Plants and Trees Story Time – Preschool

Opening song

Book: Up, Down, and Around by Katherine Ayres, illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott

UpDownAround

Song: The gardener plants the seeds (Tune: “The Farmer in the Dell”)
The gardener plants the seeds.
The gardener plants the seeds.
High ho the derry oh,
The gardener plants the seeds.

The rain falls on the ground…
The sun shines bright and warm…
The seeds begin to grow…

Rhyme: Garden snail
Slowly, slowly, very slowly, creeps the garden snail. (Move hands down legs)
Slowly, slowly, very slowly, up the wooden rail. (Move hands up legs)
Quickly, quickly, very quickly, runs the little mouse, (down legs)
Quickly, quickly, very quickly, in his little house. Squeak! (up legs and body, make ears)

Book: Who Will Plant a Tree? By Jerry Pallotta, illustrated by Tom Leonard

who will plant a tree

Song: “Oranges Grow on Trees” – Dance and Sing: The Best of Nick, Jr.

Book: Tap the Magic Tree by Christie Matheson

tap the magic tree

Song: Shakin’ Like a Leafy Tree – The Wiggles: Racing to the Rainbow

Song: The Goldfish – Laurie Berkner: Victor Vito

Craft: Recycled magazine paper garden scene (inspired by laughpaintcreate.blogspot.com)

recycled flowers

 

Frogs Storytime – Daycare group

We had a special request for a storytime in between Spring and Summer sessions for a daycare group (ages 3-5). We offered the program at 9:30 am and 1:30 pm on Friday, June 6.

Finger Play: Baby Frogs (Tune: Mary Had a Little Lamb)

Tadpoles are little baby frogs          (pinch fingers and thumb for size)
Baby frogs                                         (pinch)
Baby frogs                                         (pinch)
Tadpoles are little baby frogs          (pinch)
And they can swim like fish.            (pantomime swimming)

Tadpoles grow four stretchy legs    (stretch arms and legs)
Stretchy legs
Stretchy legs
Tadpoles grow four stretchy legs
So they can hop, hop, hop               (pat hands up and down into lap)

Book: 999 Tadpoles  by Ken Kimura

Song/Flannel Toy: 5 Little Speckled Frogs

Book: The Wide Mouthed Frog by Keith Faulkner

Song/Movement: Hop Hop Went the Little Green Frog

Hoppp hop went the little green frog one day                      (hop in place)
Hop hop when the little green frog!
Hop hop went the little green frog one day
And his legs went boing, boing, boing!                                  (tap legs)

Glunnnnk glunk went the little green frog one day              (Stick out tongue to catch food)
Glunk glunk went the little green frog!
Glunk glunk went the little green frog one day
And his eyes went blink, blink, blink!                                     (BIG blinks!)

Munnnch munch went the little green frog one day           (Open and close mouth)
Munch munch went the little green frog!
Munch munch went the little green frog one day
And his mouth went gulp, gulp, gulp!                                   (BIG gulps!)

Splaaaaash splash went the little green frog one day        (Splash motion with hands)
Splash splash went the little green frog!
Splash splash went the little green frog one day
And he swam, swam, swam away!                                        (Slow swimming arms)

Book/Movement: Jump!  by Scott M. Fischer

We had the kids clap every time they heard the word “jump,” but could have them jump too.

Hat Story Time – Preschool

Introduction: This week’s stories are about hats. How many kinds of hats can we think of (cowboy hats, chef hats, winter hats, etc.)?

Opening song

Book: This is the Hat by Nancy Van Laan, illustrated by Holly Meade

this is the hat

Action Rhyme: “Hats on Everyone”
Hats on police officers starchy and blue (salute)
Hats on fire fighters shiny and new (spray with hose)
Hat on marchers in a band (drum)
Hat on astronauts when they land (float)
Hats on farmers made of straw (shovel hay)
Hats on artists when they draw (paint)
Hats on kids out in the sun (shade eyes)
Hat on almost everyone! (hold hands out to side)
(Credit: Perry Public Library)

