Tag: squirrel

Fall Story Time – Toddler

Opening Song

Book: Plumply, Dumply Pumpkin by Mary Serfozo, illustrated by Valeria Petrone

Song: “Roly Poly” (Tune: “Frère Jacques”)
Roly poly, roly poly
Up, up, up
up, up, up
Roly roly poly
roly roly poly
down, down, down
down, down, down

Repeat with: out/in, fast/slow
(Credit: Jbrary)

Song: “Autumn Leaves are Falling” (Tune: “London Bridge”)
Autumn leaves are in the trees,
In the trees, in the trees.
Autumn leaves are in the trees
All over town.

Additional verses:
Autumn leaves are falling down…
Autumn leaves are whirling round…
Everybody rake them up…
Jump into the pile we made…

Pop-up Book: Leaves by Janet Lawler, illustrated by Lindsay Dale-Scott and Yoojin Kim

Song: “The Itsy Bitsy Spider”

Song: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”

Book: Turkey Gobble by Allison Black

Rhyme: “Pumpkin, Pumpkin”
Pumpkin, pumpkin, sitting on a wall,
Pumpkin, pumpkin, tip and fall.
Pumpkin, pumpkin, rolling down the street,
Pumpkin, pumpkin, tickle those feet!

Scarf Song: “You’ll Wave Your Scarf”
You’ll wave your scarf and I’ll wave my scarf.
We’ll wave our scarves together.
You’ll wave your scarf and I’ll wave my scarf,
In warm or wintry weather.

Additional verses:
You’ll throw your scarf…
You’ll twirl with your scarf…
You’ll shake your scarf…
(Credit: Adapted from “You’ll Sing a Song and I’ll Sing a Song” by Ella Jenkins)

Scarf Rhyme: “I’m Toast in the Toaster”
I’m toast in the toaster, (hold scarf)
And I’m getting very hot.
Tick, tock, tick, tock, (wave scarf side to side)
Up I POP! (throw scarf in the air)
(Credit: King County Library System)

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

Closing Rhyme

Fall Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book/Flannel: That Pup! by Lindsay Barrett George

Song: “Walk Old Squirrel” – Kathy Reid-Naiman: When It’s Autumn

Book/Flannel: Pick a Circle, Gather Squares: A Fall Harvest of Shapes by Felicia Sanzari Chernesky, illustrated by Susan Swan

Song: “Pumpkin, Pumpkin” (Tune: “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”)
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: “Autumn Leaves” (Tune: “London Bridge”)
Autumn leaves are in the trees,
In the trees, in the trees.
Autumn leaves are in the trees
All over town.

Additional verses:
Autumn leaves are falling down…
Autumn leaves are whirling round…
Everybody rake them up…
Jump into the pile we made…

Puppet Show: The Busy Little Squirrel by Nancy Tafuri
The Busy Little Squirrel book cover

Puppet Song: “So Many Leaves are Falling on the Ground”
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…

Shaker Eggs: “Shakin’ Like a Leafy Tree” – The Wiggles: Racing to the Rainbow

Closing Rhyme

Fall Story Time – Baby

Opening Song

Song: “When Ducks Get Up in the Morning”
When ducks get up in the morning, they always say good day.
When ducks get up in the morning, they always say good day.
Quack, quack, quack, quack, this is what they say.
Quack, quack, quack, quack, this is what they say.

Repeat with other animals/sounds
(Credit: King County Library System)

Sign Language: Tree, leaves, squirrel

Puppet Story: The Busy Little Squirrel by Nancy Tafuri
The Busy Little Squirrel book cover

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

Rhyme: “Autumn”
Autumn winds begin to blow. (blow gently on baby’s cheek)
Colored leaves fall fast and slow. (wiggle fingers downward)
Twirling, whirling all around, (roll hands)
Until, at last, they touch the ground. (lower baby between legs)
(Credit: Library Village)

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

Lap Song: “Little Red Wagon”
Bumpin’ up and down in my little red wagon,
Bumpin’ up and down in my little red wagon,
Bumpin’ up and down in my little red wagon,
Won’t you be my darlin’?

Additional verses:
Goin’ back and forth in my little red wagon… (lean front to back)
One wheel’s off and the axle’s broken… (lean side to side)
(Credit: Old Town School of Folk Music: Wiggleworms Love You)

Lap Song: “Way Up High in the Apple Tree”
Way up high in the apple tree, (lift baby)
I saw a little baby smiling at me.
I shook that tree as gently as I could, (shake gently)
Down came the baby, (bring down)
Mmm, was she good! (kiss)
(Credit: King County Library System)

Lap Song: “Bouncing, Bouncing, Baby on My Knee”
Bouncing, bouncing, baby on my knee.
Bouncing, bouncing, 1 – 2 – 3!

Clapping, clapping, baby on my knee.
Clapping, clapping, 1 – 2 – 3!

