Thanksgiving Week–Waddlers

Opening Song

Let’s All Clap

Let’s all clap cause _____ is here,
____ is here, _____ is here
Let’s all clap cause _____ is here.
____ is here today!
(insert child’s name)

Rhymes

Acka Backa

Acka backa soda cracker, acka back boo!
Aacka backa soda cracker, I love you (Hug Child)
Aacka backa soda cracker, acka back boo!
Aacka backa soda cracker, up goes you!
Aacka backa soda cracker, acka back boo!
Ackka backa soda cracker, I love you! (hug child)

The Itsy-Bitsy Spider

The itsy-bitsy spider climbed up the water spout.
(baby on tummy, walk/tickle up baby’s back)

Down came the rain and washed the spider out.
(slide fingers down baby’s back from head to toes)

Out came the sun and dried up all the rain.
(rub baby’s back)

And the itsy-bitsy spider climbed up the spout again.
(baby on tummy, walk/tickle fingers up baby’s back)

Pumpkin Bounce

Here’s a little pumpkin bouncing on the vine (bounce baby gently)
Roll it left (sway to one side)
And roll it right (sway to the other side).
And bounce it down the line. (bounce)

Repeat with larger movements
Here’s a medium pumpkin bouncing on the vine….
Here’s a great big pumpkin bouncing on a vine…
Source:Baby Storytime Magic: Active Early Literacy through Boucnes, Rhymes, Tickles and More by Kathy Macmillan & Chrstine Kirker

Roly-Poly

Roly-poly, roly-poly,
up-up-up. (lift baby up)
Roly-poly, roly-poly,
down-down-down. (lift baby down)
Roly-poly, roly-poly,
out-out-out. (swing baby outwards)
Roly-poly, roly-poly,
in-in-in. (hug baby to self)
Source: Baby Rhyming Time by Linda L. Ernst

Families

Some families are large. (stretch baby’s arms out)
Some families are small. (bring baby’s hands close together)
But I love my family
Best of all! (hug baby)
Source: Preschool Express

Book

You Are My Little Pumpkin Pie by Amy E. Sklansky

Sensory

Shakers and Maracas!

Closing Goodbye Song

We Wave Goodbye Like This
Tune: “Farmer in the Dell”

We wave goodbye like this.
We wave goodbye like this.
We clap our hands for all our friends.
We wave goodbye like this.

Playtime

Observations

My babies were wiggle worms today. I’m blaming the snow that is coming in the afternoon. We kept it short and had a longer playtime.

Construction–Waddlers

Opening Song

Let’s All Clap

Let’s all clap cause _____ is here,
____ is here, _____ is here
Let’s all clap cause _____ is here.
____ is here today!
(insert child’s name)

Rhymes

This Little Piggy

This little piggy went to the market. (shake one arm)
This little piggy stayed home. (shake other arm)
This little piggy had roast beef. (shake one leg)
This little piggy had none. (shake other leg)
And this little piggy ran wee, wee, wee,
all the way home. (tickle belly)

London Bridge
London Bridge is falling down,
Falling down, falling down,
London Bridge is falling down,
My fair lady.

Build it up with sticks and stones,
Sticks and stones, sticks and stones,
Build it up with sticks and stones,
My fair lady.

Dump Truck

Dump truck, dump truck. (Begin to bounce baby gently)
Bumping down the road.
Spilling gravel as you travel
With your heavy load.
Bumpety bumpety bump!
Dumpety dumpety dump!
Dump Truck, dump truck, DUMP! (Gently tip baby down)
Source: Step into Storytime by Saroj Nadkarni Ghoting and Kathy Fling Klatt

Hammer, Hammer

Hammer, hammer, hammer (bang fists together)
hammer, hammer, hammer.
Shake, shake, shake (shake hands)
Clap, Clap, Clap. (clap hands)
And roll…
Source: Step into Storytime by Saroj Nadkarni Ghoting and Kathy Fling Klatt

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are.
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are.

Book

Zoom, Zoom, Baby! by Karen Katz

Closing Goodbye Book

Ten Tiny Tickles by Karen Katz

Closing Goodbye Song

We Wave Goodbye Like This
Tune: “Farmer in the Dell”

We wave goodbye like this.
We wave goodbye like this.
We clap our hands for all our friends.
We wave goodbye like this.

