Ocean Story Time – Preschool

Introduction: What kinds of animals live in the ocean?  Learn the sign language signs for fish and shark.

Opening song

Book: The Fish Who Cried Wolf by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Alex Scheffler

0-439-92825-7

Song: “The Goldfish” – Laurie Berkner: The Best of the Laurie Berkner Band

best of laurie

Book: Ten Little Fish by Audrey Wood, illustrated by Bruce Wood

ten little fish

Prop story: I’m the Biggest Thing in the Ocean by Kevin Sherry

im the biggest thing in the ocean

Song: “Baby Shark” we sang the classic camp song with actions. I like this version from the Learning Station for preschoolers because it ends with everyone safe and sound. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyamCXEqa5g

Book: Commotion in the Ocean by Giles Andreae, illustrated by David Wojtowycz

commotion in the ocean

Craft: Create with sand clay and seashells
There are lots of recipes online for sand dough or sand clay. My version was roughly equal parts sand & flour mixed with enough water to make it play dough consistency. This was a bit time consuming to prepare for 3 days of story times but we had left over sand taking up valuable storage space – and the kids thought it was super fun to play with.

ocean stampsocean stamp2

Dance Story Time – Preschool

Introduction: Talk about dancing, kinds of dancing

Opening song

Book: Mabel Dancing by Amy Hest, illustrated by Christine Davenier

mabel dancing

Song (with wrist ribbons): “Rainbow Dancers” – Pam Schiller: Moving to Math

Book: Brontorina by James Howe, illustrated by Randy Cecil

brontorina

Song: “All I Want to do is Dance” – Kira Willey: Kings and Queens of the Forest

kings and queens of the forest

Song: “Silly Dance Contest” – Jim Gill: Jim Gill Sings the Sneezing Song

Song: “Banana Dance” by Dr. Jean: Better Bodies and Brains

Book: Wiggle by Doreen Cronin, illustrated by Scott Menchin

wiggle

Movie: Giraffe’s Can’t Dance (Weston Woods, adapted from the book by Giles Andreae)

giraffes cant dance

Craft: Paper plates with streamers

dance2 dance1

Blue Story Time – Preschool

Opening song

Introduction: Talk about the color blue. What things can we think of that are blue?

Book: Blue Chameleon by Emily Gravett

blue chameleon

Song: “Color Game” by Jim Gill: Jim Gill Sings Do, Re, Mi on His Toe, Leg, Knee

Book: Have You Seen My New Blue Socks? by Eve Bunting, illustrated by Sergio Ruzzier

have you seen my new blue socks

Fingerplay: “Two Little Bluebirds”
Two little bluebirds sat on a hill,
One named Jack and one named Jill.
Fly away, Jack; fly away, Jill,
Come back, Jack; come back, Jill.

Book: Blue Sea by Robert Kalan, illustrated by Donald Crews

blue sea

Song: “Over the Deep Blue Sea” by Susan Salidor: Come and Make a Circle

Book: Grumpy Bird by Jeremy Tankard

grumpy bird

Prop story: It Looked Like Spilt Milk by Charles Shaw (prop kit purchased from lakeshorelearning.com)

it looked like spilt milk prop
Movie: Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey (Scholastic Video Collection)

blueberries for sal

Craft: Blue collage

blue collage(2)

Pirates Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: How I Became a Pirate by Melinda Long, illustrated by David Shannon

how i became a pirate

Flannel: Pirates Wear Patches

pirate flannel

Pirates wear patches
and on their hand, hooks
Pirates love to mismatch
And give dirty looks
Pirates wear white shirts
with big puffy sleeves
Pirates are scoundrels
And rascals and thieves!
Pirates wear black hats
with a skull and cross bones
Pirates yell “Avast”!
And “Ahoy, thar she blows!
Pirates have long hair
they decorate with beads
Pirates aren’t rare
When you’re sailing the seas!
Pirates have a pet bird
and tie the best knots
Pirates are quite absurd
X marks the spot!

(Credit: Miss Meg’s Storytime)

Song: “Captain Feathersword Fell Asleep on his Pirate Ship” – The Wiggles: Toot, Toot!

toot toot

Song: If you’re a pirate and you know it
If you’re a pirate and you know it, swab the deck (swish, swish)
If you’re a pirate and you know it, swab the deck (swish, swish)
If you’re a pirate and you know it, then you’ll hear the sea winds blowin.
If you’re a pirate and you know it, swab the deck (swish, swish)

verses two and three
If you’re a pirate and you know it, walk the plank (stomp, stomp)
If you’re a pirate and you know it, say ahoy Ahoy! (with arm movement)

(Credit: Born Librarian blog)

Movie: Timmy Time: Timmy Finds Treasure

timmytime

Craft: Black paper pirate hats with skull-and-crossbones die-cut, plus parrot to color and tape onto child’s shoulder

Garden Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: What’s in the Garden? by Marianne Collins Berkes, illustrated by Cris Arbo

whats in the garden

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)

Song: “In our Garden” – Raffi: One Light, One Sun

one light one sun

Book: My Garden by Kevin Henkes

my garden

Song (with shaky eggs): “Fruit Salad Salsa” – The Laurie Berkner Band: Victor Vito

Book: Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds, illustrated by Peter Brown

creepy carrots

Movie: Planting a Rainbow

planting a rainbow

Craft: Creepy carrots

creepy carrots

 

Construction Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: What Can a Crane Pick Up? by Rebecca Kai Dotlich, illustrated by Mike Lowery

what can a crane pick up

Book: Roadwork by Sally Sutton, illustrated by Brian Lovelock

roadwork

Song: “Construction Worker Song”
This is the way we pound our nails, pound our nails, pound our nails
This is the way we pound our nails, so early in the morning
(Saw the wood, stack the bricks, stir the paint, paint the walls)
(Credit: Everything Preschool)

Song: “Jumping and Counting” – Jim Gill: Jim Gill’s irrational anthem and more salutes to nonsense

Movie: Goodnight, goodnight, construction site

goodnightconstruction

Craft: Construction vehicle die-cuts and brown paint on construction paper