Green Trees

IntroductionWelcome by Miss Carole     
OpeningTall As a Tree
Tall as a tree
Wide as a house
Thin as a pin
Small as a mouse
Source: King County Library System: Tell Me a Story
BookIf Snowflakes Tasted Like Fruitcake by Stacey Previn
Nursery Rhyme ActionTwinkle Twinkle Little Star
The kids will stretch their arms and legs out like a star.
While singing the song, the kids will cross their midline and touch one hand
the opposite foot and then repeating on the other side.
Weekly RhymeThis 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: Melissa Depper, a children’s librarian in the Denver metro area

We do it twice. Once with our traditional hand movements and second time with ASL.                             
Finger RhymeGreen Says Go (with scarves)
Green says, “Go!” (hold up the color green)
Go! Go! Go! (march in place)
Yellow says, “Slow!” (hold up color yellow)
Slow…slooow…sloooow (march slowly)
And red says, “Stop!” (hold up the color red)
(freeze)
(Hold up green) Go! Go! Go!
(Hold up yellow) Slow…sloooow…slooooow
(Hold up red) STOP!
(everybody freeze)!
Source: King County Library System: Tell Me a Story
Action RhymeCupcakes The cupcakes are here, the cupcakes are there
The cupcakes, the cupcakes are everywhere!

The cupcakes are up, the cupcakes are down
The cupcakes, the cupcakes are all around

The cupcakes are in, the cupcakes are out
The cupcakes the cupcakes are all about.
Source: One Little Librarian
Action RhymeLet’s Make Jam!
Tune: Ten Little Indians
Let’s all squish and squash some berries.
Let’s all squish and squash some berries.
Let’s all squish and squash some berries.
Now we’ve made some jam!  
Let’s all spread it on some bread now.
Let’s all spread it on some bread now.
Let’s all spread it on some bread now.
And now we’ll eat our jam!
Source: Totally for Twos: Stories and Songs
Action RhymeAndy Spandy Sugar and Candy Andy Spandy, sugar and candy
All pop up! (stretch tall)
Andy Spandy, sugar and candy
All pop down! (crouch down)
Andy Spandy, sugar and candy
All pop in! (hug yourself)
Andy Spandy, sugar and candy
All pop out! (jump up with arms outstretched) Source: https://kcls.org/content/andy-spandy-sugar-and-candy/
Dance SongTurkey Hop by Miss Carole
Dance SongJingle Bells and Stop by Miss Carole
Cool DownABCs, Count to 10
Goodbye SongSay Goodbye by Miss Carole
This craft was taken from several different inspirations, but we made it our own.

Wild Pets – Preschool

Introduction Put Your Finger in the Air by Carole Peterson
Opening RhymeThe Little Skunk
I stuck my head in a little skunk’s hole.
And the skunk said, “Well, bless my soul!”
Take it out (clap-clap)
Take it out (clap-clap)
Re-move it!  
Well, I didn’t take it out, and the little skunk said,
“If you don’t take it out, you’ll wish you had!”
Take it out (clap-clap)
Take it out (clap-clap)
Psss-ssst!
P- U…I removed it too late! (pinch nose with fingers as you say this line)
Source: Book Besotted Librarian
BookOne Cool Friend by Toni Buzzeo
Finger RhymeTen Little Chickens
Five eggs and five eggs, (hold up ten fingers)
That makes ten.
Sitting on top is the mother hen. (cover one hand with the other)
Crack, crack, crack, (clap 3 times)
What do I see?
Ten little chicks,
As cute as can be! (Hold up ten fingers)
Source: Teaching Mama
BookHello, World! Pets by Jill McDonald
ASLChicken                                       
Egg
Action RhymeThis is the Way the Chicken Moves
This is the way the chicken walks,
Bob the head, chin in front,
Bob the head, chin in the front.
This is the way the chicken stretches,
Flap, flap, flap your wings,
Flap, flap, flap your wings.
This is the way the chicken dances,
Move your tail feathers to the left,
Move your tail feathers to the right.
This is the way the chicken sits,
Fold your legs on the nest like so, Fold your legs on the nest like so.
Source: The Artsy Toddler
Action RhymeAlligator Elevator (parachute)
An alligator went for an elevator ride
Said the elevator operator, “Step inside”
First floor, second floor, up and down
It’s the only alligator elevator in town!
Group ActivityI’m Being Swallowed by a Boa Constrictor by Shel Silverstein (parachute):
I’m being swallowed by a boa constrictor
I’m being swallowed by a boa constrictor
I’m being swallowed by a boa constrictor
And I don’t like it very much!

