Squirrels – Preschool

Introduction	Good Morning
Books	Shake the Tree! A Minibombo Book by Chiara Vignocchi
Action Rhyme	Grey Squirrel Grey squirrel, grey squirrel Swish your busy tail! Grey squirrel, grey squirrel Swish your busy tail! Wrinkle up your funny nose Hold a nut between your toes Grey squirrel, grey squirrel Swish your busy tail.Source: Small Town Story Time Lady
Book	Squirrels by Derek Zobel
Sign Language	Squirrel
Finger Rhyme	This Little Squirrel This little squirrel said, “Let’s run and play!” This little squirrel said, “Let’s hunt nuts today!” This little squirrel said, “Yes, nuts are good.” This little squirrel said, “Yes, my favorite food.” This little squirrel said, “Come climb this tree.” (run fingers up other arm, quickly) And crack these nuts: one, two, three! (clap hands three times)Source: Sunflower Storytime
Action Song	Scamper Little Squirrel Scamper, scamper little squirrel (run in place) Up the tree, (reach up high) And down again. (touch the ground) Grab an acorn. (Pretend to grab something with one hand). Grab that peanut. (Pretend to grab something with the other hand). Stuff them in your puffy cheeks. (Point to your cheeks as you puff them out) Swish your tail (wiggle your bottom) Look around (look around with one hand above eyes) Coast is clear, scamper up the tree again. (run in place) Source: Artsy Toddler Storytimes: A year Worth of Ready-To-Go Programming
Dance Song	Squirrel There was a little squirrel. He ran up a tree. When he turned around He threw a nut at meSource: CanTeach
Dance Song	Let Us Chase the Squirrel
Dance Song	I’m a Nut (a cappella)
Traditional Song	ABC, Count to 10
Goodbye Song	Skidamarink

Craft

Craft: Scaredy Squirrel hat! Mrs Wills’ Kindergarten was my source.

Squirrels – Toddler

We celebrated national squirrel day!

Introduction	Hello Hello!
Action Rhyme	The Squirrel Sneaky, squeaky (tiptoe) Hippity, hop, (hop) Up he goes (stretch arms up) To the tree top. Whirly, twirly (spin around) Round and round Down he scampers (sit down) To the ground. Source: Circle Time Activities, Grade Preschool
Book	The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel
Flannel	Acorns Down around the corner by the big oak tree Sat five little acorns looking so yummy Along came a squirrel with a big bushy tail. He took one acorn and ran off down the trail. (4,3,2,1).Source: One Little Librarian
Book	Shake the Tree! A Minibombo Book by Chiara Vignocchi
Traditional Rhyme	This is Big Big Big This is big big big This is small small small This is short short short This is tall tall tall This is fast fast fast This is slow slow slow This is yes yes yes This is no no no Source: Mel’s Desk Second Rhyme We Do: Very, Very Tall
Nursery Rhyme	Little Miss Muffet Little Miss Muffet Sat on a tuffet, Eating her curds and whey; Along came a spider Who sat down beside her And frightened Miss Muffet away.
Sign Language	Squirrel
Action Rhyme	Grey Squirrel Grey squirrel, grey squirrel Swish your busy tail! Grey squirrel, grey squirrel Swish your busy tail! Wrinkle up your funny nose Hold a nut between your toes Grey squirrel, grey squirrel Swish your busy tail. Source: Small Town Story Time Lady
Action Song	Nuts Put your acorns UP, put your acorns DOWN Hold your acorns and turn around! Put your acorns UP, put your acorns DOWN Put your acorn down on the groundSource:One Little Librarian I modified the version from squirrels to acorn. Just a recommendation, I originally said “nuts” and realized it didn’t work as well…. I gave the kids egg shakers for this portion.
Dance Song	I’m a Nut (a cappella)
Dance Song	Let Us Chase the Squirrel
Traditional Song	ABC, Count to 5
Goodbye Song	Skidamarink

Craft: Scaredy Squirrel hat! Mrs Wills’ Kindergarten was my source.

