Sign language for house

Book: Napping House by Audrey Wood, illustrated by Don Wood

Flannel: Some houses

Some houses are wood and some are stone.
But let’s build one with shapes alone.
Start with a square but we won’t stop.
Add a triangle up on the top.
Then a rectangle for the door.
Now square windows 1, 2, 3, 4!
A little circle just for fun.
Now our shape house is all done!

(Credit: Finger Tales by Joan Phelps)

Song: In and Out the Doors (Credit: Susan M. Dailey)
(sung to “Go In and Out the Window”)

Step in and out the front door. (take a step forward, then back)
Step in and out the front door. Step in and out the front door.
Then make a doorbell sound. (say “ding dong”)

Jump in and out the back door. (jump forward, then back)
Jump in and out the back door. Jump in and out the back door.
Bend down and touch the ground. (touch ground with hand)

Slide in and out the side door. (slide to one side, then other)
Slide in and out the side door. Slide in and out the side door.
And then turn all around. (turn around)

Step in and out the front door.
Jump in and out the back door.
Slide in and out the side door.
Then sit yourself right down. (sit down)

Book: A House Is a House for Me (abridged) by Mary Ann Hoberman, illustrated by Betty Fraser

Rhyme: Fingerplay: “Houses”
Here is a nest for robin (cup both hands)
Here is a hive for bee (fists together)
Here is a hole for bunny (make a circle)
And here is a house for ME! (make a roof)
Credit: Perry Public Library

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

Book: Do Lions Live on Lily Pads? by Melanie Walsh

Song: “Monkey Dance” – The Wiggles: Yummy Yummy

Song: “Bodies 1-2-3” – Ellen and Peter Allard: Sing it! Say it! Stamp it! Sway it! vol. 2

Song: “Icky, Sticky Bubble Gum” – David Landau: Kids and Kitties

Closing rhyme

Craft: Houses out of construction paper shapes

Thanksgiving Story Time – Toddler

November 25, 2013October 26, 2014

Opening song

Book: Thanks for Thanksgiving by Julie Markes, illustrated by Doris Barrette

Song & Flannel: “Thanks A Lot” by Raffi: Quiet Time (credit: Mel’s Desk) (kids sign the words “thanks” and “a lot.”)

Song: “If You’re Thankful and You Know It” (Tune: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”)

If you’re thankful and you know it, Clap your hands…
If you’re thankful and you know it, Stomp your feet…
If you’re thankful and you know it, Shout “I am!”…
If you’re thankful and you know it, Do all three…

Book: Thanksgiving by Trudi Strain Trueit

Song: “Turkey Hop” – Carole Peterson: H.U.M. All Year Long

Rhyme: Popcorn
You put the oil in the pot and you let it get hot
You pour the popcorn in and you start to grin.
Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle, sizzle, sizzle, sizzle, sizzle, sizzle, POP!
(Children begin in a crouched position, knees bent, then s-l-o-w-l-y rise until the final POP! when we jump up in the air!)

Book: Theo’s Thanksgiving by David Steinberg, illustrated by Julia Woolf

Song: “I’m Gonna Eat (On Thanksgiving Day)” w/ props – Laurie Berkner: Whaddaya Think of That?

Song: “Hello Mr. Turkey, how are you?” (Tune: “If you’re happy and you know it”)

Hello Mr. Turkey how are you,? (clap twice)
Hello Mr. Turkey how are you,? (clap twice)
With a gobble, gobble, gobble and a wobble, wobble, wobble (flap and walk like a turkey)
Hello Mr. Turkey how are you? (clap twice)

Song: “Icky, Sticky Bubble Gum” – David Landau: Kids and Kitties

Closing rhyme

Craft: Indian corn out of paper, tissue paper squares, and craft sticks (Credit: Play and Learn with Dana)

Cow Story Time – Toddler

November 12, 2013November 11, 2013

Opening song

Sign language for cow

Flannel: Cows give us milk to drink. What foods are made from milk?

(Credit: Storytime with Miss Tara)

Book: Wow It’s a Cow! by Trudy and Jay Harris, illustrated by Paige Keiser

Rhyme: Little Boy Blue (with poster)

Song (with puppets): “Old McDonald Had a Farm” – Old Town School of Folk Music: Songs for Wiggleworms

Book: Do Cows Meow? by Salina Yoon

Song: “Cows” (Tune: “Wheels on the Bus”)

The mouth of a cow goes moo, moo, moo…all around the farm
The tail of a cow goes swish, swish, swish…
The ears of a cow go flip, flip, flop…
The hooves of a cow go clip, clip, clop…
(Credit: I Read to Relax blog)

Book: Is Everyone Ready for Fun? by Jan Thomas

Rhyme: Hey, Diddle, Diddle (with poster)

Song: “Bodies 1-2-3” – Ellen and Peter Allard: Sing it! Say it! Stamp it! Sway it! vol. 2

Song: “Icky, Sticky Bubble Gum” – David Landau: Kids and Kitties

Closing rhyme

Craft: Cow jumping over moon (idea: Danielle’s Place)

Body Story Time – Toddler

October 7, 2013September 17, 2018

Opening song

Book: From Head to Toe by Eric Carle

Song: “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes”

Song: “They’re A Part of Me” (Tune: “The Wheels on the Bus”)
I can make my hands go clap, clap, clap
Clap, clap, clap
Clap, clap, clap
I can make my hands go clap, clap, clap
They’re a part of me.