Oh no, oh no, he swallowed my toe,
he swallowed my toe

Oh gee, oh gee, he’s up to my knee,
he’s up to my knee

Oh fiddle, oh fiddle, he’s reached my middle,
he’s reached my middle

Oh bleck, oh bleck, he’s up to my neck,
he’s up to my neck

Oh dread, oh dread, he swallowed my…. schlirppp!
Source: One For the Books

I used a tunnel as a snake. I slowly moved it up until the “snake” ate me.
Dance SongChicken Dance by The Hit Crew
Dance SongGalloping Country Style by Mr. Al
Cool DownAlphabet Count to 15
Goodbye SongWiggle Finger! By Miss Carole
Inspiration Source: Glued to My Crafts

Wild Pets – Toddlers

IntroductionPut Your Little Foot By Miss Carole
BookPiggies by Audrey Wood
Nursery RhymeThis Little Piggy
(with action rhymes)
This little piggy went to market, (shake one arm)
This little piggy stayed home, (shake the other arm)
This little piggy had roast beef, (shake one leg)
This little piggy had none. (shake the other leg)
This little piggy went …
Wee, wee, wee, (tickle belly)
all the way home!
BookPet the Pets: A Lift-the-Flap by Sarah Lynne Reul
ASLChicken
Weekly RhymeThis 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: Melissa Depper, a children’s librarian in the Denver metro area

We do it twice. Once with our traditional hand movements and second time with ASL.
Librarian Action RhymeI’m Being Swallowed by a Boa Constrictor by Shel Silverstein
I’m being swallowed by a boa constrictor
I’m being swallowed by a boa constrictor
I’m being swallowed by a boa constrictor
And I don’t like it very much!

Oh no, oh no, he swallowed my toe,
he swallowed my toe

Oh gee, oh gee, he’s up to my knee,
he’s up to my knee

Oh fiddle, oh fiddle, he’s reached my middle,
he’s reached my middle

Oh bleck, oh bleck, he’s up to my neck,
he’s up to my neck

Oh dread, oh dread, he swallowed my…. schlirppp!
Source: One For the Books

I used a tunnel as a snake. I slowly moved it up until the “snake” ate me.
Action RhymeGot a Feather
(to the tune of Clementine with a die-cut feather)
Got a feather,
got a feather,
got a feather on my [nose, toe, etc.]
First I lost it,
then I found it
Got a feather on my [nose, toe, etc.]
Source: The Buckeye Librarian
Dance SongI Know a Chicken (with shake eggs)  
Dance SongSuper Shaker Song by Culture Queen
Cool DownABCs, Count to 15
Goodbye SongSay Goodbye

We made hedgehogs!

Inspiration Source: Glued to My Crafts

Junior Favorites: T.O.T.S.

This was one of my last programs before we had to shut down for the pandemic. Disney T.O.T.S. was gaining popularity and I wanted to do it as a part of my Junior Programs. I made a variety of stations that was based off a Nursery Checklist.

Set-UpI had several stations based off the TV show.
Children also received a check-list that guided them
through the stations.

Station 1Kids picked their baby from a bin when they collected their Nursery Checklist.

Station 2Once the kids picked their baby, they would take the babies to the play area.
I had a ball pit, blocks, and stacking toys. Of course the kids played more with
the toys themselves.

Station 3The babies would be hungry after so much play. The kids had to make bottles and feed
their babies. This was a great sensory station. I had extra bottles that the kids would fill
with lentils. Be aware that this can be very messy!

Station 4The kids would then take their babies to the bathing station.
The water beads were another hit. However, they were super messy.

Station 5After giving their babies a bath, the kids would them swaddle up and deliver the babies
to their new homes.



CraftsOnce the kids completed all the stations, they could create their own T.O.T.S. badge
and a Baby Passport.


Photo OpOur super volunteer made me this great backdrop!