. Always a good sign.)
SONG: Fast and slow (the rabbit and the turtle) from the Rocketship Run CD by Laurie Berkner Band
(Fun song. The kids loved going fast and then slow as the different animals but I ended it early. Towards the end it just drags on.)
BOOK: Pet Shop Lullaby by Mary Ann Fraser
(Cute book that shows the hamster keeping all the other animals up at night. The kids were getting restless by this point but I did have something amazing happen. I talked about how some animals don't sleep at night and this one little girl said, "it's cause their nocturnal". Hello, I was impressed.)
ACTIVITY: The Hampster Dance from the soundtrack, How to Eat Friend Worms CD
(The kids had alot of fun with this. I talked about the noisy hampster and then gave them each a drum and we walked around in a circle beating our drum to the beat of the song. Being noisy hampsters. My drums are empty hot chocolate cans and baby formula containers. They work great and are the right price!)
TAKE HOME: A coloring page that I found at this website. http://funschool.kaboose.com/formula-fusion/pets/printables/pet-coloring-pages.html
MUSIC CDs: Miss Anna's Music Class Volume II CD by Anna Stange (Clap Your Hands) Sing along with Bob #2 CD by Bob McGrath (Do Your Ears Hang Low)
Rocketship Run CD by Laurie Berkner Band (Fast and slow-the rabbit and the turtle)
How to Eat Friend Worms CD (The Hampster Dance)
OPENING SONG: Clap Your Hands from the Miss Anna's Music Class Volume II CD by Anna Stange
I started out by showing the kids a bunch of different puppets that they might have as a pet (dog, lizard, rat, rabbit, cat, turtle). I showed them the turtle last and explained that in our first book a little boy wanted a turtle more than anything in the world.
BOOK: My Birthday Pet by Ellen Javernick
(Great book. Kids loved it. Really held their interest and they listened quietly.)
FINGERPLAY: Little Turtle
(This was fun. I repeated it a few times so they could get the hang of it.)
There was a little turtle (Make fist like turtle)
That lived in a box
He swam through the puddles (Pretend to swim)
And climbed on the rocks (Pretend to climb)
He snapped at a mosquito (clap)
He snapped at a flea (clap)
He snapped at a minnow (clap)
He snapped at me (clap)
He caught the mosquito (pretend to catch with hand)
He caught the flea
He caught the minnow
But he didn't catch me! (wave finger back and forth)
BOOK: Pet Wash by Dayle Ann Dodds
FINGERPLAY: Animals
(I had the kids stand up and I talked about how different animals move. How would a rabbit hop, a frog, etc. Then I went through the actions and we repeated the action rhyme about 3 times. Got all the wiggles out and they had alot of fun.)
Can you hop like a rabbit?
(Do motions to match words)Can you jump like a frog?
Can you waddle like a duck?
Can you run like a dog?
Can you fly like a bird?
Can you swim like a fish?
Can you sit really still?
(Sit back down with hands in lap)
Like this!
BOOK: Aaaarrgghh Spider! by Lydia Monks
(I showed them a spider puppet and talked about a little spider that just wants to be a pet. That really got them talking. I now know that spiders are a flash point for little kids. Everyone had a story about "dangerous" spiders biting a family member. Major ick factor. Took me a few minutes to calm them down for the book but they loved it once we got going)
FINGERPLAY: Itsy Bitsy Spider
SONG: Do Your Ears Hang Low from the Sing along with Bob #2 CD by Bob McGrath
(I haven't used this song before. I am glad I finally did. The kids loved it. The song gets faster each time. I went over the actions with the kids a few times and then turned on the music. They laughed and loved that it got faster. I played the song twice.)
BOOK: Please Don’t Tease Tootsie by Margaret Chamberlain
(Nice story. Colorful pictures. Uses rhyme and humor to teach kids not to tease their pets. A mom came up afterwards and asked if she could check out my copy. Always a good sign.)
SONG: Fast and slow (the rabbit and the turtle) from the Rocketship Run CD by Laurie Berkner Band
(Fun song. The kids loved going fast and then slow as the different animals but I ended it early. Towards the end it just drags on.)
BOOK: Pet Shop Lullaby by Mary Ann Fraser
(Cute book that shows the hamster keeping all the other animals up at night. The kids were getting restless by this point but I did have something amazing happen. I talked about how some animals don't sleep at night and this one little girl said, "it's cause their nocturnal". Hello, I was impressed.)
ACTIVITY: The Hampster Dance from the soundtrack, How to Eat Friend Worms CD
(The kids had alot of fun with this. I talked about the noisy hampster and then gave them each a drum and we walked around in a circle beating our drum to the beat of the song. Being noisy hampsters. My drums are empty hot chocolate cans and baby formula containers. They work great and are the right price!)
TAKE HOME: A coloring page that I found at this website. http://funschool.kaboose.com/formula-fusion/pets/printables/pet-coloring-pages.html
MUSIC CDs: Miss Anna's Music Class Volume II CD by Anna Stange (Clap Your Hands) Sing along with Bob #2 CD by Bob McGrath (Do Your Ears Hang Low)
Rocketship Run CD by Laurie Berkner Band (Fast and slow-the rabbit and the turtle)
How to Eat Friend Worms CD (The Hampster Dance)
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Numbers/Counting
Here is what I did at my Numbers preschool storytime.
