Outdoors Story Time – Sensory Friendly

Opening Song

Book: How to Say Hello to a Worm: A First Guide to Outside by Kari Percival

Song: “We Go Outside to Plant Our Seeds” (Tune: “The Farmer in the Dell”)
We go outside to plant our seeds.
We go outside to plant our seeds.
High ho the derry oh,
We go outside to plant our seeds.

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

Book: Let’s Go Outside! by Ben Lerwill, illustrated by Marina Ruiz

Song: “Mat Man” – Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer: Get Set for School Sing Along

Movement: Learn the yoga pose “reach for the sun”

Social Story: Thank You, Bees by Toni Yuly

Closing Song

Craft: Forest of colored trees on green paper

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

Earth Story Time – Sensory Friendly

Opening Song

Book: Red House, Tree House, Little Bitty Brown Mouse by Jane Godwin, illustrated by Blanca Gómez

Song: “Sammy” – Hap Palmer: Getting to Know Myself

Book: The Earth Is Good: A Chant in Praise of Nature by Michael DeMunn, illustrated by Jim McMullan

Song: “Mat Man” – Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer: Get Set for School Sing Along

Yoga: Mountain and tree

Social Story: Big Earth, Little Me by Thom Wiley, illustrated by Kate Endle

Closing Song

Craft: Earth suncatchers

Apples and Pumpkins 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: Apple, pumpkin

Puppet Story: Ten Red Apples by Pat Hutchins

Rhyme: “Criss Cross Applesauce”
Criss, cross, applesauce (draw X on back)
Spiders crawling up your back (crawl fingers up)
Cool breeze, tight squeeze, (blow air, squeeze)
Now you’ve got the shivers! (tickle)

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.

Book: Duck & Goose Find a Pumpkin by Tad Hills
Duck and goose find a pumpkin

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 Rhyme: “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 hard as I could. (wobble gently)
Down came the baby. (bring down)
Mmm, was she good! (Kiss)
(Credit: King County Library System)

Lap 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!

Shaker Eggs: “Apple Pickin’ Time” – Tom Pease: I’m Gonna Reach!

Shaker Eggs: “Shake Your Shaker Up”
Shake your shaker up.
Shake your shaker down.
Shake it side to side.
Shake it all around.
Shake it on your shoulders.
Shake it on your head.
Shake it on your knees,
And shake it right to bed!

Closing Rhyme

Apple Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: What’s an Apple? by Marilyn Singer, illustrated by Greg Pizzoli
What's an Apple? book cover

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

Rhyme: “Way Up High in the Apple Tree”
Way up high in the apple tree, (stretch arms in air)
Two little apples smiled at me. (make two fists)
I shook that tree as hard as I could, (shake arms in air)
And down came the apples. (drop fists to floor)
Mmmmm, they were good! (rub tummy)

Book/Flannel: Ten Red Apples by Pat Hutchins

Rhyme: “Wiggle Worms”
Here are some worms who are, oh, so sad.
They’ve lost all the wiggles that they once had.
They wonder if you, just for today,
Would lend them your wiggles so they can play.

Wiggle them up and wiggle them down,
Wiggle the worms around and around.
Wiggle them high and wiggle them low,
Wiggle them fast and wiggle them slow.
Wiggle them over your shoes and your socks,
Then wiggle them back into their box.

Fingerplay: “Five Little Apples”

Song: “Put Your Finger in the Air” – Bob McGrath: Sing Along with Bob #2

Flannel/Puppet Story: Little Mouse’s Big Secret by Éric Battut

Song: “A Little Apple Seed” (Tune: “The Itsy Bitsy Spider”)
Once a little apple seed
Was planted in the ground.
Down came the raindrops falling all around.
Out came the big sun,
Bright as bright could be,
And that little apple seed grew up
To be an apple tree.