I can make my feet go stomp, stomp, stomp, etc…
I can make my legs go bend, bend, bend, etc…

Book: My Nose, Your Nose by Melanie Walsh

Song: “Everybody Has a Face” – Carole Peterson: Tiny Tunes

Rhyme: Head and shoulders baby, 1, 2, 3.
Head and shoulders baby, 1, 2, 3
Head and shoulders, head and shoulders,
Head and shoulders baby, 1,2, 3.

Hips and thighs baby..
Knees and ankles baby…
Eyes and ears, baby…
Wiggle, wiggle, baby…

Book: A Kiss for You by Joan Holub, illustrated by Caroline Jayne Church

Song: “Mi Cuerpo” – Hot Peas ‘n Butter: Best of the Bowl

Song: “Bodies 1-2-3” – Peter and Ellen Allard: Sing It! Say It! Sway It! Vol. 2

Song: “Icky-Sticky Bubble Gum” – David Landau: Kids and Kitties

Closing song

Craft: Coloring page with glued-on leaves

Manners Story Time – Toddler

September 30, 2013September 30, 2013

Opening song

Sign language for please and thank you

Book: Oh No, George! by Chris Haughton

Song: (Tune: “Three Blind Mice” – using “three mice in a box” puppet and a tissue)
Three nice mice, three nice mice
See how nice they are, see how nice they are
They’re always polite when they nibble their cheese
They never forget to say thank-you or please
They cover their noses whenever they sneeze
Ah-choo! Ah-choo! Ah-choo!
They’re three nice mice
(Source: http://www.preschooleducation.com/smanners.shtml)

Song: “Monkey Dance” – The Wiggles: Yummy Yummy

Book: Manners Time by Elizabeth Verdick, illustrated by Marieka Heinlen (or Excuse Me! A Little Book of Manners by Karen Katz)

Song: (Tune: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”)
Oh, before I eat my meals, I wash my hands
Oh, before I eat my meals, I wash my hands
Oh it’s very smart I think – to wash those germs right down the sink
Oh, before I eat my meals, I wash my hands

Oh, before I eat my meals, I pass the food
Oh, before I eat my meals, I pass the food
Oh, it would be very rude, if I didn’t share the food
Oh, before I eat my meals, I pass the food
(Source: Storytime Source Page)

Song: “Reach for the Ceiling” – Carol Totsky Hammett: Toddlers on Parade

Book: This Little Piggy’s Book of Manners by Kathyrn Madeline Allen, illustrated by Nancy Wolff

Activity: This frog makes a cricket noise, a fly noise, and then a big burp! We’ll feed him a cricket and fly, and then remind him to say “Excuse me!” after he burps.

Song: “Icky-Sticky Bubble Gum” – David Landau: Kids and Kitties

Closing rhyme

Craft: Coloring page – Elmo and Zoe share an umbrella

Fall Story Time – Toddler

September 23, 2013September 24, 2013

Opening song

Sign language for fall

Book: Who Loves the Fall? by Bob Raczka, illustrated by Judy Stead

Song: (Tune: “London Bridge”)

Autumn leaves are in the trees…All over town.
Autumn leaves are falling down…All over town.

Autumn leaves are whirling round…
Everybody rake them up…

Rhyme: Way up high in the apple tree (stretch arms up high)
Two red apples smiled at me (hold up two fingers)
I shook that tree as hard as I could (make a shaking motion)
Down came the apples… (make a downward motion)
And mmm, they were good! (smile and rub stomach)

Book: Let’s Look at Fall by Sarah Schuette

Song: Colored Leaves (with seasons tree puppet, bottom left version with extra felt leaves)- (Tune: “Six Little Ducks”)

So many leaves are falling on the ground
Orange ones, yellow ones and even brown.
But the one little leaf that rhymes with…
Is my favorite color, it’s the color…

(Bed-red, been-green, you-blue, yurple-purple)

Book: Duck and Goose Find a Pumpkin by Tad Hills

Song: (Tune: “Twinkle, twinkle”)
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)
Pumpkin, pumpkin on the ground, (touch the ground)
How’d you get so big and round? (make a big circle)
(Credit: Step by Step Childcare)

Song: “Reach for the Ceiling” – Carol Totsky Hammett: Toddlers on Parade

Song: “Monkey Dance” – The Wiggles: Yummy Yummy

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

Song: “Icky-Sticky Bubble Gum” – David Landau: Kids and Kitties

Closing rhyme

Craft: Leafy hedgehog (http://krokotak.com/2009/09/taralezh-ot-lista/)

Button Story Time – Toddler

September 16, 2013October 19, 2014

Opening song

Sign language for button

Book: Buttons, Buttons by Rozanne Lanczak Williams, illustrated by Keith Bergher

Flannel: Button, button, who’s got the button?

