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.

Waddlers–Halloween 2014

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)

Eat Mr. Pumpkin

Mr. Pumpkin, Mr. Pumpkin
Big and fat, big and fat (make a circle with your arms around baby)
I am gonna eat you, I am gonna eat you (tickle baby’s belly)
Just like that, just like that!
Source: I found this rhyme on Perfectly Preschool. I just made my own actions to fit my baby storytime.

Popcorn

Popcorn, popcorn (bounce gently)
Sittin’ in the pot
Shake it, shake it (wiggle baby)
POP! POP! POP! (bounce high 3 times)
Source:Perry Public Library

Flap, Flap, Flap Little Bats

Flap, flap, flap little bats, (gently flap baby’s arms)
Flap, flap, flap little bats,
Flap, flap, flap little bats,
Early in the evening.

Clap, clap, clap little bats, (gently clap baby’s hands)
Dance, dance, dance little bats, (gently wave baby’s arms in the air)
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle little bats, (gently wiggle baby)
Soar, soar, soar little bats, (lift/soar baby)

Sleep, sleep, sleep little bats,
Early in the morning.

Source:Miss Katie’s Storytime
I once again took an older rhyme and adjusted it for baby storytime.

The Moon is Round

The moon is round, (draw a semicircle on one side of the baby’s face)
The moon is round. (draw a semicircle on the other side of baby’s face)
It has two eyes, (gently touch baby’s eyelids)
A nose, (gently touch baby’s nose)
But knows no sound. (press finger baby’s lips)
Source:Baby Storytime Magic by Kathy MacMillan & Christine Kirker

Book

Pumpkin Faces by Judith Moffatt

Sensory Time

We actually took mini aluminum baking pans and let the babies bang on them. We quickly discovered that the babies were more interested in tasting them than playing with them. However, if I lightly tapped on the pans, the babies would stop and listen to me.

Fun Rhyme With Fact

Where is Baby?
Tune: Frere Jacques

Where is baby, where is baby?
There she is, there she is
I am glad to see you, I am glad to see you
Peekaboo! I see you! (cover and uncover eyes)
Source:Perry Public Library

Fact: Peekaboo starts teaching babies that their parents might go out of sight but they will return.

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 all came in costumes and were super adorable. I think we spent a good five minutes admiring each baby’s costume. Two of my older babies actually laughed at each other.

I was really hoping that there would be more Halloween-ish rhymes for babies, but I ended up improvising. It worked out well. I made sure to include rhymes that bounced babies, but included more gentle rhymes for my younger babies.

Sports–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

Hit the Ball Duck by Jez Alborough
Goodnight Football by Michael Dahl

Rhyme

A Little Ball
A little ball, (form circle with thumb and finger)
A bigger ball, (form circle with hands)
A great big ball I see.( form circle with arms)

Now let’s count them.
Are you ready?
One,(form circle with arms)
Two, (form circle with hands)
Three. (form circle with thumb and finger)
Source: Sturgis Kids

Baseball Player
Tune: Frère Jacques

Baseball player, baseball player
Swing the bat, hit the ball (Pretend to swing a baseball bat.)
Run around the bases, run around the bases (Pretend to be running.)
Homerun, homerun
Source:Preschool Plan It

Football Player

Football Player, Football Player
Punt the Ball, throw the ball
Run down the field, Run Down the field
Touchdown, Touchdown
Source: I made my own rhyme based off of the Preschool Plan It Rhyme.

Action Rhymes

Bounce the Ball

Bounce the ball, bounce the ball,
On the ground, against the wall.
Bounce it low, bounce it high,
Bounce it right up to the sky!

Bounce the ball, bounce the ball,
On the ground, against the wall.
Bounce it here, bounce it there,
Bounce it outside anywhere!

Bounce the ball, bounce the ball,
On the ground, against the wall.
This one rule you must abide:
Please don’t bounce your ball inside!
Source:Youth Literature

Bouncing Ball

I’m bouncing, bouncing everywhere,
(make bouncing movements)
I’m bouncing, bouncing like a ball,
I bounce and bounce until I fall. (drop to the floor)
Source:Sturgis Kids

Song

Take Me Out To The Ball Game!

Take me out to the ball game,
Take me out with the crowd;
Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack,
I don’t care if I never get back.
Let me root, root, root for the home team,
If they don’t win, it’s a shame.
For it’s one, two, three strikes, you’re out,
At the old ball game.