Closing Rhyme

Fall Story Time – Sensory Friendly

Opening Song

Book: It’s Fall! by Renée Kurilla

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

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

Movement: Learn the yoga pose “tree”

Social Story: “Telling How Old You Are” from Quinn at School: Relating, Connecting, and Responding at School by Rick H. Warren

Closing Song

Craft: Torn paper fall tree

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: Autumn, tree, leaves

Book: 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)

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)

Book: I See Fall by Charles Ghigna, illustrated by A.G. Jatkowska

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: “I’m a Little Cuckoo Clock”
Tick tock, tick tock, I’m a little Cuckoo clock. (rock gently side to side)
Tick tock, tick tock, now I’m striking one o’clock.
Cuckoo. (lift in air once)

Repeat with: two o’clock (lift into air 2x), three o’clock (lift into air 3x)
(Credit: King County Library System)

Lap Rhyme: “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 hard as I could. (wobble gently)
Down came the baby. (bring down)
Mmm, was she good! (Kiss)
(Credit: King County Library System)

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

Closing Rhyme

Garden Story Time – Toddler

Opening Song

Book: Lola Plants a Garden by Anna McQuinn, illustrated by Rosalind Beardshaw

Puppet Song: “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.
I hear its funny sound…
RIBBIT – RIBBIT – RIBBIT
A FROG is what I found!
RIBBIT – RIBBIT – RIBBIT

Additional verses:
THUMP – Rabbit
SQUEAK – Mouse
TWEET – Bird
BUZZ – Bee
WIGGLE – Caterpillar
FLUTTER – Butterfly

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)

Book: Big Yellow Sunflower by Frances Barry

Flannel: “Way Up High In the Apple Tree”
Way up high in the apple tree,
Two little apples smiled at me.
I shook that tree as hard as I could.
Down fell the apples.
Mmmm, were they good!
(Credit: King County Library System)

Song: “The Itsy Bitsy Spider”
The itsy bitsy spider went up the waterspout,
Down came the rain and washed the spider out,
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain,
And the itsy bitsy spider went up the spout again.

Book: Early Bird by Toni Yuly

Shaker Eggs: “Shake Your Shakers” (Tune: “The Wheels on the Bus”)
Shake your shakers, shake, shake, shake,
Shake, shake, shake, shake, shake shake.
Shake your shakers, shake, shake, shake,
Shake your shakers.

Additional verses:
Shake your shakers high, high, high
Shake your shakers low, low, low
Shake your shakers fast, fast, fast
Shake your shakers slow, slow, slow

Shaker Eggs: “Shake it on Your Shoe”
1, 2, shake it on your shoe.
3, 4, shake it on the floor.
5, 6, stir and mix.
7, 8, stand up straight.
9, 10, wave to your friends.

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

Closing Rhyme

Earth Story Time – Everybody

Opening Song: “Bread and Butter”

Book: Reuse This Book! illustrated by Emma Morris

Song: “To Help Our Mother Earth” (Tune: “Mulberry Bush”)
This is the way we pick up trash,
Pick up trash, pick up trash.
This is the way we pick up trash
To help our Mother Earth.

This is the way we turn off the light,
Turn off the light, turn off the light.
This is the way we turn off the light
To help our Mother Earth.

This is the way we plant a seed,
Plant a seed, plant a seed.
This is the way we plant a seed
To help our Mother Earth.

Book: Jo MacDonald Saw a Pond by Mary Quattlebaum, illustrated by Laura J. Bryant

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

Book: It’s Earth Day, Cookie Monster! by Mary Lindeen

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

Book: The Earth and I by Frank Asch

Song: “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” – Old Town School of Folk Music: Songs for Wiggleworms

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

Closing Rhyme

Tree Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: Apple and Magnolia by Laura Gehl, illustrated by Patricia Metola

Action Rhyme: “Once I Was a Seed”
Once I was a seed and I was small, small, small.
I grew into a tree and now I’m tall, tall, tall!
My branches sway in the breeze so soft.
And when it’s autumn, all my leaves fall off!
(Credit: Storytime in the Stacks)

Flannel: “The Green Grass Grew All Around”

Book: The Busy Tree by Jennifer Ward, illustrated by Lisa Falkenstern

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

Shaker Eggs: “Shake Your Shakers”
Shake your shaker up.
Shake your shaker down.
Shake it side to side.
Shake it all around.
Shake it on your shoulders.
Shake it on your head.
Shake it on your knees,
And shake it right to bed!

Closing Rhyme