Book: Red Hat by Lita Judge

red hat

Fingerplay: “Grandma’s Glasses”
These are Grandma’s glasses
This is Grandma’s hat
This is the way she folds her hands
And lays them in her lap
Here are Grandpa’s glasses
And here is Grandpa’s hat
And here’s the way he folds his arms
And takes a little nap

Book: The Magic Hat by Mem Fox, illustrated by Tricia Tusa OR Hat by Paul Hoppe

magic hathat

Song w/hat prop: “I Like My Hat” – Carole Peterson: Stinky Cake

Movie: Happy Birthday, Moon adapted from the book by Frank Asch, Scholastic Storybook Treasures DVD

Craft:
Decorate newspaper hats

hatcraft

Love and Friendship Story Time – Preschool

Introduction: It’s Valentine’s Day this week, so we are sharing stories about love and friendship.

Opening song

Book: You are the Pea, and I am the Carrot by J. Theron Elkins, illustrated by Pascal Lemaitre

you are the pea i am the carrot

Song: “The More We Get Together” with sign language actions

Book: Snowy Valentine by David Petersen

snowy valentine

Song: “Love Grows One by One” – Tom Pease

Book: A Friend Like You by Tanja Askani

friend like you

Song: “Skidamarink” – Sharon, Lois & Bram

Book w/ puppet: Porcupining: A Prickly Love Story by Lisa Wheeler, illustrated by Janie Bynum

porcupine

porcupining

Craft: Paper Hugs!

love

Bakery Story Time – Preschool

Introduction: This week’s stories are about things we bake. What kinds of things do we bake? Do you help in the kitchen?

Opening song

Book: Mr. Cookie Baker by Monica Wellington

mister cookie baker

Song: “Three Little Muffins” – David Landau:  Kids and Kitties

Book: All for Pie, Pie for All by David Martin, illustrated by Valeri Gorbachev

all for pie pie for all

Song: “Peanut Butter & Jelly” – Old Town School of Folk Music: Songs for Wiggleworms

songs for wiggleworms

Book: The Duckling Gets a Cookie!? by Mo Willems

duckling gets a cookie

Song w/shaker eggs: “Milkshake Song” – Old Town School of Folk Music: Songs for Wiggleworms

Movie: The Little Red Hen adapted from the book by Paul Galdone, Scholastic Storybook Treasures DVD

little red hen


Craft:
“Frosting” cupcakes with homemade puffy paint (equal parts white glue & shaving cream, plus food coloring) with sequin sprinkles. Puffy paint is my new favorite thing! Super easy to whip up and the kids had a blast painting with it.

cupcakes

Pets Story Time – Preschool

Introduction: Talk about pets, what kind of pets we have at home.

Opening song

Discuss: “Good Pet or Bad Pet?” Showed the kids photos of different animals and had them say whether it would make a good or bad pet.

 pets

Book: Katie Loves the Kittens by John Himmelman

katie loves the kittens

Song: “There’s a dog in school” – Stuart Stotts and Tom Pease: Celebrate: A Song Resource

Book: Peanut by Linas Alsenas

peanut

Song: “Fiddle-i-Fee” – Dog on Fleas: Cranberry Sauce Flotilla

Book: The Pets You Get by Thomas Taylor, illustrated by Adrian Reynolds

pets you get

Prop Story: Bark, George by Jules Feiffer

bark george

Movie: The Great Gracie Chase: Stop That Dog! By Cynthia Rylant, Spoken Arts

great gracie chase


Craft:
Dog ears headband

dog ears

 

 

 

Stories from China Story Time – Preschool

Introduction: This week is Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year, so today we will be sharing stories from China.

Opening song

Book: Bringing in the New Year by Grace Lin

bringing in the new year

Song (w/ panda puppet):
“Chinese Hello Song” (to the tune of “The Farmer in the Dell”)
Let’s wave and say “Ni hao (nee how),”
Let’s wave and say “Ni hao.”
Let’s say “hello” to all our friends,
Let’s wave and say “ni hao.”

panda

Book: Fortune Cookies by Albert Bitterman

fortune cookies

Song: “Wiggle Song” – Carole Peterson: Sticky Bubble Gum

Book: Round is a Mooncake: A Book of Shapes by Roseanne Thong, illustrated by Grace Lin

round is a mooncake

Book: The Seven Chinese Sisters by Kathy Tucker, illustrated by Grace Lin

seven chinese sisters

Movie: Two of Everything by Lily Toy Hong, from Two Chinese Tales DVD, Nutmeg Media

Craft: Paper Lanterns

lanterns

January 2014

Penguins and Polar Bears – Preschool

Introduction: We are talking about some animals that live in VERY cold places, penguins & polar bears. What do we know about penguins & polar bears? Where do they live?