Rocking, rocking, baby on my knee.
Rocking, rocking, 1 – 2 – 3!
(Credit: Jbrary)

Scarf Song: “Shakin’ Like a Leafy Tree” – The Wiggles: Racing to the Rainbow

Scarf Song: “Autumn Leaves are Falling Down” (Tune: “London Bridge”)
Autumn leaves are falling down,
Falling down, falling down.
Autumn leaves are falling down
All around the town.

The wind will blow them round and round,
Round and round, round and round.
The wind will blow them round and round
All around the town.
(Credit: King County Library System)

Closing Rhyme

Fall Story Time – Everybody

Opening Song

Book: In the Middle of Fall by Kevin Henkes, illustrated by Laura Dronzek

Song: “Autumn Leaves” (Tune: “London Bridge”)
Autumn leaves are in the trees,
In the trees, in the trees.
Autumn leaves are in the trees
All over town.

Additional verses:
Autumn leaves are falling down…
Autumn leaves are whirling round…
Everybody rake them up…
Jump into the pile we made…

Song: “Leaves are Falling” (Tune: “Jingle Bells”)
Leaves are falling, leaves are falling, falling on my nose,
Leaves are falling, leaves are falling, falling on my toes,
On my head, on my ears, even my elbows,
Leaves are falling, leaves are falling, when the brisk wind blows.

Book: That Pup! by Lindsay Barrett George

Song: “Walk Old Squirrel” – Kathy Reid-Naiman: When It’s Autumn

Song: “Shakin’ Like a Leafy Tree” – The Wiggles: Racing to the Rainbow

Book: It’s Fall! by Renée Kurilla

Song: “(Silly) Wheels on the Bus” – Miss Nina and the Jumping Jacks: Every Day’s Your Birthday!

Song: “Fall Freeze Dance” – The Kiboomers

Closing Rhyme

Forest Story Time – Toddler

Opening Song

Book: Squirrels Leap, Squirrels Sleep by April Pulley Sayre, illustrated by Steve Jenkins

Song: “Roly Poly” (Tune: “Frère Jacques”)
Roly poly, roly poly
Up, up, up
up, up, up
Roly roly poly
roly roly poly
down, down, down
down, down, down

Repeat with: out/in, fast/slow
(Credit: Jbrary)

Song: “I’m a Little Pinecone” (Tune: “I’m a Little Teapot”)
I’m a little pinecone, brown and small. (make a fist with one hand)
I live in a pine tree oh so tall. (stretch arms up high)
When the wind blows, I dance and hop (wave arms as though the wind were blowing)
Down on the ground with a PLOP, PLOP, PLOP! (fall down on the floor)
(Credit: King County Library System)

Book: Night Owl by Toni Yuly

Song: “If You’re an Owl and You Know It”
If you’re an owl and you know it, hoot like this, “Hoo(t), hoo(t)!”
If you’re an owl and you know it, hoot like this, “Hoo(t), hoo(t)!”
If you’re an owl and you know it, then your hoot will surely show it.
If you’re an owl and you know it, hoot like this, “Hoo(t), hoo(t)!”

Additional verses:
Flap your wings (flap wings)
Turn your head (turn it from side to side!)

Book: Acorns Everywhere! by Kevin Sherry

Scarf Song: “Wave Your Scarf Up and Down” (Tune: “London Bridge”)
Wave your scarf up and down,
Up and down, up and down.
Wave your scarf up and down,
Wave your scarf.

Additional verses:
Left and right
Fast and slow
High and low
Around and around
Wave it goodbye
(Credit: Jbrary)

Scarf Rhyme: “Popcorn Kernels”
Popcorn kernels (wave scarves overhead)
In the pot. (make their scarves ‘disappear’ by bunching them up in their fists)
Shake them, shake them, shake them (shake fists)
‘Til they POP! (toss scarves up into the air)

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

Closing Rhyme

Fall Story Time – Sensory Friendly

Opening Song

Book: In the Middle of Fall by Kevin Henkes, illustrated by Laura Dronzek
in the middle of fall cover

Song: “Leaves are Falling” (Tune: “Jingle Bells”)
Leaves are falling, leaves are falling, falling on my nose,
Leaves are falling, leaves are falling, falling on my toes,
On my head, on my ears, even my elbows,
Leaves are falling, leaves are falling, when the brisk wind blows.

Repeat the song, faster.

Book: The Busy Little Squirrel by Nancy Tafuri
The Busy Little Squirrel book cover

Movement: Learn the yoga pose “tree”

Social Story: “Listening in Class” from Quinn at School: Relating, Connecting, and Responding at School by Rick H. Warren

Closing Song

Craft: Torn paper fall tree

Forest Story Time – Baby

Opening Song

Puppet Song: “When Ducks Go on an Adventure”
When ducks go on an adventure, they always say good day.
When ducks go on an adventure, they always say good day.
Quack, quack, quack, quack, this is what they say.
Quack, quack, quack, quack, this is what they say.

