Garden Story Time – Sensory Friendly

Opening Song

Book: How to Say Hello to a Worm by Kari Percival

Song: “The Gardener Plants the Seeds” (Tune: “The Farmer in the Dell”)
The gardener digs the soil.
The gardener digs the soil.
Hi-ho, the derry-oh,
The gardener digs the soil. (pretend to dig)

The gardener plants the seeds.
The gardener plants the seeds.
Hi-ho, the derry-oh,
The gardener plants the seeds. (pretend to plant seeds)

Additional verses:
The rain falls on the ground… (flutter fingers down to the ground)
The sun shines bright and warm… (hold hands in a circle overhead)
The seeds/plants begin to grow… (slowly raise hands from ground)
Flowers grow everywhere… (hold hands outstretched)
Fresh vegetables to eat… (pretend to eat)

Book: Flower Garden by Eve Bunting, illustrated by Kathryn Hewitt
Flower Garden book cover

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

Yoga: Flower pose

Social Story: Being Responsible by Rebecca Pettiford

Closing Song

Craft: Cupcake liner flowers

Plants Story Time – Toddler

Opening Song

Book: A Seed Grows by Antoinette Portis

Flannel Song: “Out in the Garden” by Jean Warren (Tune: “Down By the Station”)
Out in the garden early in the morning,
See the red tomatoes all in a row
See the happy farmer coming out to pick them
Pick, pick, pick, pick, off (he/she) goes.

Repeat with:
Red tomatoes
Yellow corn
Green peas
Orange carrots
Purple peppers
White onions
Brown potatoes

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.

Additional verses:
The rain falls on the ground…
The sun shines bright and warm…
The seeds begin to grow…
Flowers grow everywhere…

Book: If You Plant a Seed by Kadir Nelson

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

Song: “Shakes Your Sillies Out” – The Wiggles: Yummy Yummy

Book: Dig In! by Cindy Jenson-Elliott, illustrated by Mary Peterson

Song: “This Is the Way We Clap Our Hands” – Kimbo Educational: Teach a Toddler

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

Closing Rhyme

Spring Story Time – Toddler

Opening song

Book: When Spring Comes by Kevin Henkes, illustrated by Laura Dronzek

Flannel: There’s something in my garden
There’s something in my garden,
Now what can it be?
There’s something in my garden
That I can’t really see.
Hear its funny sound….
Ribbit – Ribbit – Ribbit
A Frog is what I found!
Ribbit-Ribbit-Ribbit

Repeat with other animals, such as a crow (caw-caw-caw), mouse (squeak-squeak-squeak), rabbit (thump-thump-thump), bird (tweet-tweet-tweet) etc.
(Credit: Sunflower Storytime)

Song: “It is Springtime” – Junior Jukebox: Four Seasons

Book: Wake Up, It’s Spring! by Lisa Campbell Ernst

Song: “It’s Raining/Itsy-bitsy Spider Medley” – Music for Little People: Toddler Favorites

Song: “La araña pequeñita”

Book: Abracadabra, It’s Spring! by Anne Sibley O’Brien, illustrated by Susan Gal

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

Closing rhyme

Earth Story Time – Baby

Opening Song

Sign Language: colors, green, tree, flower, earth

Book:
The Earth Book by Todd Parr

Song: “Colors Over You” (Tune: “Twinkle, Twinkle”)
Signs – red, yellow, green, blue, colors, flower, tree, sun, sea

Red and yellow, green and blue, these are the colors over you.
Red as a flower, green as a tree,
Yellow as the sun, and blue as the sea.
Red and yellow, green and blue, these are the colors over you!
(Credit: Read Sing Play)

Rhyme: I Bounce You Here
I bounce you here, I bounce you there
I bounce you, bounce you everywhere
I tickle you here, I tickle you there
I tickle you, tickle you everywhere
I hug you here, I hug you there
I hug you, hug you everywhere
(Credit: Read Sing Play)

Book: Plant the Tiny Seed by Christie Matheson

Song: “Watch Out for the Bugs!” (Tune: “Jingle Bells”)
Clap your hands,
Stomp your feet,
Wiggle all around.
Reach your hands high in the air
And now let’s touch the ground.
Hold your head,
Hold your hips,
Give yourself a hug.
Sit down upon the ground
but watch out for the bugs!

Rhyme: Round and Round the Garden
Round and round the garden like a teddy bear (swirl finger around palm)
One step, two step (walk fingers up child’s arm)
Hidden under there! (tickle child’s underarm)
(Credit: Storytime Katie)

Song: “Hop, Hop, Hop Along” (Tune: “Row Your Boat”)
Hop, hop, hop along (hop)
Or bounce on someone’s knee (bounce)
Higher and higher and higher and higher (lift)
Bunny hop with me. (hop)

Book: Bear Sees Colors by Karma Wilson

Song: “We’ve Got the Whole World In Our Hands” with ukulele chords
C
We’ve got the whole world, in our hands

G7
We’ve got the whole world, in our hands

C
We’ve got the whole world, in our hands

G7                 C
We’ve got the whole world, in our hands!