Opening song

Book: Polar Opposites by Erik Brooks

polar opposites

Action Song: “Walking Through the Arctic”
Walking through the arctic (echo)
And what do you think I saw? (echo)
A great big polar bear! (echo)
He said, Sta-and-UP! (everyone jump up)
And shake, shake, shake this way (everyone shake)
And shake, shake, shake, that way
Shake, shake, shake this way
And then sit down (sit down)

Book: My Little Polar Bear by Claudia Rueda

my little polar bear

Song (dance with scarves): “It’s a Penguin Party / A la Fiesta de Pinguinos” – Linda Arnold: Splash Zone

Book: Penguins, Penguins Everywhere by Bob Barner

penguins penguins everywhere

Song (w/ puppet): “I’m a Little Penguin” (tune: “I’m a Little Teapot”)
I’m a little penguin, black and white.
Short and wobbly, and adorable sight.
I can’t fly at all, but I love to swim.
So I’ll waddle to the water and dive right in!

Book:  A Penguin Story by Antoinette Portis

penguin story

Movie: Antarctic Antics by Weston Woods, adapted from the book by Judy Sierra

antarctic antics


Craft:
Penguin collage w/ crinkled wax paper (ice) and batting (snow).

penguins

Bear Story Time – Preschool

Introduction: What do we know about bears? Where do they live? What do they like to eat? What do they do in the winter? Learn the sign language sign for bear.

Opening song

Book: Bear Has a Story to Tell by Phillip Stead, illustrated by Erin Stead

bear has a story to tell

Song: “Goin’ on a Bear Hunt” – Greg & Steve: Kids in Action

Book: The Red Sled by Lita Judge

red sled

Song: “Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear” – Kimbo International: Teach a Toddler

Book: Maybe a Bear Ate It by Robie H. Harris, illustrated by Michael Emberley

0-439-92961-X

Book: Sleep, Big Bear, Sleep by Maureen Wright

sleep big bear sleep


Craft:
Bear Masks, decorated with glue and coffee grounds. This was a fun and slightly messy project. Several parents mentioned they were glad we did it at the library instead of at home but really clean-up was a breeze. For my younger group this week, we painted the same masks with a mixture of coffee (for the brown color) & shaving cream – this added texture and dimension and was good fine motor skills practice.

bear masks

Owl Story Time – Preschool

Introduction: What do we know about owls? Where do they live? When do they sleep? What do they eat? Learn the sign language signs for owl.

Opening song

Book: Owl Babies by Martin Waddell, illustrated by Patrick Benson

owl babies

Book: Moo Hoo by Candace Ryan, illustrated by Mike Lowery

moo hoo

Fingerplay: The Owl
There’s a wide-eyed owl (thumbs and forefingers around eyes)
With a pointed nose, (thumbs and forefingers to make a point)
He has pointed ears (clenched hands, forefingers up for ears)
And claws for toes. (make hands into claws)
He sits in a tree and looks at you; (fingers circles around eyes)
Then flaps his wings and says, (hands to chest and flap elbows)
“whoo, whoo ” (hands cup mouth to hoot)

Book: Little Owl’s Orange Scarf by Tatyana Feeney

little owls orange scarf

Fingerplay: “Two Little Barn Owls” – adapted from Two Little Blackbirds
Two little barn owls sitting on a hill, one named Jack and one named Jill.
Fly away Jack, flay away Jill. Come back Jack, come back Jill . . .

Movie: White Owl, Barn Owl by Nicola Davies, DVD Nutmeg Media

white owl barn owl

Craft: Fuzzy owl art (Credit: Queen Bee Coupons)

3owls