OPENING SONG: Clap Your Hands from the Miss Anna's Music Class Volume II CD by Anna Stange
(When I first started preschool storytimes I couldn't find the perfect opening song. I tried shake your sillies out for a while but I didn't think it worked very well. Once I found this song I was thrilled. It's really fun and the kids enjoy it alot-plus it gets all those wiggles out and it is different.)
BOOKS: Math For All Seasons by Greg Tang
(I had the kids help me count the things on the page. I paperclipped the pages that I didn't want to read. It is a fairly long book so I left some of it out.)
FINGERPLAY: Two Little Blackbirds
BOOK: Mouse Went out to Get a Snack by Lyn Rossiter McFarland
(Fun story. The kids seemed to enjoy it and my fellow librarian made flannel board food that went along with the story. So I put those up as we read the things the mouse put on the plate. It was a little tough to do this while reading the book. The food kept falling off the board.)
FINGERPLAY: Hickory Dickory Dock
SONG: Jumping and Counting from the Irrational Anthem CD by Jim Gill
(The kids loved this one. It gave them a chance to jump up and down and get all their wiggles out. Then we would stop and count periodically with the song. My only complaint is that they count very slowly during the song.)
BOOK: Duckie’s Ducklings by Frances Barry
(Wonderful story. The kids kept telling me they could see the baby ducklings hiding behind the mama duck. Really fun and interactive. Kept their attention. Nice bright colors and helps the kids to be in on the joke.)
FINGERPLAY: Spaceship Countdown
(This was a great fingerplay that taught the kids to count down from ten. I had them act out of the words and then we crouched down and counted down from ten and then blasted into the air by jumping. They love it.)
Climb aboard the spaceship
We're going to the moon.
Hurry and get ready.
We're going to blast off soon.
Put on your helmets (pretend)
Buckle up real tight. (pretend)
Here comes the countdown,
Ready (have them crouchdown)
10 - 9 - 8 - 7 - 6 - 5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1
BLAST OFF! (jump into the air)
BOOK: Mouse Count by Ellen Stoll Walsh
(Not the most exciting story but the kids did love the snake, especially the boys. Started to lose their interest but I think it was the timing, storytime was almost over. They needed to get up and move.)
ACTIVITY: I gave each child a blown up balloon and they had to try and keep it in the air and count how many times they hit it. It was just an excuse to use the balloons. They love them. Most of them didn't count but they had fun hitting them. I played Over the Deep Blue Sea in the background (has counting in it and a nice fast beat). The kids loved this activity.
TAKE HOME: I let them keep the balloon.
MUSIC CDs:
Miss Anna's Music Class Volume II CD by Anna Stange (Clap Your Hands)
Irrational Anthem CD by Jim Gill (Jumping and Counting)
Come and Make a Circle CD by Susan Salidor (Over the Deep Blue Sea)
OPENING SONG: Clap Your Hands from the Miss Anna's Music Class Volume II CD by Anna Stange
(When I first started preschool storytimes I couldn't find the perfect opening song. I tried shake your sillies out for a while but I didn't think it worked very well. Once I found this song I was thrilled. It's really fun and the kids enjoy it alot-plus it gets all those wiggles out and it is different.)
BOOKS: Math For All Seasons by Greg Tang
(I had the kids help me count the things on the page. I paperclipped the pages that I didn't want to read. It is a fairly long book so I left some of it out.)
FINGERPLAY: Two Little Blackbirds
BOOK: Mouse Went out to Get a Snack by Lyn Rossiter McFarland
(Fun story. The kids seemed to enjoy it and my fellow librarian made flannel board food that went along with the story. So I put those up as we read the things the mouse put on the plate. It was a little tough to do this while reading the book. The food kept falling off the board.)
FINGERPLAY: Hickory Dickory Dock
SONG: Jumping and Counting from the Irrational Anthem CD by Jim Gill
(The kids loved this one. It gave them a chance to jump up and down and get all their wiggles out. Then we would stop and count periodically with the song. My only complaint is that they count very slowly during the song.)
BOOK: Duckie’s Ducklings by Frances Barry
(Wonderful story. The kids kept telling me they could see the baby ducklings hiding behind the mama duck. Really fun and interactive. Kept their attention. Nice bright colors and helps the kids to be in on the joke.)
FINGERPLAY: Spaceship Countdown
(This was a great fingerplay that taught the kids to count down from ten. I had them act out of the words and then we crouched down and counted down from ten and then blasted into the air by jumping. They love it.)
Climb aboard the spaceship
We're going to the moon.
Hurry and get ready.
We're going to blast off soon.
Put on your helmets (pretend)
Buckle up real tight. (pretend)
Here comes the countdown,
Ready (have them crouchdown)
10 - 9 - 8 - 7 - 6 - 5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1
BLAST OFF! (jump into the air)
BOOK: Mouse Count by Ellen Stoll Walsh
(Not the most exciting story but the kids did love the snake, especially the boys. Started to lose their interest but I think it was the timing, storytime was almost over. They needed to get up and move.)
ACTIVITY: I gave each child a blown up balloon and they had to try and keep it in the air and count how many times they hit it. It was just an excuse to use the balloons. They love them. Most of them didn't count but they had fun hitting them. I played Over the Deep Blue Sea in the background (has counting in it and a nice fast beat). The kids loved this activity.
TAKE HOME: I let them keep the balloon.
MUSIC CDs:
Miss Anna's Music Class Volume II CD by Anna Stange (Clap Your Hands)
Irrational Anthem CD by Jim Gill (Jumping and Counting)
Come and Make a Circle CD by Susan Salidor (Over the Deep Blue Sea)
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