We sang along with Mickey’s Sports Songs

Matching Game

The matching game went a little smoother with my preschoolers than my toddlers. I had enough for everyone. The boys in my group really liked this game. I actually had to tell them several times to back up so that other kids could get to my board.

Final Activity

I put several rows of tape down on the ground and had the kids act like they were walking across a balance beam to music.

Take Home Craft

We revamped this project. It was originally a baseball puppet on Free Crafty Ideas. We just made it into a football puppet.

Closing 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

This was a difficult storytime to plan. There is very little books and songs out there.

The books were decent, but the rhymes stole the show. Like my toddlers, the kids really liked Bouncing Ball.

The matching game and balance beam were also a hit with this crowd. Several kids asked if we could do the balance beam. The balance beam actually worked fantastically to get almost all the kids up to the front. This allowed all the kids to dance together.

Sports–Toddler

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

Dunk Skunk by Michael Rex
Goodnight Football by Michael Dahl

Rhyme

A Little Ball
A little ball, (form circle with thumb and finger)
A bigger ball, (form circle with hands)
A great big ball I see.( form circle with arms)

Now let’s count them.
Are you ready?
One,(form circle with arms)
Two, (form circle with hands)
Three. (form circle with thumb and finger)
Source: Sturgis Kids

Baseball Player
Tune: Frère Jacques

Football Player

Football Player, Football Player
Punt the Ball, throw the ball
Run down the field, Run Down the field
Touchdown, Touchdown
Source: I made my own rhyme based off of the Preschool Plan It Rhyme.

Action Rhymes

Bounce the Ball

Bounce the ball, bounce the ball,
On the ground, against the wall.
Bounce it low, bounce it high,
Bounce it right up to the sky!

Bounce the ball, bounce the ball,
On the ground, against the wall.
Bounce it here, bounce it there,
Bounce it outside anywhere!

Bounce the ball, bounce the ball,
On the ground, against the wall.
This one rule you must abide:
Please don’t bounce your ball inside!
Source:Youth Literature

Bouncing Ball

I’m bouncing, bouncing everywhere,
(make bouncing movements)
I’m bouncing, bouncing like a ball,
I bounce and bounce until I fall. (drop to the floor)
Source:Sturgis Kids

Song

Take Me Out To The Ball Game!

We sang along with Mickey’s Sports Songs

Matching Game

I handed out laminated sports balls and equipment pictures and had the two-year-olds match their picture to the correct picture.

Final Activity

I put several rows of tape down on the ground and had the kids act like they were walking across a balance beam to music.

Take Home Craft

We revamped this project. It was originally a baseball puppet on Free Crafty Ideas. We just made it into a football puppet.

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 thought a Sports Storytime would be a lot of fun. Little did I know that finding rhymes and books would be a long and tedious process. I was definitely not impressed with the book choices. The kids were not that attentive during Dunk Skunk and I was able to get their attention with Goodnight Football by having them yell hooray and waving goodbye.

The rhymes were the fun part. Bouncing Ball was the favorite. We had to repeat it several times, as the kids wanted to do it again and again.

The matching game and the balance beam were also fun. I had only done 25 sets of pictures based on my average number of attendants. I ended up with 35 plus toddlers. This made storytime go over and we were not able to do our final dance.

Waddlers–Bounces

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

Muffin Man

Oh, do you know the Muffin Man,
The Muffin Man, the Muffin Man?
Oh, do you know the Muffin Man,
Who lives on Drury Lane?

Oh, yes, I know the Muffin Man,
The Muffin Man, the Muffin Man.
Oh, yes, I know the Muffin Man,
He lives on Drury Lane.

A-Bouncing We Will Go

A-bouncing we will go,
A-bouncing we will go,
Hi-ho the derry-o,
A-bouncing we will go.

A-tickling we will go…
A-kissing we will go…
Source:Baby Storytime Magic: Active Early Literacy through Boucnes, Rhymes, Tickles and More by Kathy Macmillan & Chrstine Kirker

Bouncing Song

Bounce and bounce and bounce and stop.
Bounce and bounce and bounce and stop.
Bounce and bounce and bounce and stop.
Now bounce that baby right to the top! (lift baby up)

Repeat slowly and then quickly.
Source:Baby Storytime Magic: Active Early Literacy through Boucnes, Rhymes, Tickles and More by Kathy Macmillan & Chrstine Kirker

Book

You’re Tutu Cute! by Sandra Magsamen

Sensory Time

Painting! I discovered this awesome project for babies on Read, Sing, Play blog. I simply took a sandwich bag, a small cardboard paper, three dollops of paint (red, blue, and white), and duct tape to create mini projects for each baby. Each baby was able to mash their own creations

Here are just a few of their creations!

