Rhyming to Read: Purple Cow and Rock-a-Bye Baby

Purple Cow (Color Mixing)

Introduction of Rhyme	Purple Cow I never saw a Purple Cow, I never hope to see one; But I can tell you, anyhow, I’d rather see than be one.
Sing Rhyme	We repeated the rhyme several times.
Color Mixes	I never saw a Red Cow, I never hope to see one; But I can tell you, anyhow, I’d rather see than be one. I never saw a Blue Cow, I never hope to see one; But I can tell you, anyhow, I’d rather see than be one. I never saw a Purple Cow, I never hope to see one; But I can tell you, anyhow, I’d rather see than be one.
Color Experiment	To have a little fun with we did a science experiment. I unfortunately did not get any pictures, but the kids enjoyed mixing the colors and seeing the reaction. source: Hands On As We Grow
Craft	Source: Apples & abcs I just turned my craft into a purple cow.

Rock-a-Bye Baby

Introduction of Rhyme	Rock-A-Bye Baby
Traditional Rhyme	We repeated the rhyme several times.
Call Response	Rock-a-Bye Baby Rock-a-bye baby On the treetop When the wind blows The cradle will rock When the bough breaks The cradle will fall And down will come baby Cradle and allI would say one line and the crowd would say the next line. After we went though it once, we switched who said what line.I mentioned this is a great way to teach memory tactics.
Action Rhyme	Rock-a-Bye Baby Rock-a-bye baby (rock back and forth) On the treetop When the wind blows (act like the wind) The cradle will rock (rock back and forth) When the bough breaks (start squatting) The cradle will fall (fall to the ground) And down will come baby Cradle and all
Craft	Source: Danielle’s Place I took my inspiration from one of her ideas, but I put my own spin on it. I liked that the kids would be able to “rock” their baby with this craft.

Pajama Rama – In the Woods

Introduction	Tickle the Moon Tickle the Moon Tickle your toes. Clap your hands And tickle your nose. Reach up high. Reach down low. Turn around, And say hello!Source: Storytime Katie has a closing version she found on pinterest. I wanted an opening song, so my coworker reworked it to make an opening song.
Warm-up Rhyme	Lumberjack, Lumberjack Lumberjack, Lumberjack turn around. Lumberjack, Lumberjack touch the ground. Lumberjack, Lumberjack grow a beard. (pat face) Lumberjack, Lumberjack show no fear. (show muscles) Lumber, Lumberjack eat some snacks. (mimic eating) Lumberjack, Lumberjack swing your ax (swinging motion) Lumberjack, lumberjack yell Timber (yell Timber) Lumberjack, lumberjack here comes winter! (mimic snowflake) Source: My creation
Book	Bruce’s Big Move
Flannel	Squirrel
Book	Book-O-Beards
Activity with puppets	There’s something in the woods, that I can’t really see. There’s something in the woods, that I can’t really see. (hands around eyes like binoculars) There’s something in the woods. Now what can it be? (hold up hands, shrug shoulders in question)Repeat above rhyme before giving each clue…. I’m an animal who’s big, brown and furry and who “Roars” (bear). I’m an animal who’s who has long ears and goes “Hop, hop, hop” (rabbit). I’m an animal who says ‘whoo, whoo’ at night (Owl). I’m an animal who’s red, furry, has a big bushy tail and likes to eat chicken (Fox) I’m an animal who’s small, has a big, bushy tail and loves to eat nuts (Squirrel). I’m an animal who’s tiny and makes very quiet “squeaks” (Mouse). Source: Singin in the Stacks
Nursery Rhyme with Action	Hickory Dickory Dock Hickory Dickory Dock, The Moose ran up the clock. The clock struck one, The Moose crashed down! Hickory Dickory Dock Source: What Happens In Storytime
Action Rhyme	If You’re a Fox and You Know It If You’re a Fox and You Know It… If you’re a fox and you know it Swish your tail. If you’re a fox and you know it Swish your tail. If you’re a fox and you know, then you’ll really want to show it If you’re a fox and you know it Swish your tail. …wiggle your nose… …show your claws… If you’re a moose and you know it… stomp your hoofs. If you’re a grizzly bear and you know growl really loud http://libraryvillage.blogspot.com/2013/11/toddler-story-time-what-does-fox-say.html
Dance Song	This is the Way the Woods Wake Up/ She’ll be Coming Around the Mountain
Dance Song	Row, Row, Row Your Boat: Songs for Wiggle Worms
Dance Song	You Are My Sunshine
Cool Down Song	ABCs
Goodbye Song	Tickle the Clouds Tickle the clouds Tickle your toes Turn around And tickle your nose Reach down low Reach up high Storytime’s over So wave goodbye! Source: Storytime Katie

Craft: We actually do crafts after the storytime unlike our other storytimes. This craft was super awesome (easy clean-up) and hit with my patrons.

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Source: Door 2 Door Librarian

Little STEAMers: Winter

Storytime Portion

Opening Song	Tickle the Sun Tickle your toes. Clap your hands And tickle your nose. Reach up high. Reach down low. Turn around, And say hello!Source: Storytime Katie has a closing version she found on pinterest. I wanted an opening song, so my coworker reworked it to make an opening song.
What is Winter? What Do we need for winter?	I found simple Clipart pictures for discussion. My pictures included: Snow, a person imitating cold, mittens, coat, and a hat with mittens.
Rhyme	It Is Winter Tune: Are You Sleeping?”It is winter, It is winter, Oh, so cold! Oh, so cold! Icy, snowy weather, Long nights and short days, Winter’s here! Winter’s here!
Book	Supertruck by Stephen Savage
Flannel	Where is Snowball I hid the two snowballs and had the kids guess which mitten the snowball was under. If they found the yellow snowball, we talked about why you don’t eat yellow snow.
Rhyme	Jack Frost Where did you get that little red nose? Jack Frost kissed it I suppose. He kissed it once. He kissed it twice. Poor little nose it’s as cold as ice!
Book	Little Penguins by Cynthia Rylant
Action Song	We’re Marching in the Snow
Action Song	I’m a Little Snowman
Goodbye Song	Tickle the Clouds Tickle your toes Turn around And tickle your nose Reach down low Reach up high Storytime’s over So wave goodbye! Source: Storytime Katie

Activity Portion

Winter in a Bag	Source: A Little Pinch of Perfect
Ball Sort	Source:I Can Teach My Child
How Tall are you	I marked out 9 ft on a piece of duct tape. The kids had the option of either laying down and their grown up laying mittens next to them, or they could jump and see how many mittens it would take to measure the distance.
Counting	The kids would take a handful of buttons and work on matching the number of buttons to the number on a mitten. Source: Play to Learn Playschool