Tag: preschool story time

Elephant Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: Elmer by David McKee

Scarf Song: “Rainbow” – Wunmi: Science Fair

Book: Have You Seen Elephant? by David Barrow

Song: “Elephant in There” – Laurie Berkner: Superhero

Song: “Do Your Ears Hang Low?”
Do your ears hang low?
Do they wobble to and fro?
Can you tie ’em in a knot?
Can you tie ’em in a bow?
Can you throw ’em over your shoulder
Like a continental soldier?
Do your ears hang low?

Flannel: “Five Elephants in the Tub”
One elephant in the tub
Going for a swim,
Knock-knock (clap twice), splash-splash (slap knees twice),
Come on in!
2 . . . 3 . . . 4
Five elephants in the tub
Going for a swim,
Knock-knock (clap twice), splash-splash (slap knees twice),
And they all FELL IN!
(Credit: King County Library System)

Movement: “An Elephant Has”
An elephant has a great big trunk (swing arm)
That goes swinging to and fro.
And he has tiny, tiny eyes (make binoculars with hands)
That show him where to go.
His great big ears go flopping, (put hands by ears to be elephant ears)
Flopping all around,
While his great big feet go stomping, (stamp feet)
STOMPING on the ground!
(Credit: Adapted from KidSparkz)

Book: I Took My Frog to the Library by Eric A. Kimmel, illustrated by Blanche Sims
I Took My Frog to the Library book cover

Closing Rhyme

Opposites Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: The Same But Different Too by Karl Newson, illustrated by Kate Hindley

Song: “Can You Clap” – Sue Schnitzer: Wiggle and Whirl, Clap and Nap

Rhyme: “This Is Big”
This is big, big, big (stretch hands far to sides)
This is small, small, small (cup hands together)
This is short, short, short (hold palms close vertically)
This is tall, tall, tall (hold palms far apart vertically)
This is fast, fast, fast (roll hands quickly)
This is slow, slow, slow (roll hands slowly)
This is yes, yes, yes (nod head)
This is no, no, no (shake head)

Book with Puppets: Marta! Big & Small by Jen Arena, illustrated by Angela Dominguez

Song: “Open Shut Them” – Laurie Berkner: Laurie Berkner’s Favorite Classic Kids’ Songs

Fingerplay: “Two Little Blackbirds”
Two little blackbirds sitting on a hill.
One named Jack and one named Jill.
Fly away Jack, fly away Jill.
Come back Jack, come back Jill.

Additional verses:
Two little blackbirds flying in the sky. One named Low and one named High…
Two little blackbirds sitting on a pole. One named Fast and one named Slow…

Song: “Slow and Fast” – Hap Palmer: Rhythms on Parade

Book with Puppets: ROAR-chestra!: A Wild Story of Musical Words by Robert Heidbreder, illustrated by Dušan Petričić

Closing Rhyme

Raccoon Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: Kitty by Rebecca Jordan-Glum

Song: “Raccoon Sitting in a Tree” (Tune: “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”)
Raccoon, raccoon, climbing a tree, (make climbing motions)
Wearing a mask, you can’t fool me. (hands circle eyes, then shake finger)
Hiding there so I can’t see (point to eyes)
What you’re doing in that tree. (hands stretched over head like a tree)
Raccoon, raccoon, climbing a tree, (make climbing motions)
Wearing a mask, you can’t fool me. (hands circle eyes, then shake finger)

Book: Raccoons by Mari C. Schuh

Song: “Nocturnal Animals” – Banana Slug String Band: Dirt Made My Lunch

Book: Raccoon Tune by Nancy Shaw, illustrated by Howard Fine

Song: “Jump, Jump” – Joanie Leeds and the Nightlights: I’m a Rock Star

Puppet Rhyme: “There’s Something in the Woods”
There’s something in the woods, that I can’t really see. (hands around eyes like binoculars)
There’s something in the woods. Now what can it be? (hold up hands, shrug shoulders in question)

Repeat the rhyme above before giving each clue:
I’m an animal who’s big, brown, and furry and who “Roars.” (bear)
I’m an animal who has long ears and goes “Hop, hop, hop.” (rabbit)
I’m an animal who says “Whoo, whoo” at night. (owl)
I’m an animal who’s red, furry, has a big, bushy tail, and likes to eat chicken. (fox)
I’m an animal who’s small, has a big, bushy tail, and loves to eat nuts. (squirrel)
I’m an animal who’s tiny and makes very quiet “Squeaks.” (mouse)
I’m an animal with a black mask and I’m nocturnal! (raccoon)

Closing Rhyme

Pizza Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: Hoot Owl, Master of Disguise by Sean Taylor, illustrated by Jean Jullien

Song: “Make a Pizza” (Tune: “Shortnin’ Bread”)
I can make a pizza! You can, too!
Listen and you’ll know just what to do.