Playtime

Observations

I was a little out of sorts with this storytime. Thankfully, my moms are super awesome and rolled with it. We just cut out sensory time and did a longer playtime.

Elephant and Piggie Storytime!

I LOVE Elephant and Piggie!!! I really wanted to do a special storytime for my community. I even tried to get the Piggie and Elephant costumes, but the costumes were not available for my Friday. However, I decided to still rock it.

Outfit

My super awesome t-shirt. REPRESENTING!

Crafts

Elephant and Piggie paperbag puppets. Templates are found at Three Little Birds.

This was an leftover craft from one of my coworker’s storytimes. It actually worked perfectly for this storytime. I think it was slightly more popular than the paperbag puppets.

Photo Opportunities

We have an awesome volunteer who can free hand images. She was able to create our own photo op from a pinterest picture that I found. I would still be trying to outline the first character.

I made the pig nose and elephant nose out of cardboard. The glasses are out of pipe cleaners.

Line-Up

Opening

If you’re an elephant and you know it, shake your ears…
If you’re an elephant and you know it, blow your nose…
If you’re a pig and you know it, say oink, oink…
If you’re a pig and you know it, wiggle your tail…

First Book

First Activity

Form banana, form form banana. (Arms above head in banana shape.)
Form banana, form form banana.
Peel banana, peel, peel banana. (One arm down.)
Peel banana, peel, peel banana. (Other arm down.)
Go bananas! Go, go bananas! (Jump up and go bananas.)
Go bananas! Go, go bananas!

Form an orange, form, form an orange. (Lift arms above head.)
Form an orange, form, form an orange.
Peel an orange, peel, peel an orange. (Lower one arm.)
Peel an orange, peel, peel an orange. (Lower other arm.)
Squeeze an orange, squeeze, squeeze an orange. (Squeeze your body)
Squeeze an orange, squeeze, squeeze an orange.

Form potato, form, form potato. (Form potato by raising arms above head.)
Form potato, form, form potato.
Peel potato, peel, peel potato. (Lower one arm.)
Peel potato, peel, peel potato. (Lower other arm.)
Mash potato, mash, mash potato. (Stomp, jump on floor for these verses.)
Mash potato, mash, mash potato.

This is the video that I followed.

Second Book

I incorporated an activity while reading this book. I had props (map, bags, sunglasses, umbrella, and a pirate hat) that I would pull out during the story.

Third Book

Final Activity

Since Piggie and Elephant look at the stars, I thought it was only appropriate that we did something with stars. I gave each child two stars and then we sang “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.” I then found music and we danced with our stars.

Observations

I would definitely do this storytime again. However, I would probably recommend preschool and older. I had some wee little ones in my storytime who had some serious wiggles. Regardless, this was a blast.

Waddlers–Dinosaurs

Opening Song

Let’s All Clap

Let’s all clap cause _____ is here,
____ is here, _____ is here
Let’s all clap cause _____ is here.
____ is here today!
(insert child’s name)

Rhymes

Itsy-Bitsy Spider

The itsy-bitsy spider climbed up the water spout.
(baby on tummy, walk/tickle up baby’s back)

Down came the rain and washed the spider out.
(slide fingers down baby’s back from head to toes)

Out came the sun and dried up all the rain.
(rub baby’s back)

And the itsy-bitsy spider climbed up the spout again.
(baby on tummy, walk/tickle fingers up baby’s back)

Once there was a Dinosaur

Once there was a dinosaur
All he did was roar and roar.
He roared HIGH. (lift baby up high)
He roared LOW. (drop baby low)
He roared FAST. (bounce baby fast)
And he roared SLOW. (bounce baby slow)
Once there was a dinosaur
All he did was roar and roar. (roar gently at baby)
Source: Momstown

Dinosaur, Dinosaur

Dinosaur, Dinosaur,
Where can you be?
Hiding behind me (hands behind back)
Where you cannot see!
Now you see one (bring one hand out)
It’s been waiting for you.
Here comes another, (bring out other hand)
And now you see two!
Source: Yakaberry Rhymes, Songs, and Fingerplays

Here We Go Up, Up, Up

Here we go up,up,up, (lift baby up)
Here we go down, down, down. (bring baby back to lap)
Here we go up, up, up, (lift baby up)
Here we go down, down, down. (bring baby back to lap)
Source:King County Library

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are.
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are.