Repeat with other animals/sounds
(Credit: King County Library System)

Sign Language: Trees, squirrel, rabbit, owl

Book: The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Forest Hide & Seek by Eric Carle

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

Song: “Our Arms Go Up and Down” (Tune: “The Farmer In the Dell”)
Our arms go up and down,
Our arms go up and down,
Hi ho the derry-o,
Our arms go up and down.

Additional verses:
Our feet go back and forth…
Our heads go side to side…
We all go up and down…
(Credit: Bucks County Free Library)

Puppet Rhyme: “There’s Something in the Forest”
There’s something in the forest
That I can’t really see.
There’s something in the forest.
Now what can it be?

Repeat for bear, rabbit, owl, fox, squirrel, and mouse.

Book: Hide-and-Seek In the Forest by Rachel Elliot, illustrated by Gareth Lucas

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: “Way Up High in the Apple Tree”
Way up high in the apple tree, (lift baby)
I saw a little baby smiling at me.
I shook that tree as gently as I could, (shake gently)
Down came the baby, (bring down)
Mmm, was she good! (kiss)
(Credit: King County Library System)

Lap Song: “Giddyap Giddyap”
Giddyap, giddyap ride to town (bounce)
Giddyap, giddyap up and down (lift)
Giddyap fast, giddyap slow
Giddyap, giddyap WHOA! (lean baby back)
(Credit: Read Sing Play)

Scarf Song: “Rain on the Grass”
Rain on the grass, (shake on floor)
Rain on the trees, (shake high)
Rain on the roof, (hold above head)
But not on me. (drop)

Repeat with sun and leaves.
(Credit: Jbrary)

Scarf Song: “Peekaboo” (Tune: “Frère Jacques”)
Peekaboo, peekaboo,
I see you, I see you,
I see your button nose,
I see your tiny toes,
Peekaboo, I see you.

Closing Rhyme

Squirrels Story Time – Toddler

Opening Song

Book: Frisky Brisky Hippity Hop based on a poem by Alexina B. White with new verses by Susan Lurie

Flannel: “Five Little Acorns” (with squirrel puppet)
Down around the corner by the big oak tree
Sat five little acorns looking so yummy
Along came a squirrel with a big bushy tail.
He took one acorn and ran off down the trail.

Song: “Hop Old Squirrel” – Frog in the Meadow: Music, Now I’m Two!

Book: That Pup! by Lindsay Barrett George

Fingerplay: “This Little Squirrel”
This little squirrel said, “Let’s run and play!”
This little squirrel said, “Let’s hunt nuts today!”
This little squirrel said, “Yes, nuts are good.”
This little squirrel said, “Yes, my favorite food.”
This little squirrel said, “Come climb this tree.” (run fingers up other arm, quickly)
And crack these nuts: one, two, three! (clap hands three times)
(Credit: Sunflower Storytime)

Song: “Frisky Squirrel” (Tune: “The Grand Old Duke of York”)
Oh, the frisky little squirrel
He gathers nuts and seeds.
He hides them for the winter months
So he’ll have all he needs.

Oh, up-up-up he goes
And down-down-down he comes.
He runs around – goes up and down.
His work is never done. (repeat refrain)

Book: The Busy Little Squirrel by Nancy Tafuri
The Busy Little Squirrel book cover

Fingerplay: “Two Little Squirrels”
Two little squirrels sitting on a hill
One named Jack, the other named Jill
Run away Jack, run away Jill
Come back Jack, come back Jill

Two little squirrels sitting on a cloud
One named Quiet, the other named Loud
Run away Quiet, run away Loud
Come back Quiet, come back Loud

Two little squirrels sitting on the snow
One named Fast, the other named Slow
Run away Fast, run away Slow
Come back Fast, come back Slow

Song: “Gray Squirrel” – Learning Station: Where is Thumbkin?

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

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

Closing Song

Craft: Squirrel and acorn shape matching puzzles from Frogs and Fairies

Fall Story Time – Preschool

Hello Song

Book: Fall is Not Easy by Marty Kelley

Fall is not easy

Song: “Autumn Leaves Are Falling Down” – Junior Jukebox: Four Seasons

Book: Oliver Finds His Way by Phyllis Root, illustrated by Christopher Denise

Oliver finds his way

Song (Shaky Eggs): “Shakin’ Like a Leafy Tree” – The Wiggles: Racing to the Rainbow

Puppet Show: The Busy Little Squirrel by Nancy Tafuri

Busy Little Squirrelbusy little squirrel

Song: “Gray Squirrel” – Learning Station: Where is Thumbkin?

Craft: Leaf-painted tree (spread paint on vein side of leaf, then press on paper!)

fall leaf painted tree preschool story time

End Rhyme