Hide a button behind the cow. Say, “Button, button, who’s got the button? Does rooster have the button?” No. Repeat with lamb, baby, and finally cow.

Song: “Reach for the Ceiling” – Carol Totsky Hammett: Toddlers on Parade

Book: Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons by Eric Litwin, created and illustrated by James Dean

Song (with shaky eggs): “Belly Button” – Tom Pease: I’m Gonna Reach!

Song: “Monkey Dance” – The Wiggles: Yummy Yummy

Song: “Icky-Sticky Bubble Gum” – David Landau: Kids and Kitties

Closing rhyme

Craft: Color and glue buttons on Pete the Cat

Sheep Story Time – Toddler

August 20, 2013February 16, 2022

Opening song

Book: Where is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox

Song: Baa, baa black sheep (with felt pieces)

Song: Mary had a little lamb (with ukulele)

Rhyme/dance: Dancing Sheep

Shhh! It’s time to go to sleep (put finger to mouth, pretend to sleep)
But into my bedroom one sheep creeps. (creep fingers)
“Don’t go to bed,” the one sheep said.
“I would rather dance instead!”

Soon he was… (draw these words out)
Dancing on the ceiling! (move hands above head in “dancing” motion)
He was dancing on the floor! (move hands on floor as mentioned above)
He was dancing on the window! (move hands to one side)
He was dancing on the door! (move hands to other side)

He kept on…Dancing on the ceiling! (sing faster)
He was dancing on the floor!
He was dancing on the window!
He was dancing on the door!
(repeat several times getting faster each time through)

“Stop that dancing, silly sheep.
It is time to go to sleep!”
Soon the sheep lay on the floor.
Soon the sheep began to snore.

So I started … (draw these words out)
Dancing on the ceiling!
I was dancing on the floor!
I was dancing on the window!
I was dancing on the door!

(Credit: susanmdailey.com)

Book: The Sheep Follow by Monica Wellington

Rhyme (with poster): Little Boy Blue

Song: Old McDonald (with ukulele)

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

Book: One Little Lamb by Elaine Greenstein

Song: “Tap your Toe and Follow Me” – Susan Salidor: Come Make a Circle

Song: “Icky Sticky Bubble Gum” – David Landau: Kids and Kitties

Closing rhyme

Craft: Foam sheep wrapped with yarn (Credit: daniellesplace.com)

Blanket Story Time – Toddler

August 16, 2013February 16, 2022

Opening song

Book: Flora’s Blanket by Deb Gliori

Flora had some different feelings in that book – she was sad, angry, sleepy and happy. We’re going to sing a song about those feelings now.

Song: “If you’re happy”
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.
If you’re sad and you know it, rub your eyes “Boo hoo”
If you’re angry and you know it, stomp your feet.
If you’re sleepy and you know it, close your eyes.
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.
(Credit: childfun.com)

Rhyme: Fuzzy Wuzzy Caterpillar
Into a corner will creep (creep fingers up arm)
He’ll spin himself a blanket (roll hands)
And then fall fast asleep (rest head, close eyes)

Fuzzy, wuzzy caterpillar
Very soon will rise (wake up)
And find he has grown beautiful wings (connect thumbs and flap hands like wings)
Now he’s a butterfly!

Song (with scarves): “Don’t Wash My Blanket” by Hap Palmer: Peek-a-boo and other songs for young children
Chorus: Slowly shake scarf up and down
Verse: Turn in circle

Book: Blankie by Leslie Patricelli

Song: “Walking, walking” – Old Town School of Folk Music: Songs for Wiggleworms

Song: “Shake your Body Down” – Laurie Berkner

Song: “Icky Sticky Bubble Gum” – David Landau: Kids and Kitties

Closing song

Dinosaur Story Time- Toddler

August 15, 2013August 16, 2013

Opening Song

Book: Dinosaur vs. The Library by Bob Shea

Song: Dino Ditty (tune of “Doo Wah Ditty”)

Here he comes just a stomping with his feet singing
“Dino ditty, ditty dum, ditty do.” Kids sang this part with me
Searching all round for something good to eat singing,
“Dino ditty, ditty dum ditty do.”
He’s huge, (He’s huge), He’s strong, (He’s strong.)
He’s huge, he’s strong, won’t be hungry very long.
“Dino ditty, ditty dum , ditty do.”
“Dino ditty, ditty dum, ditty do.”

(credit: perpetual preschool)

Book: Five Little Dinosaurs by Will Grace, illustrated by Ed Vere Hodgkinson

Rhyme: BIG Dino, little Dino (with ASL Big and Little)

BIG Dino, LITTLE Dino, turn around
BIG Dino, LITTLE Dino, touch the ground
BIG Dino, LITTLE Dino, reach up high
BIG Dino, LITTLE Dino, wink one eye
BIG Dino, LITTLE Dino, touch your nose
BIG Dino, LITTLE Dino, touch your toes
BIG Dino, LITTLE Dino, slap your knees
BIG Dino, LITTLE Dino, sit down please

Flannel Activity: Knock, Knock Dinosaur + Shapes

credit: Miss Meg’s Storytime