Book

I Love You Snugglesaurus! by Sandra Magsamen

Sensory Time

Egg shakers!

Fun Rhyme With Fact

These Little Fingers

These little fingers go
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle.

These little fingers go
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle
And now they’re on my
________________ (body part)
Source:King County Library

Fact: Developing body awareness by pointing out specific body parts.

Closing Goodbye Book

Ten Tiny Tickles by Karen Katz

Closing Goodbye Song

We Wave Goodbye Like This
Tune: “Farmer in the Dell”

We wave goodbye like this.
We wave goodbye like this.
We clap our hands for all our friends.
We wave goodbye like this.

Playtime

Observations

This was a fun storytime especially when I pulled out the puppets. I handed out each parent/guardian a puppet for the “Dinosaur, Dinosaur” rhyme. My older babies were fascinated by the puppets hiding. One little girl even crawled around her mom to get to the puppet. I think I’m going to start incorporating puppets more into my baby storytimes!

Dinosaurs–Toddlers

Opening Song

If You Want to Hear a Story
Tune: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”

If you want to hear a story, clap your hands!
If you want to hear a story, clap your hands!
If you want to hear a story,
If you want to hear a story,
If you want to hear a story, clap your hands!

Prop

Meet Bud! I introduced him at the beginning of my storytime. My two-year-olds LOVED him. I almost had a riot with the kids wanting to come pet him.

Books

Rawr! by Todd Doodler
Shape by Shape by Suse MacDonald

Action Rhymes

I’m a Mean Old Dinosaur

I’m a mean old dinosaur. (make a mean face)
Big and Tall. (gesture hands big and tall)
Here is my tail, here is my claw. (shake their tails and show claws)
When I get all hungry (rub your tummy)
I just growl (make a growling sound)
Look out kids, I’m on the prowl.
Source:

A Dinosaur Goes

A dinosaur goes like this and that. (sway side to side)
He’s terribly big, ( raise hands up high)
And he’s terribly fat. (make large circle with arms in front of body)
He has two eyes, (circle eyes with fingers)
Yet he makes you pause. ( stop sign)
Goodness gracious, what sharp claws! (claws)
Source:Artsy Toddler Storytimes by Carol Garnett Hopkins

FIVE LITTLE DINOSAURS

Five little dinosaurs sitting in a swamp.
The first one said, “Let’s stomp, stomp, stomp.”
The second one said, “Time for lunch!”
The third one said, “Let’s munch, munch, munch.”
The fourth one said, “Let’s stomp some more.”
The fifth one said, “Let’s all roar!” GRRRR!
Source:Preschool Express

Dinosaur
Dinosaurs lived long ago
Some walked (Stomp feet)
Some swam (Pretend to swim)
Some flew, you know (flap arms)
Some were big (hold hands high)
Some were small (hold hands low)
Some were gigantic (stretch arms out wide)
And VERY tall! (stretch arms up high)
Source: Library Village

Activity Song

We are the Dinosaurs by Laurie Berkner Band

Take Home Craft

I do not know the source for this project, as my co-worker picked this craft.

Dance Song

Silly Dance Contest by Jim Gill

Closing Goodbye Song

We Wave Goodbye Like This
Tune: “Farmer in the Dell”

We wave goodbye like this.
We wave goodbye like this.
We clap our hands for all our friends.
We wave goodbye like this.

Observations

The kids enjoyed making dinosaur noises with me. We rawr with hellos and goodbyes.

The books were fun. Rawr was decent. The kids were attentive enough, but they definitely preferred Shape by Shape. I had one little boy who yelled, “It’s a dinosaur, mommy!”

The kids also enjoyed the “We are the Dinosaurs” activity song. One little boy requested that we do it again.