Fun Rhyme With Fact

This Little Piggy

This Little Piggy Went to the Market. (shake one arm)
This Little Piggy Stayed Home. (shake the other arm)
This little Piggy had roast beef. (shake one leg)
And this little piggy had none. (shake the other leg)
And this little Piggy ran wee, wee, wee, (tickle belly)
All the way home.

Fact:This helps babies start to develop body awareness.
Source:Baby Rhyming TIme by Linda L. Ernest

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)

Book Bounding

Ten Tiny Tickles by Karen Katz

This is essentially my closing of storytime. I read the story and the parents/guardians give their babies the designated number of kisses.

Playtime

Observations

I really enjoyed this session. It was fun to notice when the babies liked a certain rhyme, and the parents are always wonderful in giving feedback. When I told a mom that we were doing the Itsy-Bitsy Spider again, she squealed with excitement. I got to witness firsthand how much her baby loves this tickle rhyme.

Fall 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!

Props

A basket of leaves!

Books

Aw, Nuts by Rob McClurkan
Pumpkin Trouble by Jan Thomas

Rhyme

Autumn Leaves
Tune: London Bridge

Autumn Leaves are falling down,
Falling down, falling down.
Autumn Leaves are falling down,
Red, yellow, orange, and brown.
Source: Storytime Magic by Kathy MacMillan and Christine Kirker

Action Rhymes

Grey Squirrel

Grey squirrel, grey squirrel
Shake your bushy tail!
Grey squirrel, grey squirrel
Shake your bushy tail!
Wrinkle up your funny nose
Hold a nut between your toes
Grey squirrel, grey squirrel
Shake your bushy tail!
Source:Kidz Sparkz

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 your 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 that tree again. (run in place).
Source: Artsy Toddler Storytimes by Carol Garnett Hopkins

Pumpkin, Pumpkin

Pumpkin, pumpkin on the ground (touch the ground)
How’d you get so big and round? (make a big circle)
Once you were a seed so small (pinch fingers together)
Now you are a great big ball (make a big circle overhead)
Pumpkin, pumpkin on the ground (touch the ground)
How’d you get so big and round? (make a big circle)
Source:SurLaLune Storytime

I’m a Little Pumpkin
tune: I’m a Little Tea Pot

I’m a little pumpkin orange and round. (hold arms in circle)
Here is my stem, (place fist upon head)
There is the ground (point down)
When I get all cup up. (“cut palm with opposite hand)
Don’t you shout! (shake head and point finger)
Just open me up (open top of head)
And scoop me out! (scoop out tummy)
source:m/rcpl Family Zone

Flannel Boards

Fall is Not Easy by Marty Kelley

This flannel board has been done many different ways. I decided to add my own twist and make the tree a Wisconsin one. This template was also nice in that when the leaves fell down it actually looked like a pile of leaves around the base of the tree.

Little Acorn, Little Acorn

Little acorn, little acorn where are you hiding?
Are you hiding behind the _______ squirrel.

Source: I did my own version of the little mouse flannel board.

Take Home Craft

Dance Song

The Twist by Chubby Checker

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 preschool storytime was completely different from my toddler session. While the toddlers were having none of it, the preschoolers were completely focused. It might be that I waited to do the rhyme “Autumn Leaves” at the end of storytime.

The books went really well. The kids liked to guess where the squirrel was going next in his pursuit of the perfect acorn in Aw, Nuts! The kids also chuckled through Pumpkin Trouble. To help make the story even more fun, I covered my mouth so it sounded like my voice was echoing when duck was talking.

The flannel boards were also fun. I do think the parents got the Wisconsin themes just a tad better than the kids. I heard quite a few chuckles, but the kids were still able to tell me that the leaves were wrong. I did do the Little Acorn flannel with the preschoolers. They enjoyed it as much as my two-year-olds.

My grand finale included singing “Autumn Leaves” and throwing the leaves. The preschoolers received an A+++ for helping me clean up afterwards.