Additional Verses:
2. We should recycle now – all that we can x3
We’ve got the whole world, in our hands!

Be kind to the plants and animals – of our land x3
We’ve got the whole world, in our hands!

Dream your bright dream – then do all that you can x3
We’ve got the whole world, in our hands!

We’ve got the whole world, in our hands x3
We’ve got the whole world, in our hands!
(Credit: Lyrics by Daria (dariamusic.com), chords by Dr. Jim Rosokoff (doctoruke.com))

Closing Song

Flowers Story Time – Everybody

Opening song

Book: My Garden by Kevin Henkes

Song: “The Seed” (Tune: “Mary Had a Little Lamb”)
I’m a little planted seed (crouch into a ball)
Planted seed, planted seed.
I’m a little planted seed,
This is how I grow.

Additional verses:
See the rain come sprinkling down…
Sunshine comes down through the trees…
Now I am a growing bud…

Book: Flowers by Vijaya Khisty Bodach

Flannel: There’s Something in My Garden
There’s something in my garden,
Now what can it be?
There’s something in my garden
That I can’t really see.
Hear its funny sound….
Ribbit – Ribbit – Ribbit
A Frog is what I found!
Ribbit-Ribbit-Ribbit

Repeat with other animals, such as a crow (caw-caw-caw), mouse (squeak-squeak-squeak), rabbit (thump-thump-thump), bird (tweet-tweet-tweet) etc.
(Credit: Sunflower Storytime)

Song: “Rocks and Flowers” – Caspar Babypants: More Please!

Book: Grow by Cynthia Platt

Scarf Song: “Will Our Flowers Bloom?” (Tune: “Wheels on the Bus”)
The seeds from the pack go in the ground           (poke with finger)
In the ground, in the ground
The seeds from the pack go in the ground
Will our flowers bloom?

The rain from the sky goes drip drip drop            (flutter fingers down)
Drip drip drop, drip drip drop
The rain from the sky goes drip drip drop
Will our flowers bloom?

The sun above is bright and hot                          (arms make a circle over head)
Bright and hot, bright and hot
The sun above is bright and hot
Will our flowers bloom?

Our little seeds are sprouting fast                      (fingers grow upward)
Sprouting fast, sprouting fast
Our little seeds are sprouting fast
Look! Our flowers bloomed!                             (cup hands, then spread open)
We did this with actions and scarves so we would have colorful “blooms.”

Book: Big Yellow Sunflower by Frances Barry

Song: Lucy Knisley “Wash Your Hands”

Closing Song

 

Garden Story Time – Sensory Friendly

Book: Plant the Tiny Seed by Christie Matheson

Song:
“If You’re Happy and You Know It” – Laurie Berkner: Laurie Berkner’s Favorite Classic Kids’ Songs
Book: Lola Plants a Garden by Anna McQuinn
Yoga: Butterfly
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

 

Growing Story Time – Baby

Opening Song

Sign Language: sun, rain, book, flower, eat, drink 

Book: Growing Vegetable Soup by Lois Ehlert
Growing Vegetable Soup book cover

Rhyme: Five Fat Peas
Five fat peas in a pea pod pressed (hold hands in a fist)
One grew, two grew, so did the rest. (Put fingers up one by one.)
They grew and they grew and did not stop,
Until one day that pea pod POPPED! (clap hands together.)

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.

Additional verses:
The rain falls on the ground…
The sun shines bright and warm…
The seeds begin to grow…
Flowers grow everywhere…

Book: Mouse’s First Spring by Lauren Thompson

Rhyme: Big Round Sun
Big round sun in the spring sky Sign for Sun
Waved to a cloud that was passing by Wave!
The little cloud laughed as it started to rain Sign for Rain
And out came the big round sun again. Sign for Sun
(Credit: Mel’s Desk)

Song: “Hop, Hop, Hop Along” (Tune: “Row Your Boat”)
Hop, hop, hop along (hop)
Or bounce on someone’s knee (bounce)
Higher and higher and higher and higher (lift)
Bunny hop with me. (hop)

Song/Fingerplay:  “Ten Little Flowers” (Tune: “Ten Little Fingers”)
One little, two little, three little flowers,
Four little, five little, six little flowers,
Seven little, eight little, nine little flowers,
Ten little flowers in the springtime.
Give them rain and lots of sunshine.
Give them rain and lots of sunshine.
Give them rain and lots of sunshine,
So they’ll grow up tall!
(Credit: Modified from The Holiday Zone)