Dinosaurs–Preschool

Opening Song

If You Want to Hear a Story
Tune: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”

If you want to hear a story, clap your hands!
If you want to hear a story, clap your hands!
If you want to hear a story,
If you want to hear a story,
If you want to hear a story, clap your hands!

Prop

Meet Bud! I introduced him at the beginning of my storytime. I told the kids that he was a nice dinosaur who brushed and flossed his teeth. I said that his nails were long because he just had a manicure and pedicure. I then walked around and allowed the kids to pet him. I would either make Bud dance or have him give the kids high five.

Books

Dinosaurs Love Underpants by Claire Freedman
Edwina: The Dinosaur Who Didn’t Know She was Exctinct by Mo Willems

Rhymes

DINOSAURS ARE IN THEIR EGGS
Tune: “Mary Had a Little Lamb”

Dinosaurs are in their eggs,
In their eggs, in their eggs.
Dinosaurs are in their eggs,
Waiting to break out.

Dinosaurs are hatching now,
Hatching now, hatching now.
Dinosaurs are hatching now,
See them move about.
Source: Preschool Express

DINOSAUR
Tune: “Frere Jacques”

Mr. Dinosaur, Mr. Dinosaur,
Wave your tail, give a roar.
Stomp your feet on the ground.
Such a loud and rumbly sound.
Mr. Dinosaur, give a roar!

Mr. Dinosaur, Mr. Dinosaur,
Wave your tail, give a roar.
When you give your tail a shake
You could cause a big earthquake!
Mr. Dinosaur, give a roar!
Source: Preschool Express

Action Rhymes

I’m a Mean Old Dinosaur

Five Enormous Dinosaurs

Five enormous dinosaurs, letting out a roar
One danced away and then there were four
Twist, twist, twist, twist,
Twist, twist, twist, twist, ROAR!

Four enormous dinosaurs crashing down a tree
One skipped away and then there were three
Skip, skip, skip, skip,
Skip, skip, skip, skip, ROAR!

Three enormous dinosaurs eating tiger stew
One twirled away and then there were two
Twirl, twirl, twirl, twirl,
Twirl, twirl, twirl, twirl, ROAR!

Two enormous dinosaurs resting in the sun
One shook away and then there was one
Shake, shake, shake, shake,
Shake, shake, shake, shake, ROAR!

One enormous dinosaur left all alone
It wiggled away and then there was none
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle,
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, ROAR!
Source:Core KDLA

A Dinosaur Goes

FIVE LITTLE DINOSAURS

Activity Song

We are the Dinosaurs by Laurie Berkner Band

Take Home Craft

I do not know the source for this project, as my co-worker picked this craft.

Dance Song

Silly Dance Contest by Jim Gill

Closing Goodbye Song

We Wave Goodbye Like This
Tune: “Farmer in the Dell”

We wave goodbye like this.
We wave goodbye like this.
We clap our hands for all our friends.
We wave goodbye like this.

Observations

My voice is completely raw from this storytime. The kids had a hoot with rawring like dinosaurs and acting like dinosaurs. I actually had to back the kids up a couple times because they would crowd around me to where I could not move.

The books were fun. The kids thought Reginald was not very nice in Edwina, and I received quite a few chuckles (adults included) with Dinosaurs Love Underpants.

The kids loved Bud. I had to keep telling them sitting down while I walked around.

“We are Dinosaurs” was a huge hit. I even had a mom who gasped because she loves singing the song with her daughter. We marched around, acted like we were eating dinner, and then fell asleep on the floor.

I give this storytime a A++!

Monsters 2014–Preschool

Opening Song

If You Want to Hear a Story
Tune: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”

If you want to hear a story, clap your hands!
If you want to hear a story, clap your hands!
If you want to hear a story,
If you want to hear a story,
If you want to hear a story, clap your hands!

