Walkers–Body Awareness

Opening Song

We Clap and Sing Hello

We clap and sing hello,
We clap and sing hello,
With our friends at storytime,
We clap and sing hello!

We wave and sing hello,
We wave and sing hello,
With our friends at storytime,
We wave and sing hello!

We stomp and sing hello,
We stomp and sing hello,
With our friends at storytime,
We stomp and sing hello!

Traditional Nursery Rhyme

Humpty Dumpty

Nursery Rhyme with Body Movement

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)

Book

Where is Baby’s Belly Button? by Karen Katz

Rhymes

Where, Oh Where, Are Baby’s Fingers

Where, oh where, are baby’s fingers?
Where, oh where, are baby’s toes?
Where’s the baby’s bellybutton?
Round and Round it goes!

Where, oh where, are baby’s ears?
Where, oh where, is baby’s nose?
Where’s the baby’s bellybutton?
Round and round it goes!

Repeat Rhymes and Songs

Clap, Clap, Clap Your Hands

Clap, clap, clap your hands
Clap them now with me
Clap your hands, let me see
Clap your hands with me

Additional Verses
Beep, beep, beep your nose
Touch, touch, touch your shoulders
Tap, tap, tap your knees
Shake, shake, shake your feet

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.

The ABCs

Sensory

Color, Color up and Down

Color, color up and down,
Color, color all around.
Color, color knees and toes,
Color, color on your nose.
Color, color on your tummy,
Color, color on your mommy.

We used scarves with this rhyme.

Action Songs

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes from Toddler Gym
Shake Your Sillies Out by The Wiggles

Closing Song

We Clap Goodbye Like This

We clap goodbye like this,
We clap goodbye like this,
With our friends at storytime,
We clap goodbye like this!

We wave goodbye like this,
We wave goodbye like this,
With our friends at storytime,
We wave goodbye like this!

We stomp goodbye like this,
We stomp goodbye like this,
With our friends at storytime,
We stomp goodbye like this!

Playtime

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

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.

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–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

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:

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

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

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.

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.

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.