Beach Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: Noah’s Seal by Layn Marlow

Song: “I Wake Up My Hands”
I wake up my hands with a clap, clap, clap,
A clap, clap, clap, a clap, clap, clap,
I wake up my hands with a clap, clap, clap,
And I wiggle my waggles away.

Additional verses:
Feet – stomp
Head – nod
Belly – beep
Eyes – blink
(Credit: Jbrary)

Song: “Beach Song” (Tune: “The Wheels on the Bus”)
(I drew a picture of each thing in the song on the whiteboard so the participants could follow along.)
The sun at the beach is shining bright,
Shining bright,
Shining bright,
The sun at the beach is shining bright
All through the day.

The waves of the sea come rolling in,
Rolling in,
Rolling in,
The waves of the sea come rolling in
All through the day.

The crabs near the rocks go pinch, pinch, pinch,
Pinch, pinch, pinch,
Pinch, pinch, pinch,
The crabs near the rocks go pinch, pinch, pinch
All through the day.

The sand underfoot goes crunch, crunch, crunch,
Crunch, crunch, crunch,
Crunch, crunch, crunch,
The sand underfoot goes crunch, crunch, crunch,
All through the day.
(Credit: Pre-K Fun)

Book: Beach Feet by Kiyomi Konagaya, illustrated by Masamitsu Saito, translated by Yuki Kaneko

Song: “Having Fun at the Beach” – The Wiggles: Splish, Splash, Big Red Boat!

Book: To the Beach! by Linda Ashman, illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott

Closing Rhyme

Beach Story Time – Toddler

Opening Song

Book: Good Night, Good Beach by Joy Cowley, illustrated by Hilary Jean Tapper or Sandy Feet! Whose Feet? by Susan Wood, illustrated by Steliyana Doneva

Song with Cards: “Going to the Beach” (Tune: “The Farmer in the Dell”)
I’m going to the beach,
I’m going to the beach!
I think I’ll see a (say a beach item) there,
I’m going to the beach.

Repeat with other beach items, holding up a card with a picture of the item each time.
(Credit: Mel’s Desk)

Song: “All the Fish” – Sue Schnitzer: Wiggle and Whirl, Clap and Nap

Book: Sandy Toes by Shauntay Grant, illustrated by Candice Bradley

Flannel: “Five Little Sandcastles”
Five little sandcastles built by the shore,
Along came a wave and WHOOSH!
there were four.

Four little sandcastles built by you and me,
Along came a wave and WHOOSH!
there were three.

Three little sandcastles built by me and you,
Along came a wave and WHOOSH!
there were two.

Two little sandcastles built in the sun,
Along came a wave and WHOOSH!
there was one.

One little sandcastle built just for fun,
Along came a wave and WHOOSH!
there were none.
5 little sandcastles
(Credit: Story Tree)

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

Book: Hide and Seek Harry at the Beach by Kenny Harrison

Song: “Baby Shark” – Pinkfong

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

Shaker Eggs: “Mr. Sun” – Raffi: Singable Songs for the Very Young

Shaker Eggs: “Shaky Shaky” – The Wiggles: Yummy Yummy

Closing Rhyme

Beach Story Time – Sensory Friendly

Opening Song

Book: Little Houses by Kevin Henkes, illustrated by Laura Dronzek

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

Movement: Learn the yoga pose “crab”

Social Story: Hum and Swish by Matt Myers

Closing Song

Craft: Paper plate seagulls

Beach Story Time – Baby

Opening Song

Puppet Song: “Going to the Beach” (Tune: “The Farmer in the Dell”)
I’m going to the beach,
I’m going to the beach!
I think I’ll see a [show puppet] there,
I’m going to the beach.
(Credit: Mel’s Desk)

Sign Language: Beach, sand, sun

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

Song: “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes”
Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes,
Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes,
And eyes and ears and mouth and nose,
Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes.

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 clams in the sea go open and shut… (open and clap hands)
(Credit: SurLaLune Storytime)

Flannel: “Five Little Starfish”
Five little starfish (or sea stars) swept on the shore,
In comes a wave, woosh!, and then there were four.

Four little starfish as happy as can be,
In comes a wave, woosh!, and then there were three.

Three little starfish near the ocean blue,
In comes a wave, woosh!, and then there were two.

Two little starfish having so much fun,
In comes a wave, woosh!, and then there was one.

One little starfish playing in the sun,
In comes a wave, woosh!, and then there were none!
(Credit: Paula Goettsch)

Book: Senses at the Seashore by Shelley Rotner

Lap Song: “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”
Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the stream,
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
Life is but a dream.

Repeat with: bounce, sway, tickle

Lap Song: “Oh, I Wish I Was a Little Bar of Soap”
Oh, I wish I was a little bar of soap, bar of soap. (lift baby)
Oh, I wish I was a little bar of soap, bar of soap.
Oh I’d slippy and I’d slidey over everybody’s hidey (tickle)
Oh, I wish I was a little bar of soap, bar of soap!