Every little baker loves mixing, mixing
Every little baker loves mixing dough!

Chorus:
Flour to the left, flour to the right
Now tie your apron nice and tight

Every little baker loves kneading, kneading
Every little baker loves kneading dough!

Every little baker loves tossing, tossing
Every little baker loves tossing dough!
(Credit: Abby the Librarian – modified with added chorus)

Flannel: “Build a pizza” (give children felt ingredients for board)

Book with Puppets:“Hi, Pizza Man!” by Virginia Walter, illustrated by Ponder Goembel
Hi, Pizza Man! book cover

Song: “If You Wanna Eat Some Pizza” (Tune: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”)
If you want to eat some pizza, clap your hands!
If you want to eat some pizza, clap your hands!
If you like bubbly cheese then just say, “Pizza please!”
If you want to eat some pizza, clap your hands!
(Credit: Awesome Storytime)

Rhyme: “Pizza Man, Pizza Man”
Pizza man, pizza man turn around.
Pizza man, pizza man touch the ground.
Pizza man, pizza man reach up high.
Pizza man, pizza man touch the sky.
Pizza man, pizza man find your nose.
Pizza man, pizza man touch your toes.
Pizza man, pizza man find your knees.
Pizza man, pizza man sit down, please!
(Credit: Modified from childhood; idea from Awesome Storytime)

Closing Rhyme

Swimming Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall

Action Rhyme: “Swimming”
Swimming in the water cool and bright, (pretend to swim)
I kick my feet with all my might, (kick feet)
And when I’m tired I turn and float, (spin and hold arms out)
Pretending that I’m a boat! (rock hands)
I like to hold my breath and dive, (take a breath and bend down)
I swim beneath the water and count to five. (count to five)
Wow! What a dive!
(Credit: Hummingbird Educational Resources)

Book: Froggy Learns to Swim by Jonathan London, illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz

Song: “Swimming, Swimming”
Swimming, swimming (mime swimming)
In the swimming pool (outline rectangle with fingers)
When days are hot (fan yourself)
When days are cold (shiver)
In the swimming pool. (outline rectangle with fingers)
Breaststroke, sidestroke, (mime both strokes)
Fancy diving, too. (make diving hands)
Don’t you wish you never had anything else to do? (shrug)
(Credit: Miss Nina – Music & Movement for Preschool)

Book: Swim Swim Sink by Jenn Harney

Song (if time): “The Goldfish” – Laurie Berkner: Victor Vito

Closing Rhyme

Art Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: Arty!: The Greatest Artist in the World by William Bee

Action Song: “This Is the Way We Stir the Paint”
This is the way we stir the paint,
Stir the paint, stir the paint,
This is the way we stir the paint
So early in the morning.

Additional verses:
Dip our brush
Paint the paper
Frame the picture
(Credit: Storytime Katie)

Big Book: Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh
Mouse Paint book cover

Folder Story: “Scat the Cat”

(Credit: Adapted from Dr. Jean)

Pop-up Book: 600 Black Spots by David A. Carter
600 Black Spots

Closing Rhyme

Craft (from 2016): Free-form shape art with black spots
art preschool story time craft

Fun Outdoors Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: We Love Fishing! by Ariel Bernstein, illustrated by Marc Rosenthal

Puppet Rhyme: “Sleeping Bag Rhyme”
I was lying in my sleeping bag – I couldn’t go to sleep.
I looked at my watch, and wanted to weep!
So, I rolled to the left and I rolled to the right,
But all I could hear were noises in the night!
I hear an owl! Whoo whoo whoo
(Repeat with mouse, cat, wolf, etc.)

Book: Bear Came Along by Richard T. Morris, illustrated by LeUyen Pham

Song: “The Cool Bear Hunt” – Dr. Jean: Sings Silly Songs

Book (if time): Sheep Take a Hike by Nancy Shaw, illustrated by Margot Apple

Closing Rhyme

Ocean Creatures Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: Turtle Tug to the Rescue by Michael Slack

Flannel Song: “Bubble, Bubble, Pop!”
One little red fish
Swimming in the water,
Swimming in the water,
Swimming in the water.

