Category: Sensory Friendly Story time

Whale Story Time – Sensory Friendly

Opening Song

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

Song: “An Orca Whale” (Tune: “Ram Sam Sam”)
An orca whale, an orca whale, (arm waves across body like whale in waves)
Little sea scallops, (hands open and close like a shell)
And an orca whale.
An orca whale, an orca whale,
Little sea scallops,
And an orca whale.
Sea otter, sea otter, (fists beat on chest)
Little sea scallops, and an orca whale.
Sea otter, sea otter,
Little sea scallops, and an orca whale.
(Credit: Jbrary)

Book: The Whale in My Swimming Pool by Joyce Wan

Song: “Mat Man” – Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer: Get Set for School Sing Along

Yoga: Whale pose
(Credit: Yoga Whale: Simple Poses for Little Ones by Sarah Jane Hinder)

Social Story: Breathe by Scott Magoon

Closing Song

Craft: No-sew whale

(Credit: Krokotak)

Dog Story Time – Sensory Friendly

Opening Song

Book: Dog’s Colorful Day by Emma Dodd

Song: “The Paws on the Dog” (Tune: “The Wheels on the Bus”)
Verses:
The ears on the dog go flop, flop, flop…
The nose on the dog goes sniff, sniff, sniff…
The mouth on the dog goes woof, woof, woof…
The tail on the dog goes wag, wag, wag…

Book: Boop! by Bea Birdsong, illustrated by Linzie Hunter

Song/Video: “Dance for the Sun” – Kira Willey: Dance for the Sun

Movement: Learn the yoga pose “downward dog”

Social Story: “Telling How Old You Are” from Quinn at School: Relating, Connecting, and Responding at School by Rick H. Warren
Quinn at School: Relating, Connecting and Responding - A Book for ...

Closing Song

Craft: Dot art for Dog’s Colorful Day
Use bingo daubers to give the dog different colored spots.

(Credit: Making Learning Fun)

Farm Animal Story Time – Sensory Friendly

Opening Song

Book: I Spy on the Farm by Edward Gibbs

Action Song: “I’m a Little Chick” (Tune: “I’m a Little Teapot”)
I’m a little chick who’s ready to hatch, (crouch down inside your egg)
Pecking at my shell, tap, tap, tap! (pecking motion with hands)
When I crack it open, out I’ll leap, (jump out of shell)
I’ll flap my feathers, and say, “Peep! Peep! Peep!”
(Credit: Metropolitan Library System, Oklahoma City area)

Book: Is Everyone Ready for Fun? by Jan Thomas
Is Everyone Ready for Fun? book cover

Song: “Mat Man” – Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer: Get Set for School Sing Along

Yoga: Cat and cow poses

Social Story: “Greeting My Teacher” from Quinn at School: Relating, Connecting, and Responding at School by Rick H. Warren
Quinn at School: Relating, Connecting and Responding - A Book for ...

Closing Song

Craft: Cotton ball sheep

(Credit: Preschool Activities)

Counting Story Time – Sensory Friendly

Opening Song

Book: Ten Black Dots by Donald Crews

Song: “Jumping and Counting” – Jim Gill: Jim Gill’s Irrational Anthem

Book: Cinnamon Bun, I Love You 1 by Amy Schwartz

Song: “Tap, Tap, Tap” – Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer: Get Set for School Sing Along

Social Story: “Meet Quinn” from Quinn at School: Relating, Connecting, and Responding at School by Rick H. Warren
Quinn at School: Relating, Connecting and Responding - A Book for ...

Closing Song

Craft: Ten Black Dots Q-tip painting

(Credit: School Time Snippets)

Unicorn Story Time – Sensory Friendly

Opening Song

Book: If I Had a Unicorn by Gabby Dawnay, illustrated by Alex Barrow

Action Rhyme: “Unicorn, Unicorn”
Unicorn, unicorn touch your toes.
Unicorn, unicorn touch your nose.
Unicorn, unicorn pat your head.
Unicorn, unicorn go to bed.
Unicorn, unicorn wake up now.
Unicorn, unicorn take a bow.
Unicorn, unicorn touch the ground.
Unicorn, unicorn turn around.
Unicorn, unicorn sit back down.
Unicorn, unicorn don’t make a sound.

Book: I’m a Unicorn by Helen Yoon

Song: “Tap, Tap, Tap” – Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer: Get Set for School Sing Along

Yoga: Unicorn warrior (Warrior 1 pose with arms reaching overhead like a horn)

Social Story: Unicorn Thinks He’s Pretty Great by Bob Shea

Closing Rhyme

Craft: Paper plate rocker unicorn (modified to yarn through hole punches instead of paper mane)

(Credit: Easy Kids Craft)

Library Story Time – Sensory Friendly

Opening Song

Book: Lola at the Library by Anna McQuinn, illustrated by Rosalind Beardshaw

Song: “If You’re a Reader and You Know It” (Tune: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”)
If you’re a reader and you know it, clap your hands.
If you’re a reader and you know it, clap your hands.
If you’re a reader and you know it, and you really want to show it,
If you’re a reader and you know it, clap your hands.

Repeat with stomp your feet, shout hooray, and do all three.
(Credit: Storytime Katie)

Book: Hooray for Books! by Brian Won

Song/Video: “Dance for the Sun” – Kira Willey: Dance for the Sun

Yoga: Tree pose (while pretending to read a book!)

Social Story: Being Responsible by Rebecca Pettiford

Closing Song

Craft: Make your own bookmark with book character stickers

Amy’s Favorites Story Time – Sensory Friendly

Opening Song

Book: In a People House by Theo LeSieg, illustrated by Roy McKie

Song: “If I Was a Bird” – Old Town School of Folk Music: Wiggleworms Love You

Book: Annabel by Joy Cowley, illustrated by Kathleen McCord

Song: “Mat Man” – Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer: Get Set for School Sing Along

Yoga: Hot air balloon

Social Story: If You’re Angry And You Know It! by Cecily Kaiser, illustrated by Cary Pillo

Closing Song

Craft: Popsicles

Boat Story Time – Sensory Friendly

Opening Song

Book: Boats on the Bay by Jeanne Walker Harvey, illustrated by Grady McFerrin

Song: “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” – Old Town School of Folk Music: Songs for Wiggleworms

Book: And Then Came Hope by Stephen Savage

Song: “Tap, Tap, Tap” – Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer: Get Set for School Sing Along

Movement: Learn the yoga pose “row your boat”

Social Story: We’re All in the Same Boat! by Barney Saltzberg

Closing Song

Craft: Pool noodle boats

Beach Story Time – Sensory Friendly

Opening Song

Book: Sea, Sand, Me! by Patricia Hubbell, illustrated by Lisa Campbell Ernst

Song: “The Waves at the Beach” (Tune: “The Wheels on the Bus”)
The waves at the beach go up and down, (raise and lower arms)
Up and down, up and down,
The waves at the beach go up and down
All day long.

Additional verses:
The sun at the beach goes shine, shine, shine… (open and close hands)
The crab at the beach goes pinch, pinch, pinch… (pinch fingers)
The seagulls at the beach go flap, flap, flap… (flap arms)
The children at the beach have fun, fun, fun… (clap hands)
(Credit: Jen in the Library)

Book: A Perfect Day by Sarah S. Brannen

Song/Video: “Dance for the Sun” – Kira Willey: Dance for the Sun

Movement: Learn the yoga pose “crab”

Social Story: Hum and Swish by Matt Myers

Closing Song

Craft: Paper plate seagulls