Lap Rhyme: “Cheek, Chin”
Cheek, chin, cheek, chin, cheek, chin, NOSE.
Cheek, chin, cheek, chin, cheek, chin, TOES.
Cheek, chin, cheek, chin, UP BABY GOES!
(Credit: King County Library System)

Book: Splash! by Leslie Patricelli

Shaker Eggs: “Having Fun at the Beach” – The Wiggles: Splish, Splash, Big Red Boat!

Closing Rhyme

Beach Story Time – Everybody

Opening Song

Book: Little Houses by Kevin Henkes, illustrated by Laura Dronzek

Song with cards: “Going to the Beach” (Tune: “The Farmer in the Dell”)
I’m going to the beach,
I’m going to the beach!
I think I’ll see a (say a beach item) there,
I’m going to the beach.

Repeat with other beach items.
(Credit: Mel’s Desk)

Book: Beach Feet by Kiyomi Konagaya, illustrated by Masamitsu Saito, translated by Yuki Kaneko

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

Flannel (virtual only): “Five Little Sandcastles”
Five little sandcastles built by the shore,
Along came a wave and WHOOSH!
there were four.

Four little sandcastles built by you and me,
Along came a wave and WHOOSH!
there were three.

Three little sandcastles built by me and you,
Along came a wave and WHOOSH!
there were two.

Two little sandcastles built in the sun,
Along came a wave and WHOOSH!
there was one.

One little sandcastle built just for fun,
Along came a wave and WHOOSH!
there were none.
(Credit: Story Tree)
5 little sandcastles

Book (outdoor only): Jules vs. the Ocean by Jessie Sima

Book (virtual only): Hide and Seek Harry At the Beach by Kenny Harrison

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

The sharks in the sea go snap, snap, snap,
Snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap.
The sharks in the sea go snap, snap, snap,
All day long.

The fish in the sea go swish, swish, swish,
Swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish.
The fish in the sea go swish, swish, swish,
All day long.

The boats on the sea go toot, toot, toot,
Toot, toot, toot, toot, toot, toot.
The boats on the sea go toot, toot, toot,
All day long.

The crabs in the sea go back and forth,
Back and forth, back and forth.
The crabs in the sea go back and forth,
All day long.

The jellyfish in the sea go wibble, wobble, wibble,
Wibble, wobble, wibble, wibble, wobble, wibble.
The jellyfish in the sea go wibble, wobble, wibble,
All day long.

Book (virtual only): Beach Baby by Laurie Elmquist, illustrated by Elly MacKay

Book (outdoor only): There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Shell! by Lucille Colandro, illustrated by Jared Lee

Song (outdoor only): “Baby Shark” – Pinkfong

Closing Rhyme

Desert Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: Deserts by Tim Mayerling

Song: “We Are Going on a Journey” (Tune: “She’ll Be Comin’ ‘Round the Mountain”)
We are going on a journey to the desert
We are going on a journey to the desert
We are going on a journey,
We are going on a journey,
We are going on a journey to the desert

Additional verses:
Well we won’t see rain for a while, (It’s dry!)…
Oh it might be hot while we’re there, (So hot!)…
Or it might be cold while we’re there, (Brrr, brrr!)…
Either way, bring some water when we go (Glug, glug!)…

Book: Welcome to the Sea of Sand by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Laura Regan

Flannel/Song: “Have You Ever Seen a Lizard?” (Tune: “Have You Ever Seen a Lassie?”)
Have you ever seen a lizard, a lizard, a lizard?
Have you ever seen a lizard all dressed up in Green?
With Green eyes, and Green nose,
And Green legs and Green toes.
Have you ever seen a lizard all dressed up in Green?
(Credit: Perfectly Preschool)

Song: “In the Desert” (Tune: “The Wheels On The Bus”)
The jackrabbit in the desert can hop like this, hop like this, hop like this (hop in place)
The jackrabbit in the desert can hop like this, all night long

The coyote in the desert can howl Ah-ooo!, Ah-ooo!, Ah-ooo!
The coyote in the desert can howl Ah-ooo! all night long

The rattlesnake in the desert goes hiss, hiss, hiss, hiss, hiss, hiss (move hands like a snake)
The rattlesnake in the desert goes hiss, hiss, hiss, all night long

The saguaro in the desert can stand like this, stand like this, stand like this (pose like a cactus!)
The saguaro in the desert can stand like this, all night long!
(Credit: Literary Hoots)

Book: Not a Bean by Claudia Guadalupe Marínez, illustrated by Laura González

Fingerplay:  Five Little Black Flies
Five little black flies flying ’round the cactus
Teasing Mr. Lizard, saying, “You can’t catch us!”
Then came the Lizard, being oh so sly
And SLUUUURP!! He ate one tasty little fly!
(Credit: Literary Hoots)

Book: The Sunhat by Jennifer Ward, illustrated by Stephanie Roth Sisson

Closing rhyme