One little red fish
Swimming in the water,
Bubble, bubble, bubble, bubble…POP!

Additional verses: Increase the number and change the color of the fish.
(Credit: Jbrary)

Book: I Spy Under the Sea by Edward Gibbs

Action Rhyme: “I’m a Little Octopus”
Arm #1 goes swish, swish, swish (swing arms back and forth)
Arm #2 helps me catch fish (wiggle hand back and forth)
Arm #3 pats my head (pat hand on head)
Arm #4 makes sure I’m fed (put hand to mouth)
Arm #5 swims me to shore (move arms in swimming motion)
Arm #6 touches the ocean floor (touch hand to floor)
Arm #7 can grab and tug (open and close hands)
But all eight arms give me a hug! (cross arms and hug yourself)
(Credit: Storytime Katie)

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

Song: “The Goldfish” – Laurie Berkner: Victor Vito

Closing Rhyme

Ocean Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Song: “Open Shut Them”
Open shut them, open shut them.
Give a little clap, clap, clap.
Open shut them, open shut them.
Put them in your lap, lap, lap.
Creep them, crawl them
Creep them, crawl them
Right up to your chin, chin, chin
Open wide your little mouth…
But do not let them in.
(Credit: Laurie Berkner)

Book: Jules vs. the Ocean by Jessie Sima

Song: “The Waves in the Ocean” (Tune: “The Wheels on the Bus”)
The waves in the ocean go up and down,
Up and down, up and down.
The waves in the ocean go up and down,
All day long!

Additional verses:
The tide goes in and out
The crabs go pinch, pinch, pinch
The clams go open and shut
The lobsters go click, click, click
The sharks go snap, snap, snap
The fish go swim, swim, swim
The eels go slither, slither, slither
(Credit: Miss Sarah’s Storytime)

Song: “The Goldfish” – Laurie Berkner: Victor Vito

Book: Here Comes Ocean by Meg Fleming, illustrated by Paola Zakimi

Flannel: “Slippery Fish”
Little crab, little crab, scuttling in the water,
Little crab, little crab, Gulp, Gulp, Gulp!
Oh, no! It’s been eaten by a…

Slippery fish, slippery fish, sliding through the water,
Slippery fish, slippery fish, Gulp, Gulp, Gulp!
Oh, no! It’s been eaten by an…

Octopus, octopus, squiggling in the water,
Octopus, octopus, Gulp, Gulp, Gulp!
Oh, no! It’s been eaten by a…

Great white shark, great white shark, lurking in the water,
Great white shark, great white shark, Gulp, Gulp, Gulp!
Oh, no! It’s been eaten by a…

Humongous whale, humongous whale, spouting in the water,
Humongous whale, humongous whale,
Gulp!… Gulp!… Gulp!… BURP!
(Cover your mouth.) Excuse me!
(Credit: Storytime Katie and Jbrary)

Book: A Perfect Day by Sarah S. Brannen

Closing Rhyme

Poetry Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: Daniel Finds a Poem by Micha Archer

Rhyme: “Hickory Dickory Dock”
Hickory dickory dock,
The mouse ran up the clock. (run fingers up arm)
The clock struck one, (clap once)
The mouse ran down, (run fingers down arm)
Hickory dickory dock.

Additional verses (clap for each number the clock strikes):
…two…said “Boo!”…
…three…said “Whee!”…
…four…said “No more!”…
(Credit: Jbrary)

Song: “Put Your Hands Up High” (tune: “Do Your Ears Hang Low?”)
Put your hands up high,
Put your hands down low,
Put your hands in the middle
And wiggle just so. (wiggle fingers)

Put your elbows in the front,
Put your elbows in the back,
Put your elbows to the side
And “quack, quack, quack.” (flap wings on each quack)
(Credit: Jbrary)

Song: “Open Shut Them” – Laurie Berkner: Laurie Berkner’s Favorite Classic Kids’ Songs

Book: Otto the Owl Who Loved Poetry by Vern Kousky

Song: “The Ants Go Marching”
The ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah.
The ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah.
The ants go marching one by one,
The little one stops to suck his thumb.
And they all go marching down,
To the ground, to get out, of the rain.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Additional verses:
…two…tie her shoe…
…three…climb a tree…
…four…shut the door…
…five…take a dive…
…six…pick up sticks…
…seven…count to eleven…
…eight…check the gate…
…nine…check the time…
…ten…say “The End!”
(Credit: adapted from King County Library System)

Closing Rhyme