Books

Crankenstein by Samantha Berger
Go Away, Big Green Monster! by Ed Emberley
Leonardo The Terrible Monster by Mo Willems

Action Rhymes

Monsters Galore

Monsters galore, can you roar? (Roar.)
Monsters galore, can you soar? (Flying motions.)
Monsters galore, please shut the door. (Clap.)
Monsters galore, fall on the floor! (Sit/fall down.)
Source:Miss Meg’s Storytime

Monster, Monster
Tune: Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear

Monster, monster, turn around.
Monster, monster, touch the ground.
Monster, monster, reach up high.
Monster, monster, squint your eyes.
Monster, monster, show your teeth.
Monster, monster, stamp your feet.
Source:SurLaLune Storytime

I’m A Little Monster

I’m a little monster hear me growl
Here are my ears.
Here are my claws.
When I get all sneaky, I tiptope up.
I jump in the air and give a big roar.
Source:Artsy Toddler Storytimes by Carol Garnett Hopkins

Monster, Monster, Under the Bed,

Monster, monster, under the bed,
You should go somewhere else instead!
Go, monster, go. (stamp feet slowly)
Go, monster, go!(faster)
Go, monster, go!!! (very fast)
Source:Sturgis Kids

Flannel Board

“Five Little Monsters Jumping on the Bed” was my flannel for this week. I found my monster template from Falling Flannel Boards and my bed template from Red Ted Art.

Five little monsters, jumping on the bed.
One fell off and bumped his head.
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said…
No more monsters jumping on the bed!

Take Home Craft

House of Baby Piranha

Dance Song

Silly Dance Contest by Jim Gill

Closing Goodbye Song

We Wave Goodbye Like This
Tune: “Farmer in the Dell”

We wave goodbye like this.
We wave goodbye like this.
We clap our hands for all our friends.
We wave goodbye like this.

Observations

I was covered in sweat by the end of this storytime. Not because we were jumping around like crazy….because the room was warm. I did not do a lot of action rhymes with this storytime. I played it safe, as I did not want anyone overheating. The room was probably hosting a warm tropical 80 degree temperature. Regardless, the kids had a blast.

We all made “mmmeeehhhrrr” sounds with Crankenstein, made monsters go away with Go Away Big Green Monster, and laughed with Leonardo. Like my toddlers, my preschoolers really liked the mama monster puppet, whose tongue squeaks when you open and close her mouth. I made sure to make mama monster to squeak a lot during the line, “Mama called the doctor and the doctor said.”

Monsters 2014–Toddlers

Opening Song

If You Want to Hear a Story
Tune: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”

If you want to hear a story, clap your hands!
If you want to hear a story, clap your hands!
If you want to hear a story,
If you want to hear a story,
If you want to hear a story, clap your hands!

Books

Even Monsters by A.J. Smith
Go Away, Big Green Monster! by Ed Emberley
Can you Make a Scary Face by Jan Thomas

Action Rhymes

Monsters Galore

Monster, Monster
Tune: Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear

I’m A Little Monster

Flannel Board

“Five Little Monsters Jumping on the Bed” was my flannel for this week. I found my monster template from Falling Flannel Boards and my bed template from Red Ted Art.

Five little monsters, jumping on the bed.
One fell off and bumped his head.
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said…
No more monsters jumping on the bed!

Take Home Craft

House of Baby Piranha

Dance Song

Monster Mash by Bobby Pickett

Closing Goodbye Song

We Wave Goodbye Like This
Tune: “Farmer in the Dell”

We wave goodbye like this.
We wave goodbye like this.
We clap our hands for all our friends.
We wave goodbye like this.

Observations

Unfortunately, I was not able to do as many action rhymes as I like during this session. Our storytime room had turned into a sauna over the weekend, and I did not want children passing out from the room being overheated. OK, the room was not that hot, but it was definitely warmer than normal.

The kids really liked this storytime. I did a build-up. We talked about what kind of activities monsters do with Even Monsters. We even sangs the ABCs right dead smack of the story for the school page. We then talked about how we make monsters go away with Go Away Big Green Monster. The kids always get into this story and were even doing the “go away” hand motion with me. Finally, we worked on our own scary faces with Make a Scary Face.

The flannel board was your traditional “Five Little Monkeys” just with monsters. I also added a mama monster puppet whose tongue squeaks when you close her mouth. When I did the phrase “Mama called the doctor” I made sure Mama talked a lot! My two-year-olds were fascinated with this puppet. I had one little girl who gave me a penny and I made mama monster eat it. The girl’s face was priceless. I had to make mama regurgitate the penny for the little girl.