Cheese Storytime – Preschool

Introduction	Good Morning
Books	Sam’s Sandwich by David Pelham
Action Rhyme	Five Little Mice Five little mice on the pantry floor, (run fingers on table top) This little mouse peeked behind the door, (wiggle thumb) This little mouse nibbled at the cake, (wiggle pointer finger) This little mouse did not make a sound, (wiggle middle finger) This little mouse took a bite of cheese, (wiggle ring finger) This little mouse heard the kitten sneeze, (wiggle little finger) “Ah-choo,” sneezed the kitten (sneeze) And “squeak!” they cried (Make fingers “jump”) As the found a hole and ran inside. (hide hand behind back) Source: Family Storytime: Twenty-four Creative Programs for All Ages
Book	This Book is Not a Piece of Cheese by Benjamin Bird
Sign Language	Cheese
Action Rhyme	Pizza, pizza, pizza! (tune: peanut butter and jelly)Chorus: Pizza, pizza, pizza with cheese! Pizza, pizza, pizza with cheese! (repeat chorus after each of the following verses)First you take the dough and you knead it, You knead it, you knead it, knead it, knead it. Singing… Next you take the dough and you throw it, You catch it, you throw it up high, singing….Then you take the sauce and you spread it, You spread it, you spread it on the pizza, singing…. Then you take the cheese and you sprinkle it, You sprinkle it, you sprinkle it on the pizza, singing…. Next you take the toppings and you plunk ’em, You plunk ’em, you plunk ’em on the pizza, singing…. Then you take the pizza and you bake it, You bake it, you bake it in the oven, singing… And when the pizza’s done you eat it! Yum, yum! Source: Esther Storytime
Action Song	Cheese, Cheese in our Belly We’re going to have macaroni and cheese. Hurrary! Hurrary! We’re going to have macaroni and cheese. Hurray! Hurray! Macaroni and cheese for dinner, Macaroni and cheese every day, Cheese, cheese, in our belly. Hip, hip, hip, hooray! Source: Family Storytime: Twenty-four Creative Programs for All Ages (I slightly modified)
Dance Song	Say Cheese! (Let’s Take a Picture)
Dance Song	Please Say Cheese
Traditional Song	ABC, Count to 10
Goodbye Song	Skidamarink

Craft

My source of inspiration came from Magic Sewing Hands felt craft. However, instead of using felt, I used cardboard and paper. I loved that this craft worked on eye and hand coordination.

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Cheese Storytime – Toddlers

Introduction	Hello Hello!
Books	Grandpa and Me by Karen Katz
Action Rhyme	I Wiggle I wiggle my fingers. I wiggle my toes. I wiggle my ears. I wiggle my nose. I wiggle my shoulders. I wiggle my chin. I stretch my arms wide and pull them back in. I wiggle my elbows. I wiggle my knees. I hop like a bunny. I smile and say, “Cheese!” Now I have no more wiggles left in me And I sit on the floor as still as can be.Source: Colorado Libraries for Literacy
Book	Brownie and Pearl: Grab a Bite by Cynthia Rylant
Traditional Rhymes	This is Big Big Big This is big big big This is small small small This is short short short This is tall tall tall This is fast fast fast This is slow slow slow This is yes yes yes This is no no no Source: Mel’s Desk Second rhyme we do: Very, Very Tall
Nursery Rhyme	Hickory Dickory Dock Hickory Dickory Dock, (crouch down) The mouse ran up the clock. (stand up with hands overhead) The clock struck one, (clap once) The mouse ran down! (couch back down) Hickory Dickory Dock.
Sign Language	Cheese
Action Song	Crawly Creepy Little Mouse Crawly creepy little mouse, (tiptoe fingers up leg) From the barn in the house. In the pantry under the shelf! (tiptoe fingers up to chin) Found some cheese and helped himself. Nibble nibble nibble nibble! (tickle)
Dance Song	Say Cheese! (Let’s Take a Picture)
Dance Song
Traditional Song	ABC, Count to 10
Goodbye Song	Skidamarink

Craft

My source of inspiration came from Magic Sewing Hands felt craft. However, instead of using felt, I used cardboard and paper. I loved that this craft worked on eye and hand coordination.

IMG_3582[1]

Little STEAMers: Food

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.
Book	Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin
Action Song	Spicy Salsa We did not have time for this song, but I have made a mental note to do it with the kids another time.
Song	Table Manners (Tune: Frere Jacques)Chewing quietly, chewing quietly Do not slurp, do not slurp, We must say excuse me, We must say excuse me When we burp, When we burp.Source: https://jbrary.com/family-storytime-making-food/
Activity	We made our own butter! I played a list of songs that involved shakes and wiggles (Shake it Off, Hot Potato, Milkshake). I would count to 10 and have the kids pass the jar to the next kid. It worked out great! We had butter by the third song.
Closing Song	Tickle the Stars Tickle the Stars Tickle your toes Turn around And tickle your nose Reach down low Reach up high Storytime’s over So wave goodbye!

Activities

Craft	Taco Bar!
Touch	Rainbow Jello Soup This was the most popular station. It was also the messiest. Word of advice. Clean the big bin right away.
Sorting	I printed off the different food groups and assigned each one to a bucket. The kids then sorted the food to the appropriate food bin.
Imaginary Play	We have a play kitchen and I opened it up for the kids to play with.