Book: Eric Carle’s How Things Grow

Song (Recording) with shaky eggs: “The Valley of Vegetables” – Laurie Berkner: Buzz Buzz

Closing Song

Flowers Story Time – Toddler

Opening Song

Book: Flower Garden by Eve Bunting, illustrated by Kathryn Hewitt

Flower Garden book cover

Flannel/Puppets: There’s something in my garden
There’s something in my garden,
Now what can it be?
There’s something in my garden
That I can’t really see.
Hear its funny sound….
Ribbit – Ribbit – Ribbit
A Frog is what I found!
Ribbit-Ribbit-Ribbit

Repeat with other animals, such as a crow (caw-caw-caw), mouse (squeak-squeak-squeak), rabbit (thump-thump-thump), bird (tweet-tweet-tweet) etc.
(Credit: Sunflower Storytime)

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.

Additional verses:
The rain falls on the ground…
The sun shines bright and warm…
The seeds begin to grow…
Flowers grow everywhere…

Book: Bloom Boom! by April Pulley Sayre

Song: “Little Red Wagon” – Old Town School of Folk Music: Wiggleworms Love You

Book: Plant the Tiny Seed by Christie Matheson

Plant the Tiny Seed by Christie Matheson, book cover

Song: “Shake Your Sillies Out” – The Wiggles: Yummy Yummy

Song: “This is the way we clap our hands” – Kimbo Educational: Teach a Toddler 

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

Closing Song

Craft: Cupcake liner flower bouquet

Spring Story Time – Toddler

Opening song

Book: When Spring Comes by Kevin Henkes, illustrated by Laura Dronzek

Puppets/Flannel: There’s something in my garden
There’s something in my garden,
Now what can it be?
There’s something in my garden
That I can’t really see.
Hear its funny sound….
Ribbit – Ribbit – Ribbit
A Frog is what I found!
Ribbit-Ribbit-Ribbit

Repeat with other animals, such as a crow (caw-caw-caw), mouse (squeak-squeak-squeak), rabbit (thump-thump-thump), bird (tweet-tweet-tweet) etc.
(Credit: Sunflower Storytime)

Song: “It Is Springtime” – Junior Jukebox: Four Seasons

Book: Wake Up, It’s Spring! by Lisa Campbell Ernst

Song: “It’s raining/Itsy-bitsy spider medley” – Music for Little People: 101 Toddler Favorites

Song: “La Arana Pequinita” – Cantarima: Canciones Tradicionales

Book: Abracadabra, It’s Spring! by Anne Sibley O’Brien, illustrated by Susan Gal

Song: “This is the way we clap our hands” – Kimbo Educational: Teach a Toddler 

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

Closing Song

Craft: Tissue paper blossoms on a branch

Garden Story Time – Baby

Opening song

Sign language: vegetable, garden, flower

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

Rhyme: Five Fat Peas
Five fat peas in a pea pod pressed (hold hands in a fist)
One grew, two grew, so did the rest. (Put fingers up one by one.)
They grew and they grew and did not stop,
Until one day that pea pod POPPED! (clap hands together.)

Song: Hop, hop, hop along (Tune: “Row Your Boat”)
Hop, hop, hop along (hop)
Or bounce on someone’s knee (bounce)
Higher and higher and higher and higher (lift)
Bunny hop with me. (hop)

Book: Who’s in the Garden? By Phillis Gershator
Who's in the Garden? book cover

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

Puppets: There’s something in my garden
There’s something in my garden,
Now what can it be?
There’s something in my garden
That I can’t really see.
Hear its funny sound….
Ribbit – Ribbit – Ribbit
A Frog is what I found!
Ribbit-Ribbit-Ribbit

Repeat with other animals, such as a crow (caw-caw-caw), mouse (squeak-squeak-squeak), rabbit (thump-thump-thump), bird (tweet-tweet-tweet) etc.
(Credit: Sunflower Storytime)

Rhyme: Little frog
A little frog in a pond am I, (lap)
Hippity, hippity, hop. (bounce)
And I can jump in the air so high, (lift)
Hippity, hippity, hop!

Song: “Let’s Tap Our Feet Together” (Tune: “The More We Get Together”)
Let’s tap our feet together, together, together
Let’s tap our feet together because it’s fun to do.

Additional verses:
Clap our hands
Touch our nose
Touch our ears 

Book (choral): Growing Vegetable Soup by Lois Ehlert
Growing Vegetable Soup book cover

Song (shaky eggs): “The Valley of Vegetables” – Laurie Berkner: Buzz Buzz

Closing Song